‘I don’t think I can do it, Joey, and what about poor Brett? It’s gonna be awful for him living with them two, I just know it is.’

‘You can’t surrender at the first sign of problems, Frankie. Brett will get used to them being around, and me and Babs will both be here to help you.’

‘I wish Stuart was here. He would know what to do. Ring him for me, Joey. I haven’t heard from him today.’

‘He rang earlier, just after the kids got back. I told him they were home and he said he’ll call you back later,’ Joey told her.

Frankie stood up. ‘I’m gonna ring him back now. I need his advice.’

‘No,’ Joey insisted grabbing her by the arm. He knew that she would start firing questions at Stuart about where her dad was and he didn’t want to put Stu in an awkward position. His dad had told both of them that under no circumstances were they to breathe a word of the O’Haras following them to Essex.

‘What’s going on, Joey? I know something’s wrong. Where’s Dad?’ Frankie asked with suspicion.

Joey had never lied to his twin sister in their younger years. Even when she’d first suspected he was gay, he’d admitted the truth immediately, but just lately, because his dad had encouraged him, he’d become good at fabrication.

‘Don’t start worrying. All it is, is Stu was with Terry and their van broke down on the way home from Scotland. Dad couldn’t send the AA ’cause the van’s a ringer, so he had to get his own mechanic and send him up the M1. You know, the phone calls I told you about earlier.’

‘But you said that Dad’s van was the one breaking down and I thought Stu was staying in Scotland for a bit.’

‘Nah, it was the other van, and Dad told Stu to forget about staying in Scotland, he said there was no point. I think the vans belong to a mate of Dad’s and he can’t leave one on the M1 in case he gets the guy in trouble. The mechanic is gonna drop Stu and Tel back here and when Dad and the boys have burned the vans, they’ll come back, too,’ Joey fibbed.