Chapter 41 Geraldine
Geraldine
Last week of July
One of the most touted offerings at the Maine Chance Farm was the Ardena Wax Bath. While Geraldine could hardly credit all the claims made about the procedure, she did note that there was something undeniably pleasant about the notion of settling into a tub filled with eight pounds of melted wax.
A cheerful young woman with a dazzling smile and expertly applied makeup greeted her as she entered the treatment room.
Geraldine was led to a private changing area, where she slipped into a bathing suit.
After a technician helped her pin up her hair and cover it in a cap meant for keeping it clean no matter what was being done to the rest of her, she carefully lowered herself into one of the baths.
The tub was lined with waxed paper, and managing to lie down without disarranging all of it was a bit of a trick, especially since both of her knees were playing up.
As soon as she had gotten herself settled, one of the technicians slowly poured warm liquid paraffin over her body, from her neck all the way down to her toes.
Once she was entirely encased, the technician stepped away, leaving her to her thoughts.
Little by little, she could feel the wax hardening and a flush of perspiration beginning to spring from her skin.
Even her knees had ceased to ache. Her face felt warm, and a sense of relaxation overtook her.
She closed her eyes and soon found herself nodding off, the gentle murmur of the staff and guests lulling her to sleep.
As the brochures claimed, the heat from the treatment was designed “to reach down into the very roots of her nerves to free her from tenseness and fatigue.” And free her, it did.
She barely registered a presence in the neighboring tub until she heard a voice addressing her directly.
Reluctantly, she pried open her eyes and turned to face the new arrival.
Marjorie beamed at her, her mop of unruly curls creeping out from under the edges of her cap.
She looked anything but relaxed. It could not be said that bathing caps were flattering for most women, but Marjorie seemed even less attractive in hers than most. Still, few women could boast such a genuinely beautiful smile.
As much as Geraldine was not delighted to be awakened, she could not find it in her heart to be irritated with her friend.
“I thought that must be you. There’s no one else here quite so regal looking, even in such an outrageous getup as this is,” Marjorie said, squirming slightly.
“How kind of you to say. What do you think of the Ardena Bath?” Geraldine asked. Perhaps she could do with the distraction of idle conversation. Worrying over her work for hours on end was getting her nowhere. Besides, she was interested in Marjorie’s thoughts on the resort.
“It’s all very sticky, isn’t it?” Marjorie said, wriggling about a bit. “Do you think it does any good?”
“I’m not sure if it does or if it doesn’t, but I have decided that I enjoy it.”
“They say it’s supposed to help you shed weight. If it weren’t for that, I don’t think I could force myself to put up with it.” Marjorie blew at a stray curl.
“I think it will be more effective if you try to remain still. If you crack the wax, it won’t work anywhere near as well,” Geraldine said. For an aching instant, Marjorie reminded her of Anselm, someone else who tended to fidget.
“I’m trying my best, but I have a terrible itch on my nose,” Marjorie said.
Geraldine stifled a giggle. Her companion’s face was flushed to a rosy hue. Before long, Marjorie’s curls were damp with perspiration and had stuck unbecomingly to her forehead. “You just need to focus on something else. How might I distract you?” Geraldine asked.
“You could tell me how your work is coming along.”
A flicker of concern ran through Geraldine’s mind.
She rarely discussed her work before it was ready to be exhibited.
Anselm had been her only early confidant over the many long years of their marriage.
Had the absence of his encouragement at the first tentative steps of any project been one of the reasons for her inability to work?
She closed her eyes and considered refusing to comment, but there was something so beguiling about Marjorie’s smile that she couldn’t bring herself to swat away her question. Before she had to answer, Marjorie spoke again, but this time in a hushed tone.
“Look who’s here.” She nodded vigorously towards a woman approaching their tubs. A bead of sweat rolled down her nose and landed on the hardened wax encasing her ample bosom.
Geraldine followed her gaze and noticed a strikingly beautiful woman. She suspected she had met her before, but she could not quite place her.
“Who is she? I feel that I know her from somewhere.”
Marjorie’s eyes widened in her round face, and her eyebrows, drenched in perspiration, shot upward.
“Of course you do. That’s Vivian Shaw,” Marjorie said.
“That’s who she is. We both attended a dinner party hosted by Miss Arden a few years ago.”
“I just love her films,” Marjorie said. “I’ve seen her a few times here in the treatment rooms or at dinnertime, but I haven’t gotten up the nerve to speak with her myself. Imagine her coming all the way out here from Hollywood when she could have gone to the Maine Chance in Arizona instead.”
If memory served, Vivian had over-imbibed and become merrier than was considered polite at one of Miss Arden’s dinner parties.
She had caused something of a scene, even going so far as to flirt outrageously with Anselm.
He had been mortified, but Geraldine found it entirely amusing. Perhaps Vivian was there to dry out.
“I would be happy to introduce you to her if you’d like,” Geraldine said.
“Would you really?”
“Certainly. It would be a pleasure,” Geraldine said. “I’m sure that Vivian would be delighted to make your acquaintance.”
“It looks like she is heading this way,” Marjorie said, shifting in her tub.
A large crack appeared across Marjorie’s plump shoulders as she turned. From behind her, Geraldine could hear the tapping of high-heeled shoes.
“Mrs. Putnam, I thought that was you.” Vivian leaned over her tub and flashed one of her justifiably famous smiles. “How is your charming husband?”
“He passed away some time ago, I’m sorry to say,” Geraldine said.
“My condolences,” Vivian said, frowning.
“Thank you. Allow me to introduce my friend Marjorie Billings.” Geraldine gestured with her nose towards the neighboring tub, where Marjorie seemed to be holding her breath.
“Hello, Marjorie. Are you enjoying yourself?” she asked, sweeping a slim hand above the wax-filled tub.
“It’s rather sticky and hot, but it is supposed to do a world of good.”
“I think I’ll pass. My idea of a good time is decidedly different.
Which reminds me why I headed over here.
” She lowered her voice slightly and turned back towards Geraldine.
“I’ve convinced one of the chauffeurs to drive me to a nightclub in Augusta for a bit of dancing. Would you care to come along?”
Geraldine heard a quiet squeak emanate from Marjorie.
She turned slightly to check her expression.
It was one of longing, perhaps stemming from her memories of that long-ago dance where she’d met her future husband.
Geraldine did not particularly care for nightclubs herself and had not expected to have to attend any at her age.
Nightclubs had not crossed her mind since Prohibition.
That said, she was ever-so-slightly flattered that Vivian would invite her, considering she was old enough to be the starlet’s mother.
Not to mention, if there was one thing Marjorie could use, it was a bit of fun.
“We’d love to,” Geraldine said.
Vivian appeared taken aback and looked from Geraldine to Marjorie, then back again, one eyebrow cocked in question.
Geraldine ignored it and plowed on ahead. “Marjorie and I will be ready whenever you say.”
After a pause, Vivian shrugged her elegant shoulders. It wouldn’t hurt her to include another.
“Once I settle with the chauffeur about exactly when, I’ll let you both know. Enjoy your tubs,” she said with a smile before walking away.
“Are we really allowed to go to nightclubs while we are here?” Marjorie asked.
“We aren’t prisoners,” Geraldine said. “Besides, I would guess that you’re dying to go out dancing.
” Even though her friend was a mother three times over, Geraldine did not think she could be over thirty.
It only made sense that she would be eager to partake in an activity that was livelier than a few rubbers of bridge, or a sedate trail ride through the grounds on one of the estate’s many fine horses.
Marjorie giggled and then turned to her with a worried expression. “I have no idea what to wear.”
Geraldine thought it likely that Marjorie had absolutely nothing in her wardrobe that would flatter her and be appropriate for such an occasion.
Fortunately, not only was the resort stocked with every imaginable lotion and oil for beautification, but it also offered an impressive array of garments for purchase.
With a little bit of coaching, Geraldine was quite certain Marjorie could vastly improve her appearance and feel much more confident in one fell swoop.
“You just leave that to me,” Geraldine said.