In this final episode of "A Respectable Veneer" written by Rachel Dore, published by Upstart Press and narrated by Romi Hooper—Ruby faces the hardest truth of all: she must carry on. With Douglas broken by grief and gone for good, and the threat of losing her home hanging over her, Ruby fights to hold herself and Edie steady. But when the solicitor finally reveals Frank’s last wishes, everything shifts. Ruby must confront a future she never imagined—one filled with responsibility, independence, and the strange possibility of safety at last. As she takes her first decisive steps forward, the ghost of Frank’s laughter lingers, urging her to claim the life he believed she deserved.

Content Warning: Contains elements of violence and references to child abuse.

Made with support from NZ On Air, the Earle Creativity and Development Trust, and Manawatū People’s Radio.