‘Please, Mum, I wanna feed the ducks,’ Brett said, looking at her with his big, brown, soulful eyes.

Frankie got out of bed and put her dressing gown on. ‘Bath first, then we’ll go to the park.’

As Brett and Kelvin jumped up and down on the bed with excitement, Babs grinned. She loved living with Frankie and the kids. They really were just like one big, happy family.

Over in Rettendon, Eddie Mitchell was on the verge of having a nervous breakdown. Since Aaron and Rosie had been born, he’d always considered himself to be a hands-on dad, but Gina’s absence from home had proved he was anything but.

‘What has Mummy told you about making your own breakfast, eh?’ Eddie said as he mopped up the milk and soggy Frosties that were scattered all over the kitchen floor.

‘Well, you weren’t up,’ Aaron replied cheekily.

Eddie stared at his son, who was standing two feet away with his hands on his hips. At six years old, Aaron really was a chip off the old block. He was a ringer for Ed at the same age. He had dark hair, the same-shaped eyes and had also inherited Eddie’s temper and cockiness.

‘Get your arse upstairs now, and choose what you’re gonna wear today,’ Ed ordered him. That was another thing they had in common, style. Aaron refused to wear anything Gina bought him that he didn’t like and demanded to wear what he wanted.

‘Make me,’ Aaron replied, grinning.

As Ed raised his hand and moved towards him, Aaron laughed, ran out of the kitchen and up the stairs.

Sitting at the kitchen table, Rosie was happily munching on her breakfast. Most of the Frosties and milk were down her pyjamas, as she had a terrible habit of completely missing her mouth. ‘Finish,’ she said proudly, pushing her dish away.

Smiling at his daughter’s beauty, Eddie lifted her into his arms. Unlike his and Gina’s, Rosie’s hair was as blonde as blonde could be. Joey was blonde, like Jessica had been, and his grandson Harry had been blonde, but nobody else in his family had blonde hair, other than his dear old mum, whom he barely remembered. That’s why they’d named her Rosie. His mum’s name had been Rose, but everyone had called her Rosie because of her beautifully coloured complexion, his dad had told him.

‘You’re all stinky. Pooh,’ Eddie said, rubbing noses with his daughter.

Rosie giggled and Ed laughed with her. Her hair was curly and her beauty was topped off with long blonde eyelashes, big blue eyes, and an infectious smile that made everybody she came into contact with melt.

‘Chocolate, Daddy,’ Rosie said, pointing towards the fridge.

‘Nope, bathtime, missy, and if you’re a good girl for Daddy, you can have some chocolate later.’

‘Humpty Dumpty, Daddy.’