‘No you didn’t. You did your very best and that girl needed to go, and you were there to see her off, just as you were to see her in. You had a pain in your arse – you’re human, Molly. You’re one of the best and most caring people I know.’

‘Fuck off.’

‘You’ve also got the foulest tongue, and I’ve been around some charmers in my day,’ he said, and she smiled through cascading tears.

‘The truth is, God’s not omnipotent, and neither are you, but I like to think you both try,’ Father Frank said. ‘Take comfort in that, Molly.’

She hugged her priest and squeezed him tight. ‘Be careful of the ribs there, Molly.’

She cried on his shoulder, and when she was exhausted from tears, she lay with her head on his shoulder, spent from emotion, and for the first time since that fateful morning, grateful to be alive. Before she knew it he had started to sing, and to be fair to Frank he had a lovely tone to his voice. ‘Amazing Grace! How sweet the sound . . .’

‘Ah, will ya stop?’

‘Sing it with me, Molly.’

‘That saved a wretch like me . . . Come on, Molly, sing it with me . . . I once was lost, but now I’m found, was blind but now I see.’

Molly joined in. It was one of her favourites, and seeing as she had just bared her soul in a prison chapel, she thought . . . what the hell . . . ‘Through many dangers, toils and snares, I have already come. ’Tis grace has brought me safe thus far, and grace will lead me home.’

When they were done singing, like two drunks at a party, Molly sat quietly, and then she heard it – the most beautiful sound in the world, Rabbit’s voice inside her head. Well, I’ve fucking seen it all now, Ma. #Mortified.

Molly was laughing. ‘Oh Rabbit, there you are, love. There you are, my girl. Your ma loves ya – you know that, don’t ya?’

Of course I do, you big sap. I was here all along, Ma, you just couldn’t hear me.

I’m so sorry, love. I hear you now.

Father Frank looked around, not quite sure what to do as Molly raised her hands to heaven and cried happy tears. ‘She’s come back to me, Frank.’

‘You’re not seeing things are you, Molly?’ he asked, concerned.

‘No, you big eejit, I’m hearing things,’ she said, as if that was any better.

‘Like what?’

She listened. ‘Rabbit is calling us a pair of saps and saying religion is bollocks.’

‘That does sound like her.’

Before they parted Father Frank confirmed that Molly was going to apologise to the judge in the morning.

She nodded and she laughed. ‘It will be a pleasure.’

‘Now, Molly,’ he warned, ‘don’t start.’

‘As if I would.’

Neck of him, she heard Rabbit say, and she laughed a little.