Gina put a cup of coffee on the bedside cabinet, sat down on the edge of the bed and stared at her husband. He was so bloody handsome even when he was sleeping. Gina had been up since the crack of dawn. The turkey she had cooked yesterday, but everything else she’d prepared this morning. Her friend Claire was coming over for Christmas and was staying for a couple of days. Claire was still single and it had been Eddie’s idea to invite her.

‘Stuart’s mum is going to her sister’s in Cornwall, so you’d best invite your mate, Gina, else you’re gonna be surrounded by fucking geezers,’ he’d insisted.

Gina smiled as Eddie opened his eyes. She lay on the bed next to him and gave him a big hug. Yesterday had been an awful day for him and he’d sat up until five o’clock in the morning drinking downstairs with his sons. Unlike Jessica, whom Eddie spoke about often, Gina had never heard him mention his first wife, Beverley. She’d once asked him about her and he’d given her a three-word answer.

‘She’s an alkie,’ he’d said and immediately changed the subject.

Eddie sat himself up. He felt like shit and wanted Christmas to be over already.

Seeing the pain in his eyes, Gina kissed him tenderly on the lips. ‘I know it’s going to be crap Christmas now, but let’s try and get through it the best we can. A couple of days and it will all be over,’ she said understandingly.

Eddie put his arms around her. ‘When you’re struck with a double dose of bad luck there will always be a third, Gina. Mark my words, we’ll have another fucking disaster – it’s on the cards.’

Jed laughed at Harry’s excitement as he sat in his toy car. The bloody thing had cost him a fortune, but it had a proper little engine in it that was recharged by a generator.

‘How fast does it actually go?’ Jimmy asked Jed. He’d cheered up a bit now and was determined not to let Eddie Mitchell’s double-dealing spoil his Christmas.

‘Ten mile an hour. Let’s take him outside and teach him how to drive it properly.’

Georgie was on cloud nine. She had been given some fantastic presents, but her favourite was the Barbie doll and all the accessories. She had loads of clothes to dress Barbie in and Barbie even had her own sports car and a horse. ‘Do you think I look like Barbie, Nanny?’ she asked.

Alice laughed and hugged her granddaughter. ‘You’re much prettier than Barbie, Georgie girl.’

‘Am I?’ Georgie asked surprised.

Smothering Georgie with kisses, Alice carried her into the kitchen. ‘You gonna try one of Nanna’s sausage rolls?’