Frankie was now sitting in a fish restaurant under the arches in Southend thoroughly enjoying the taste of freshly caught cod and chips. Then, without warning, Brett piped up with the question she’d always dreaded him asking.

‘Mummy, I know Stuart is my pretend daddy, but who is my real daddy? Why don’t I see him?’

Frankie’s hunger immediately vanished and she put her knife and fork down. ‘Why are you asking, darling? Did somebody tell you to ask?’

Brett nodded. ‘Josh, my best friend at school.’

Stuart squeezed Frankie’s hand under the table. ‘Do you want me to help out?’ he whispered in her ear.

Frankie shook her head. Jed was her mistake; therefore it was her duty to explain so to her son. ‘Mummy was very young when she met your daddy, Brett. I was only sixteen when I fell pregnant with your older sister, Georgie, and then eighteen months later I was pregnant with Harry, your brother. As time went on it turned out your dad wasn’t a very nice person, sweetheart, that’s why we split up and that’s why you don’t see him.’

‘Why ain’t he nice?’ Brett asked confused.

‘He used to hit Mummy. He did lots of other stuff as well, which I’ll tell you about when you’re a bit older.’

‘Will I ever meet him?’ Brett asked, picking a chip up with his fork.

‘I don’t think so, love.’

‘What about Georgie and Harry? Can I meet them?’

Seeing Frankie’s eyes well up with tears, Stuart automatically stepped in. ‘One day you will, Brett, but not just yet. Now, no more questions, eat them fish fingers before they get cold, boy.’

After recovering from his earlier annoyance over Raymond and Terry hitting yet another brick wall, Eddie Mitchell had had a rather jolly day. They’d taken the kids to a boozer with a playground and he, Gina and the children had all enjoyed themselves immensely. Gina had offered to drive home so that Ed could have a good drink and as he glanced in the back at his zonked-out children, he had a naughty urge come over him.

‘Stop it, Ed,’ Gina said giggling, as he put his hand up her skirt and moved it towards her thigh.

Ed stared at her excited expression as he ignored her request. ‘Pull over somewhere where there’s no houses,’ he ordered.

‘No, and please stop doing what you’re doing, in case I crash the bloody car.’

Ed found her clitoris with his middle finger and smirked as Gina gasped with pleasure. ‘I said, pull over,’ he said, putting her left hand on his swollen penis.