‘Brings back memories of me and me butcher’s knife, don’t it?’ he said, chuckling.

Remembering the demise of Mad Dave, Eddie laughed loudly. Raymond had only been a youngster, but he’d seen off Mad Dave all right.

‘What’s happening with the O’Haras? Any more news?’ Gary asked his father.

‘Not much, apart from Jed trying to stop the kids visiting Frankie. Once she’s out and she’s got them kids back, we’re gonna shut that little fucker up for good. Until then, we can’t do anything.’

‘Is Ronny and Paulie OK?’ Ricky asked.

‘Yep, they got beaten up as planned and then they were moved. I think they’ve been shoved on a wing with all the nonces.’

‘I bet they love that,’ Raymond said jokingly.

Eddie chuckled. ‘Like it or lump it, at least they’re safe, and that’s the main thing.’

Hearing Joanie’s voice, Eddie jumped up and opened the door. Introductions over, it was time to eat.

Joycie Smith had never felt so lonely in all her living years. Even when she’d married Stanley, she’d been sure she never really loved him, but now he’d gone for good, she knew what love actually was. There was an old saying, ‘you never know what you’ve got until it’s gone’ and Joycie couldn’t stop thinking about him. She wasn’t angry any more, just sad, tearful and full of self-loathing. Stanley leaving her for another woman was all her fault and she knew it. If only she had treated him better, spoken to him with respect and told him she loved him now and again.

Pouring herself another brandy and Baileys, Joyce stared forlornly at the photo album. In one of the photographs, Stanley was holding Raymond as a baby. He looked so happy, a real proud dad. It was just after Raymond was born when Joyce had stopped having sex with her husband. She’d only ever wanted a couple of kids and being lucky enough to have one of each spelled the end of her and Stanley’s sex life. Determined that her husband wasn’t going to have his wicked way with her ever again, Joycie had even stopped sleeping in the same bed as him. She’d forced Stanley to move into the spare room and he’d stayed there.

The shrill ring of the phone snapped Joyce out of her reminiscing.

‘How are you, Mum?’ Raymond asked. Since Joey had given him a talking-to, Ray was determined to be a better son.

‘Not good, love. I miss your dad so much,’ Joyce mumbled before bursting into tears once more.

Raymond sighed. He and Polly were meant to be visiting friends this afternoon, but he couldn’t turn his back on his mum in her hour of need. It might help if he spoke to his dad, man to man. It might make the silly old sod see sense.