The Breakaway Chapter 37: Abby at a Crossroads
⚠️ 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
On day eleven the group rides from Medina to Buffalo. Abby spends part of the day with the Landons (Carol and Richard), realizing they are not snobs but partners willing to sacrifice for each other. That evening and the next morning, she and Sebastian continue their affair in secret hotels. During the ride, Abby and Sebastian have a long conversation about her future: she loves leading bike tours but feels it is unsustainable for a family. Sebastian suggests starting a girls’ cycling program. Abby thanks him for taking her seriously. They also talk about fatherhood, and Lincoln mutters “bullshit” when Abby says Sebastian would be a good father. When Eileen appears, Abby feels guilty and rides away to check on Lily and Morgan, desperate to escape her own conflicted emotions.
Key Events
- Abby observes the Landons’ genuine partnership and re-evaluates her earlier judgment of them.
- Abby and Sebastian spend a second night together in a Rochester hotel.
- On the final ride day, Abby and Sebastian discuss her career dilemma: she loves leading trips but wants stability for a potential family.
- Sebastian proposes starting a girls-only cycling program; Abby is intrigued but feels overwhelmed.
- Abby jokes about “Seething Hotly 101” to tease Sebastian about his earlier frustration.
- Eileen appears while riding with Carol Landon, and Abby’s guilt spikes, causing her to speed ahead.
Character Development
Abby – She becomes more introspective, weighing sacrifice versus self-abnegation in relationships. She shares her fears about the future with Sebastian and allows herself to fantasize about a life with him (family camping trips, a baby in a trailer). Her guilt over the affair intensifies when her mother is near.
Sebastian – He shows emotional maturity by listening to Abby’s concerns and offering a constructive career idea. He also demonstrates self-awareness (wearing the vest without complaint) and vulnerability in discussing his family background.
Eileen – Her tight-lipped smile and curt “please” hint at possible suspicion, fueling Abby’s anxiety and the chapter’s tension.
Carol and Richard Landon – They are revealed as partners who prioritize family (Carol’s ailing mother) over a luxury vacation, challenging Abby’s earlier assumptions.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
Sacrifice vs. self-abnegation – Abby explicitly wonders when giving up becomes losing oneself. The Landons exemplify healthy sacrifice; her relationship with Mark may require self-abnegation (no bike vacations).
Authenticity and taking seriously – Abby values that Sebastian takes her career dreams seriously, contrasting with her fear that Mark dismisses cycling’s importance.
The “feminist whatever” – Sebastian’s casual phrase underlines how Abby’s passion for cycling and girls’ empowerment must be translated into concrete action.
Autumn imagery – Changing leaves and fewer young riders signal the end of summer, mirroring the imminent end of the trip and of Abby’s affair.
Why This Chapter Matters
This chapter deepens Abby’s internal conflict between the safe, socially acceptable path (Mark) and the passionate but uncertain one (Sebastian). It also advances the theme of mothers and daughters: Eileen’s silent presence reminds Abby of the secrecy and shame she carries. Sebastian’s career suggestion plants a seed for Abby’s possible reinvention. The ride into Buffalo marks the final day of real riding, closing the physical journey and forcing Abby to face what comes next.
Study Questions and Answers
1. What does Abby learn from observing the Landons, and how does it affect her thinking about relationships?
Abby sees that the Landons are partners who willingly sacrifice for each other (staying stateside for Carol’s mother) without resentment. This makes her question when healthy sacrifice turns into self-abnegation and whether she would end up resenting Mark for not sharing her love of cycling.
2. Why does Abby hesitate after Sebastian suggests starting a girls’ cycling program?
She is excited by the idea but feels overwhelmed by the logistics—permits, insurance, recruiting riders, and finding adult volunteers. The scale of building something from the ground up intimidates her, even though the concept aligns with her passions.
3. How does Eileen’s appearance affect Abby in this scene?
Eileen’s tight-lipped smile and insistence on being called “Eileen” make Abby suspect her mother knows about the affair. Abby’s physical reaction (prickling skin, sweat) and her decision to pedal away reveal her guilt and desire to escape both her mother’s judgment and her own moral conflict.