He felt sorry for her even as he wished he had met her as a civilian and not in a hostess club flashing her clout to whoever had the money. He knew that he would keep her on the side and he was ashamed that he wasn't man enough to take her as she was. But it was hard for a man when the woman they were with was well-known. Eventually, it would cause trouble. Eventually he would use it against her. That was the way the world worked. She was sensible enough to know that herself. He wouldn't have to explain himself to her, she would take whatever crumbs he threw her.

'I'd better get back to work, mate.'

He nodded then and she saw the face that haunted her dreams and had grabbed her from the first time she had laid eyes on it. He had hit her like a bolt of lightning and the feeling had not decreased as it should have, it seemed to grow bigger by the day.

He dressed himself quickly and, kissing her gently on the brow, he left her.

Ivana lay there in the hotel room that was depressing now, with its scratched dressing table and dirty carpet, and she wondered what would be the outcome of this strange relationship they had.

The one thing she did know was that, no matter what happened, she would be there for him. She was caught up in him and needed him more than she had ever needed anyone or anything before in her life. She also knew that, without a doubt, he would break her heart.

Lance saw his little sister getting out of a car and he walked out of the house to see who had brought her home. He was surprised to see a young man in a police uniform driving an old Ford.

'What the fuck is going on?'

Eileen wished she was dead but she knew she had to diffuse this situation before that luxury could be afforded to her.

'I got lost, Lance, and this man was kind enough to give me a lift home.'

Lance bent down and looked into the car, peering in the window at the man in the driver's seat.

'Where did you get lost then?'

'I went to a party in Essex and lost me mates. I saw a police car and flagged it down.'

The young man could feel her fear and it was communicating itself to him. This was a man who, he knew, instinctively, was definitely not someone to cross.

'Well, this ain't a fucking police car, or is it? Are the filth cars in Essex different to the ones everywhere else? Only I thought they were supposed to be instantly recognisable? Wasn't that the whole idea of them in the first place?'

'Excuse me, sir, but I was just finishing my shift and the young lady was obviously in a bind. I offered to drop her off rather than leave her alone at a train station.'

Lance saw the logic of what the boy was saying and, with one of his lightning changes of mood, he smiled. This was something that was so rare it was more worrying to Eileen than his usual miserable demeanour.

'Thanks. You're right, of course. She is only young.'

The young policeman could feel the terror coming off her in waves now and he was sorry he wasn't brave enough to stay around and see what the score was. He couldn't wait to get going in fact. And, starting up the engine, he waved quickly before driving off in case this man decided he was not going to be so nice about it all.

Eileen looked at Lance for a few moments and she wondered how someone who looked so much like Patrick could not be called good-looking. On Patrick the same features were blindingly good-looking, on Lance they made him look like a psychopath.

'I know you don't want to hear it, Eileen, but I worry about you. You're a baby and there are men in the world who would take advantage of your youth and your inexperience.'

For the first time ever, Eileen was grateful to him for his overbearing and protective attitude.

'Thanks, Lance. I know you're right and I know you're only trying to take care of me.'

He was surprised at her answer, she knew. Normally, she would be causing murders, accusing him of all sorts and making a drama out of his concern.

'Is Nanny Annie in?'

Lance nodded and they walked amiably back into the house together.

'Bloody hell, wonders will never cease,' Annie said in undisguised surprise as she saw them coming in together.

Eileen didn't bother to answer her. She walked through to the kitchen where her mother was making another one of her pots of tea.

'Fancy a cup, love?'

Eileen smiled and kissed her gently. 'I love you, Mum.'

Lil laughed then, a loud, knowing laugh. 'Who hurt you, darling?'

She pulled her daughter into her arms and hugged her tightly.

'Come on. Who was it and where do they live?'

'Oh, Mum…' Eileen was crying now; her mother's astute observation at what had befallen her just made it all the more poignant.

'Sssh. Stop it, darling. Don't cry. Remember you have to kiss a lot of frogs before you find a prince.'

Eileen suddenly felt her mother's body tense up and she made a low groan.

'The baby is on its way. I was having a cup of tea before I go off.'

Eileen couldn't believe what she was hearing. 'You're really in labour?'

Lil laughed again, that deep-throated chuckle that was her trademark.

'I'm having a baby, Eileen. It's not that hard, love. It is going to come out no matter what. In fact, I think it is nearer than I thought. I can feel it bearing down.' Lil sat back in the chair once more and took a few deep breaths. 'Phone the doctor, love. He must be sick of this fucking house. But, first, pour me out another cuppa. Lots of sugar, darling, for energy.'

She bent double again and she knew the baby was well on its way now.

'Oh, Eileen, I forgot how much it fucking hurts, darling.' She was still laughing when the child arrived twenty minutes later.

Pat was with Mac and they walked into the Eagle together. After ordering a couple of drinks, they made their way over to the corner and Pat smiled down at the man sitting there with his pint of Guinness. Then, pulling up a chair, he sat down easily.

'It's a boy. I thought you might want to know that.'

Mac was standing behind Pat and Jambo was not sure what they expected from him so he just sat there and smiled gently as he always did.

'She OK, your mother?'

Pat nodded. He was looking at the man intently and he understood his mother's attraction to him. Jambo had a quietness about him that she must have found so refreshing after the other men in her life.

'Yeah. You know her, takes everything in her stride.'

Jambo sipped his drink. 'Not everything, boy, she feels a lot more than she lets on, you know.'

Patrick didn't answer him. He didn't know what to say. Now he was here, he felt as if he was intruding on his mother's private life. She didn't have much of her own, much that wasn't about the kids or the family. Or the problems she had to deal with, and this man was her little bit of downtime, her escape from everything.

Pat had asked around about Jambo and knew his rep. Even though he wasn't the man he would have chosen for her, he hadn't heard anything detrimental about him.

'How big is the baby? She named it yet?' Jambo was surprised to find that he was genuinely interested.

'Eight pound and no name as yet.'

Mackie was watching them closely and he decided they needed another drink. When he brought them back to the table he was not surprised to see the men chatting away together. He knew Jambo and he was all right. He liked his own company and women found him attractive; he was handsome in a masculine way. His skin was well-toned, not too dark, and he had the easy-going way that womanisers develop at an early age. But one thing in his favour was that he never promised anything he couldn't deliver.

Similar thoughts were going through Patrick's mind as he chatted with the man who had fathered the latest addition to his family. Jambo smiled at him and Patrick saw Lil's attraction to him. When he smiled, he looked like he had the world in his pocket.