Secret Indiscretions

by Trice Hickman

  1. Johnny and Geneva and Samuel and Vivana were couples who were polar opposites, yet they ended up together. What qualities do you think drew these mismatched couples to each other?

  2. Very early in the story it was clear that Johnny was cheating on Geneva. But like many women, Geneva held out hope that he wasn’t. Why do you think Geneva overlooked and put up with a cheating husband for as long as she did?

  3. Johnny was a man who had a loving and loyal wife at home who loved him, yet he cheated on her anyway. What do you think were some of the reasons he was unfaithful?

  4. An article published in the Journal of Couple & Relationship Therapy suggested that 45 to 55 percent of women and 50 to 60 percent of men engage in extramarital sex at some time during the course of their marriage. Given these statistics, and from your own observations of society, do you believe that monogamy is natural?

  5. They say, “Once a cheater always a cheater.” Do you believe this is true? Why or why not?

  6. Geneva and Samuel experienced an instant connection when they met, and became deeply involved shortly thereafter. Based on the details of their relationship, do you think it will last? Why or why not?

  7. There were several characters in the story who became involved because of physical attractions. On a scale of 1 to 10, how important do you think physical attraction is in a relationship?

  8. Who was your favorite character and why? Who was your least favorite character and why?

  9. Did you correctly guess who killed Johnny?

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  The elegantly sleek interior of G & D Hair Design was alive with chatter, laughter, and gossip. Even though G & D was a high-end salon situated in the trendy arts district of town, the owners, Geneva Owens and Donetta Pierce, made sure their establishment was as down-home and welcoming as sweet potato pie, which they often served their customers. And on this particular Saturday morning the salon was extra busy. It was the weekend before Thanksgiving, and as Donetta said, “Every woman in town is tryin’ to get her style on this holiday.”

  Every stylist’s chair, shampoo bowl, and hooded dryer was occupied, and even more women were patiently waiting in the lobby, sipping flavored coffee at the complimentary beverage station. Geneva and Donetta had worked hard to overcome many battles, and now they were reaping the rewards with their thriving business.

  “I’ve been doing hair for nearly twenty years, and this is the busiest holiday turnout I’ve ever seen,” Donetta said. “You’d think we were giving away weaves up in here.”

  “Everyone wants to look good when they visit with their families,” Geneva said with a smile as she reached for her flat iron.

  “Speak for these other women,” Shartell Brown huffed as she sat in Donetta’s chair. “As for me, I’m gettin’ fly for me, myself, and I. My family is on my last nerve and I’m glad I only have to tolerate them once a year.”

  Donetta made a tsking sound as she measured a track of hair for what would become part of Shartell’s freshly styled weave. “Girl, why’re you stressing about your family? Shoot, if they know like I know, they’ll stay outa your way before they end up in one of your columns, or maybe even that new book you’re writing.”

  Shartell smiled slyly. “That’s not a bad idea. Real life is much more exciting than fiction.”

  “That’s just flat-out wrong to use your family like that,” Donetta said. “Even I wouldn’t do that.”

  “Honey, it’s called being shrewd.”

  “How ’bout it’s called being a cold-hearted bitch?” Donetta quipped. “You need to sit back and be quiet before you end up having to do your hair your damn self, ’cause you know I barely like you.”

  Geneva laughed. “You two talk so much junk.”

  “Donetta knows she loves me,” Shartell said with a chuckle. “I might be a bitch, but I’m not a phony.”

  Everyone within earshot nodded in agreement with what Shartell had just said. Shartell Brown, who had once worked as a stylist with Geneva and Donetta several years ago, and had been nicknamed Ms. CIA, because she was a known gossip with intel on everyone in town, was now a respected news and entertainment columnist as well as a bestselling author. Shartell had risen to prominence thanks to the most salacious and talked-about murder case the town of Amber had ever seen. Two years ago, Johnny Mayfield, Geneva’s late husband, had been murdered in cold blood inside his home, and the list of suspects had been as long as a hot summer day. But thanks to Shartell’s contacts, inside information, and her uncanny ability to find out the word on the street before it ever hit the pavement, she’d helped the police solve Johnny’s murder and cement a new career for herself in the process.

  Geneva shook her head. “Shartell, you should rejoice that you’re blessed to have family to spend the holidays with. I’d give anything to share a meal with my mother again, God rest her soul.”

  Shartell pursed her lips. “That’s because your mother was probably just as nice as you are, Ms. Pollyanna,” she teased. “But my mama could drive Jesus to drink hard liquor, and my four siblings . . . let’s just say that if the devil needed extra disciples, he’d come looking for them and their badass kids.”

  “Shartell!” Geneva chided. “That’s an awful thing to say.”

  Donetta threaded her weave needle and nodded her head. “No it’s not. Especially if it’s true, which I’m sure it is.”

  “Thank you,” Shartell said, reaching up to give Donetta a high five.

  Geneva adjusted her smock as she spoke. “You two are the most jaded human beings I know. Where is your optimism?”

  “We’re realists,” Donetta said, hand on her slim hip. “Hell, I know exactly what Shartell’s talking about. My family drives me to the bottle every holiday, and that’s why I’m not foolin’ with them this year.”

  “Donetta, your aunt is gonna have a fit if you don’t go over to her house to celebrate with her and your cousins.”

  Donetta smirked. “She’ll just have to have one because my backstabbing relatives won’t see my face in the place this year. I refuse to go over to my aunt May May’s and listen to all their bullshit. I got my life to live and I’m doin’ just fine without them.”

  “I’m truly sorry to hear that,” Councilwoman Harris spoke up from Geneva’s chair. “I’ll say a prayer for both of you, that you and your families will find peace.”

  Charlene Harris was one of Geneva’s favorite and most loyal customers. She was a pillar of the community, and much like Geneva, she was a woman who’d mastered the art of reinventing herself. Two years ago she’d decided to end her three-decades-old marriage and started a new life. She updated her look and style, but kept the same classic grace and comportment that commanded respect and attention from all who knew her.

  Geneva smiled. “You understand what family is all about, and I know you can’t wait to see your children when they come to town,” she said.

  Charlene beamed with pride. “Yes, Lauren’s flying in tomorrow morning and Phillip will be here later tonight.”

  “I know you’re proud of them,” Geneva said as she worked her flat iron through Charlene’s razor-cut bob, putting the finishing touches on her hairdo.

  “Yes, I am. Lauren is in her first year at Johns Hopkins and Phillip just finished clerking for Washington, DC’s state’s attorney. I couldn’t be more proud of them because they’re both accomplishing their goals, but more than that, they’re genuinely great people, and that’s what’s most important.”

  Geneva nodded. “Yes, it certainly is.”

  “Amen to that,” Donetta chimed in, along with Shartell. “Not everybody has the opportunity to pursue their dream or maintain the dedication to keep at it until they accomplish it. Trust me, I know.”

  Geneva looked at her co-owner and best friend and smiled. She knew that it was a topic near to Donetta’s h
eart. In two months she was going to have her final gender reassignment surgery that would make her transition into an anatomical woman complete. It had taken Donetta many years, tremendous sacrifice, and at times heartache to pursue her long-held dream of living life the way she’d always wanted to.

  “Your words speak so much truth,” Councilwoman Harris said with a nod. “Life is a journey filled with many different paths to get to one destination.”

  “And the best way to get there is in a pair of Jimmy Choos,” Donetta replied with a wink.

  They all laughed at Donetta’s joke, but suddenly the room fell silent when Shartell looked up at the fifty-inch television screen hanging on the wall and gasped. Every eye was glued to the face on the screen that put panic in each of their hearts for very different reasons.

  Geneva stood frozen in place while Donetta reached over her, grabbed the remote, and turned up the volume. The “Breaking News” caption rolled across the screen with a photo of Vivana Jackson above it. Although her last name had changed from Owens, back to her maiden name Jackson, and she looked a bit haggard, there was no mistake that the woman on the screen was a murderer. A hush came over the entire salon as they listened to news that left their mouths hanging open with questions.

  Vivana Jackson had been convicted of murdering Johnny Mayfield, and was serving a fifty-year sentence in the state prison. But according to the information coming out of the news reporter’s mouth, Vivana had enlisted the help of a local attorney who’d taken her case pro bono, and had found evidence that suggested she was innocent of the crime for which she’d been convicted. Her attorney was set to appear before a judge in the next two weeks to present the evidence. The reporter concluded by saying they planned an exclusive jailhouse interview with Vivana that would air tonight.

  Everyone remained silent while their eyes fell on Geneva, who was still frozen in place.

  Donetta looked at Geneva. “Are you okay?”

  Geneva shook her head. “No, I’m not.” She took a deep breath. “I need to go home.”

  From that moment forward, the salon was filled with gossip, speculation, and theories about the murder case that had rocked Amber. Johnny Mayfield had done so many people wrong that the list of suspects in his murder had been long. Half the town believed that his scorned ex-lover had done it, while the other half believed Vivana’s claim that she’d been framed. There were only three people who knew that Vivana was innocent. One of them was dead, and the other one was Johnny’s real killer, Charlene Harris. But now there was a prominent local attorney who believed in Vivana’s innocence, too, and was determined to prove it.

  Later that night, nearly everyone in Amber was held captive in front of their televisions as they looked at Vivana’s defiant face and listened to her lawyer’s self-assured words. “I’ve uncovered evidence that corroborates my client’s claim that she was framed for the murder of Jonathan Mayfield,” Vivana’s attorney said. “I can’t go into detail now, but when I present the evidence to the judge next month it will be clear that Ms. Jackson, previously known as Mrs. Owens, was not only framed, but the real killer is still at large.”

  Just as in the salon in the morning, people throughout town were abuzz with chatter and speculation. But there were a few people who were more than a little concerned, including Geneva, Donetta, Shartell, and especially Councilwoman Harris. Each one of the women knew that in the weeks to come, this would be a holiday that they would never forget.

  To the extent that the image or images on the cover of this book depict a person or persons, such person or persons are merely models, and are not intended to portray any character or characters featured in the book.

  DAFINA BOOKS are published by

  Kensington Publishing Corp.

  119 West 40th Street

  New York, NY 10018

  Copyright © 2015 by Trice Hickman

  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.

  Dafina and the Dafina logo Reg. U.S. Pat. & TM Off.

  ISBN: 978-1-6177-3744-2

  ISBN-10: 1-61773-743-7

  eISBN-13: 978-1-61773-744-2

  eISBN-10: 1-61773-744-5

  First Kensington Electronic Edition: August 2015