under her eyes were less prominent, and there was a bit of a glow in her cheeks. Although she could just be wearing makeup. Was that a hint of gloss on her lips?
‘So who’s Lily?’ he asked, suddenly remembering what Jade had said.
Jade smiled again. ‘You’ll meet her. Today. We’re going to see them all.’
‘Them?’ Nick couldn’t help feeling a bit lost. Or was he just distracted by the woman walking along beside him?
She just laughed, squeezed his arm and increased her pace, dragging him across a junction and down a side street. She stopped in front of a large two-storey brick-built building.
‘Sunnyside Retirement Home,’ Nick read off the sign.
‘I started coming here a couple of years ago. It started just as a way to give a bit back to the community. And then I met Lily.’
‘She must be someone pretty special.’ Nick could see the faint smile that played over her mouth and made his deductions from that. ‘I’m looking forward to meeting her.’
‘Oh, you will.’ Jade took his elbow and steered him through the double doors. ‘But I also want you to meet Archie.’
‘I think I’m just going to go with it and not ask any more questions.’ Nick couldn’t help a smile starting on his own face.
A friendly woman dressed in pink hospital scrubs greeted them from behind the reception desk. Nick noticed that she was wearing fluffy pink earrings to match. Despite her clothes the entrance hall looked nothing like a hospital. Two big blue comfy chairs stood ready for anyone who was waiting, and there were modern-looking photos of Glasgow landmarks around the walls. It smelled clean and fresh, and there was no hint of disinfectant.
‘Hi Sandra, this is Nick,’ Jade said. ‘I’ve brought him along to help out today.’
The woman looked him up and down in an appraising manner, but not unkindly. ‘Hope you have big muscles,’ she said. ‘Clive’s just called to say he’s got the flu, so we’ll be needing someone to push Archie.’
Nick was really starting to wonder what kind of crazy scheme he had got himself in for. ‘Just what is it we’re supposed to be doing today?’
‘Oh yeah, I forgot to tell you.’ Jade was unrepentant. ‘We’re taking a group of these people to the Riverside Museum.’
‘And just how are we going to do that?’ Nick had a crazy vision of trying to get a big group of wheelchairs onto the train while other passengers cursed the delays they were making.
Jade laughed, her eyes lighting up. ‘Just relax and go with the flow. Loosen up. It’s all been planned.’
They turned down the corridor into what was obviously some type of lounge. About fifteen people sat around on dark grey sofas and comfy chairs. But, just like the entrance hall, this was no depressing beigey communal living space. Bright pictures decorated the walls, and hand-made cushions were scattered on the sofas. Lovely arrangements of fresh flowers were dotted around, giving off beautiful scents.
‘That’s Sandra’s work,’ Jade said, seeing him looking. ‘She was a florist before she came here.’
Jade seemed to know everyone, and she introduced him, although Nick quickly lost track of all the names. Two of them she kept for last, though, and Nick knew this must be Lily and Archie.
Archie was sitting in a wheelchair beside Lily, hunched over slightly. He had a massive hooked nose and chin under a large mop of messy white hair, and his face looked like someone who had spent a lot of time outside in his life. He reminded Nick of his grandfather actually. What he could remember of him.
‘This is Archie,’ Jade made a gesture with her hand, ‘and this is Lily.’ She smiled at the older woman and gave her a warm hug in greeting. ‘They’re not married, although you could be forgiven for thinking that.’
‘Never have been, and never will be.’ Archie’s tone was gruff, but looking closer Nick could see his eyes were twinkling.
Nick was surprised to see that Archie was smartly dressed in shirt and tie with a bright red jumper.
Archie must have seen his expression, because the old man reached out and put a hand on Jade’s arm. ‘Your young man there seems to be surprised that we’re all spruced up for today. What did you expect? A group of lolling, drooling imbeciles?’ He waved an arm in the air and made a face that was clearly meant to be an imitation of his words.
‘Oh hush, Archie.’ Lily spoke for the first time. ‘Stop with your antics and be kind to the young man. Otherwise they’ll leave you here without anyone to push you around. And you know how much you’re looking forward to that new tram they’ve bought recently.’
Nick was just about to say something when a group of other people entered the lounge. Most appeared to be retirement age themselves, and although there were a couple of other people who looked like they were a bit closer to his age, he and Jade were clearly the youngest by far in the room. All the newcomers sat themselves wherever there were free spaces, and a chatter started up in the room as people greeted each other and started catching up.
‘What are we waiting for?’ Nick wanted to know.
‘Keith,’ Jade said. ‘He drives the minibus.’
‘Ah,’ Nick said. He perched himself on the edge of a seat, suddenly unsure of himself and feeling very self-conscious.
Lily patted him on the arm. ‘So, young man, what do you do with your time?’
He turned towards her, looking at her properly for the first time. Her white hair was elegantly swept up in a carefully sculpted style, and the wrinkles on her face only made her look more beautiful, not less so. He suddenly wondered what she had looked like when she was younger.
‘I work as a programmer. For a consultancy. We mainly work for banks.’ He realised he didn’t sound very forthcoming and hurried to add some more. ‘You know, internet security and that sort of thing.’
‘Ah.’ Lily seemed to absorb this information for a minute. ‘Sounds like a very important job.’
Of all the things Nick had heard his job called, important wasn’t one of them. He was just a graduate, on the bottom rung of the ladder. ‘Sorry? How do you mean?’ He couldn’t help the question slipping out.
Lily nodded slowly. ‘Well, if you’re in security, you’re keeping people’s money safe, isn’t that right?’
Nick paused to think about this, rubbing his chin while he did so. ‘I guess so. I’d never thought about it like that. But I only started less than a year ago. I’m just a minion for my boss.’
Archie cracked a laugh, startling Nick. ‘The minions always do the most important work, lad. Forget the bosses who swan around drinking coffee all day.’
Which was pretty much what his boss did most of the time, Nick reflected. He was saved from having to reply by the arrival of Keith, and shortly after that found himself pushing Archie out of the building and up a steep metal ramp into the slightly faded minibus. Jade and Lily followed slowly, with Lily leaning on Jade’s arm. The minibus was full by the time they set off.
