Cold Feet (28 page)

First and foremost, thank you to Claire Anderson-Wheeler, my wonderful literary agent, who believed in me, pushed me, and taught me much more than I can list here. I could not have done it without her never-ending confidence and support, genius ideas, and the untold number of hours she put into this book. Every writer in the world should be so lucky to have someone like Claire in her corner.

I would also like to thank everyone at Berkley and Penguin Random House, especially my incredible editor, Jackie Cantor. I don't know what I did in another life to deserve having someone as amazing and accomplished as Jackie on my team, but I am sure glad I did it. Working with someone so smart, funny, and talented is truly a dream come true.

I would also like to thank my team at the Movember Foundation, especially Astrid Heward, who is the best teacher I have ever had, along with the rest of her Angels. Working at Movember makes me love coming to work every day, and I couldn't ask for a more caring and fun team of friends and colleagues.

Thank you to Heather Thomason, Natalie Blazer, and Reade Harbitter, who inspired many of the ideas in this novel about friendship and family. I am so grateful for you. Also, to Zack McDermott, another friend-turned-family member who makes my life so much better just by being in it.

Thank you to Juli and Conor Welch, who listened to this idea when it was still a crazy dream and told me I had to go for it (time and time again); to my fellow creator Elizabeth Scouler for the brainstorming and for getting it; and to Steph Opitz, who I adore and admire in countless ways, and who was the first person I ever told that sometimes, in my spare time, I like to write.

Thank you to all the friends who were by my side throughout this process: my Venice family, who helped me in a million different ways, including Christine Daley, Jessica Franks, Alex Flaherty, Brian Flaherty, Jac Chapman, Mikey Wigart, Cullman Hedges, and Nora Nolan; and all of the members of our truly special one-of-a-kind “book club,” including Lilly Walton, Caroline Donelan, Emily Blass, Kate Danson, Kristy Duncan, and Annie Eckhart, a group of women I couldn't live without.

Finally, thank you to Mike Knetzger. For all of the above, and for everything
else.

C
old
F
eet

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1.
What did you think of Emma as the story's protagonist? Did you relate to her? Were you frustrated with her at times? If so, why?

2.
Emma clearly has a blind spot when it comes to her personal life. What are some instances of this and how does she begin to see things more clearly as the novel progresses?

3.
In the law, most people who commit crimes require a certain level of mental involvement, as well as physical action, in order to be found guilty.
“However, there are also crimes that don't require any level of
mens rea
, called ‘strict liability' crimes. It doesn't matter whether it was your intention to commit the crime . . . if you committed the physical act, you're as guilty as they come.”
Is infidelity a strict liability crime, or should other factors—such as the number of times, the intent, the state of your current relationship—be taken into account?

4.
When considering the various accounts of adultery throughout the novel, do you think unfaithfulness is ever forgivable? Which characters in
Cold Feet
would you have forgiven, and why?

5.
As a sharp-eyed lawyer, Emma often applies her knowledge of law to matters of the heart. Do you think one can inform the other, or is this application futile or even detrimental? Cite examples from the novel.

6.
Emma forgives Liv for lying to her much more quickly than she forgives Sam. Do different rules apply to your closest friendships than they do to your romantic relationships? Why or why not?

7.
“The ability to freeze my pain and tell myself not to be sad . . . was one of the things I was most proud of . . . Why would I stop doing the thing that got me through life up until this point?”
Does Emma's coping mechanism make her strong and resilient toward adversity, or is it a temporary fix that, as Dr. Majdi advises, won't serve her well in the long run? Is there any positive value to coping mechanisms?

8.
“I don't think we should talk about it . . . it's going to upset you, and I really don't think it's worth putting our friendship in jeopardy over.”
Is it sometimes better not to talk about something, or even to lie about it, in order to protect your relationships, or is honesty always more important? Consider Liv, Caro, and Sam's dishonesty with Emma as you consider the question.

9.
Did you sympathize with Val or were you angered by her actions? If you were in her position, would you have felt obligated to tell Emma the truth?

10.
At the end of the novel, Sam performs a grand romantic gesture for Emma. In your opinion, was this act enough to merit forgiveness? Has a similar grand gesture ever won you over or, alternately, not been enough to change a situation for you?

11.
By the novel's end, Emma finally gets some answers about her father. Does this information inform her relationship with Sam? How or how not?

12.
“In some cities not only was the crime itself illegal, but they were also putting a burden on any witnesses who failed to report the crime.”
Do passive bystanders have liability for a crime? What about witnesses to crimes of the heart?
“If you were betrayed, you had a right to know. You had a right to expect someone, anyone, to tell you.”
Do you agree?

13.
Do you think there is room for reparation and growth between Emma and Caro, or will their relationship continue as status quo?

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