Jed chuckled. ‘She finally let me give her one, but it weren’t worth the wait. Frigid bitch in bed she was and I ain’t gonna bother seeing her again. She was all lovestruck this morning, so I bet I have to change me mobile number yet again. So, what we gonna do? I dunno about you, but I fancy getting right on one.’

‘I thought we were gonna take Georgie and Harry out,’ Sammy replied.

‘Nah, can’t be arsed. Get your gladrags on and I’ll meet you in the Derby Digger at half-two. I think me and you should pop over to Basildon and pay them two whores another visit.’

Sammy laughed. ‘Half-two it is then.’

Stanley’s heart filled with hope as Joyce strolled into the restaurant. She was twenty minutes late and he had thought that she had changed her mind about meeting him. His hands shook as he handed her the expensive bouquet he’d bought her.

‘Thank you for agreeing to meet me, Joycie,’ he said genuinely.

Joyce smiled inwardly as she put the flowers on the chair next to her. Stanley had his best suit on and, considering he was usually covered in pigeon shit, she was pleased he’d made the effort to look smart for once.

‘I took the liberty of ordering you your favourite wine,’ Stanley informed her, nodding towards the ice bucket.

‘Best you pour me a glass and then tell me why you asked me to come here,’ Joyce replied coldly.

Stanley did as he was told and then looked into Joyce’s eyes with pure emotion in his own. ‘I asked you here because I can’t live without you, Joycie.’

‘Pity you didn’t think of that before you left me and moved in with that old slapper. It’s a bit late for regrets, Stanley, our divorce is probably nearly finalised.’

‘I don’t want to divorce you, Joycie. Being apart from you made me realise just how much I love you. As for Pat, I only moved in with her because I had nowhere else to go. There was nothing between us, I swear there wasn’t,’ Stanley lied. Joey had promised he wouldn’t tell his nan what Stanley had told him, and Stanley just hoped that his grandson would keep his word.

Joyce was in her element. The old goat grovelling was exactly what she had expected and wanted, and now she was going to milk it. ‘So, what is it you’re trying to say? Are you asking to move back into my house?’

‘Yes, if that’s OK with you, love.’

Joyce took her compact mirror out of her handbag. She applied some more plum lipstick and snapped the mirror shut. ‘I shall need some time to think about things.’

‘How long do you need? I can’t stay with Joey and Dominic for much longer. I’m cramping their style as it is.’