Confusion, Compassion, Confession: A Married Woman's Dilemma - Hardcover

by Athra Bodhi (Author)

Inspired by actual situations, this realistic fiction follows the dilemma of Adriana, a married woman.

Adriana has been married almost seventeen years to Gavin, the perfect man for her. He loved her beyond the pain of her childhood and past relationships; he had given her all she dreamed of in a marriage. Cilicia, Adriana's best friend, enters Adriana's sanctuary and disturbs her peace when she reveals her suspicions of their husbands' infidelity, including the possibility of sex with each other.

Cilicia's allegations cause Adriana to question her husband and their marriage. Adriana's experience in her marriage, including her sex life, does not match what Cilicia's accusations. Adriana begins to revisit her past to help her understand how Cilicia's allegations could be true. That past includes domestic violence when she witnessed mistakenly witness Jamie, her ex-boyfriend, having sex with a man. The violence from that encounter influences how she approaches her dilemma with Gavin.

Cilicia's bombardment of Adriana's life with her allegations threatens their friendship and Adriana's friendship with other people. Cilicia draws Sheraton, the wife of her husband's business partner, into the drama.

Meanwhile, Cilicia had been struggling in her own marriage for years. Justus's substance abuse, domestic violence, attraction to men, and refusal to have sex with Cilicia have been issues in their marriage for years. However, Cilicia's Christian upbringing does not allow her to give up on something so sacred; therefore, she begins to fight for her marriage. Her fight leads her down a dark path and at the brink of death. Adriana fears Cilicia will become a "Lady Lazarus" like her favorite poet.

Cilicia struggles when she learns that people inside her friend circle do not live in traditional marriages. She reflects on her own childhood as memories of her parents' marriage begin to resurface. Does she want to make the same choices as her mother? How would making those choices impact her daughter's life?

Adriana reconnects with Athra, a friend from her past who has entered the ministry. Athra helps Adriana and Cilicia work through their martial dilemma and save their friendship. She opens their eyes to another interpretation of verses in the Holy Bible that deal with human sexuality and marriage. Adriana learns about the Kinsey Scale and begins to question her own sexuality.

Athra's 85-15 Support Group introduces Adriana and Cilicia to a network of women who have encountered similar dilemmas. These women meet to help encourage each other to work through issues in their marriage that the church does not traditionally address, sex. They have come to understand that they have options within their marriages and that the rainbow is enough, even when they have considered suicide. But what exactly does the rainbow represent, and how can it be enough when it seems like there is nothing to hold on to?