Magnolia Wednesdays (39 page)

Stone sighed and it turned into a yawn, but he didn’t hedge his words. “I’m incredibly offended that you assumed so many things about me and that none of them were particularly flattering,” he said. “I wouldn’t have felt trapped by the fact that the woman I loved was having my baby. Nor would I have been overwhelmed by or unhappy about marrying you and sharing the responsibility of raising our son. And being a correspondent? Frankly, I’m beat. And I think it might be time to explore some other opportunities.”

He yawned again and reached out his hands. It took her a minute to realize that he wanted her to hand over the baby. He grasped the baby at the waist and behind the neck and pulled him up against his broad chest with a surprising lack of awkwardness. Father and son yawned identical yawns as he cuddled the baby close.

“I’m way too jet-lagged to argue properly with you right now,” Stone said. “If you point me to your room, the little pebble and I will go take a quick nap.” He put a hand up to cradle the back of the baby’s head, then stood as Melanie directed him to the first room at the top of the stairs. “I’m sure I’ll have the strength I need to set you straight once I get a little shut-eye.”

With that he marched up the stairs, carrying the already-sleeping baby with him.

“I don’t think he’s going to disappear on you,” Melanie said to Vivi as they watched Stone climb the stairs with his tiny load. “He’s going to give you the shit you so richly deserve, but he doesn’t look like he’s planning to bow out of either of your lives.”

“You’ve got that right,” Stone called as he stopped to peer down at them from the landing. He looked like someone who’d been traveling days to get here, and the exhaustion in his eyes was clear. But there was love in them, too, and not a single sign of doubt. Vivi’s heart constricted almost painfully in her chest as she took in the sight of him cradling their child so gently.

Before Vivien or Melanie could think of an answer, man and baby retreated from view. A moment later the bedroom door clicked shut, leaving the sisters standing together smiling at each other in the silence.

READERS GUIDE TO

Magnolia Wednesdays

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. At what point in the story did you suspect that Vivi was pregnant? Did any of her actions before that discovery serve as clues?

2. Do you find Vivi to be a likable character? Does your opinion of her change—perhaps multiple times—as the story progresses? Do you find Mel to be too forgiving of Vivi’s missteps?

3. What were your initial feelings about Vivi’s investigation into J.J.’s death? Did your opinion change when the truth about his death was revealed?

4. On pages 236-237, Mel, Vivi, Ruth, and Angela discuss how secrets should be kept out of relationships, yet secrets seem to be at the center of each of their lives. Discuss the secrets that exist in each of their relationships. Do you believe that some secrets are better left untold?

5. Do you think that Vivi’s reasons for keeping her pregnancy hidden from Stone are valid? Was Stone’s reaction surprising? Discuss how you would have reacted in his position.

6. On multiple occasions, Vivi wrestles with whether or not to expose her niece Shelby’s dating life to Mel. Do you think that Vivi handles these situations wisely? What, if anything, do you think Vivi’s relationship with her niece and nephew says about her own readiness to be a parent?

7. Do you agree with Angela’s belief that Vivi’s gossip column tells important truths that no one is willing to face on his or her own? Discuss your own reaction to
Postcards from Suburbia
and whether Vivi has any other choice but to publish the scathing column.

8. Vivi and Mel were brought up to fear, above most everything else, bringing shame upon their family name. Do you believe this upbringing has anything to do with the sisters’ inability to recognize certain problems in their own lives? Discuss instances where Vivi and Mel are able to point out each other’s flaws, but can’t recognize similar flaws within themselves.

9. Discuss the ending of the novel. Are you satisfied by the closure that each character finds? What more do you hope would have happened for Mel, Vivi, Ruth, and Angela?

10. What do you think is the major theme of
Magnolia Wednesdays
? Are there any lessons to take from this novel regarding both the positive and negative power of secrets, family, and/or friendships?

11. Author Wendy Wax says that she went to the University of Georgia after reading
Gone With the Wind
too many times. Does this enhance your experience reading
Magnolia Wednesdays
?