Lost Daughters (38 page)
Authors: Mary Monroe
Loretta occupied another one of the cheap metal folding chairs that she and Thomas owned. She sat as still and mute as a sphinx, staring at San Francisco's magnificent Golden Gate Bridge. The drab gray housedress she wore looked like part of a circus tent. But at two hundred and eighty pounds, she didn't feel comfortable wearing anything but housedresses that looked like part of a circus tent.
It was hard to believe that this was the same girl who used to prance up and down the beaches in South Florida in a string bikini! And it was even harder to believe that she had once been one of the most successful black models in the business.
Maureen wondered how things would have turned out for her and Loretta if they had never met Mel. She also wondered how much of what happened was her fault. She knew of many troubled children who ultimately blamed their parents for every stupid thing they ever did. She had to blink hard to hold back her tears. She didn't know if she had succeeded as a parent or not. Because as hard as she had worked to make Loretta happy, Loretta had become her own worst nightmare anyway: a housewife sitting on a porch, with not one, but
two
cats.
two
cats.
READING GROUP GUIDE
LOST DAUGHTERS
Mary Monroe
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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.
Maureen felt that she had to do more for Loretta to make up for the child she lost. Do you think that if Maureen had not spoiled Loretta, she would have been a better daughter?
Maureen felt that she had to do more for Loretta to make up for the child she lost. Do you think that if Maureen had not spoiled Loretta, she would have been a better daughter?
2.
Despite the fact that Maureen treated Loretta like a princess, Loretta still stole her husband and enjoyed doing itâespecially since Maureen admitted that she didn't love Mel. Do you think Loretta would have seduced Mel even if Maureen did love him?
Despite the fact that Maureen treated Loretta like a princess, Loretta still stole her husband and enjoyed doing itâespecially since Maureen admitted that she didn't love Mel. Do you think Loretta would have seduced Mel even if Maureen did love him?
3.
Do you think that it's wrong to marry someone for reasons other than love? Should love be at the top of the list of requirements, or do you think that companionship and securityâand in Maureen's case a father for Lorettaâare more important than love?
Do you think that it's wrong to marry someone for reasons other than love? Should love be at the top of the list of requirements, or do you think that companionship and securityâand in Maureen's case a father for Lorettaâare more important than love?
4.
Mrs. Freeman kept Jay after her niece had kidnapped him because she didn't want her niece to go to jail. Do you think that Mrs. Freeman should have notified the authorities that she had Jay after her niece committed suicide?
Mrs. Freeman kept Jay after her niece had kidnapped him because she didn't want her niece to go to jail. Do you think that Mrs. Freeman should have notified the authorities that she had Jay after her niece committed suicide?
5.
Jay's biological relatives were thugs and convicted criminals, so he had a much better life with Mrs. Freeman. Did that make up for her role in his kidnapping?
Jay's biological relatives were thugs and convicted criminals, so he had a much better life with Mrs. Freeman. Did that make up for her role in his kidnapping?
6.
When Virgil realized how Maureen felt about Jay's kidnapping, and the crime of kidnapping in general, he finally decided to come clean and tell Maureen that Mama Ruby had kidnapped her at birth. Do you think that he should have taken this secret to the grave like Mama Ruby did?
When Virgil realized how Maureen felt about Jay's kidnapping, and the crime of kidnapping in general, he finally decided to come clean and tell Maureen that Mama Ruby had kidnapped her at birth. Do you think that he should have taken this secret to the grave like Mama Ruby did?
7.
When Virgil finally told Maureen the truth about her background, did she react the way you thought she would? Did you like the way she reacted, or did you hope she would get hysterical and sever her relationship with Virgil?
When Virgil finally told Maureen the truth about her background, did she react the way you thought she would? Did you like the way she reacted, or did you hope she would get hysterical and sever her relationship with Virgil?
8.
Do you think that Maureen would have been better off not knowing that she was the victim of a kidnapping?
Do you think that Maureen would have been better off not knowing that she was the victim of a kidnapping?
9.
Do you think it was a smart thing for Maureen and Virgil not to tell anyone else about Maureen's background? Do you think she should have told Jay?
Do you think it was a smart thing for Maureen and Virgil not to tell anyone else about Maureen's background? Do you think she should have told Jay?
10.
When Virgil and Maureen met Big Maureen, Ruby's biological daughter, was she the kind of woman you thought she would be? Were you glad they decided not to tell her that Mama Ruby had kidnapped another woman's baby?
When Virgil and Maureen met Big Maureen, Ruby's biological daughter, was she the kind of woman you thought she would be? Were you glad they decided not to tell her that Mama Ruby had kidnapped another woman's baby?
11.
Do you think it was a good idea for Maureen to cook up that scheme about a Canadian couple and persuade Loretta to give her baby to them? Do you think that Big Maureen was the best choice, or do you think Maureen really should have arranged for some other couple to adopt Loretta's baby?
Do you think it was a good idea for Maureen to cook up that scheme about a Canadian couple and persuade Loretta to give her baby to them? Do you think that Big Maureen was the best choice, or do you think Maureen really should have arranged for some other couple to adopt Loretta's baby?
12.
Were you surprised when Mel dumped Loretta? Were you happy that her career ended and she had to settle for so little? Did you feel sorry for her when she ended up as her worst nightmare: just a housewife sitting on a porch with a cat (in her case, two cats)?
Were you surprised when Mel dumped Loretta? Were you happy that her career ended and she had to settle for so little? Did you feel sorry for her when she ended up as her worst nightmare: just a housewife sitting on a porch with a cat (in her case, two cats)?
13.
Maureen forgave Loretta and they eventually restored their relationship. However, Maureen told Loretta that she would never trust her again. If your daughter stole your husband, do you think you could ever be close to her again? Would you ever trust her again?
Maureen forgave Loretta and they eventually restored their relationship. However, Maureen told Loretta that she would never trust her again. If your daughter stole your husband, do you think you could ever be close to her again? Would you ever trust her again?
14.
A lot people in American culture believe that “what goes around, comes around.” Loretta and Mel were so arrogant, greedy, selfish, and deceitful that in the end, those things were their downfall. Do you think they both got what they deserved, or do you think that fate was a little too harsh on them?
A lot people in American culture believe that “what goes around, comes around.” Loretta and Mel were so arrogant, greedy, selfish, and deceitful that in the end, those things were their downfall. Do you think they both got what they deserved, or do you think that fate was a little too harsh on them?
15.
Do you think that Mel accidentally fell out of his apartment window? If so, how do you think he got those injuries? Who, or
what
, do you think he was talking to when he asked, “Who the hell are you?” just before he died?
Do you think that Mel accidentally fell out of his apartment window? If so, how do you think he got those injuries? Who, or
what
, do you think he was talking to when he asked, “Who the hell are you?” just before he died?
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Copyright © 2013 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: 2013930673
ISBN: 978-0-7582-7472-4
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