Fade or Flourish: Together and Apart, #6

By Ruth Hay

Rachel has learned that money is a good thing.
Money buys privacy in a grand house set in lovely surroundings.
Money buys fine furnishings, clothes and jewellery.
But … money can't buy everything.
Faithful husbands cannot be purchased at any price.
Rachel knows this because she has tried, and failed, three times.
Now, she needs money to maintain her lifestyle.
Compromises must be made … but Rachel Rowland is not good at this.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ruth Hay
• Release date: Aug 29, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223438649

Book preview

FADE OR FLOURISH

Rachel has learned that money is a good thing. Money buys privacy in a grand house set in lovely surroundings. Money buys fine furnishings, clothes and jewellery. But … money can’t buy everything. Faithful husbands cannot be purchased at any price. Rachel knows this because she has tried, and failed, three times. Now, she needs money to maintain her lifestyle. Compromises must be made … but Rachel Rowland is not good at this.

ONE

RACHEL

There are days when Rachel is happy with her many life decisions.

After all, she is surrounded by evidence of her success in this mansion on the outskirts of a lovely town with a river running through it.

Stratford town has happy memories of earlier years when she was a famous actress.

She rarely goes to town these days. Like many other things in her life, it has become difficult.

The river meanders along without changing its flow.

Time marches on, and time brings many changes to women of Rachel’s advanced years.

In the bathroom on the second floor of the mansion hangs the ornate mirror that Rachel’s mother used decades ago.

Rachel looks into this mirror every morning and sees the marks of time passing.

She converses with the mirror as if it were her mother. After all, she declares, when you live alone you need someone to talk to.

"So here we are again, Mother Dear. Nothing good to report. The bags under the eyes seem worse today. The wrinkles on the cheeks are not too bad if I don’t smile, but who do I have to smile at these days?

Yes, I will make attempts to improve my appearance today and every day. I learned from the best make-up artists in Hollywood, as you know. But the task takes longer and uses more energy.

What’s today’s plan, you ask? You always were one to make a plan, Mother.

Well, Norah is coming over around noon for a bite of lunch. I will clean up the kitchen for her arrival. No, Mother, I have not yet tackled the living room ….or the mess in the basement …..or the garden that grows wilder every day. I simply do not have the energy.

I know! I know! This state of affairs cannot continue much longer.

Decisions must be made ………… and sooner rather than later. You know I have a horror of being found dead in my bed."

Rachel turns away from the mirror and sees the bath that she no longer dares to use.

The shower has a constant drip of water that is staining the wall. She needs to call a plumber but that is problematic.

Any tradesman who enters her home will know at once that Rachel lives alone and is not very mobile. She fears she is a prime target for robbery, or worse.

She knows she cannot continue living alone in this huge house, but she fears even more the thought of a Seniors’ Residence or a Nursing Home where she will be surrounded by other aging folks waiting for the final release.

A shudder passes through her body, leaving her hands shaking.

This is no way to live, Rachel! she chides herself.

Get on with what you have to do and try to be more cheerful when Norah arrives!

Well, how are we today, Rachel?

"Norah Johnson, you know very well that I hate it when you talk to me as if I were a child.

Come in, follow me, and let’s sit down in the kitchen.

Don’t mind the mess in the hall. I can’t abide going through the mail with all the stupid flyers.

I just throw it on the floor.

Yes, it’s a hazard, but only one of many when you get to my age and have no one to rely on.

Oh, I am sorry my dear! That was mean of me. Of course, I appreciate your visits.

Just ignore my bad mood. Tell me what’s going on in town."

Norah takes her seat on the other side of the kitchen table from Rachel, but not before she quietly checks that the electric kettle has water in it and switches it on.

It’s a nice day, Rachel. You should get outside for a walk. Stratford town is busy as usual, now that theatre season is in full flow. There are too many cars if you ask me, but I suppose the town benefits from all the visitors. I hate all the noisy people on the streets but our Jeff gets lots of extra hours keeping the theatres clean and fresh so I suppose it’s an ill wind that blows nobody any good.

Rachel smiled as her friend chattered on. It was good to hear another voice in this big, old, empty house that was now her only asset in life.

Norah was the one person who came around these days. Once upon a time, Norah was her dresser in Toronto and then in Hollywood. Those glory days were far behind both of them now.

Only Norah knew the tales of the three husbands who came and went again, leaving Rachel Rowland, much poorer and wiser.

No other man would ever steal her heart, or her wealth again. She trusted no one, other than Norah, but Norah had responsibilities of her own to cope with. Rachel could not ask her to take on the increasingly deteriorating state of the mansion.

"……so, I told Jeff what we said about giving you three or four hours a week to clean and repair stuff? He said he knows zero about gardens and he couldn’t start until after the summer theatre season winds down.

Frankly, Rachel, I am thinking you also need some personal care, my dear. Now, don’t you go getting all shirty with me! I am not being critical of you, never that!

You look amazing for your age but I see how slowly you walk these days and I know the stairs in this place are hard for you.

Is there no chance of at least taking a look at a seniors’ residence of some kind?

If you sold this place you could live in comfort for the rest of your days, my dear."

Norah ran out of steam and Rachel took over with a well-worn refrain.

"Never! It would be the death of me!

I can’t deny what you say is correct, Norah, but there must be another way.

There must be and I must find it."

TWO

NORAH

She simply can’t go on like this! That huge house is like a stone around her neck and it’s weighing her down more and more with every day that passes. She won’t let me do more to help and even if I could do more, it’s hopeless. She refuses to see the signs of decay all around her.

Oh, Rachel! Rachel! I can’t let you die alone in that damn mansion but you won’t listen to me.

You refuse to sell the place because you have nothing else left. It’s become a symbol of the good old days when you held state there for the old gang of actors and actresses who fled Hollywood for pastures new. They all called it ‘Rachel’s Ravishing Residence’ and partied all night long.

Where are they now, Rachel, when you need your buddies most?

Where are they now? Some have surely passed away by this point.

Why didn’t you listen to me when I told you not to marry that washed-up actor you fell for hook line and sinker? Oh, you said you knew him from the days before you became famous. You said he’ll never treat me as badly as my other two husbands.

He was the worst of the lot of them and I was right all along!

He stole all the rest of your money and disappeared into the night.

I know! I know, Rachel…… you were too ashamed to set the authorities after him. You said he could not steal your house from you. But, my dear, dear friend, it was a terrible blow to you and since then you have steadily declined and it hurts my heart every time I see you.

Damn it! There must be an answer!

I can’t just let you end up like this. I can’t!

By this point, Norah Johnson had left the mansion grounds far behind her. She was rapidly marching toward the busy streets of Stratford, swinging her shopping bag with each angry thought and word repeating over and over again in her head.

She barely noticed the press of people around her until she accidently swung the bag into a young man who turned a corner and collided with what he presumed must be some crazy old woman talking to herself.

"Oh, sonny, I am sorry! I did not mean to hit you.

So sorry! Are you all right?"

The young man shook his head in disgust and sped on his way.

The incident broke Norah’s concentration. She stepped back, leaning against a shop window displaying the usual colourful playbills and theatrical objects like hats, decorative shawls, and fans, all set out to encourage visitors to step inside and buy tickets for the latest brilliant Stratford theatre productions.

When she had time to catch her breath, Norah turned toward the window so she could brush off a stray tear from her cheeks.

Her eye caught the bright display. It’s all about publicity in Stratford, she thought.

"Wait a minute!

Publicity! Is that what we need?

After all, that young Canadian singer, Justin Bieber, once lived in Stratford, and he made the town famous.

Why can’t Rachel Rowland’s wonderful films do the same thing for her?"

THREE

RACHEL

Rachel felt guilty when her faithful friend left the mansion.

Norah did not deserve the nasty reception she received whenever she brought up the subject of abandoning the white elephant