Would I Lie to You?: A Novel - Hardcover

Thomas, Trisha R.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1400048745 ISBN 13: 9781400048748

Publisher: Crown, 2004

Synopsis

Venus feels history repeating itself, and she’s not loving it. She ended a relationship with Clint because he couldn’t commit, cut off her long, processed hair, and started on a new path, with a new boyfriend.

But she’s been with Airic for more than two years and they still haven’t set a wedding date. When a new project takes her to Los Angeles for a temporary assignment, Venus welcomes the opportunity to spend some time with her family in California and to see if a little absence makes Airic’s heart grow fonder. But in L.A., savvy, ambitious Venus runs head-on into a new complication—the equally savvy and ambitious Jake Parsons, a former rap star turned clothing designer. Jake’s as suave as he is successful, and ten years her junior. Venus’s job is to create a marketing campaign for his urban wear. Jake’s job, it seems, is to distract her from her long-distance romance with Airic.

But when Venus’s mother is diagnosed with breast cancer, her entire world seems to crumble. Everything she thought would make her happy—her new look, her successful career, her ?ancé—can’t ?x the sadness and emptiness she feels. Before she throws in the towel, she’s offered one more chance, a chance for change, for growth, and maybe even for a new love. Will she take it? Or give in to the notion that her life will always be close but no cigar? Moving, romantic, and inspiring, Would I Lie to You? is one woman’s happy, light-hearted story of giving in instead of giving up.

About this title

About the Author

Trisha R. Thomas is the author of the bestselling Nappily Ever After, the first installment of Venus Johnston’s story and a finalist for the Golden Pen Best Fiction and Best New Writer Award, as well as the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literature in 2001. She is also the author of Roadrunner and is at work on her fourth novel. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband and children.


From the Trade Paperback edition.

From the Inside Flap

Venus feels history repeating itself, and she’s not loving it. She ended a relationship with Clint because he couldn’t commit, cut off her long, processed hair, and started on a new path, with a new boyfriend. <br><br>But she’s been with Airic for more than two years and they still haven’t set a wedding date. When a new project takes her to Los Angeles for a temporary assignment, Venus welcomes the opportunity to spend some time with her family in California and to see if a little absence makes Airic’s heart grow fonder. But in L.A., savvy, ambitious Venus runs head-on into a new complication―the equally savvy and ambitious Jake Parsons, a former rap star turned clothing designer. Jake’s as suave as he is successful, and ten years her junior. Venus’s job is to create a marketing campaign for his urban wear. Jake’s job, it seems, is to distract her from her long-distance romance with Airic.<br><br>But when Venus’s mother is diagnosed with breast cancer, her entire world seems to crumble. Everything she thought would make her happy―her new look, her successful career, her ?ancé―can’t ?x the sadness and emptiness she feels. Before she throws in the towel, she’s offered one more chance, a chance for change, for growth, and maybe even for a new love. Will she take it? Or give in to the notion that her life will always be close but no cigar? Moving, romantic, and inspiring, <b>Would I Lie to You?</b> is one woman’s happy, light-hearted story of giving in instead of giving up.

Reviews

Thomas's enjoyable but flawed novel continues the story of Venus Johnston, begun in Nappily Ever After. Now 36, Venus has become the director of a Washington, D.C., marketing firm. Sent to Los Angeles to revive JP-Wear, the clothing brand of former rap artist Jake Parson, Venus is surprised by her powerful instant attraction to Jake. She works hard to ignore her emotions, especially because her long-time fiance, Airic, a self-made businessman, awaits her return to D.C. Jake, attracted to Venus and undeterred by her engagement, begins to weaken her resolve, until the sudden hospitalization of Venus's mother forces her to step back and carefully examine her own life. It also brings her into contact with her old flame Dr. Clint Fairchild, allowing her to express her long-held anger at their sudden breakup. She remains ambivalent about Jake's role in her life until her best friend visits Los Angeles with the disturbing news that Airic is under investigation for securities fraud. With her successful project nearly complete, Venus decides to return to Washington-more out of duty than love, though she won't admit it. Airic's case is favorably resolved, but Venus decides to end their relationship, even though she is pregnant with his child. Jake, still on the West Coast, has stayed in close touch with Venus; finally, he can be hers-but will he want to make a life with Venus and another man's child? Readers may be distracted by the plethora of bit players, and too much is crammed into the final few pages. Nonetheless, Thomas's new novel will please her fans and perhaps win new ones as well.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Venus Johnston picks up where she left off after ending her relationship with Clint. Although she supported him while he attended medical school, he wouldn't commit to marriage. This time she's close to marriage, engaged for two years to a successful businessman, Airic, a divorced father of two adult daughters. But she's plagued by a continuing dream of being left at the altar by Clint. Venus is all set to have what she's always wanted--the perfect job and a perfect marriage--until the job takes her on assignment to L.A., and she's irresistibly drawn to her client. Jake Parson is a former rapper who has parlayed his popularity into success in the clothing-design world with a line of hip-hop fashions. Jake's appeal, her mother's bout with cancer, and her doubts about Airic's suitability throw Venus into self-reflection about the true meaning of love and marriage. Readers who enjoyed Thomas' Nappily Ever After (2000) will enjoy this sequel. Vanessa Bush
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

HERE COMES THE BRIDE

The light hum of the cello set the mood for the joyous day. A wedding. Venus Johnston, do you take this man as your awfully wedded husband? Lawful, not awful, as she'd always thought the preacher was saying during TV ceremonies when she was a little girl. Yes! Yes, finally she would get her chance. Lawfully wedded bliss. Clint smiled, but showed no teeth. His lips delicately turned up, a smirk. A grimace? No. He was truly in love and about to make Venus the happiest woman alive. Her man. Sexy. Successful. Fine. All three characteristics a girl could only fantasize about. But for Venus it was now a reality.

"If there is anyone who knows of a reason why this union should not take place, let them speak now . . ."

Venus hated this part. When the nightmare began. The most dreaded moment when the woman actually stands up and says, "I do. I know of a reason." Venus knows the voice. It's played in her head a thousand times. She turned around slowly to see the gorgeous actress, Vivica Fox, a picture of beauty in a stunning flowing wedding dress. A glorious shimmering diamond hung around her neck, almost blinding the guests.

Clint loved Vivica, that's what he always used to say. But she could never be a real threat because she was only in the pages of glossy magazines and in Hollywood movies. Yet, here she was, extending her elegantly gloved hand to Clint. "Come along, dear. You've played outside long enough. You know you need a real woman, someone who's going to love you and take care of you and put you first at all times. Tell her, sweetie. It's time for her to let you go. How many times must we go through this?" Vivica's voice echoed off the church walls.

"Please no . . . not again." Venus couldn't tell if she was thinking it or saying it out loud. Her panic was rising. Boy, it's getting hot in here. The music switched abruptly. She looked over where the cellist was replaced by a hip-hopper with a bandanna and a gold tooth. It's getting hot in here . . . so take off all your clothes. "Shut up, shut up." She felt Clint release her hand and start toward Vivica Fox.

"Wait, no!" Venus grabbed his sleeve. He shook her off and began walking again. "Somebody stop him!" Venus screamed. "Clint, she's no good for you. Can't you see through all that Maybelline . . . it's not real, can't you see that she's fake? She's not real."

Clint put up his hand, "It's too late," he said with ease. "You had your chance and you blew it." He turned and slipped his hand into Vivica's glove-covered one. They began to walk away, waving like the king and queen of the ball.

Venus hiked up her wedding gown and chased them outside.

"Clint!" she screamed. She turned and watched Vivica and Clint climb into a shiny white Range Rover with a bunch of cans tied to the back and the words Just Married! But Not to Venus spray-painted all over.

"NOOO, not again!" she tried to scream, but the words smothered her, making her struggle for air.

"Hey, you all right?"

She snapped out it and found herself staring into Airic's face, concern and panic written all over him. The rest of the wedding party stared at her with confusion. She was confused too, standing next to Airic with the scent of gardenias and star gazer lilies fragrant in the air, listening to the light hum of the cello. The sun was high above their heads and the breeze was gentle enough to keep a nervous bride cool.

Wasn't it perfect? What wedding isn't? Regardless of the amount of money spent, the blood, sweat, and tears, for the bride all that mattered was walking down the aisle seeing the light in her future husband's eyes. The small details, like her satin heels sinking into the grass, the cake arriving slanted, or the ice statue of cupid's bow melting into a dripping phallic symbol, or the mother of the bride chanting, "Thank you, Lord," were inconsequential on this monumental day. Getting to the altar, hearing that last "I do," and the crowd cheering as if a touch down had been scored . . . that's what it was all about. Venus, the maid of honor, and Airic, a groom's man by default, were the only ones not clapping or throwing rose petals when the minister announced, "You may kiss the bride."

They ignored the organ pressing out the cue for them to fall into procession with the rest of the wedding party. Instead, they remained standing opposite one another, Airic pulling at the black satin noose around his white starched collar; Venus twisting the engagement ring hidden underneath the small bridesmaid bouquet she held, unable to shake the nightmare that had haunted her like a black cloud for the last two years. Each and every time she went to some else's wedding, she felt cursed. And the conversation she and Airic had on the way to the ceremony hadn't helped matters.

Riding along the edge of the Occoquan River in the northern valley of Virginia, they'd traveled quietly most of the way. Swaying green grass surrounded the tall stretch of trees for miles along the highway. Venus kept her attention on the serene view, trying to remain calm. ". . . all I'm saying is that we're not getting any younger. By the time I finally get to walk down the aisle, I'm going to need a cane."

"Why is it my fault?" Airic responded without a pause. "How many times have I told you, name the time, name the place, I'm there. I think you're the one with cold feet." He steered with one hand while his slender fingers pushed relentlessly on the tuning, unable to get a radio station to come in clearly. He shut it off, giving her his complete attention. "Name the date," he said almost as a dare, cutting his eyes in Venus's direction. "What's wrong? Calendar a little tied up?"

Her frustration came out in a completely opposite form, putting her hand over her mouth to stifle the laughter.

Airic gripped the steering wheel until his pale knuckles lost color in his already fair skin. "I'm serious. Name the date."

"Sure, I'll name a date and then the week before the ceremony, you'll say, 'Oh, I thought you were talking about 2002. You meant April of this year.' " Venus deepened her voice to mock his. 'Can you reschedule, dear?' The sun beamed relentlessly on the passenger's side. She was hot. She was irritable, and not just from the dress pinching her in the back where the zipper stopped. Her hair was so tightly pulled back from her face to create a bun effect that her eyes hurt. One more of the bride's many requests, including the heavy layer of fake pearls that felt like a knotted rope around her neck. She tried to adjust the cheap necklace and snagged a wispy strand of hair that was too short to stay put. "Shit."

"Name the date, Venus!" Airic thought the expletive was directed toward him.

"No . . . it's--"

"Name the date," he demanded again, his graying temples creasing at the sides, the skin tightening around his eyes.

"Right, pencil me in for June first of 3003." Venus responded with as much sarcasm as possible, no longer just pissed at the uncomfortable dress, the snagged hair, or the necklace choking her.

Airic's foot pushed harder on the gas, speeding into the opposite lane to pass a small white Jetta. Venus always checked when she saw the small foreign car, looking for the personalized license plate that read, BABYDOC. Of course by now Clint would have moved up in the world, driving something a bit more sophisticated, but she always checked. Always.

"See what I'm saying? Happens every time I tell you to pick a date. This is what I get, silence."

"Right." It came out louder than planned. Venus gave the hair and metal clasp one last chance to part on friendly terms, then gave it a tug, unafraid of the consequences. "Sure, Airic . . . whatever."


She was tired of replaying the conversation in her head. Setting a date. Tired of picturing herself in another white gown like the one worn by the bride, with the splendid train that flowed effortlessly up the aisle. Tired of the whole business. How she'd managed to be standing witness to yet another ceremony was beyond her.

She'd only met the bride, Felicia Meadows, a year and a half ago when she'd been hired as her assistant. Felicia didn't talk much during their interview and only answered questions when she was asked. She'd kept her hands folded on her lap without one fidgeting episode, a sure sign of diligence and focus. At the time Felicia hadn't even a boyfriend, no prospects for the future. Simply moved to the northern Virginia area fresh out of college without a plan, without a strategy, determined to get away from her southern roots in Memphis. Now she was married to Joseph, a friendly financial analyst who insisted on coming all the way up to the tenth floor to pick her up for lunch instead of waiting downstairs in the no parking zone.

With forced steps, Venus moved closer to Airic. They were standing on the very spot where the Felicia and Joseph had just taken their vows underneath a flowered trellis with streams of ivy. "I'm sorry." Still holding on to the compact flower arrangement, Venus stretched to reach around his lean shoulders. The white ribbons cascaded down the back of his tuxedo. "Whenever you're ready. No rush." Her soft brown eyes smiled out of duty. Always her last words . . . no rush. She was only thirty-six. Considered an old maid at one time, but not now. Statistics showed she was right on schedule to give birth to her first child in her first marriage at nearly forty. Plenty of time, no rush.

"Let's get out of here." She kissed Airic on his narrow chin, inhaling his scent.

He kissed her back, whispering near her ear, "That's the best idea I've heard yet." He swayed her gently back and forth. "One day left to g...

Edition details

• Publisher: Crown
• Publication date: 2004
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1400048745
• ISBN 13: 9781400048748
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 304