He nodded, relieved a little because not being 'dead' (for all that amounts to as an angel anyway) was a relief and it was also good to think that not all of these people (all of whom had been rather kind and welcoming so far) were stuck in some kind of odd purgatory.

"Understandable. It's not the same for me," he said. "But I do understand. I can't say my... family," because he had to put this in a way that sounded mortal (and he couldn't very well claim it was related to his job now that he had outed himself as a shopkeeper) "and I parted on great terms either and, they most probably would like me dead. But rest assured," he patted the back of her hand gently, "if you ever do wish to speak of them and are in need of a sympathetic ear or a shoulder to lean on, I am here."