Chapter 37: The Wedding and the Drowning Prediction
⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.
Summary
The chapter opens at the wedding of Paula's younger sister Lisa. Paula's daughter Willow, now clean and composed, serves as flower girl and carries herself with proud deliberation, much to her parents' delight. Paula and her husband Matt attend with their son Timmy. As the ceremony proceeds, Paula is struck by the face of a woman in the crowd—the same woman who, on the flight to Sydney, predicted that Paula's child would drown. Paula has kept this prediction secret to avoid casting a shadow over the celebration.
At the reception, after a few glasses of champagne, Paula unburdens herself to a random cousin of the groom. The story soon spreads among the guests. A drunken bridesmaid embraces Matt and expresses her sympathy about Timmy, revealing the prediction to him. Matt is justifiably upset that Paula told so many others before him. They argue briefly, with Matt questioning why Paula spoke to the clairvoyant in the first place. Paula deflects, and Matt eventually dismisses the matter as unimportant. The chapter closes with Paula's father approaching them, and Paula flashes back to a memory of herself at seventeen holding a kitchen knife to her father's neck during a family cooking lesson—a moment of trust and familiarity.
Key Events
- Willow's deliberate flower-girl walk down the aisle delights the wedding guests.
- Paula spots the woman from the plane who made the drowning prediction, but cannot place her.
- At the reception, Paula tells a cousin about the prediction while tipsy.
- The story reaches Matt via a drunken bridesmaid.
- Matt confronts Paula about keeping the secret; they argue.
- Paula recalls the knife-cooking memory with her father.
Character Development
Paula is consumed by anxiety over the prediction, yet remains determined to protect her family's joy. Her decision to keep the secret shows her protective nature, but also her inability to manage stress alone. The flashback to the cooking lesson reveals a history of trust and controlled risk within her family.
Matt is initially angry that Paula did not confide in him. His quick shift to dismissing the prediction reflects his pragmatic, dismissive approach to fear. As a lawyer, he looks for logical holes in Paula's story, but ultimately prioritises harmony over investigating the threat.
Willow is a point of pride and innocence, contrasting sharply with the dread Paula feels. The child's transformation from "sticky whiny" to poised flower girl underscores the theme of appearance versus reality.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
Secrecy and Anxiety: Paula's attempt to contain the prediction demonstrates how fear thrives in isolation. The wedding, a symbol of new beginnings, is shadowed by a possible future tragedy.
Family Memory: The knife-cooking flashback is a strange, wholesome memory that grounds Paula's family identity. It shows how even dangerous actions can be part of loving relationships.
Fate vs. Control: The clairvoyant's prediction introduces the question of whether the future is fixed. Paula's frantic efforts to manage the situation suggest a belief that knowing the fate might allow her to change it.
Why This Chapter Matters
This chapter reveals the central prophecy that will drive much of the novel's tension: the drowning of Timmy. It also deepens Paula's character, showing her vulnerability and her strained attempts to maintain normalcy. The wedding setting contrasts life's joyful milestones with the looming threat, and the family interactions—especially the argument with Matt and the flashback to her father—add layers to Paula's emotional landscape. The chapter lays important groundwork for how the prediction will affect Paula, Matt, and their marriage.
Study Questions and Answers
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Why does Paula choose to keep the prediction a secret from her family?
Paula does not want the prediction to ruin her sister's wedding. She also fears that her family will worry more about her reaction to the threat than about the threat itself, because they constantly monitor her stress levels. -
How does Matt respond when he finally hears about the prediction from a bridesmaid?
Matt is annoyed that Paula did not tell him directly and that many others knew before him. After a brief argument, he dismisses the prediction as nothing to worry about and suggests they not make a thing of it. -
What is the significance of the flashback to Paula holding a knife to her father's neck?
The flashback illustrates the trust and familiarity within Paula's family. It shows that even dangerous or unusual moments can be part of their bonds, and it contrasts with the current anxiety, hinting that Paula's upbringing may have shaped her ability to cope with fear.