The Reverend's Wife

by Kimberla Lawson Roby

  To three amazing literary marketing gurus who promote my work in such a wonderful way: Ella Curry of EDC Creations, Radiah Hubbert of Urban Reviews, and Troy Johnson of AALBC.com. To each of my author friends and colleagues, every bookseller and retailer that sells my books; and to all the people in radio, TV, and print and online who publicize my work to the masses, including Andy Gannon, Aaron Wilson, Stone and Double T, Dean Ervin, Alex Wehrle, Rebecca Rose, Patrik Henry Bass, Julee Jonez, Maggie Linton, Dr. Avin Augustus Jones, Condace Pressley, Kimberly Kaye, Twanda Black, and so many others. Thank you for all that you’ve done for me for so many years now.

  Then, last but certainly not least, to my fabulous readers—thank you for all your love and support, because I certainly couldn’t do any of what I do without you. Your loyalty means everything in the world to me, and I am forever grateful.

  Much love and God bless you always,

  Kimberla Lawson Roby

  (E-mail: kim@kimroby.com)

  Reading Group Guide

  Discussion Questions for The Reverend’s Wife

  The difference between forgiving and forgetting is discussed throughout the story. Curtis tries to explain to Charlotte that while he has forgiven her for her past infidelity, he can’t forget that it happened. Do you agree that “forgiving” and “forgetting” can be separated this way? Or to truly forgive a person for a wrong they have committed against us, do we have to wipe the slate clean and act as if it never happened?

  Unlike he has with his father, Matthew seems to be unable to forgive his mother for her affairs. Does Matthew have a right to be angry at Charlotte, or should he remain neutral where his parents are concerned? Is infidelity a problem that a family must face, or just a husband and wife? Does a child’s age make any difference?

  Do you think Curtis is justified in feeling that Charlotte’s affairs are more severe than his own? Is it simply a numbers game—she had more affairs than he did; therefore, her behavior is worse? Does the motivation for the affair make any difference?

  Instead of turning to his wife for comfort and support, Curtis slowly but surely develops a secret friendship with Sharon. This kind of friendship between a married person and someone who is not his or her spouse is often described as an emotional affair. Do you think an emotional affair is less serious, more serious, or equivalent to a physical affair? Why?

  Is it okay for a married man or woman to have a close friend of the opposite sex? Why or why not? Are there certain conditions that must be maintained or rules that must be followed? Where is the line between a close friendship and an emotional affair?

  What do you think about Curtis’s phone call to Tanya? Are the feelings he expressed normal, given their history? Was he right to share those feelings, or should he have kept them to himself out of respect for Tanya’s husband? Do Curtis’s feelings for Tanya mean they can’t have a friendship going forward? Have you ever had a spouse or significant other who maintained a close friendship with an ex? If so, how did you feel about their relationship? Do you maintain close friendships with any of your exes? If so, why do you feel it’s important to do so? Would you continue the friendship if it bothered your current partner?

  Sharon is clearly a disturbed individual who lied about her background. However, given that she was very open with Curtis about her feelings for him and that he continued to see her, speak with her, and confide in her about his marital problems, could Curtis be seen as leading her on? Does he hold any responsibility for her actions?

  Divorce can be a difficult issue for a family to face, especially when children are involved. Curtis is very open with Matthew about his plans to divorce Charlotte, but he shelters Curtina from the situation. Do you think he was right to do so, or should he have been preparing his daughter for the changes to come? Would you have handled the situation the same way? If not, what might you have done differently?

  Deciding to end a marriage is never easy. Charlotte wants to continue to work on their relationship, but Curtis is resolved to end it. His assistant suggests counseling, but Curtis resists this idea. What might you have advised Curtis to do to save his marriage? What might you have advised Charlotte to do? Are there certain circumstances when divorce is absolutely necessary? Give examples and discuss why.

  Everyone has different ways of dealing with stress, some healthier than others. When the stress of her situation becomes too much, Charlotte turns to alcohol. Do you think Charlotte is an alcoholic? Why or why not? This is not the first time Charlotte has had a problem with drinking. Considering her past experiences, do you think Charlotte’s vow to not drink again is enough, or does she need professional help? Instead of going out for a drink, what would you advise someone to do to alleviate his or her stress? What helps you cope with stressful situations in your own life?

  Matthew and his girlfriend are lucky to have supportive families, but that doesn’t necessarily mean the road ahead will be easy for them. What do you imagine their future holds? Describe what their life might be like in one year, four years, ten years.

  The newest addition to the Black family is a blessing—and a threat that may tear them apart…

  Please turn this page

  for a preview of

  A House Divided.

  Chapter 1

  What a witch. For months, Vanessa Anderson, the other grandmother, had been working Charlotte’s last nerve, and Charlotte wished this heifer would vanish into thin air. Ever since hearing the news just over seven months ago about Matthew’s girlfriend, Racquel, being pregnant, things had turned pretty ugly. At first, Vanessa had seemed like a decent enough woman, and her husband, Neil, a noticeably good man, but once Matthew had left for Harvard last fall, Vanessa’s attitude had changed drastically. Now, though, it was the middle of January, and things had only gotten worse. Vanessa no longer answered Charlotte’s phone calls or attempted to return them, and Racquel had suddenly begun answering a lot less, too. Racquel did talk to Charlotte every now and then, but mostly when Charlotte and Curtis received updates about Racquel’s doctor visits, her ultrasound testing, and any other information relating to their grandchild, it came directly from Matthew. Of course, when Charlotte had asked Matthew why Vanessa was treating her like the enemy, Matthew had told her it was because Vanessa had begun feeling as though Charlotte was trying to take over and control every decision relating to Racquel and the baby. Charlotte had been stunned, to say the least, because whether Vanessa liked it or not, Charlotte was going to be just as much a grandmother to Matthew and Racquel’s baby as she was, and Charlotte had every right to ask as many questions and make as many suggestions as she wanted. This was going to be Charlotte and Curtis’s very first grandchild, and she wouldn’t back down for Vanessa, Racquel, or anyone else. It was the reason Charlotte was sitting front and center at this pathetic little baby shower, even though she knew Vanessa didn’t want her there.

  “Oh what a precious, little christening outfit,” one of Racquel’s cousins said.

  “It really is,” a couple of other women commented. Other ladies cooed over the gorgeous little satin two-piece pant and jacket set, too.

  Charlotte cast her eye at Vanessa, who was boiling, and then smiled at Racquel. “As soon as I saw it, I just had to buy it. It’ll be perfect when Curtis christens the baby.”

  Vanessa set her coffee cup down on the small table next to her. “Hmmm. Well, I guess Racquel hasn’t told you.”

  “Told me what?”

  “That our pastor will be the one doing the christening. Pastor Collins has been our minister for more than twenty years, and he and his wife are Racquel’s godparents.”

  Charlotte took a deep breath. She didn’t want to show her behind in front of all these women, but if Vanessa didn’t watch herself…

  “No, actually,” Charlotte said, “the subject has never come up. I just assumed that since Curtis is a pastor and since he’s the baby’s grandfather, this was a done deal.”

  Vanessa smirked at Charlotte. “Wow. Then, I
guess it’s a good thing we got this all cleared up. Now, there won’t be any misunderstandings.”

  It was all Charlotte could do not to fire back at Vanessa, but instead, she scanned the drab-looking family room they sat in. It was a shame they were bunched so close together. At least that’s what it felt like to Charlotte, because had the shower taken place at her house, they’d have had a lot more room—not to mention the atmosphere would have been far more beautiful. Vanessa’s decorating skills were average at best, and Charlotte was tempted to recommend a professional to her.

  “Thank you so much for buying this, Mrs. Black,” Racquel said nervously. Her tone was awkward, and Charlotte knew it was because Racquel was hoping this christening topic wouldn’t spiral into a heated debate.

  “You’re quite welcome,” Charlotte said. “I know we still don’t know if you’re having a boy or a girl, but I’m praying for a grandson, of course.”

  “Me, too,” Racquel said, smiling and stroking her shoulder-length, thick brown mane to the side.

  Charlotte wanted to ask her again why she didn’t want to know the sex of the baby, because to her that was just ridiculous. Racquel had gotten Matthew to agree to that nonsense, too, and this had ruined Charlotte’s plan of having a huge family get-together where everyone, including Matthew and Racquel, would find out the sex all at once. A couple of years ago, Charlotte had gone to a baby announcement party, where the ultrasound technician had written down the sex of the baby on a piece of paper, given it to the parents in a sealed envelope, and the parents had taken it to a bakery. The cake decorator had then told them that if they were going to have a girl, she’d make the inside of the cake pink, and if it were going to be a boy, she’d color it light blue. That way when they cut into it, it would be a surprise to everyone. Charlotte had loved that idea—but again, Racquel had spoiled everything. Charlotte’s feelings toward Racquel had always been lukewarm at best, and this latest harebrained decision of hers hadn’t helped. In fact, the only reason Charlotte tolerated her and stayed in contact with her was because she was carrying her precious little grandchild.

  But Charlotte smiled as genuinely as she could. “Oh and hey… those other four boxes are from Curtis and me, too.”

  Racquel opened each of them, one by one. The contents included: an Elsa Peretti silver baby spoon from Tiffany, a silver frame for the baby’s birth record, a five-hundred-dollar gift card from Target for disposable diapers or whatever else the baby needed, and another five hundred dollar gift card from Toys“R”Us.

  “Thank you for everything,” Racquel said. “This really was very kind of you and Pastor Black.”

  “Anything for our grandchild,” Charlotte said, glaring at Vanessa. “Anything at all.”

  Racquel opened at least another twenty gifts that others had brought, and while not all of them would have been items Charlotte would have chosen for any baby, some of them were very thoughtful and in some instances very cute; especially some of the little onesies. Still, as Charlotte sat watching and trying her best to pretend as though she were happy to be there, she wished her mom or her best friend, Janine, had come with her. At least then, she wouldn’t feel like some outcast and would have had someone familiar to talk to. But her mom and best friend not being there was all Vanessa’s fault because, as it was, Charlotte hadn’t found out about the shower herself until three days ago. Her mom had certainly wanted to attend, but since she was chairing a luncheon over in Chicago, she wouldn’t be finished in time to make it. She and Charlotte’s dad lived ninety minutes away, as for Janine, she and her husband and daughter were away for the weekend in Wisconsin. Even now, Charlotte wanted to go off on Vanessa, because while Vanessa had claimed she’d mailed Charlotte’s invitation two weeks ago along with all the others, Charlotte knew she was lying. Had it not been for Matthew asking her why she hadn’t RSVPed, Charlotte never would have known about it period. But that was okay, because even though Vanessa didn’t want Charlotte in her home or anywhere near her, Charlotte was there, anyway, and she was planning to be around all the time as long as her grandchild was living here.

  “So have you thought about names?” Laura asked. Laura, Racquel’s great-aunt, was a classy, elegant woman with gorgeous white hair, but Charlotte could tell she was just as devious as Vanessa. It was clear, too, that she didn’t care for Charlotte.

  Racquel smiled. “Actually, Auntee Laura, we have. “If it’s a girl, her name will be Madison, and if it’s a boy, Matthew Jr.”

  “You mean, Matthew the Second,” Charlotte chimed in.

  “No,” Vanessa said, frowning. “She means Matthew Jr.”

  Charlotte stared at Vanessa. “I realize he’ll be a Jr., but Matthew the Second sounds a lot more prestigious… and I’m sure we all want what’s best for the baby. Especially when it comes to his getting into the right schools, colleges, and graduate programs, let alone when it’s time for him to write a résumé.”

  Vanessa stood up. “You know what, Charlotte? We don’t care about any of that nonsense. If my daughter says her son’s name will be Matthew Jr., then that’s exactly what it’s going to be.”

  “Is that how you feel, too, Racquel?” Charlotte asked.

  “Matt and I are both fine with Jr. We know how you feel, Mrs. Black, but Jr. is traditional, and that’s what we’ve decided on.”

  “That’s what you and my son have decided, or you and your mother?”

  “Now, you wait just a minute,” Vanessa said, stepping closer and pointing her finger in Charlotte’s face. “Don’t you ever speak to my daughter that way. And as a matter of fact, I want you outta here! We never wanted you to come in the first place.”

  Charlotte got to her feet and slapped Vanessa’s finger away from her. “I knew all along you didn’t want me to come, but I’m here, anyway. And for the record, you’ve got one more time to wave that decrepit-lookin’ hand of yours in my face.” Charlotte guessed Vanessa looked okay to be in her forties, which was about ten years older than she was, but Vanessa sure had a lot of wrinkles and she needed to do something about them.

  “Mom… Mrs. Black,” Racquel begged. “Please don’t do this.”

  Vanessa stepped toe to toe with Charlotte. “And if you ever touch me again, you’ll regret it for the rest of your life.”

  Laura rushed toward them. “Ladies, please. This isn’t the time or place for this, and you’re upsetting Racquel.”

  “Why can’t you guys just get along?” Racquel asked in tears. “At least for the baby.”

  “Because this witch,” Vanessa spat, “is out of line and is always trying to control everything. She thinks because she and her husband have a lot more money than we do that she should have a say-so in everything. But sweetheart,” she said, turning back to Charlotte, “I’ve got news for ya. It ain’t happenin’. My husband is a successful neurosurgeon, I have my own business, and we don’t need you.”

  “Honey, whether you feel like you need me and my husband or not, you’re stuck with us. That baby Racquel is carrying is just as much ours as it is yours—and if you push me, I’ll be your worst nightmare.”

  Vanessa took her finger and jabbed it into Charlotte’s shoulder. “Get out of my house! Get out or I’m calling the police.”

  Charlotte squinted and wrinkled her forehead. Then she pushed Vanessa. “You must be crazy, putting your hands on me.”

  Vanessa slapped Charlotte so hard the sound of it rang throughout the family room. Charlotte smacked her back, and Vanessa grabbed the side of her face.

  “You’re going to jail!” Vanessa yelled.

  No one moved or made a peep until Racquel stood up, grabbed her stomach, and screamed loudly. “Oh, God, please don’t do this!”

  Racquel didn’t look so well, and Charlotte hoped she was okay.

  Vanessa wrapped her arm around her daughter. “Honey, why don’t you sit back down.”

  But as soon as Racquel went to grab the arm of the chair, attempting to do just that, she grabbed her stomach and yell
ed at the top of her lungs. “Oh God, something’s wrong,” she said, doubling over. “Oh God, Mom… it hurts, it hurts, it hurts.”

  Vanessa helped her daughter over to the sofa, and Charlotte noticed how wet the inner parts of Racquel’s pant legs were. Charlotte feared that her water had broken, and her heart skipped multiple beats.

  “Oh no, Mom…. dear God, please don’t let me be losing my baby. Please, please, please,” Racquel said, screaming.

  “Someone call 911!” Vanessa said. “Now!”

  Charlotte looked on, unable to move or say a word. She hoped this episode wasn’t her and Vanessa’s fault. If only Vanessa hadn’t approached her the way she had, threatening her and trying to throw her out of their house. Charlotte prayed that Racquel and the baby were going to be fine, because she just couldn’t lose her new grandchild. Not now. Not when he or she was so close to entering the world. Not when Charlotte had already lost a child of her own a few years ago. She simply couldn’t bear the thought of going through that kind of pain again.

  Worse, if something happened to Matthew’s baby, and he found out that Charlotte and Vanessa may have been the cause, he would never forgive her. When Charlotte had had those two affairs on his dad two years ago, it had taken Matthew a long time to get over it, but with something like this, there would be no coming back from it. All the apologies and explanations in the world wouldn’t be able to fix things, and Matthew would be done with her for good. He would likely disown her completely and never speak to her again.

  Charlotte watched Racquel turn and twist on the sofa, moaning and crying, and her heart beat faster than before. Oh God, please, please let Racquel and the baby be all right… especially the baby. I’m begging you.