‘I know it’s awful, but if your mum did die, you would get over it you know. I ain’t seen my mum since I was four and as far as I know, she could be dead an’ all,’ she said tactlessly.

‘Do you ever think about your mum?’ Josie asked, genuinely interested. It was the first time she had ever heard Georgie actually mention her mother.

‘Not really, but I still sort of remember her. I sometimes wonder if I look like her or if we’re alike in our ways, but other than that, I don’t think about her much at all.’

‘What was she like? What do you remember about her? Was she pretty?’

‘I think so. I know she had long dark hair and she used to give me lots of cuddles, but I don’t remember much else. I never talk about her indoors ’cause everybody hates her. My Nan calls her “the old shitcunt” because she tried to murder my dad once.’

‘Really?’ Josie asked in amazement.

‘Yep, she went to prison and everything,’ Georgie replied.

‘Is she still in prison now?’

Georgie shrugged. ‘Dunno and I don’t really give a shit, to be honest.’

‘So, where we going then? Aren’t we just going to Brentwood town centre?’ Frankie asked, as Stuart took a turn in the opposite direction.

‘Nope. I thought Brett would get bored there, so we’re goin’ somewhere he’ll like for a change.’

‘Where, Stuie? Where?’ Brett asked excitedly.

‘Southend, boy.’

‘What’s there, then?’ Brett asked, bemused.

‘There’s a fairground, amusement arcades and proper fish and chip shops,’ Stuart explained.

‘Yes!’ Brett shouted, bouncing up and down excitedly.

Frankie did not share her son’s enthusiasm. Her last trip to Southend had been with Jed in the early stages of their relationship. They’d gone to a hotel by the seafront and it was there that Frankie had lost her virginity to him.

‘Are you OK? You’re all right with Southend, ain’t ya?’ Stuart asked, aware of Frankie’s sudden silence.

‘Yeah, course,’ Frankie lied. She stared out of the window as all the memories came flooding back. That was the day Jed had bought an old tape recorder for fifty quid off a girl in the reception. He’d then got his cassettes out of his motor and they’d danced to Tammy Wynette’s ‘Stand By Your Man’ before they’d finally fallen onto the bed and made love for the very first time. Oh, how stupid and naïve I must have been, Frankie thought silently.

‘You ain’t ’arf gone quiet, girl. What you thinking about?’ Stuart asked her a couple of minutes later.