‘Nevaya, say you are sorry. And don’t talk to Tina like that. She’s always been good to you, never let you down. Your mam has been back on the scene for two minutes and suddenly you think the sun shines out of her arse. She dumped you both here, left you, are you forgetting that?’ There, that should do it. But his words had the opposite effect.

Nevaya paced up and down the living room like a headless chicken. Forget the bloody conditioner – this was her mother’s honour she was fighting for now. She looked at her dad, bent towards him as she spoke. ‘So what, she made mistakes, that was then, and this is now. Anyway, she told me the real reason why she left, and it was because you were shagging her sat over there, dear father,’ she pointed over at Tina. ‘Mum loved you, Dad, and you broke her heart. What did you expect her to do?’

That was it. Chris was on his feet now, roaring so loud the walls shook. She had no idea what really went on, he shouted. How dare she speak to him like this, believe her lying bitch of a mother who wouldn’t know the truth if it hit her full on in the face.

‘You’re talking out of your arse. Why are you even listening to her bullshit? She’s a born liar. I’ll tell you what, shall I, get your arse back up the stairs and stay there. You’re grounded.’

Tina had had enough too. No more playing good cop, trying to keep the peace. ‘If I was a different woman, I’d slap the living daylights out of you. Whatever happened between your parents is none of your business. And I met your dad after he’d split up from your mum, so put that in your bleeding pipe and smoke it,’ she yelled into her stepdaughter’s face. ‘And, if we’re being honest here, I’ll tell you what actually happened between Wendy and your dad, shall I?’

The colour had drained from Chris’s face. He had to stop her before she went too far, but it was already too late. Tina was on a roll now, so much for his private life staying private. He groaned and put his head in his hands.

‘Your mother was sleeping with anybody who would have her. It was your dad who was the injured party here not her. Every bloody night she left you and Charlie so she could go off with one of her fancy men and it was your dad who stayed home and looked after you both. Go on, Chris, tell her. That’s the truth, so don’t be letting her paint some romantic portrait of that old tart.’