Liam jumped out of the bed, and went into Bernard’s room. The flat was so small – only three rooms and a bathroom that was no more than a shower and a toilet. But she had made it lovely. She kept it clean and tidy, and had decorated it in creams and golds. She had good taste he thought, and he admired her for the way she worked for her little lad.

As he picked Bernard up from his cot, he saw how blond the boy was, and he smiled to himself – there was no way anyone would ever believe he was his dad. But he didn’t care, he was a nice kid, and he had a fuck-off little mum.

‘Hello, Bernie boy, it’s Uncle Liam again, and I think your mum is the nuts!’

Bernard Wright grinned; he liked this big dark-skinned man who spoke to him with kindness and who held him so tightly. Bernard snuggled into the man’s arms, he felt secure with him. As he looked into Liam’s eyes he smiled widely, his huge eyes trusting, and when his arms wound their way round Liam’s neck, Liam knew that this was all he wanted; Mandy and her little boy were a team, and he wanted to be a part of that team.

He got back into bed, and he sat Bernard on his lap. When Mandy came back in with the tea, he smiled at her and said seriously, ‘All right, Mandy?’

She nodded; as always, she was quiet and grateful, and it frustrated him. She was a fucking diamond, she had no reason to put herself down.

‘He’s a great little lad, our Bernie boy, and I think he likes me!’

As he said it, young Bernard hugged him tightly and, wrapping his arms around the child instinctively, he smiled happily. He could see the pleasure on Mandy’s face, knew that she appreciated he was nice to her little lad. He was saddened that she was so grateful for so little, that she didn’t understand just how wonderful she was.

‘Listen, Mandy, I want to be with you all the time, and this little fella and all. Do you think you could find it in your heart to love me back, because I love you, darling, and this little fella too.’

Mandy Wright looked at her son’s blond head, and watched as he laughed as Liam Bailey tickled him. Putting down the mug of tea, she sat on the bed, and started to cry. She was sobbing, unable to believe what he was telling her.

Liam pulled her into his arms and, kissing her forehead, he said honestly, ‘Mandy love, this was supposed to make us all happy.’

Hugging him tightly she said eventually, ‘Oh, I am happy, Liam, that’s the trouble.’

Chapter Fifty-Six

‘Delroy, if you fucking don’t tell me the truth, I will kill you stone dead, I swear it.’