A peaceful feeling settles over Agnes. Not all who claim to possess her powers are fake. It is indeed worth risking jail, or her husband’s disappointment. For decades, his lack of understanding has left her more than lonely but what great thing is achieved in comfort? The littlest sister clutches her elder sister’s hand so tight. Her fists and arms are still dimpled. Her tiny feet are so perfect. Two tears slide down Agnes’s cheek. The entire sky flashes light pink and then black again. The footsteps are now so close.

– Where has she been, Mr Udnam?

It is the eldest sister, allowing him one last opportunity to save his soul.

He shakes his head.

Archie sits further back in his chair as their living-room door appears to open by itself. Rain rattles the windows. It flows down the gutter outside. A rumble builds so deeply it feels the entire building could split in two.

– Jessie?

The littlest sister, Mary, tries to run forward and is stopped by Olive.

– Wait…

Agnes looks up.

Mr Udnam turns toward the door. Right in the middle of it is a young woman with black hair and bright eyes and two perfect horns on top of her beautiful head. She steps into the room. Raises her long skirts. Reveals perfect cloven hoofs – a gift from the ether. She extends a hand into the dark hallway behind her. It is taken by Elise – delicate as ever – still in love with her Jessie – even more now in spirit, it seems. The two women stand in the doorway. Between their legs, emerging from under their skirts, is a tiny little girl. She is no more than three years old, with her own perfect white ivory horns – a contrast to her mother’s long dark ones – and she has dimples, much to the delight of the younger angels.

– Hope!

– We never stopped looking for you, not all these years. He wouldn’t say where you had gone!

– Olive, Mary, Clementine, Rose, Bessie.

– Elise!

– Did you know what happened to us?

The five red-haired sisters look at their elder mirror image who is wide-eyed with emotion for her younger siblings.

– I know, I couldn’t come…

– Why not?

– Mother didn’t make it in the end. You know that too?

– I know.

– Is she with you?

– She’s in the in-between place, for now.

– Is that where he’s going?

The twins point at Mr Udnam.

– No.

– I thought I was being escorted by angels?

– Angels don’t get to go where you are going, Mr Udnam. Jessie carefully says.

She turns and curtsies to Agnes, at her table, all lit up by candlelight.

– Thank you, ma’am, for having us in your home. We have waited a long time for this opportunity. We’ve been unable to make contact properly with anyone since we passed, despite trying. It feels like we will never move on from this building…

– What did he do? Clementine asks Jessie.