The Consequences (29 page)
Authors: Colette Freedman
“I think it's a fabulous idea.”
The two women walked toward the entrance of the cemetery before Stephanie shyly looked at Kathy.
“So . . . would you consider taking on a partner?”
A READING GROUP GUIDE
The Consequences
Colette Freedman
About This Guide
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The suggested questions are included
to enhance your group's reading of
Colette Freedman's
The Consequences
.
to enhance your group's reading of
Colette Freedman's
The Consequences
.
Discussion Questions
1.
Stephanie asks herself, “What attracted a thirty-three-year-old, single, unattached, attractive woman, with her own mortgage and car, to a man with the ultimate baggage: a wife, two teens, and a struggling business?” Why do you think she's attracted to a man with so many complications? Have you ever been in her position? What does she see in Robert that makes him so attractive to her?
Stephanie asks herself, “What attracted a thirty-three-year-old, single, unattached, attractive woman, with her own mortgage and car, to a man with the ultimate baggage: a wife, two teens, and a struggling business?” Why do you think she's attracted to a man with so many complications? Have you ever been in her position? What does she see in Robert that makes him so attractive to her?
2.
Stephanie says, “All men lie. But let's be honest, we wouldn't want them to tell us the truth about everything, would we?” She similarly believes that all women lie as well. When is it okay to lie to a spouse or partner? Have you ever lied to your spouse? Can a lie be justified?
Stephanie says, “All men lie. But let's be honest, we wouldn't want them to tell us the truth about everything, would we?” She similarly believes that all women lie as well. When is it okay to lie to a spouse or partner? Have you ever lied to your spouse? Can a lie be justified?
3.
As technology changes, so too does the nature of an affair and, indeed, all relationships. Stephanie checks her e-mail and finds an urgent message from Robert. She also gets an instant message from him. How do you think technology has played a role in affairs? Are relationships stronger or weaker now because we are almost always connected?
As technology changes, so too does the nature of an affair and, indeed, all relationships. Stephanie checks her e-mail and finds an urgent message from Robert. She also gets an instant message from him. How do you think technology has played a role in affairs? Are relationships stronger or weaker now because we are almost always connected?
4.
Stephanie's father advises her that “love is the only thing worth fighting for.” Is love always worth fighting forâeven if it's with the wrong person?
Stephanie's father advises her that “love is the only thing worth fighting for.” Is love always worth fighting forâeven if it's with the wrong person?
5.
Are you surprised by Stephanie's coldness when she learns about Jimmy's death? Does it make her a bad friend that she did not immediately console Robert? How would you react if your lover's best friend had just died?
Are you surprised by Stephanie's coldness when she learns about Jimmy's death? Does it make her a bad friend that she did not immediately console Robert? How would you react if your lover's best friend had just died?
6.
Should Stephanie tell Robert she is pregnant with his child or should she keep that information to herself? Why?
Should Stephanie tell Robert she is pregnant with his child or should she keep that information to herself? Why?
7.
Maureen tells Robert that it is time for him to choose between Stephanie and Kathy. Yet, do you think the choice is still his to make? Is it really now the women who are making the decisions in this situation?
Maureen tells Robert that it is time for him to choose between Stephanie and Kathy. Yet, do you think the choice is still his to make? Is it really now the women who are making the decisions in this situation?
8.
When Kathy confronts Robert, she accepts some responsibility for what happened. How culpable do you feel Kathy was? Can you fault her for his affair?
When Kathy confronts Robert, she accepts some responsibility for what happened. How culpable do you feel Kathy was? Can you fault her for his affair?
9.
Robert worries that Kathy will spy on him for the rest of their relationship. When trust is broken, how long do you feel it takes for that trust to be rebuilt? Indeed, is it ever possible for trust to be rebuilt? Could you trust your partner if he or she had betrayed you by having an affair?
Robert worries that Kathy will spy on him for the rest of their relationship. When trust is broken, how long do you feel it takes for that trust to be rebuilt? Indeed, is it ever possible for trust to be rebuilt? Could you trust your partner if he or she had betrayed you by having an affair?
10.
Kathy wonders if a man and a woman can have a purely platonic relationship. Do you think it's possible? Do you know any male-female friendships that are completely devoid of sexual tension?
Kathy wonders if a man and a woman can have a purely platonic relationship. Do you think it's possible? Do you know any male-female friendships that are completely devoid of sexual tension?
11.
Kathy's sister Julia immediately rushes to judgment over their sister Sheila's affair. Have you ever jumped to a conclusion about a relationship before hearing both sides of the story?
Kathy's sister Julia immediately rushes to judgment over their sister Sheila's affair. Have you ever jumped to a conclusion about a relationship before hearing both sides of the story?
12.
When the truth about an affair comes out, women usually side with women and men with men. Have you ever stuck with a friend even though you knew he or she was behaving in an inappropriate manner?
When the truth about an affair comes out, women usually side with women and men with men. Have you ever stuck with a friend even though you knew he or she was behaving in an inappropriate manner?
13.
Sheila says, “In an affair, there are no blacks and whites, only shades of gray.” But is that true? Or is an affair always black and white and simply wrong? Where are the shades of gray in Robert's affair?
Sheila says, “In an affair, there are no blacks and whites, only shades of gray.” But is that true? Or is an affair always black and white and simply wrong? Where are the shades of gray in Robert's affair?
14.
Robert and Kathy's children are present throughout the book and are a major factor in both Kathy's and Robert's thoughts. We never get to see their side of the story. How perceptive would teenage children be to a situation like this unfolding around them? Whose side do you think they would take?
Robert and Kathy's children are present throughout the book and are a major factor in both Kathy's and Robert's thoughts. We never get to see their side of the story. How perceptive would teenage children be to a situation like this unfolding around them? Whose side do you think they would take?
15.
Until Kathy discovers Robert's ultimate betrayal of lies, she still has hope that they can rebuild their relationship. Can you understand her actions and is she right to fight for Robert even after the betrayal of the affair? Do you agree with her?
Until Kathy discovers Robert's ultimate betrayal of lies, she still has hope that they can rebuild their relationship. Can you understand her actions and is she right to fight for Robert even after the betrayal of the affair? Do you agree with her?
16.
At the end of the book, the two women discuss going into business together. Given that they are very alike in many ways (Stephanie has acknowledged that she is a younger version of Kathy), do you think the women would be good business partners?
At the end of the book, the two women discuss going into business together. Given that they are very alike in many ways (Stephanie has acknowledged that she is a younger version of Kathy), do you think the women would be good business partners?
17.
Statistically, men often have affairs with women who look like a younger version of their present partners. Women never have affairs with men who look like their partners. Why is this, and what does this tell us about the sexes?
Statistically, men often have affairs with women who look like a younger version of their present partners. Women never have affairs with men who look like their partners. Why is this, and what does this tell us about the sexes?
18.
Where do you think Robert will be in a year's time? He is about to lose his wife and family, his home, and probably his business. Can he start again or will he end up like Jimmy Moran?
Where do you think Robert will be in a year's time? He is about to lose his wife and family, his home, and probably his business. Can he start again or will he end up like Jimmy Moran?
19.
All affairs begin in the mind. But at what point does an affair begin? Is it with flirtation, a kiss that is more than a peck on the cheek, sexual texting or salacious e-mails? Or does the affair really begin the moment the couple end up in bed together?
All affairs begin in the mind. But at what point does an affair begin? Is it with flirtation, a kiss that is more than a peck on the cheek, sexual texting or salacious e-mails? Or does the affair really begin the moment the couple end up in bed together?
© Theo and Juliet
Colette Freedman
is an internationally produced playwright with more than twenty-five produced plays, including
Sister Cities,
which was the hit of the 2008 Edinburgh Fringe. She has cowritten, with international bestselling novelist Jackie Collins, the play
Jackie Collins Hollywood Lies.
In collaboration with
New York Times
bestselling author Michael Scott, she has cowritten the thriller
The Thirteen Hallows.
Visit her on the Web at
www.colettefreedman.com
.
is an internationally produced playwright with more than twenty-five produced plays, including
Sister Cities,
which was the hit of the 2008 Edinburgh Fringe. She has cowritten, with international bestselling novelist Jackie Collins, the play
Jackie Collins Hollywood Lies.
In collaboration with
New York Times
bestselling author Michael Scott, she has cowritten the thriller
The Thirteen Hallows.
Visit her on the Web at
www.colettefreedman.com
.
THE AFFAIR
The biggest lies are the ones we tell ourselves.
After eighteen years of marriage, Kathy Walker has settled into a pattern of comfortable routinesâferrying her two teenagers between soccer practice and piano lessons, supporting her husband, Robert, in the running of their production company, and taking care of the beautiful Boston home they share. Then one day, Kathy discovers a suspicious number on her husband's phone. Six years before, Kathy accused Robert of infidelityâa charge he vehemently deniedâand almost destroyed their marriage in the process.
Now Kathy must decide whether to follow her suspicions at the risk of losing everything, or to trust the man with whom she's entwined her past, present, and future. As she grapples with that choice, she is confronted with surprising truths not just about her relationship, but about her friends, family, and her own motivations.
Skillfully crafted and deeply insightful,
The Affair
sensitively explores the complexities of love and the challenge of ever knowing another person fully, even as we endeavor to understand our own deepest longings.
The Affair
sensitively explores the complexities of love and the challenge of ever knowing another person fully, even as we endeavor to understand our own deepest longings.
KENSINGTON BOOKS are published by
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Kensington Publishing Corp.
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New York, NY 10018
119 West 40th Street
New York, NY 10018
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Copyright © 2014 by Colette Freedman
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All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means without the prior written consent of the Publisher, excepting brief quotes used in reviews.
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Kensington and the K logo Reg. U.S. Pat. & TM Off.
ISBN: 978-0-7582-8102-9
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eISBN-13 : 978-0-7582-8103-6
eISBN-10: 0-7582-8103-X
eISBN-10: 0-7582-8103-X
First Kensington Electronic Edition: February 2014
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