Eddie put his arms around Gina and squeezed her fit body. He’d felt terribly guilty at his wedding when all he could think about was Jessica.

‘I hope Stuart strikes lucky like I did when I met you. I had a word with him the other day, and he knows once the baby is born we’re gonna need the place to ourselves. With a bit of luck, he might make a go of it with this bird. I mentioned to him about moving in with Gary and Ricky, but I don’t think he was that keen. He ain’t as wild as them pair of fuckers, is he?’

‘Stuart will be just fine, Ed, so for Christ’s sake stop worrying about him. Right, I need to go shopping, so what do you fancy for dinner tonight?’

‘Something light, babe. I’ve gotta shoot out the next couple of nights. Sorry, I forgot to tell ya.’

Gina stared at his rugged, handsome face. He had that faraway look in his eye and that always worried her. ‘Where you going then?’

‘Nowhere. Just got a bit of business that needs sorting.’

Gina clutched his hands. ‘Promise me you won’t do anything stupid, Ed.’

Ed laughed and kissed her lightly on the nose. ‘And you call me a worrier. I ain’t gonna do nothing stupid, you have my word on that, babe.’

Frankie felt like a cat on a hot tin roof as she waited for Babs to return to the cell. Her dad had been true to his word and Larry had come to visit Babs to sort out the awful predicament she found herself in. Every minute seemed like an hour to Frankie, but finally the cell door opened and an upset-looking Babs returned.

‘Are you OK? What did he say?’ Frankie asked as Babs fell into her arms.

‘Larry was really nice, but it was so awful having to relive it all. I thought I was gonna give birth in there at one point. I had a feeling me waters were gonna break.’

Frankie stroked her friend’s frizzy afro. Babs’ baby was due in a week’s time, a month before her own, and she wondered if the anguish of discussing her paedophile ex might bring on an early labour.

‘Let’s sit you down, you need to rest,’ Frankie said, leading her over to her bed. ‘Listen to me – the worst is over now, Babs, apart from the actual court case, obviously. You did tell Larry everything like I told you to, didn’t you?’ Frankie asked.

Babs nodded her head and forced herself to smile. ‘Larry reckons he can definitely get me out of here, and that’s all thanks to you, sweet child.’