Chapters (48)
- Cover
- THEFEUD
- Dedication
- ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
- PROLOGUE
- ONE
- TWO
- THREE
- FOUR
- FIVE
- SIX
- SEVEN
- EIGHT
- NINE
- TEN
- ELEVEN
- TWELVE
- THIRTEEN
- FOURTEEN
- FIFTEEN
- SIXTEEN
- SEVENTEEN
- EIGHTEEN
- NINETEEN
- TWENTY
- TWENTY-ONE
- TWENTY-TWO
- TWENTY-THREE
- TWENTY-FOUR
- TWENTY-FIVE
- TWENTY-SIX
- TWENTY-SEVEN
- TWENTY-EIGHT
- TWENTY-NINE
- THIRTY
- THIRTY-ONE
- THIRTY-TWO
- THIRTY-THREE
- THIRTY-FOUR
- THIRTY-FIVE
- THIRTY-SIX
- THIRTY-SEVEN
- THIRTY-EIGHT
- THIRTY-NINE
- FORTY
- FORTY-ONE
- FORTY-TWO
- FORTY-THREE
Jessica looked away. Once Eddie got a bee in his bonnet, there was no point arguing with him. She knew he was having a dig at her, but she couldn’t help the way she was. She hated letting the twins out of her sight. The week they’d started school was the worst week of her life. She’d drop them off, drive straight home and sob her heart out until it was time to pick them up again.
‘Go on, then. Uncle Patrick will show you the play area. Enjoy yourselves,’ she said, as the twins skipped happily away.
Sensing Jessica’s awkwardness, Raymond put an arm around her shoulder. ‘If we stand over there by that bar, we can keep more of an eye on ’em,’ he said.
Jessica nodded gratefully.
Seeing that Eddie was already surrounded by a fan club, Raymond tapped his arm. ‘Me and Jess are gonna stand by that table next to the bar.’
‘No probs. I’ll be over in a bit,’ Eddie replied.
Spotting Frankie and Joey joyfully running around hitting one another with plastic hammers, Jessica relaxed and took in the rest of her surroundings. There were two makeshift bars, about half a dozen waiters walking about with trays and right in the centre was the biggest barbecue that Jessica had ever seen.
Aware that his sister was clocking the grub, Raymond pointed towards the conservatory. ‘They’ve got tons more food in there. There’s sandwiches, seafood, everything. I saw it as we walked past. Are you hungry? Shall I get you something?’
Jessica shook her head. ‘I’ll have something later. What’s that man doing with them boxes? And what’s that big square thing over there?’
Raymond craned his neck. ‘I think the geezer carrying the boxes is the DJ. He’s probably setting his stuff up for later and I think that’s the boxing ring over the back. From what Eddie was telling me, I think all the lads lark about in it later on.’
Noticing a crowd of women sitting together, Jessica had a look to see what they were wearing. ‘Good job I never wore my denim hotpants. No one is very dressed up. In fact, I feel silly in these boots now, I’m gonna put my flip-flops on.’
Raymond laughed as Jessica frantically tried to tug her boots off. Women were funny creatures. Blokes didn’t give a shit what they were wearing – well, apart from Eddie, that was. He insisted on buying the best of everything.
Seeing Gary and Ricky bound towards her, Jessica asked them a favour. ‘Don’t tell your dad I asked you, but will you check on the twins for me? They’re in that play area that’s sectioned off.’