Gary and Ricky did as they were asked and were back within minutes. ‘They’re having a great time. Frankie is hitting the clown with a big plastic hammer and Joey’s skipping about with some other little boy,’ Gary told Jess.

‘We told them where you’re standing, so they know where to find you,’ Ricky said to Raymond.

Seeing Eddie walk towards her with another couple, Jessica smiled at him.

‘This is Dougie, an old pal of mine from way back and this is his girlfriend, Vicki,’ said Eddie. ‘Dougie, Vicki, this is Jessica, my wife, and my brother-in-law, Raymondo.’

As the men shook hands, Jessica grinned shyly at Vicki. Dougie looked well into his forties, but his girlfriend only looked about the same age as herself. Jessica liked her immediately. Vicki was very pretty with long dark hair, a warm smile and was a very trendy dresser.

As the waiter came up, both girls reached for the bubbly. ‘I love your shoes – where did you get them from?’ Jessica asked.

‘Dougie bought them for me. He got them up the West End,’ Vicki replied.

Overhearing their conversation, Eddie noticed that Jess had put on an old pair of flip-flops. He gently pulled her to one side. ‘Put your boots back on, babe, I don’t like you in them flip-flops. They make you look like a cleaner.’

Feeling a bit embarrassed, Jessica smiled at Vicki. ‘Men, eh?’ she muttered as she quickly did as Ed had asked.

Vicki did her best to put her at ease. ‘Dougie’s the same. He always tells me what to wear. Wow, them red boots are just fabulous.’

Eddie grinned. ‘See,’ he said nudging Jess. ‘Your husband knows best.’

Jessica nodded and turned back to Vicki. ‘So, are you and Dougie local? I take it you live together.’

Vicki nodded. ‘Your husband was telling us where you live. We’re about five minutes away. You’ll have to come round one day. We can have lunch while the men are at work.’

‘I’d love to,’ Jessica replied, thrilled.

Ever since Jess had married Eddie, she’d lost touch with virtually all of her friends. She’d still heard from Mary, but Ed had even put a stop to that now. Eddie hated her going out of a night. Ginny had rung her recently and invited her out for a meal to celebrate their friend Linda’s birthday. Eddie had made it perfectly clear that he didn’t want her to go. ‘Only old slappers go on girls’ nights out when they’re married with kids,’ he told her. Jess didn’t bother to argue. What was the point when she always came out second best?

‘I won’t be a sec. I’m just going to check on the kids,’ Jess told Vicki.

‘Where you off to?’ Ed asked her.

‘To make sure the twins are OK,’ Jess replied.

Eddie sighed and turned back to Dougie and Raymond.