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owned it. You’re in Brick Lane, aren’t you?’
    He nodded. ‘Yes, I think I’ll do well from it, even though it’s quite poky as they say.’ He gave a small chortle.
    ‘Namzul, you’ll make a killing. Not bad at all for a relief schoolteacher.’
    He shrugged. ‘I had help from relatives and I bought when no one else wanted to live there. I promise you, Lily, it’s really tiny.’
    ‘So how can I help?’ she asked, checking the directions over his shoulder so she was definitely headed to the west wing. And as if on cue another of the nursing sisters appeared.
    ‘Ah, Miss Wu, more flowers. My ward?’
    She’d forgotten her name. ‘I’m afraid so, Nurse er . . .’
    ‘Sister Beckitt,’ she answered crisply. ‘You may call me “Sister”.’
    ‘These four bouquets are all for your ward, Sister.’
    ‘Indeed. You might like to suggest to your customers that they pay for vases as well. We don’t have an endless supply.’ The sister pursed her lips and sailed past them.
    Bitch , Lily mouthed to her companion.

    ‘Jealousy’s a curse. Just look at her varicose veins — and her uniform is a little snug, don’t you think?’ Namzul made Lily laugh.
    ‘Come on, keep walking with me,’ she said cheerily. ‘Tell me about your flat.’
    ‘Well, it’s just that the place needs brightening. I don’t have money to buy new furniture or redecorate but the estate agent said most new owners like to do it all themselves anyway. The place is painted in a plain off-white and I thought some vases of flowers would be . . . you know . . . helpful.’
    ‘Oh, right. Do you want me to make some suggestions or just order something — you’d need to let me know how many bunches, what sort of budget and so on.’ They had paused by the central Victorian staircase.
    ‘I know it’s a big favour, but Lily I’ve got no idea and my flat is just around the corner.’ Namzul smiled shyly. ‘Do you think you could drop by, just for a minute, and decide what I need? You know best.’
    She frowned. She didn’t really have time, but she liked Namzul. She’d known him for the four years she’d been delivering flowers to the hospital, and he always had a quick smile, a ready compliment for her and had helped her quite a few times carrying flowers and potplants to and from the wards. He’d never asked for anything in return, and although they weren’t close friends, they shared a coffee now and then in the gardens and almost always had a good laugh. He was a lonely fellow, she sensed, but he didn’t show it and was always in a happy frame of mind. Plus Namzul didn’t eye her in the same hungry way that other men around the hospital did. She felt safe with Namzul.
    ‘Er . . .’ Torn, she really didn’t know what to say.

    ‘Oh go on, Lily, help me out. I’ll buy you lunch if I sell it and you know I’ll pay whatever you ask for the flowers.’
    She grinned, shrugged. ‘Okay. Look I’ll be through here in about, ooh let’s see,’ she said, glancing at her watch, ‘about ten minutes. I have to get back to the store for the next round of drops so this is going to have to be lightning fast you understand.’
    He grabbed and kissed her hand. ‘Thanks, Lily. Two minutes, I promise. Just run upstairs, have a look around and then you can go back to the shop and organise it all.’
    ‘Fine. But I’ll be there really soon and you’d better have somewhere I can leave my van. I’m not spending ages looking for parking, you know what it’s like around here.’
    He waved his hand as if it was of no consequence. ‘You’re in a van, no problem. There’s deliveries in Brick Lane all day long because of the restaurants. As you enter the street, look for the signage that says Jahan Balti Cuisine. I live above the restaurant, top floor. There’s a side lane and you can stop there for a minute or so. It’s a loading bay.’
    ‘Don’t keep me waiting,’ she warned, heading down the stairs, cradling the flowers.
    When