Gladys was making her dinner later in the week. She had been thinking about Rachel and wondered how she was doing. She wished she had some magical cure for what Rachel was going through. However all the advice she really had was that she had to live each day, one by one, and that it would take time. She just had to get through each day, and each day it would get a little bit easier to face the next day. She slowly ate her dinner. She always made her own dinner. Meals-on-wheels was a commendable service, but so long as she had two hands that worked she was cooking her own meals. Tonight was broiled chicken, mashed potatoes and carrots. She ate carefully, what did she need to rush for? She had finished her last bite when she heard a car drive up. She looked out her front window and saw Rachel's car. She felt excited to see her, but a little unprepared. There was nothing in the refrigerator and she hadn't even done her hair. She got up, tidied her housecoat after she had put her dishes in the sink and made her way to the door. She heard the security door open and a knock come from the brass handle.
Gladys pulled open the old door to see Rachel standing there smiling broadly with a fruit cake in her hand. Gladys was a little taken back, she looked beautiful. Her hair brown hair was done up in a nice twist and she had makeup on. Her eyes weren't red and she was smiling. Gladys invited Rachel in and asked her to please excuse the mess.
"Thank you, I just wanted to come over and tell you my good news." Rachel proclaimed as she made her way into the tiny lounge room.
"Please sit down and tell me!" Gladys exclaimed, she was over come by Rachel's enthusiasm.
Rachel recounted the last few days to Gladys. She had been determined to not let life and the tragedy that she went through consume her. When she left Gladys the other day she went to an employment agency that organised for a resume to be made for her and they helped her find some suitable places. From there she arranged interviews with a few different places. She was not qualified for anything she said, but she was willing to do mundane work until she got back on her feet. A couple of the interviews were just embarrassing and failed horrifically, she was not at all confident in the beginning. She even cried at one interview when they asked her if she was married. But, she ended up having an interview for a personal assistant position in the city for a legal firm, and she got it! She starts on Monday. It is more than she could ever have hoped for. She knows that once she learns the ropes she will excel, it is just a matter of having the self-confidence to get there, but she knows that with Gladys help she can do it.
Gladys noticed that the whole time Rachel was talking her face was bright and lovely, she was smiling, even when she mentioned Gary and how he would be so proud of her. Gladys couldn't stop smiling herself, she was so happy for Rachel and said, without realising its effects,
"I am so proud of you Rachel, I think you will make a fantastic personal assistant, maybe one day I can pop in and have lunch with you."
With that sentence Rachel broke down. She told Gladys how much she wanted Gladys to be proud of her. She knew it was silly and she couldn't explain it, but she still needed it. She told Gladys that she had gone to the wishing well before her interview to ask for help and good luck to come her way but instead she used her wish for Gladys and hoped that she would never feel sorrow again. It was then that Rachel declared the thought that came to her when she was standing at the wishing well.
"Now you don't have to say yes and I don't expect an answer right now, but I don't have to move from my house now because I will be making enough to keep it. But it's so big and I was wondering if you would like to come live with me. I wouldn't expect money or anything. I just can't think of how to repay you and I would love it. I know we don't know each other that well, but I really would like to have you there." She looked at Gladys expectantly.
Gladys stared at her in shock for a moment and then proceeded to say "I can't explain why I feel so close to you my dear, but I feel that I know you without really knowing you. I will have to think about it. I will sleep on it and get back to you. Ok?"
Gladys tossed and turned over the idea all night. In the morning she felt sure that the best course of action would be not to move away from here. She was an stubborn old woman set in her ways and Rachel didn't need someone hanging around, especially when she might want to start seeing men again one day. She told this to Rachel, who while disappointed understood entirely.
The women met every week at the wishing well after they had spoke to their respective husbands and would always make their wish together. Gladys was back to her wishing for frivolous things while Rachel continued to wish for happiness. They would go for coffee every week and Rachel would often turn up to Gladys during the week with groceries and real tea. Gladys even went into the city sometimes during the week to meet Rachel for lunch. Their bond became stronger every time they met. Rachel never offered the house to Gladys again expect to say that if she ever needed it, it was there for her.
Rachel drove along trying to think of what to do for Gladys to celebrate the first year anniversary of when they met when her mobile started to ring, she pulled the car over and answered it. Her face drained of all colour and she suddenly couldn't breathe.
