Book Club+ MPC discussion

Hi everyone,

We are now at Chapter 18 of "Mercury" by Amy Jo Burns. Joseph family loyalty is being tested and the challenges keep coming to them. Marley is trying to keep the family unit together, expecially when she see notices the strength of the family, Elise suddenly is not herself and failing mentally. Can Marley hold this family together or are more dark times ahead?

Chapter 18
Marley was fearful of when Elise would find out that Shay was not going to school anymore. Marley didn't feel the respect or appreciation from Elise for all that she has given to the family. She certainly didn't expect Elise to approve of her allowing Shay to leave school. Shay wasn't missing school and continued home-schooling.

Marley received a call in the middle of the night from Elise. She asked for Marley to meet her at the church. Marley was putting the pieces together, Elise's missing shoes, the roof, the attic...Elise meet Marley sitting at the church pew. She was confessing to Marley about her life, being a mother, the sacrifices, her mind leaving her... Elise felt that her only reward has been serving the men in the household. Nothing for herself. Marley thought Elise needed a doctor. She showed Marley the attic area, the preacher's body...he was dead. Elise told Marley he had died on top of her from a likely heart attack. Elise asked Marley to help her move him. Marley wanted to call for help. Elise did not want to. Instead she insulted Marley about how her life is following in the same direction. Elise told Marley of her regrets of being married to a man who didn't love her and a man who wanted to be with her. But, she did not love him.

Marley agreed to help her clean up the evidence and leave the body there. She went to Jade's to get cleaning supplies. Jade was there. Jade joined them to help clean. Marley realized she lost her wedding ring. Likely came off her finger onto the church robes. She thought it would be sealed off along with the secret of the pastor's body.

What do you think? Elise and Pastor Hollis? Marley has now put herself in a predicament by helping Elise hide Hollis' body in the church steeple. Now Jade is involved and all three ladies have attempted to cover up evidence of a dead body. Trouble! Elise is not thankful in anyway to Marley, instead she takes the opportunity to insult Marley. Elise sees herself in Marley and does not like how Marley's life is mirroring her own. Does Elise really feel this way or do you think it is the mental illness making her bitter? Is Marley really the problem or Elise not facing the truth that Mick was not a loving husband or father? She needed someone to blame? What will happen next? Will the truth come out about Elise and Hollis?

Have a great day.

Sincerely,

-Donna