All she wanted now was for her daughter’s baptism to go well, and for her husband and his family to find some kind of common ground, and come together again. She knew that it was an important day in more ways than one. It was the only chance to get her husband and his brother in the same room, and that was all she wanted.

Chapter Thirty-Five

‘I’m telling you now, Peter, we are the godparents, and you will not fucking boycott that child’s baptism. I don’t give a flying fuck about yours and Daniel’s big drama, all right? I promised we would be there, and we will. The whole family.’

Peter Bailey was genuinely astonished at his wife’s vehemence, considering she knew the score. She wasn’t like Lena, a fucking moron; his Ria made a point of knowing everything, that was Ria’s way.

‘Are you having a fucking mad half hour, woman? You know the score, you fucking coated me over it! Gave me grief, accused me of not fucking having my eye on the ball. Telling me I should have stopped Daniel going after Alfie and his little boy. Now you’re telling me I have to be the godfather of little Tania, because I promised when she was born? Before her father fucked up everything around him?’

Ria was staring at him angrily. ‘You’re going, and that is the end of it.’

‘Oh no, I ain’t. Daniel can hang as he grows. I’ve washed my hands of him.’

Ria snorted in derision. ‘Oh, stop it, you tart! This is for Lena, and her child. You promised you would be the godfather, and you will, Peter. I swear to Christ Himself you will do it – you can’t fucking renege on something like that, no matter what. This is about religion, Peter, about family. Not about fucking skulduggery. Lena asked you and you agreed. You can’t fucking back out now – not if you ever want to be welcome in this fucking house anyway! I don’t ask for much, boy, but when I do actually ask you for something, you know I won’t take no for an answer. Whatever Daniel’s done – and I know what a fucking looney he is – he’s still your brother, and Tania is still your niece.’