When Jimmy informed her that he was attending to a bit of business up in Colchester, Alice ended the call in a huff. As much as she loved having Georgie and Harry living with her, nobody else lifted a finger to help out.

‘Nanny, can me and Harry have Angel Delight?’ Georgie asked, tugging Alice’s apron. Since she’d stopped being forced to attend that awful school, Georgie’s appetite had returned with a vengeance.

‘I’ll make you some after the lady’s been. She’ll be here in a minute and I need you and Harry to be on your best behaviour while she’s here. Can you do that for Nanny?’

Georgie put her hands on her little hips. ‘Not goin’ a school. Don’t like it,’ she said sullenly.

‘You musn’t say that in front of the lady, Georgie. If you do you ain’t having no Angel Delight,’ Alice said as the doorbell rang.

Carol Cullen politely refused Alice’s offer of tea or coffee. She always felt uncomfortable at the O’Haras’ house, was always wary of things kicking off. ‘Is Jed not here?’ she asked Alice. It was important she spoke to the children’s father rather than their grandparents.

‘He was on his way back from work and his motor broke down. He’s stuck on the bleedin’ A13 somewhere,’ Alice lied.

Carol explained to Alice how important it was for Georgie to be properly educated. ‘The court will take a very dim view of the custodial rules being broken, Mrs O’Hara,’ she warned.

Harry didn’t really understand the conversation, but Georgie did. She threw herself on the carpet and, screaming blue murder, pummelled her little fists against it. ‘I hate school! Not goin’,’ she sobbed.

Alice shouted at Georgie to behave herself and was relieved when she heard her son’s Shogun pull up outside. ‘Jed must have got his motor fixed. He’ll talk some sense into this little madam,’ she said, smiling falsely at Carol Cullen. Seconds later Alice’s smile was completely wiped off her face as a blotto Jed and Sammy staggered into the lounge.

‘We’re fuckin’ starvin’, Mum. Do us a bit a grub,’ Jed said. He and Sammy had pulled a couple of birds and had been drinking, snorting and shagging all night, which was why Jed had completely forgotten about the social worker’s visit. Spotting her sitting in the armchair, he smirked at his cousin.

‘I ain’t goin’ a school, Daddy,’ Georgie said, tugging at his ankle.

‘You ain’t gotta do nothing you don’t wanna do, sweetheart,’ Jed said, picking his daughter up.

Alice glared at her son. ‘You and Sammy have obviously been working all night; you look knackered. Go upstairs and clean yourselves up and when Mrs Cullen has gone, I’ll do yous some lunch.’