Nina lay propped up in bed with a pink shawl across her shoulders, her small studio filled with light. The afternoon sun streamed through her large window and bounced off all the piles of sequinned cushions and shiny surfaces, making the room sparkle. Romy was certain it was the most colourful and glamorous apartment in the retirement village.

She pecked a very sleepy Nina on the forehead, then patted her hand before digging around in the kitchen for a vase.

‘It’s just a cold. No need for you to make this fuss,’ croaked Nina.

‘Nonsense,’ said Romy as she filled the vase with yellow tulips and placed them on Nina’s bedside table. ‘These will cheer you up.’

‘Thank you,’ replied Nina with an impish smile. ‘But a good whisky would do a better job. Don’t suppose that’s what you’ve brought in your bag there?’

Romy rolled her eyes, reached for Nina’s wrist and took her pulse. When she’d finished, she said, ‘Now show me your tongue.’

Nina winced, but poked out her tongue and wriggled it like a naughty toddler.

Romy studied it for a minute before she said: ‘Just as I thought. You are worn out. I’ve got some Yin tonic—bai shao—for the liver and circulation. It’s made from dried peony roots.’

‘More gems from your garden. Lucky me,’ said Nina drily.

Nina wriggled forwards so Romy could plump her pillows, before collapsing back on the bed and sipping a warm cup of bai shao poured from Romy’s old green thermos. Nina’s lips puckered and brow creased as she spluttered and eventually drank the dark, bitter liquid. ‘Ach.’ She wiped her lips with the back of her hand. ‘That tastes like poison,’ she said, eyes twinkling. ‘I’ll be back doing Zumba by the end of the week.’ She blinked at her friend, voice softening. ‘Worst one yet, sturer Bock!’

Romy had already pulled up the sheets to reveal Nina’s swollen ankles, and was poking them gently to see where to place her needles.

‘You heard from Alexandra?’

‘Ye-es,’ answered Romy, still prodding to find the right point on the outside of the left ankle. She slid a needle in without Nina noticing, and looked up.

‘And?’ said Nina impatiently.

Romy shrugged. ‘She seems fine.’

‘Fine! That girl, she’s been saying she’s fine since she was a kid.’ She paused, imitating Alexandra. ‘“I’m fine, Aunt Nina,” she’d say with those big sad eyes. Like a little girl lost…’ Nina closed her eyes then opened them again. ‘You should tell her. What harm will it do now Wilhelm has gone?’

Romy held another packet of needles up to the light and peeled away the plastic. She took a deep breath and slowly counted to ten. She’d believed all those years ago she’d made the right decision.

Nina shook her head, her eyelids closing again as she drifted towards sleep. ‘We’re too old for secrets,’ she said.