Knowing where Katie was sitting, Frankie kept her eyes firmly averted. Ever since the day they’d had that heart-to-heart conversation Frankie had felt increasingly uncomfortable around Katie. In freeflow now, Katie always made a beeline for her, and the girl’s desperation to be best pals with her made Frankie feel extremely awkward. Babs knew all about the conversation that had taken place between Frankie and Katie, as Frankie had told her, and Babs was fairly positive that Katie was telling the truth and was genuine. Frankie was still very unsure, though. Katie hadn’t got the message to Jed via her cousin Danny yet and Frankie began to wonder more and more if Jed had employed Katie as a spy.

‘She’s coming over,’ Bab’s said, nudging Frankie.

Frankie looked up and smiled falsely. ‘Hello, Katie. Merry Christmas.’

Katie crouched down next to Frankie. She didn’t want the other girls to hear what she had to say. ‘Jed will be getting your message tomorrow. Danny’s going to a party and Jed will be there. Danny won’t let you down, I promise.’

Eddie stood at the top of the table, carving the turkey and trying to be jovial. Gary and Ricky had been so distressed by discovering their mother’s rotting corpse the previous day that they had gone home to spend Christmas together. With just Gina, Claire and Stuart for company, the day had been hard to get through for Ed, and he was pleased that Joey and Dom had turned up with Madonna, as their presence had lifted the atmosphere.

‘So, why didn’t you stay at your nan’s? Don’t get me wrong, I’m glad you’re here, but weren’t Joycie pissed off that you left? You were meant to be staying overnight, weren’t you?’

Joey glanced at Dominic. He’d already warned his boyfriend not to tell Ed what had really happened. If Eddie found out what Jenny and Dickie had been saying and how rude they had been, he would probably drive straight round to Joycie’s and rip the pair of them to shreds. ‘Nan seems fine now and Raymond and Polly are staying with her tonight. To be honest, we left early because Polly’s parents are such a pair of prats. The old man is a proper know-it-all and the mother was pissed out of her brains and talking a load of old nonsense.’

‘They didn’t say anything to upset you, did they?’ Eddie asked defensively.

‘No, of course not,’ Joey lied.

As Gina and Claire began bringing the potatoes, parsnips and dishes of vegetables into the room, Joey and Dominic chatted happily to Stuart. When Stuart excused himself to use the lavatory, Joey turned to his father.

‘I like Stu, Dad. He seems like a real nice fella. Has he actually started working for you yet?’