‘I’ll drop you and Joycie home, Stanley. Come on, Joey, time to go,’ Dominic said, shaking his boyfriend’s shoulder.

‘Where’s Madonna?’ Joey asked, half asleep.

‘We left her with our neighbour, you pillock. Now stand up will you?’ Dominic said sternly.

‘I’d better make a move now an’ all. You all right to drop me off home, Stu?’ Eddie asked.

Stuart nodded.

‘You carry Aaron and I’ll take Rosie,’ Eddie said, nodding towards his kids, who were both sound asleep on one of the armchairs.

‘How’s Auntie Joan now, Dad? She weren’t well last time I saw you and I meant to ask after her earlier,’ Frankie enquired, as she followed her father towards the front door.

Eddie grinned at the mention of his favourite aunt. His dad’s brother Albert had died a couple of years back, but even though they were now all in their eighties, Joanie, Vi and Reg were all still going strong. ‘She’s fine, babe. She’ll outlive all of us, will Joanie,’ Ed replied, chuckling.

As Stuart unlocked his BMW, he immediately spotted Frankie’s present. He put Aaron in the back and grabbed the bag. ‘Get in the car, Ed. I just wanna give this to Frankie,’ he said, running back towards the house.

Frankie was still standing at the front door. ‘What’s that?’ she asked.

‘Have a look inside and you’ll find out.’

Frankie looked inside the gift bag. ‘Ahh, Stu, you shouldn’t have done that, you silly sod. Why did you buy them for me?’

‘Because you liked ’em, you doughnut. I also thought you might need a bit of cheering up today.’

Frankie put the bag down and flung her arms around Stuart’s neck. ‘Thanks ever so much, mate, that’s really thoughtful of ya.’

‘I’d better go, else your dad’ll be cursing,’ Stuart said. He was enjoying the feel of her body against his a bit too much.

‘You popping round again tomorrow?’ Frankie asked him.

‘Why don’t me, you, Babs and the kids all go for a Sunday roast tomorrow? My treat.’

‘We’ll come with you, but you ain’t paying for us all. Me and Babs can pay half towards it.’

‘Whatever. I’ll pick you up at one,’ Stuart said, walking away. Frankie rarely let him pay for anything for her and he knew deep down it was because she didn’t feel romantically about him. There was little point in arguing with her, because if he did, she wouldn’t go for the bloody meal.

Babs giggled as Frankie shut the front door. ‘You and that man gonna get married one day. You a match made in heaven, sweet child.’