Delroy grinned. He looked like a young Harry Belafonte when he smiled, and his grin had got him out of many a scrape through his life. He did not underestimate its power. ‘I do love a cuppa – you know that, Mrs Bailey, never refuse one!’

He was telling the truth; Delroy Parkes loved a cup of tea. Even in his youth, when he had been arrested then released, he wouldn’t leave the police station if a cup of tea was in the offing. He enjoyed his tea more than anything else in the world. He drank, but not as much as people would think; in reality, he could quite happily be teetotal. He drank to be sociable, that was all.

As he sipped his tea, he looked down at the little girl in Davey’s arms and marvelled at just how beautiful she was. He was not a baby person, but no one could deny the attraction of this little girl; she was like a fucking poster baby for health and beauty. The Pears’ baby looked like a fucking freak in comparison! She had such a good nature too – all that combined made her a special little kid. She held her arms out for a cuddle and he took her without hesitating. She snuggled into him, and he marvelled at how comfortable she was with everyone who came into her orbit.

‘Hello, you!’

She was laughing at him, and he liked that she was happy in his arms, that she trusted him, felt safe. He turned to Davey. ‘You ready for the off?’ Daniel and Peter wanted to start getting the older boys involved in the day-to-day running of the business, and Delroy was helping to show them the ropes.

‘Sure, Del.’ Davey was all eagerness. ‘I’ll get me coat.’

Davey left the room and Lena said quietly, ‘How is everything, Delroy? Are Peter and Daniel all right?’ She was smiling but he could see the tension in her face. He knew she asked him the questions she couldn’t ask her husband or any of her family, even Ria. She couldn’t ask anyone else because it would be tantamount to treason as far as she was concerned. She would never betray her husband, never make him feel she was checking up on him. If she questioned him or his actions he would never forgive her. Their whole world had turned their backs on him, and this woman knew that her husband had overstepped the mark, had somehow fucked up big time. She also knew that as long as he thought she was ignorant of that fact, Daniel could look her in the eye. Delroy really respected Mrs Bailey for her loyalty, even though he believed it was misplaced.