Online Book Club: The Secret Life of CeeCee Wilkes, Ch. 21-35

1. Do you think Tim is the one sending the money?
Yes. The only alternative would be Naomi, and I just don’t see that happening.

2. So far, there’s been a lot of discussion on CeeCee/Eve and her choices. What choice(s) would you make differently from her?
I’m not sure that I would. I’ve battled fear my entire life, and I think, unfortunately, that I would be in the same boat as Eve as far as keeping the baby and not telling anyone. That being said. I share everything with my husband. Everything. I cannot imaging being married to him and having a secret this big. Especially pretending during the second pregnancy.

3. What do you like about Jack? Are there things about him that you don’t like?
I like Jack. He lets Eve be who she is, and doesn’t push her into sharing parts of her she isn’t willing to share. He loves to laugh, and I respond to that. I would prefer to laugh over cry any day. His lack (or control) of curiosity allows Eve to keep secrets for most of their marriage.

4. What are the differences between CeeCee/Eve’s relationship with Tim and Eve’s relationship with Jack?
It’s definitely more mature, but not as honest. She gave every fragile part of herself to Tim, but she’s holding back something huge from Jack. She’s more of a partner with Jack.

5. Do you think Eve is to blame for Cory’s fears? What could she do, specifically, to help Cory feel like less of an outsider?
Yes, I think Eve is to blame for Cory’s fears. Eve has a lot of conscious and subconscious fears that are transferring to Cory. Kids pick up on that. My mom, even though she battled her own fears, was good at pushing us further than we wanted to be pushed. Teaching us not to give in to fear. There are situations when I know I’m afraid, but I have to do it anyway.

Merged families always have a hard time with children from previous relationships feeling like outsiders. I doubt they treated Cory as if they didn’t love her, so I don’t think Eve and Jack could have done anything differently. Sometimes children feel things that we don’t have any control over. And until they decide to feel differently, there’s nothing we can do.

6. Do you think Eve appropriately answered Cory’s questions about her father? Do you think Cory will question her father more as she grows older?
I think Cory’s need for knowledge of her father will create a lot of problems in her relationship with Eve. At some point, Eve will need to decide not to lie anymore or she will be forced into revealing the truth. From the first chapter, it looks like she will be forced. I don’t think she has the courage to share willingly. I say that with the knowledge that I wouldn’t have the courage to willingly share either. I really identify with Eve and her fears. I have to fight that in my own life as well.