Ria had never heard Lena talk so openly before; she’d tried to keep up the pretence of ignorance for so long. Now that Tania was growing up she seemed to be more inclined to admit the truth. ‘Thanks, Lena, I know you’re right, mate. But I worry about Mel – she can’t seem to let things go. She should have had more kids, had something to focus on.’ Ria shook her head as if shrugging all the worries away from her. ‘Here, Lena, guess what? My Petey is talking about having kids. Can you imagine that? Bernadette with a baby? I can’t, for the life of me. I wouldn’t trust her with a pet, let alone a child. Petey reckons that if they do produce a child it will be a miracle of modern science – he reckons she is not the type to ruin her figure with a pregnancy.’

Lena laughed with her friend, glad that she was back to normal again. ‘If she does produce a baby, it will be a fashion plate, Ria – all designer labels, and expensive prams. Bernadette hasn’t the sense of a doornail, the poor child will be round your house or her mother’s within a month of being brought into the world.’

Ria nodded; the truth of the statement was there. In all honesty, it depressed her. ‘Well, Bernadette O’Toole has a lot to contend with coming her way, as we know to our cost, Lena. The Life soon sorts out the girls from the women, eh?’

Lena smiled sadly. ‘I’ll drink to that.’

Chapter One Hundred and Seven

Stephanie Carlton was thrilled to see Danny Bailey, and it showed. Her smile was wide as she left the stage and excitedly walked into the dressing room of the Lonsdale Gentlemen’s Club. She didn’t really like it here, it wasn’t as good as the Electric Lady, the club the Baileys owned, where she had worked quite happily until a few weeks ago. That still stung; Karim had outed her with no explanation whatsoever – just told her that her services were no longer required. He had hinted, in a very aggressive way, that her penchant for E had not been appreciated but, as most of the girls were coked out of their nuts, she felt that was a tad hypocritical. Seeing Danny pleased her; she genuinely liked him, and she had believed that he liked her.