Runaway Wife (48 page)

I can only hope that by now you have had the time to forgive me my foolishness and to realize once again that if you give me another chance, I will do all I can every day for the rest of our lives to deserve you.

Dearest Rose, you are the bravest, most beautiful, funniest, cleverest woman I have ever met, and you make my heart race as much now as the very first time I saw you. And just so we are clear, I love you, Rose.

Yours always,

Frasier

P.S. I’m standing outside the door.

Rose clasped the letter to her chest, knowing even in that moment that it would be one she would read over and over again, for the rest of her life. And then, with tears of joy brimming in her eyes, she put her hand on the latch and opened the front door.

Firstly I want to say a special heartfelt thank you to the hundreds of women who were brave enough to share their stories of domestic abuse with me during the course of researching this book. I never imagined, when I asked for people to contact me with their stories, that I would receive such an overwhelming response, each experience as desperately painful and shocking as the last, and so sickeningly common that surely more must be done to stop the routine abuse of women in their own homes.

The publication of
The Runaway Wife
marks the tenth anniversary of the publication of my first novel in 2002. A lot has happened in those ten years, including birth, divorce, marriage, and (a lot) more birth, but one thing has always remained constant through all the ups and downs, and that is my writing. I’ve been exceptionally fortunate and grateful to the team at Simon & Schuster, over much of that time, and now seems like a good time to thank everyone who has contributed to and supported my work, both past and present.

Special thanks to my editor, Emilia Pisani, who has helped make this book as good as it can be.

Thank you also to my agent and friend Lizzy Kremer, who has been at my side for every one of those years, is always in
my corner, and sometimes is the only person in the world keeping me sane!

I’m so lucky to have become good friends with many other writers, in a community that is unfailingly supportive, and I want to thank especially Katy Regan, Katie Fforde, Trisha Ashley, Caroline Smailes, Serena Mackesy, Cally Taylor, Elle Amberley, Keris Stainton, Tamsyn Murray, and so many more who inspire, cheer, and make me laugh on a daily basis.

Also my dear friends Jenny Matthews, Margi Harris, Catherine Ashley, Kirstie Seaman, Claire Winter, Rosie Woolley, Cathy Carter, Sarah Darby and, yes, you again Katy Regan. I love you.

The world of social networking means I now get to meet and get to know readers from around the world, some of whom have become friends and all of whom have kept me motivated with their good wishes and appreciation, so thank you to all of you, you don’t know how much pleasure it gives me to get a message of support from Texas, or Thailand, or Twickenham on a Monday morning!

Finally, thank you to my family: my husband Adam, whose belief in me and love means so much, and my incredible, beautiful, talented, funny, adorable children, Lily, Fred, Stanley, and Aubrey, and my stepson, Harry. You keep us busy and tired but life would be so boring without you.

A Gallery Readers Group Guide

The Runaway Wife

ROWAN COLEMAN

R
ose Pritchard has fled her home with her seven-year-old daughter Maddie, arriving at a B&B in a remote village in the middle of the night. Rose is not just running away from something but running toward a new life that she hopes exists, in search of the person who once offered her hope.

Almost immediately Rose wonders if she’s made a terrible mistake—if she’s chasing a dream—but she knows in her heart that she cannot go back. She’s been given a second chance—at life and at love—but will she have the courage to take it?

1. Coleman unfolds Rose’s story one layer at a time, slowly uncovering the reasons for her hasty getaway. How did learning more about Rose’s past influence how you perceived her in the present-day narrative?

2. Rose sees herself as a vulnerable and fragile person, but her inner strength becomes more and more apparent as the storyline progresses. What are some examples of Rose’s bravery? What are the turning points that help her learn to assert herself?

3. Both Shona and Rose have endured abusive and unhealthy relationships. Compare and contrast how each woman copes with her situation. How did they end up with these men, and what does it take for them to walk away?

4. Rose shocks everyone—including herself—by cutting off all her hair and dyeing it blond. How significant is her dramatically different appearance? Have you ever undergone a physical transformation to help you make a change in your life?

5. After nearly eight years of anticipation, how do you think Frasier lives up to Rose’s expectations? In what ways is he not quite who she imagined he’d be?

6. Rose not only reconnects with Frasier in Millthwaite but finds her estranged father as well. Discuss the different ways in which each of these newfound relationships impact her. What do Frasier and John provide Rose that she’s been missing all these years?

7. How are Maddie and John able to build a relationship despite both of them having difficulty connecting with others? What are some of the ways in which Maddie and John are similar?

8. 
The Runaway Wife
has a diverse cast of secondary characters, from brash and outspoken Shona to Jenny, whose bark seems much worse than her bite. Who was your favorite secondary character?

9. Maddie is an eccentric and precocious child. What are some examples of Maddie being wise beyond her years? What are some of your favorite Maddie-isms?

10. Discuss Frasier’s reaction when he finds out about Rose’s liaison with Ted. What was your reaction to his behavior? How does his attitude reflect his perception of Rose?

11. Frasier and Rose made an instant connection that sustained itself for years. Would you call this love at first sight? Do you believe that it’s possible to feel this way about someone you’ve met only briefly?

1. Frasier and Rose show the world John’s true identity as an artist with his final exhibition. Visit a local art gallery or museum with your book club and discuss your favorite works.

2. Research England’s Lake District (
www.golakes.co.uk/
) and choose which B&B you’d most like to stay in. Bring photos to your next meeting and describe your ideal getaway in the English countryside.

3. If you like this novel, check out other books by Rowan Coleman, such as
Lessons in Laughing Out Loud, The Home for Broken Hearts,
and
The Accidental Mother.
You can learn more about the author and her work at
www.rowancoleman.co.uk
and follower her on Twitter
@RowanColeman
.