It was truly disgusting.

The strangest, most bizarre dinner Jamie had ever had in his life.

But no one was saying anything. They were all pretending it was nice.

It would have broken Jeremy’s heart to have done anything else.

“There you go, Jacqueline,” said Jamie’s mum, smiling at their visitor as she filled her glass up to the brim. “It’s so nice to see you again.”

It was just the four of them and it was a perfect way for Jamie to prepare for his match the next day. Jamie was going to be playing for the Hawkstone reserves against the Academy players, in a special match arranged by Archie Fairclough.

It was just a small game and the Hawkstone manager, Harry Armstrong, would not even be there to watch, as he had taken his team away for a two-day bonding session to prepare for their almighty Champions League tie to be played next week.

But that didn’t matter to Jamie. It wasn’t about who would be watching. It was simply about playing again. It was an unbelievable prospect. In fact, Jamie was slightly concerned that if he thought about it too much – truly contemplated the fact that he was about to get back out there and play football again – he might physically burst with the excitement.

Which was why a quiet dinner at home with those closest to him was the ideal way for him to relax. Perfect, of course, apart from the food.

“Well?” asked Jeremy expectantly, looking at each of his fellow diners. He was still wearing his favourite lime green apron, which had the words written on the front. “What do you think? I’ve used a special type of olives, my own recipe orange sauce and the fish – I went to the market before work this morning to pick that up… What do you think? I didn’t go too far with the beetroot and sultanas, did I?”

Both Jack and Jamie used their old-school trick of hiding the fish in the middle of the mashed potato, leaving it to Jamie’s mum to politely say: “Yes, darling, it really is very … unusual!”

A slightly uncomfortable silence followed, with Jamie kicking Jack under the table to try to make her laugh.

“Good,” said Jeremy, suddenly standing up and speaking in a very posh voice. “I should like to propose a toast.”

And then he raised his glass and straightened his back.

“To Jamie,” he said, smiling at his stepson. “Good luck for tomorrow. Go for your goals.”

Almost without thinking, Jack, Karen and Jamie all nodded their heads and repeated the words back to Jeremy.

“Go for your goals.”