‘I’ll give you a call,’ Jed told Dawn, slinging a tenner at her for the fare. She’d already written her number down for him earlier.

‘Good luck. I hope your dad’s OK,’ Dawn shouted as Jed drove off.

Obviously, Jed had had to lie to her. He’d told her that his dad had been involved in a bad car accident. Telling her his fiancée had just given birth to their first child would have gone down like a sack of spuds.

Sammy turned down the volume on the radio. Now the girls were out of the way, they could talk properly. ‘Congratulations, Jeddy boy. I bet you’re excited, ain’t ya? What did you say you were gonna call her?’

Jed smiled. He couldn’t wait to meet his daughter. ‘Georgie. Me mum chose it. You remember her sister, don’t ya, the one that died of cancer? Her name was Georgina. Frankie didn’t like it at first, so we made a deal. We put Georgina on the birth certificate for me mum’s sake, then we shorten it to Georgie.’

Remembering Jed’s choice of name if the baby had been born a boy, Sammy laughed. ‘Bet you’re hoping for a mush next time, ain’t ya?’

Jed grinned. ‘Yeah, I’ll have to knock Frankie up again. Little Harry boy’ll be running about before you know it.’

With the effects of the ecstasy tablets still firmly in their system, both Jed and Sammy burst out laughing.

‘We’ll come back tomorrow, sis,’ Joey promised as he and Dominic had left.

Frankie felt sorry for her brother. The O’Haras were a loud, overpowering family and Joey had obviously felt like a fish out of water among them.

Staring at her beautiful daughter lying in the cot next to her, Frankie took in her features. She had a mop of dark hair, a cute button nose and long eyelashes like Jed’s.

Frankie thought of her own family and the odd tear ran down her cheek. Her mum would have been ecstatic and so proud. Little Georgie was exceptionally beautiful and Frankie was sure that her dad would have accepted her in time, even though he hated Jed. Frankie thought of her nan and grandad. Her nan, especially, used to drive her mad at times, but Frankie wished she could be here now.

As baby Georgie began to cry, so did Frankie. Her whole family had been ripped to shreds and the thought of bringing her baby up with Alice and Jimmy O’Hara’s parental guidance filled Frankie with dread.

Alice grabbed her son in a bear hug. ‘Chucked us out, the old rabbit’s crotch of a nurse did. Oh, Jed, go and see Georgie girl. She’s the most beautiful little chavvie I’ve ever seen in my life. Looks just like you, she does. Thank you boy, you’ve made me the happiest mother alive.’

Filled with emotion, Jed went off in search of Frankie.

‘They’re both asleep,’ the nurse on duty told him bluntly. She’d had enough of this particular family earlier and felt incredibly sorry for Frankie, whom she liked immensely.

Jed had never taken no for an answer in his life and he wasn’t about to start now. ‘I’m the child’s father. I have every right to see my woman and my daughter and if you try to stop me, I promise you’ll regret it.’

Desperate to avoid a scene, the nurse led him to Frankie’s room. It had been her idea to put Frankie in a side room, as she didn’t want the O’Haras upsetting all the other families on the maternity ward. ‘Wait here,’ she ordered, as she opened the door.

Frankie had her eyes shut, but was still awake. Her body felt battered and bruised, but the nurses had told her she’d had a relatively easy labour compared to most first-time mothers.

‘Your boyfriend’s here, Frankie. Are you awake?’ the nurse asked.

Frankie opened her eyes and smiled. She wished Jed had been there for the birth, but she wasn’t particularly angry with him. He’d only been out working, and Georgie was so gorgeous that any earlier annoyance had now evaporated.

As Jed strolled into the room, he felt his chest swell with pride. Tears filled his eyes as he stared at his perfect daughter. ‘Can I hold her?’ he whispered.

Frankie nodded. ‘I’m your dad, Georgie girl,’ Jed said, as he tenderly lifted his daughter out of her cot and planted a kiss on her forehead.

The scene was an emotional one. Jed kissed Frankie, handed her the baby and sat on the edge of the bed. ‘I’m really sorry you had to go through it on your own, babe. I’ll never forgive meself for not being here with ya. I’ll make it up to ya though, I promise.’

As baby Georgie gurgled, Frankie handed her back to Jed. ‘Why wasn’t your phone on? You promised me that it would be.’

‘Sammy and I had murders, Frankie. The chordy motor broke down and we had to do a runner and leave it in the middle of the road. I had so many phone calls to make to sort stuff, then the battery went dead on me. I’ll tell you what I’ll do, I’ll buy another phone. If I’ve got two, you’ll always be able to get me on one of the numbers. You and little Georgie girl are my life, Frankie, and I promise I will never let either of you down ever again.’

‘Hello boys, what a lovely surprise,’ Joyce exclaimed, as she opened the front door.

Ushering them into the living room, she went off to the pigeon shed to locate her husband. Ordering Stanley to get his arse indoors and make polite conversation, Joycie made a brew.

‘How’s the driving lessons going, Dominic?’ she shouted from the kitchen.

‘Not great, Mrs Smith. I ran over a cat last week. I think the instructor is losing patience with me,’ Dom replied honestly.

Joey laughed. Dominic had promised to buy a nice sports car when he finally passed. Trouble was, he was no Stirling Moss, and had already failed five tests. His inability to pass had since become a standing joke between the pair of them.

‘Hello, nice weather, isn’t it?’ Stanley said politely, as he plonked himself in the armchair.

Joyce scowled at her husband as she brought the tea tray in. ‘You’ve got pigeon shit all over them trousers, Stanley. Go and change ’em,’ she shouted.

Joey grabbed Stanley’s arm. ‘Stay there, Grandad. Dom and I can’t stay long. We’ve got a cab waiting outside. I only popped in because I really need to tell you both something.’

‘What’s up?’ Joyce asked.

‘Frankie had a little girl early hours of this morning. Beautiful she is. Six pound, seven ounces and she’s called her Georgie.’

Joyce pursed her lips. ‘Frankie made her choice, Joey. Everything that’s happened is partly her fault and I’ll never forgive her for ruining her own mother’s funeral. We want nothing more to do with her, do we, Stanley?’

Stanley nodded automatically. There was no point in him saying anything, nobody ever listened to him.

Desperate to bridge the gap between his grandparents and sister, Joey tried a different tactic. ‘Look, Nan, I was up that hospital last night and I met Jed’s family properly for the first time. Jed weren’t even there, no one could get hold of him. His mum is awful, really common, and if we don’t do something, I’m worried what will happen to Frankie and the kid.’

Joyce wasn’t in the mood for sob stories. ‘Silly little cow made her own bed, let her bleedin’ well lie in it,’ she said coldly.

Joey stood up and urged Dom to do the same. His nan was so obstinate at times, there was no reasoning with her.

Stanley said goodbye to the lads and was relieved when they left. Ever since he’d found out Joey and Dominic were lovers, he was at a loss knowing what to say to them.

Joycie hugged both Joey and Dom. As they got into the cab, she waved and slammed the front door.

Aware that Joyce was crying, Stanley ran into the hallway. ‘What’s the matter?’ he asked.

‘Frankie, the baby, everything, Stanley. If our Jess was here, she would know how to handle all this. If only she could give us a sign or something.’

Stanley took his wife into his arms. ‘Life’s a funny old game, but one thing you can guarantee is I’ll always be here for you, darling.’

As Jed showed out yet another eight people she’d never met before or ever wanted to see again, Frankie started to cry.

‘What’s up?’ Jed asked, rushing over to her bed.

‘I’m tired, Jed. I don’t want no more visitors,’ she sobbed.

Jed held Frankie in his arms. ‘Leave us alone for five minutes, Mum,’ he ordered.

Alice had sat in the room all morning. She was besotted with her granddaughter and it was unbearable to be parted from her for even five minutes.

‘Why don’t me and your dad sit outside and look after Georgie girl, while you and Frankie have some time to yourselves?’ Alice offered.

‘No, leave her here,’ Frankie said abruptly.

Gesticulating for his mum to leave them alone, Jed waited for the door to shut before he spoke. ‘Are you OK, babe? Let me know what’s wrong and I’ll sort it.’

Frankie clung to him. ‘All these people coming in and out. I feel like shit and I hate it, Jed. Your mum won’t leave me or the baby alone. I know everybody has brought nice presents for us and I do appreciate it, but I need to get some sleep and rest now. Please tell them all to go home, Jed, please.’

Jed sighed. ‘No one means to be a nuisance, babe. Travelling families are like this and you’re part of one now. Everyone gathers when a baby is born, it’s the way we’re brought up.’

‘But I ain’t got no family of me own here,’ Frankie sobbed.

Seeing how distressed she was, Jed knew he had no choice other than to go and speak to his family. ‘Listen, I’ll go and get rid of everyone. I might even pop home and have a shower meself. I’ll take some of these presents home, shall I? And I’ll come back later when you’ve had some sleep.’

Frankie nodded. ‘Come back on your own though, Jed. I want to spend some time with just you and Georgie.’

Jed nodded, kissed her and left the room. His mother was not going to be happy, that was for sure.

As Jed shut the door, Frankie lay back on the bed and shut her eyes. She’d had to put up with Jed’s cousins, aunts, uncles, brothers; even that horrible Shannon had sat beside her bed for ages.

They’d brought nice presents, mainly gold, and Frankie had been given loads of money. The clothes they’d got for Georgie were a bit over the top, but Frankie had been polite and thanked them.

As the door opened, Frankie’s heart went over. If it was Alice, she would scream.

‘All right, sis?’

Frankie immediately sat bolt upright. She cried as she hugged both Joey and Dominic. ‘I’m so pleased to see you. I’ve been lumbered with Jed’s family all day and they’ve done my head in.’

Joey handed her two big sacks. ‘These are from me and Dom,’ he said.

As Georgie started to cry, Frankie urged Joey to pick her up. Joey rocked Georgie, rubbed her back and spoke gently to her. ‘I’m your uncle Joey, your mummy’s twin brother,’ he whispered in her ear.

Dominic smiled as the baby stopped crying. ‘You’re a natural, Joey. Don’t you leave me and go straight, will you?’ he said jokingly.

Frankie was thrilled with the presents Joey and Dominic had brought with them. Babygros, rattles, dummies, a little ski-jacket, booties, a massive teddy bear, they had literally thought of everything. Their presents were so much more practical than any of the others she’d received.

‘Thanks so much for all this,’ Frankie said gratefully.

‘What did Jed’s family buy for the baby?’ Joey asked, still staring at Georgie. He was unable to take his eyes off his niece; she was the cutest little thing he’d ever seen in his life and he was so proud to be her uncle.

‘Most of ’em gave money and gold. Jed’s dad gave us a thousand pounds, and other people brought necklaces, bracelets and earrings. Georgie even got a sovereign off Jed’s brother, Billy.’

Joey looked at Frankie in amazement. ‘Strange presents for a baby. How’s she meant to wear a sovereign and earrings?’

Frankie laughed. ‘I think they’re meant to be for when she’s older. She got some clothes as well, but I don’t like the dresses. They’re way too frilly and she’ll look ridiculous in them.’

Joey handed the baby to Dominic and sat down on the bed next to Frankie. ‘I popped round Nan and Grandad’s earlier and told them.’

‘What did they say?’ Frankie asked hopefully. She was secretly hoping for a reconciliation.

Joey shrugged. ‘You know what Nan’s like, but I reckon she’ll come round in time.’

Dominic handed the baby back to Frankie. ‘I’m busting for a wee and a coffee. I’ll be back in a bit,’ he said diplomatically. He wanted Frankie and Joey to spend some time alone together.

Frankie lay Georgie back in the cot, sat back on the bed and held Joey’s hand. It was like old times, just the two of them. Joey immediately took the mickey out of Frankie’s not-so-fashionable nightdress and Frankie returned the compliment by slating her brother’s new red leather jacket.

‘I don’t half miss you, Joey,’ Frankie said honestly.

‘I miss you, too, and I’m really worried about you, Frankie.’

‘Why? I’m OK,’ Frankie replied abruptly.

Joey had tears in his eyes as he held both of her hands. ‘I’m worried about the situation you’ve got yourself into. I was horrified when I met Jed’s family. They’re not like us, Frankie, they’re a different race. I’m not slagging off Jed, so please don’t think that, but his mum’s really awful and the way she was speaking about Georgie was as though she belonged to her, not you.’

Frankie explained Alice’s predicament. ‘She miscarried a daughter herself recently and she’s always craved a little girl. All the other kids in the family are boys. Georgie’s the first girl, so she’s bound to be a bit over the top with her.’

Joey shrugged. ‘It’s not just that, Frankie. It’s the way they speak, the way they live. Truth be known, I’ve always wanted better for you. Look at me and Dom, we’re living in a nice flat in Islington, we’re both working up town, we have a great social life. These are the things you should be doing. I know you’ve got Georgie now, and she’s absolutely gorgeous, but you can always leave Jed and come and live with me. I’ve already spoken to Dominic; he knows how worried I am and he said you and the baby can live with us for as long as you want. You can’t bring your child up around them people, Frankie, you just can’t.’

‘But I love Jed. I can’t leave him, Joey. He’s my life, he’s all I’ve got.’

As they hugged one another, both twins wept.

‘I hope it works out for you, Frankie, I really do, but if it don’t, you know where I am,’ Joey said.

‘Be honest with me, Joey. You don’t like Jed, do you?’

Joey looked at his feet. He didn’t want to upset Frankie, but he loved her so much, he couldn’t lie to her. ‘No, I don’t like Jed, Frankie. Call it brotherly intuition if you like, but I don’t trust him and I’m positive that one day you’ll agree with me.’

Frankie shook her head vehemently. ‘You’re so wrong, Joey. Jed’s a good person. He’s generous, he’ll make a fantastic father and he loves me, I know he does.’

As Dominic reappeared, Joey lowered his tone. ‘For your sake, I hope you’re right, sis.’