‘And you believed her?’ I asked.

‘I did.’

‘But I’m sure a thousand fathers would pass that message on to their daughters.’

Marcia shrugged. ‘I found it comforting,’ she said, and I realized that I should shut up with my doubts. I knew that Marcia had loved her father dearly and was still grieving, five years after his death. If what Saranya Ji had said had lifted some of that pain in some way, I didn’t want to pour cold water on it.

‘I’m sorry, Marcia, I didn’t mean to be cynical. You know what I’m like. I guess we know so little about what happens after death. Why shouldn’t your father speak through a medium?’

‘Indeed,’ said Marcia. She smiled. Like Pete, she was easy-going, not one to pick an argument, nor was I, although privately I thought the chances of her father’s spirit turning up to speak through a small Indian woman in Rajastan was about as likely as one of us winning the lottery.

‘It’s true,’ said Pete. ‘We know nothing about life after death, or if a spirit lives on.’

‘Oh yes we do,’ said Marcia, ‘there are loads of books about reincarnation and accounts of people who have had experiences. So, what else did Saranya Ji say to you?’

I laughed. ‘She spoke to me about a past life.’

‘Really? Did you ask her about them?’ asked Marcia.

‘No, of course not. Why would I? Didn’t she talk about past lives to you? I would have thought she would tell you two that you are soulmates and have been together life after life.’

‘We already know that,’ said Marcia, ‘but no, Saranya Ji didn’t mention anything like that. Why did she to you?’

‘Because she said she sensed sadness in me and that I hadn’t found true love. Did either of you say something to her?’

‘Not me,’ said Marcia.

‘Nor me,’ said Pete.

‘Did she talk about you meeting the love of your life?’ Marcia asked.

‘Not exactly meeting him. She said I’d already met him.’

‘Already? Great. So, someone you already know?’ asked Marcia.

‘Yes and no. I’m not sure I do know him.’

‘Stop being evasive,’ Marcia persisted. ‘What did she say exactly?’

‘She said I’d met him already—’

‘Yes, you said, you’ve already met him. Michael. I bet it was Michael O’Connor. I always thought you two were meant for each other.’

‘No. Not in this life.’

‘What? So … ah, right, in a past life?’ Marcia persisted.

‘Yes, she said I’d met him before, in a previous life, when I was called Grace Harris; in many previous lives, in fact. She said we’d been together time after time.’

‘A soulmate,’ said Pete.

‘Yes.’

‘Lovely, how romantic,’ said Marcia.