Authors: Mary Monroe
Bad Blood (35 page)
“I'm glad to hear that, Seth.”
“Anyway, I'm glad I ran into you. I wish you nothing but the best.” I held my breath and tried to come up with the right words to say next. I had to blink hard to hold back my tears. “Rachel, I should have apologized to you years ago about the reason I didn't want to marry you. I'm doing it now, and I mean it from the bottom of my heart. I was a fool, and I eventually realized that.”
My belated apology surprised Rachel. She gasped and began to stutter. “Seth . . . I . . . I . . . I accept your apology. I owe you one, too.”
“And I accept it. Like I just said, I wish you nothing but the best.”
“I wish you the same, Seth.” She looked at her watch and exhaled. She stared at me; I stared back. I didn't know what to say next, and apparently, she didn't, either. Finally, she looked at her watch and said, “I want to run over to Macy's and pick up a few items to take with me to Mexico, so I'd better get going.”
With her eyes still on mine, she rose. Our table was in front of a window near the entrance. When she stood up straight, a bright ray of sunshine streamed in and illuminated her face. It gave her a glow that almost seemed like divine intervention. Maybe it was because a feeling of warmth and peace came over me and made me want to look at my situation from a different point of view.
I knew then that my outlook on life was going to improve dramatically, because I had finally made peace with the only woman I had ever truly loved.
“Good-bye, Seth. It was really nice seeing you, and . . . no hard feelings, right?”
“Right.” It felt so good to tell the truth. The more I told the truth, the better I felt. I couldn't wait to see what the future held for me now that I had become the man I should have been years ago.
“Good luck, Seth.”
“The same to you, Rachel.”
I stood up and was about to walk off in the opposite direction. But before I could, she trotted up to me and gave me another hug and a quick kiss on the cheek. It made me feel better than I had in a long time.
READING GROUP GUIDE
BAD BLOOD
Mary Monroe
ABOUT THIS GUIDE
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The suggested questions that follow are included to enhance
your group's reading of this book.
your group's reading of this book.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1.
Would you end a relationship with someone if you found out there was a history of mental illness in his or her family?
Would you end a relationship with someone if you found out there was a history of mental illness in his or her family?
2.
Do you think Rachel should have told Seth about her family's mental illness issues before he asked her to marry him?
Do you think Rachel should have told Seth about her family's mental illness issues before he asked her to marry him?
3.
Rachel's mother and her aunt Hattie thought that mental illness was acceptable but that being gay was not. They had practically disowned their younger brother Albert because he dated only men. Do you know people who feel the same way?
Rachel's mother and her aunt Hattie thought that mental illness was acceptable but that being gay was not. They had practically disowned their younger brother Albert because he dated only men. Do you know people who feel the same way?
4.
Were you surprised when Seth decided to stay in the relationship with Rachel only until she helped him get out of debt?
Were you surprised when Seth decided to stay in the relationship with Rachel only until she helped him get out of debt?
5.
Do you think it was wrong for Rachel to continue sleeping with Skirt when she didn't want to be seen with him in public because he was such a thug?
Do you think it was wrong for Rachel to continue sleeping with Skirt when she didn't want to be seen with him in public because he was such a thug?
6.
Were you surprised when Seth's father, Conrad, attempted to hit on Rachel? Were you glad when she gave him a black eye when he showed up at her apartment after Seth had broken up with her?
Were you surprised when Seth's father, Conrad, attempted to hit on Rachel? Were you glad when she gave him a black eye when he showed up at her apartment after Seth had broken up with her?
7.
Darla was a beautiful, well-groomed woman when Seth met her and decided to marry her instead of Rachel. However, shortly after the wedding Darla turned into a slovenly, self-centered bitch who hated and mistreated Seth's teenage son, Darnell. Do you think Seth got just what he deserved?
Darla was a beautiful, well-groomed woman when Seth met her and decided to marry her instead of Rachel. However, shortly after the wedding Darla turned into a slovenly, self-centered bitch who hated and mistreated Seth's teenage son, Darnell. Do you think Seth got just what he deserved?
8.
Seth's troubled son had a lot of behavioral problems, but he responded well to Rachel's influence. Do you think Darnell would have turned out to be a much better person if she had become his stepmother instead of Darla?
Seth's troubled son had a lot of behavioral problems, but he responded well to Rachel's influence. Do you think Darnell would have turned out to be a much better person if she had become his stepmother instead of Darla?
9.
Was Rachel wrong to taunt Seth, vandalize his property, tamper with his credit cards, and break into his house when she found out the real reason he broke up with her?
Was Rachel wrong to taunt Seth, vandalize his property, tamper with his credit cards, and break into his house when she found out the real reason he broke up with her?
10.
Do you believe in karma? If so, do you believe that people will eventually get what they deserve if they hurt or betray someone?
Do you believe in karma? If so, do you believe that people will eventually get what they deserve if they hurt or betray someone?
11.
Rachel was well aware that Skirt was a thug to the bone. Were you surprised when she asked him to help her break into Seth's house?
Rachel was well aware that Skirt was a thug to the bone. Were you surprised when she asked him to help her break into Seth's house?
12.
Were you happy when Matthew resumed his relationship with Rachel?
Were you happy when Matthew resumed his relationship with Rachel?
13.
When Seth's life crumbled, did you feel any sympathy for him? Were you surprised when he and Rachel apologized to each other many years later?
When Seth's life crumbled, did you feel any sympathy for him? Were you surprised when he and Rachel apologized to each other many years later?
DAFINA BOOKS are published by
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Kensington Publishing Corp.
119 West 40th Street
New York, NY 10018
119 West 40th Street
New York, NY 10018
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Copyright © 2015 by Mary Monroe
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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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Library of Congress Card Catalogue Number: 2015934126
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Dafina and the Dafina logo Reg. U.S. Pat. & TM Off.
ISBN: 978-0-7582-7476-2
ISBN-10: 0-7582-7476-9
First Kensington Hardcover Edition: June 2015
First Kensington Hardcover Edition: June 2015
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eISBN-13: 978-1-61773-974-3
eISBN-10: 1-61773-974-X
First Kensington Electronic Edition: June 2015
eISBN-10: 1-61773-974-X
First Kensington Electronic Edition: June 2015
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