The Perfect Mistress (38 page)

And to my dear, dear, FOREVER friends—who buy every single book, even if they don't read them. Clemelia, Jaimi, Raquelle, and Kim . . . you have had my back since I was a telemarketer in college having you listen to my spiel every other day so I could get credit. It's so great to have friends who understand when you don't keep in touch like you should, but when you do, are able to pick right back up like you just spoke yesterday.

As usual, a tremendous thanks to my agent, Sara Camilli, my phenomenal editor, Brigitte Smith, my publicist, Melissa Gramstad, and the rest of my family at Gallery— thank you for believing in me! Big thanks to Sheretta Edwards for all of your help in making my writing life more manageable. Yolanda Gore, thank you also, for, well, everything.

I also have to give a huge thanks to all of those who made my movie dreams come true. For
Let the Church Say Amen
, thanks to Regina King and Reina King for your commitment to the project and staying true to the book. To Queen Latifah's Flavor Unit, BET, Bobcat Films, and all the talented actors and crew . . . thank you for bringing my work to the screen! To the phenomenal cast, including Naturi Naughton, Lela Rochon, Brely Evans, Trav, and Hosea Chanchez, you rock. But then, I'm sure you already know this. To my TV One team . . . especially fellow Houstonian, D'Angela Proctor, looking forward to big things!

Thank you to all the book clubs that support my work. I hate naming names, but I wouldn't be where I am were it not for your support, so special thanks to Neo-Renaissance Book Club, Sistahfriends, Christian Fiction Café Book Club, Sisters Who Like to Read, Readers of Delight, Sistahs in Harmony, Cush City, Black Pearls Keepin it Real, Mahogany, WOW, Brag about Books, Women of Excellence, Savvy Literary Ladies, Mocha Readers, Characters Book Club, Tabahani Book Circle, FB Page Turners, African-American Women's Book Club, Women of Color Book Club, Zion MBC, Jus'Us Book Club, Go On Girl Texas 1, Bookclub Etc, Pearls of Wisdom, Lady Lotus, Soulful Readers of Detroit, Brownstone, Agape Book Ministry. (If I left you off, charge it to the head . . . because the heart is eternally grateful.)

Thank you to all the wonderful libraries that have supported my books, introduced me to readers, and fought to get my books on the shelves. Thank you also to Yasmin Coleman, Pilar Arsenec, Hiawatha Henry, Curtis Bunn, Gwen Richardson, Orsayor Simmons, King Brooks, Lisa Paige Jones, Sophie Sealy, Radiah Hubbert, and Jurrell Ahmad Fullerton.

And I know this may be a bit much . . . but when you have a circle of friends and supporters, you want to show your gratitude, even to your cyber friends. So a great big virtual hug and a real life thanks to my Facebook friends/supporters: Naturopath Cecie, Tonia, Heather, Sharmel, Jackie, Linda, Ernest, Shirley, Sharon, Gloria, Pam, Tracy, Nelvia, Phyllis, Erika, Robbie, Leslie, Ashara, Nita, Jetola, Bettie, Cassandra, Renee, Marsha, Shawn, Deb, Michelle, Kathy, Jackie, Sheryl, Candace, Tyra, Alisha, Theresa, Lisa, Carla, Kendria, Josie, Denise, Ina, Chevonne, Dasya, Monique, Gina, Ina, Tracey,
Raquel, Marcena, Cheritta, Maleika, Christie, Sylvia, Deborah, Demetria, Cebrina, Lolita, Tyra, Jetola, Cindy, Joanna, Maurice, Juda, Cecelia, Deborah, Shawn, Lachelle, Vonda, Marth, Chenoa, and Sherryle. I know there are so many more, but I think my copy editor will start cutting right about here, so this is for all those I forgot! Big, big thanks also to: ______________. (Write your name here!)

Lots of love and gratitude to my sorors of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. (including my own chapter, Mu Kappa Omega), my sisters in Greekdom, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., who CONSTANTLY show me love . . . and my fellow mothers in Jack and Jill of America, Inc.

And finally thanks to you . . . my beloved reader. If it's your first time picking up one of my books, I truly hope you enjoyed it. If you're coming back, words cannot even begin to express how grateful I am for your support. Thank you. From the bottom of my heart.

Much Love,

ReShonda

GALLERY READERS GROUP GUIDE

the

PERFECT

MISTRESS

R
E
S
HONDA
T
ATE
B
ILLINGSLEY

INTRODUCTION

Lauren Robinson wanted a simple life, and a simple life meant no strings. If love always led to infidelity and heartbreak—like it did with her cheating father, Vernon, and scorned mother, Joyce—then the best thing was to never become someone's wife. So Lauren took a cue from her dad and never expected anything from the married men she dated, who had oblivious wives and plenty of money to spoil her with. But when ex-boyfriend Matthew King comes back into her life—the first and last man to ever break Lauren's heart—she begins to question whether she's really happy.

Joyce Robinson didn't know what she had done to deserve the life she was getting. Not only had she lost both parents to disease, she lost her husband, Vernon, too—to a vengeful, gun-toting mistress who would not accept him leaving her. Worst of all, her teenaged daughter, Lauren, had enabled him to destroy their family. Now, dying of brain cancer and stuck
in a facility, Joyce is trapped—not just by her disease-riddled body, but by an embittered heart, a cold facade, and an unresolved anger toward her now grown-up daughter. Will she be able to make peace with Lauren—and her choices—before it's too late?

TOPICS AND QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION

1. In
The Perfect Mistress
, we're introduced to two parallel narratives of mother and daughter, Joyce and Lauren. What are your initial impressions of their relationship?

2. It's clear Lauren loves her father deeply, and when he suggests that she might lose him if her mother ever discovered his extramarital relationships, she definitively decides never to tell a soul out of that fear. How does his threat of leaving manifest in her behavior, both as a child and as an adult?

3. When Joyce leaves to stay with her parents after Vernon cheats on her, her father insists that she stay with Vernon, saying the only thing that's unforgivable is physical violence, and that anything else can be worked through. What do you think of this statement? Can anything be forgiven, or should it?

4. Vernon tells Lauren that humans weren't created to be monogamous and that she'll understand when she's older. When Lauren asks her father if he'd be okay with Joyce having boyfriends the way he has girlfriends, a
“look of sheer horror”
sweeps across his face. He tells her that it's different for men and women. Is it? If so, how?

5. 
What is the pivotal moment when Joyce decides Lauren has committed the ultimate betrayal against her? Why do you think it was so easy for Joyce to blame and hate Lauren for what had happened?

6. Lauren ended her two-year relationship with Matthew in college because she believed he was cheating on her. When he comes back into her life, however, she is surprised by how happy she is to see him. What do you think are the real reasons why their prior relationship ended?

7. When Matthew and Lauren are discussing a high-profile sexual harassment scandal in the news, Matthew comments that it's a shame such a talented guy is being brought down by his libido. What's problematic about that statement? Besides the obvious differences between an affair and sexual harassment, what are other reasons why someone would stray apart from a dissatisfied sex life?

8. Time and again, people in Joyce's life comment on how Vernon was such a great father but a lousy husband. Do you think he was a great father? Why or why not?

9. Vivian tells Lauren that she's contributing to the
“destruction of the black family”
by having affairs with married men. Do you agree with her? Why or why not? If there were no women with whom men could have affairs, would their relationships or marriages be perfect otherwise?

10. Joyce says to Lauren,
“It was bad enough that you stole his heart from me, but then you turned around and watched him give it to other women.”
What do you think she means by this? How does this statement reveal Joyce's true feelings?

11. Lauren reminds Joyce during Julian's staged therapy session that she was just a child when her ultimate “betrayal”
took place and thus is entitled to forgiveness, and that her debt is paid. What is Joyce's response to that? Why do you think Joyce dismisses the “just a child” excuse?

12. Several people have to remind Joyce that Lauren deceived her mother because she wanted the approval of her father. Why do you think Joyce feels so hurt, even decades later, by Lauren's secret?

13. Lauren's mother makes the ultimate sacrifice on Lauren's wedding day by attempting to apprehend Vivian, who was threatening Lauren's life. What are the parallels between Joyce's and Vernon's last few moments on earth?

ENHANCE YOUR BOOK CLUB

1. Do you believe the adage “once a cheater, always a cheater”? With your book club, discuss what it means to cheat (Is it cheating when it's physical? Is it cheating when it's emotional?), whether or not someone can change, and if you'd ever enter into a relationship with someone whom you know has cheated on others in the past.

2. Visit
www.reshondatatebillingsley.com
and select another Tate Billingsley title for your club's next book. Have the group individually rank the characters in both books from best to worst (or favorite to least favorite). Take turns arguing your case!

3. A number of films tackle the topic of infidelity and the dissolution of a family. With your book club, select a film that centers on the woman—whether she's the cheater or the scorned—and have a movie night. (Don't forget the popcorn!) Afterward, discuss its parallels with
The Perfect Mistress.