‘All right, son? How you holding up?’

Johnny was shocked to see his father. He hadn’t seen him for yonks, and certainly hadn’t expected him to turn up at his mum’s funeral.

‘I’m all right, Dad. I didn’t see you earlier, did you go to the service?’

Royston nodded. ‘You were with all your family, so I didn’t come over. I stood at the back, I felt it was the right thing to do.’

Johnny felt awkward. He was pleased his dad had come, but at the same time, he didn’t really know what to say to him. Royston sensed his embarrassment.

‘I’ll get us a couple of pints, eh? Grab that table, Johnny, and we can have a proper chat.’

Maureen sat at one of the tables next to Ethel in her wheelchair. They were both discussing all the old faces that had turned up. All of Maureen’s old pals from the bingo were there, along with Tracey and Darren, Fat Caz, Tibbsy and Benno; even Lenny Simpson and his brother Matty had come to pay their respects. Dave Taylor was nowhere to be seen. Apparently, he was still on the run. Maureen had vowed to stick a knife in him had he shown his face. In her eyes, he’d murdered his daughter, and she’d do life over him if she ever clapped eyes on him again.

Maureen was surprised to see Mary Smith’s sister and cousin at the chapel. It had been Mary’s boy, Terry, whom Tommy had murdered many moons ago. The people of east London were a different breed from anyone else; they lived by their own set of rules.

‘Where’s Johnny?’ she asked Ethel.

‘He’s sitting over there with his dad.’

Maureen looked around in amazement. Royston Ellis was the last person she’d expected to see today. Seeing Johnny laugh at something he said, Maureen nudged Ethel.

‘He might be a shit father, but at least he’s done the right thing by turning up today. Johnny looks much brighter than he did earlier, don’t he?’

Ethel nodded and pointed to the bar. ‘Look, Kevin’s over there.’

Maureen stood up. She’d meant to talk to him earlier, but she couldn’t find him at the crem.

‘Hello, love, how are you?’

Kevin smiled. ‘I’m fine thanks, Maur. I’m so sorry to hear about Susan. How you been managing?’

Maureen’s eyes filled up with tears. Seeing Kevin brought back so many memories. She’d despised him initially when they’d first got together, but once he’d matured, he’d provided her daughter with some of the happiest times of her life.

‘I miss her dreadfully, Kev. She’d really started to get herself sorted and then that arsehole Dave Taylor got his claws into her again. He’s to blame. I’ll kill him if I ever get my hands on him.’

Kevin didn’t agree, but said nothing. He knew Susan better than anyone. She was a fool to herself and the only person to blame for her downfall was her.

Wiping her eyes with a tissue, Maureen smiled at him. ‘So, what you up to now? You’re looking well. Your mum said that you’re happily married with a couple of chavvies.’

Kevin nodded. ‘I married a girl called Jane. We’ve got two boys, Harry and Sid. Life’s pretty good at the moment, I suppose.’

Seeing Wendy plonk herself down next to Ethel, Maureen hugged him and said her goodbyes.

‘I’d better get back to Mum – you know how much she loves bleedin’ Wendy. I’m glad that everything worked out for yer, Kev, and thanks ever so much for coming. It means the world to me and I know if our Susan’s looking down, it’ll mean the world to her as well.’

Wendy sat down next to Ethel and tried her best to be polite. She could see Kenny watching her from the bar and she didn’t want to upset him. Over the years the worm had turned in their house. Once she’d become too old to have children, she had kind of accepted her fate. The problem was, by then, she realised Kenny hated her with a passion. For years he’d treated her with kid gloves, surrendering to her every whim, while she treated him like shit. Now he avoided her like the plague.

There wasn’t a day went by when she didn’t worry about him leaving her. His change of attitude made her realise just how much she loved and needed him. She would curl up and die if he left her; without him, life would seem worthless. To help her cope with her paranoia and panic attacks, she drank lots of alcohol. At first it was just a couple of glasses of wine a night to help her sleep, but over the last few years it had escalated to a couple of bottles. Alcohol made her feel good, it eased her worries and temporarily took away her problems.

Looking at Ethel, she forced a smile. ‘Would you like me to get you some food from the buffet?’

Pinching Maureen, Ethel smiled back at her. ‘No thanks. I need a shit, I can feel it poking out.’

Horrified, Wendy ran from the table. As much as she tried, she could never like Kenny’s family. Ethel in particular revolted her – the woman was as vulgar as they come.

Ethel roared at the quickness of her departure. Her cackle was infectious and Maureen couldn’t help joining in with her.

‘Oh, you are terrible, Mum. You shouldn’t wind her up, she was trying to be nice.’

Ethel pulled a face. ‘Fuck her, shame she never tried to be nice years ago, the stuck-up whore.’

James, Maria, Freddie and Sarah sat quietly at a table. None of them felt particularly comfortable with Tommy just a few feet away. Aware that he was loud, drunk and giving them the eyeball, James and Freddie both averted their eyes. Seeing Tommy take yet another trip to the toilet with Benno and Tibbsy, Freddie nodded to James to follow him up to the bar. Out of earshot from the girls, he turned to his pal.

‘I dunno about you, James, but I don’t like the look of this. He’s gonna start, I can see it in his eyes. I know you can’t leave early and I don’t mind staying with yer, but how about we send the girls home? If it’s gonna kick off, I don’t want Sarah involved and I’m sure you feel the same about Maria.’

James shrugged. ‘I know what you’re saying, but I’m not sure if Maria will wanna go. Her mum’s having the kids for the night and I think she’ll wanna stay with me. I can ask her, but you know how headstrong she is. If she wants to stay, she’ll just tell me where to go.’

Freddie wrestled with his conscience. He was worried that Tommy would blurt out he’d fucked Maria – that would really put the cat among the pigeons. For years he had tortured himself over his knowledge of that evening, and if he could have told James without breaking his heart, he would have come clean. But, how can you tell your best mate that the woman he married was shagged senseless by his brother? It was impossible.

Unlike James, Freddie wore the trousers in his household. As much as he loved, respected and listened to Sarah, it was a case of what he said went. Pulling Sarah to one side, he insisted it was time for her to go. He could tell that she wasn’t too happy about it.

‘I’ll explain later,’ he said, as he saw her safely into a cab.

As James had predicted, Maria was going nowhere. With two young daughters to look after, she rarely got out, and wasn’t going to change her plans because of Tommy fucking Hutton.

‘I’m staying here with you, James. It’s been ages since I’ve had a good drink and, seeing as it’s your sister’s funeral, I feel that I need one.’

No longer was she intimidated or scared of what Tommy might say. He was a pathetic piece of shit and she certainly wasn’t going to be bullied by him.

As Freddie returned to the table, she smiled at James. ‘I’m gonna leave yous boys to talk business. I’m gonna go and sit with your mum and nan.’

Little did James know, as he squeezed her hand and watched her walk away, that he wasn’t the only one watching her. Seeing that firm little arse move across the pub brought back pleasant memories to Tommy.

Turning to Benno and Tibbsy, he decided to give it the large. He hadn’t spoken to them for years and they were so grateful to be in his good books today, they were hanging on to his every word.

‘You see her, Miss Prim and Proper, that married my bruvver?’

Benno and Tibbsy nodded.

Tommy smirked. ‘I shagged her till she screamed. She was a virgin, had the tightest pussy you could wish for.’

Benno grabbed him round the neck, while Tibbsy punched him playfully.

‘What, you shagged Maria? Really, Tommo? Tell us more.’

Benno and Tibbsy listened in awe as Tommy told them the story. ‘Honestly, she had the tightest fanny I’ve ever poked,’ Tommy said, as he headed to the khazi. It was time for another line.

‘Shall I get us all another drink?’ he asked chirpily.

Royston shook his head. ‘I’ve got to go in a minute, son. I came by train and I’ve gotta get back to Kent, remember?’

Johnny felt sad. He never got to spend any quality time with his dad and even though the circumstances were awful, he’d thoroughly enjoyed his company.

‘When am I gonna see you again, Dad? Why don’t you come and watch me cup game? Or I can always come and visit you in Kent?’

Royston looked sheepish. His wife hated him spending time with Johnny. ‘You’ve got two children here that need your attention and love. The past is the past, Royston, forget the white woman’s son and concentrate on your daughters,’ she always said.

Royston felt awkward as he stood up. His wife had bigger bollocks than him and he couldn’t promise the boy anything. ‘I’ll give you a call in the next couple of days, Johnny. Take care, son.’

Without a backward glance, he walked away.

‘Tell the barmaid to turn the music up,’ Ethel shouted.

As Wendy stood up to do ‘The Loco-Motion’, Ethel egged her on. ‘Go on girl, give it some welly.’

Too drunk to realise that her husband’s family were taking the piss out of her, Wendy went for it. Grabbing the nearest bloke, she rubbed herself up and down his leg.

Ethel nudged Maureen. ‘Well, who would Adam and Eve it? Look, she’s hawking her fuckin’ mutton now, the dirty whore.’

Wendy was in her own little world. ‘Way-hey,’ she screamed, as she lifted her skirt and flashed her black knickers.

Ethel roared. This was more like it.

Tommy stood at the bar staring at the family table. As Maria laughed, her pretty face shone out like a beacon. He hated to admit it, but she was as fit as a butcher’s dog. What she was doing with his wimp of a brother he could not imagine. Noticing that James and Freddie were deep in conversation over the other side of the pub, he sauntered towards her.

‘Enjoying yourself, are yer?’

As he sat opposite her, Maria looked at him coldly. ‘How can I be enjoying myself? I’ve just been to your sister’s funeral.’

Maureen clocked the hatred in Maria’s eyes. The atmosphere between her daughter-in-law and eldest son you could cut with a knife. She stood up and excused herself to go to the toilet. She’d always known that there was history between Tommy and Maria, but tonight it stood out like a sore thumb. Poor James, she thought as she washed her hands, at least what he didn’t know couldn’t hurt him.

Looking into the mirror, she studied herself. She looked old, fucking old; Susan’s untimely death seemed to have aged her ten years. The gap between a death and a funeral was the longest gap ever and the relief when it was finally over was indescribable. That’s why everyone got so fucking drunk, it was such a release. Tomorrow, reality would hit home and the sadness would return, but tonight Maureen was determined to enjoy herself. Susan deserved a good send-off and Maureen wasn’t going to spoil it by being miserable.

As she walked out of the toilet, Chubby Checker’s, ‘Let’s Twist Again’ was blaring from the speakers. Seeing Ethel waving her arms in the wheelchair and Wendy leaping up and down next to her, Maureen decided to join in. As the old saying goes, ‘If you can’t beat ’em, join ’em’.

Wendy falling flat on her face spelled the end of her evening. Pissed as a fart, she was unable to get back up. Kenny was livid as he dragged her out of the pub and into a cab. All night she’d made a complete show of him and when she sobered up tomorrow, he’d have her guts for garters.

As Maria walked to the toilet, Tommy checked that no one was watching him follow her. Coked up to the eyeballs, he felt brave now, really brave.

James was drunk and extremely annoyed. Tommy had been sitting at the same table as Maria for ages now and he felt like the biggest mug ever. His mum, nan, Sandra, Brenda, they’d all been fucking laughing, and he just hoped they weren’t laughing at him.

Freddie had left the wake half an hour ago. ‘Sarah’s got a mask on, I’d better sort it out,’ was his excuse.

James decided to move tables so he had his back to Maria, and he was now sat with a drunken Johnny and his mate Gazza.

‘I know my mum weren’t the best in the world, but I loved her, James, really loved her.’

James nodded. He loved his nephew very much, but tonight Johnny kept repeating himself and it was doing his head in. Normally, he’d try to comfort him, but at this precise moment, he had far too many problems of his own.

Maria was putting on her lipstick when Tommy barged into the ladies and stood against the door.

‘Sprucing yourself up for me, are yer?’ he asked nastily.

Startled, Maria turned to look at him. How the fuck did he have the nerve to follow her in here, in front of a packed pub? ‘What do you want, Tommy? Just fuck off and leave me alone.’

Tommy smiled. It wasn’t a pleasant smile, more of a sarcastic smirk. ‘I’ll tell you what I want, shall I? I wanna know why you blew me out and then married my loser of a bruvver. I wanna know why my big, hard cock wasn’t enough for you, Maria. I’ve wanted you since the moment I set eyes on you, and me and you together, we could have made it big. Why did you do it, Maria? Why?’

As he gabbled on, talking crap, Maria was shocked. She’d always known he was a self-obsessed arsehole, but she’d never realised he was an absolute nut-job. Not knowing what to do for the best, she allowed the alcohol to answer for her.

‘Shut the fuck up, Tommy, and listen to me. See you, you’re nothing to me. You never was and you never will be. Watch my lips. I love your brother, he is everything you are not. Why can’t you just get a life and leave us alone?’

Realising the declaration of his feelings had got him precisely nowhere, Tommy tried another tactic. Grabbing her beautiful, long dark hair, he yanked it towards him.

‘What about the sex, Maria? What about that night we had together? You can’t have forgotten that, I was your first, remember?’

Ignoring the pain he was inflicting upon her, Maria grabbed his shoulder and tried to look him in the eye. ‘The sex was terrible, Tommy, and you were fucking shit in bed. Do you know how many times I’ve regretted that terrible night I spent with you? Well, do you?’

As the toilet door opened, Tommy let go of her hair and ran out. Unable to hide his fury, he pushed past his mum and barged his way out of the pub. High as a kite, he sprinted for what seemed like miles. As he reached a bus stop, he put his hand on his knees to catch his breath. Noticing a poster of Girls Aloud, his fury returned. Maria was a ringer for that Cheryl Cole. Unable to control himself, he lunged at the advertising board.

‘Bitch, whore, slut, slag!’ he screamed, as he punched and kicked it. Losing all sense of reality, he ignored the other four girls and focused solely on Cheryl Cole’s face.

‘See you, Maria. Who do you think you are? Talking to me like a piece of shit. You’re not fit to lick my shoes, you cunt. You think you’re so good with your perfect life and your perfect fuckin’ family. But I’ll have the final say, Maria, you just wait and see. The last laugh will be mine, I promise.’