Question B

[Jonetta]

Max is returning home for the funeral of her estranged friend, Kevin O’Neal. Was she justified in severing their relationship after learning he’d lied about his alibi or should she have forgiven him earlier?

[Robin]

I can't believe anyone would think that because they were innocent, the jury would never find them guilty. That's crazy. I would have been really steamed if I was Max, but I don't know if it would have lasted years and years.

[Sharon]

I thought she might be a little more forgiving. She didn't believe Kevin was guilty then she cut him off completely without giving him a chance to explain.

She is an investigative reporter. She knows that cases aren't black and white there are many shades of gray. I understand the initial anger. He lied. Didn't she ever think back that maybe there was a reason and she should get to the bottom of it.

[Jonetta]

I thought her years of estrangement were quite harsh. Her initial reaction was understandable given that she sacrificed a lot in supporting him. But his lie proved his innocence even more so I thought she should have worked it out with Kevin. He believed he was protecting a friend and there’s something admirable in what he did. He deserved better from Max.

[Melissa]

I can understand why she was mad that he had lied. She truly believed he was innocent and he could have saved himself with the information. I also think that she should have forgiven him at some point. Especially when he came to her for help.

[Anita]

I know that Max hates a liar. Kevin lied to her, keeping Olivia's confidence. At 18, he was a bit naïve to think that just because he was innocent, he didn't need his rock solid alibi. I understand why Max was mad at him. I don't understand why she carried this grudge for 13 years, especially when he reached out to her for help to prove who really killed Lindy. I feel that some of the blame for Kevin's suicide is on her.

[Jonetta]

That’s what bugged me, too, Anita. The length of time Max let go by without repairing her relationship with or forgiving Kevin seemed unreasonable.

[Anita]

He was innocent! He was keeping the confidence of a girl he thought would suffer great harm if it was known they were together. Max should have given him a break. I was blown away that he reached out and she ignored him after 13 years.

[Charlene]

Anita, I couldn't have said it better. I understand being eighteen and rigid in my beliefs and behaviors, but thirty-one shows how absolutely rigid Maxine was. Her conscience will be paying for that for a long time, I think.