Bob and Sheila Beckwith thought their lives are already complete – stable marriage, 2 wonderful daughters, and rewarding careers – until a message from France changed everything.
Bob received news from Louis Vénargues (ex-mayor of Séte) that Dr. Nicole Guerin, the woman whom Bob had an affair with almost 10 years ago, passed away. But the surprising news did not end there. What Bob did not know is that they produced a son -- Jean-Claude, 9 years old, now an orphan. The child had nowhere to go, and Bob needed to do something about it.
Bob, albeit extremely anxious, told his wife about it. Sheila, utterly hurt, tried to deny everything Bob confessed to her. But Jean-Claude was a living proof, one they can’t deny. Sheila was shocked; all the while she thought her marriage was perfect. She struggled for answers on what she could have done to deserve such pain.
Sheila turned cold to her husband. She coped with sleepless nights by taking sleeping pills. But these were expected reactions from a woman who felt cheated and Bob knew it. What he was not expecting were Sheila’s decisions. To Bob’s surprise, his wife invited the orphaned boy to spend time with them, but only for a month.
The couple told their daughters that Jean-Claude lost his parents and would be spending a month-long vacation with them in Cape Cod. As the days passed, the family grew fond of the boy, even Sheila herself. But this was all ruined when the girls found out that Jean-Claude was their father’s illegitimate son.
What happened next was a choice between Jean-Claude and her 2 daughters; save the relationship with the boy or his wonderful family. Bob had to decide fast. The series of events that occurred next opened a whole new world to the family.
***
I am not fond of love stories, especially if the plot poses as a telenovela. What are the chances that a man could have a have a woman pregnant after a one-night stand? Of course it’s fifty-fifty. But I think the stats of the number of men who got their partners pregnant after a one-night stand are fewer compared to those who have been having sex a couple of times.
What made Bob so sure that Jean-Claude was his son? Bob and Nicole spent the night together only once and they never saw each other again. For all we know, Nicole might have had affairs with other men during that year Bob was in Séte.
Sheila’s depression and anger were very much expected. But to accept the boy to their house the morning after learning the news was a bit off. Decision made that fast could be just a spur of the moment. She had time to re-think things, yet she did not change her mind.
These are just some of my unsolicited sentiments regarding the plot. I haven’t read any other Segal book, but I think the inadequacy in the creativity department, or the lack thereof, made the book a total bore. And like any other fictional short story about love-cheat relationship, one could not help but be intrigued about its resolution. Thus, the reader is compelled to finish the book just to find answers to the intriguing questions simmering in his/her head.
Of all the characters, Sheila Beckwith had the most burdens to bear. Yet, she was portrayed as a woman of exquisite character – beautiful, smart, caring, and enduring. She refused to fall prey to a treacherous life by trying to do her best to avoid committing the mistake her husband did.
The book is a short story and an easy-read; straight-forward, no flowery words. One could finish it overnight with only meal and bathroom privileges. I grudgingly finished it in one week, forcing myself to like the plot. I have to clear myself -- there are parts wherein the story would catch one’s attention and make the reader flip through the next pages. But the story, aside from lacking creativity, also fell short in sustainability, which made chapters predictable.
I give it 2/5 stars. Yes, I did not like it.
***
Image taken from this site.
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