About to tell his grandad to get lost, Joey bit his tongue. He could tell by his grandad’s grovelling tone that the silly old fool had probably come to his senses and, as much as his nan pretended she didn’t miss his grandfather, Joey knew differently. He often caught her crying, and she’d never been quite the same woman since Stanley had left.

‘I can’t meet you today, I’m up town, but I can meet you for a drink tomorrow lunchtime, if that’s any good. You’ll have to come over my way, though.’

‘That’s fine. Where shall I meet you, Joey?’

‘Say one o’clock in the Bell at Rettendon. Dom will be with me, as we were going there for a Sunday roast anyway,’ Joey replied.

‘Who was that?’ Dom asked when his boyfriend ended the call.

‘My grandad. He’s meeting us down the Bell tomorrow. Sounds full of self-pity. I’d put money on it that he wants to move back in with my nan.’

Dominic shook his head in disbelief. Stanley running off with some tart had been a bolt out of the blue for all of them. ‘Joycie won’t take him back, will she?’

Joey chuckled. ‘Dunno, but if she does, the one thing you can guarantee is that Nan will lead him a dog’s life. If my grandad does move back to Rainham, I’m telling you now, the senile old philanderer will wish he’d never been born!’

Unaware that their mother had just given an in-depth statement to the police that, if proved, could put their father away for many years, Georgie and Harry were playing happily in the garden. Harry, who was now described to fellow travellers as an up-and-coming Stirling Moss, was now allowed to drive his Christmas present without any supervision.

‘Get off!’ he screamed at Georgie as she stood on the back of the car. She liked him to drive with her holding on to the back, but Harry hated it because her weight stopped the car from going as fast.

Georgie giggled at her brother’s annoyance. She loved feeling the wind in her hair as Harry drove along – it made her feel as free as a bird.

Remembering the conversation he’d had with his father the previous evening, Harry put his foot on the brake. Jed had bought him a pair of boxing gloves recently and after last night’s sparring session, his dad had sat him on his knee.

‘When I was your age, your grandad Jimmy used to make me box in the ring against other boys. That’s why I’m big and strong and no one messes with me now. You wanna be like your dad, don’t you, Harry?’

Not really understanding the conversation, Harry decided it was best to nod.