Chapter 28 (Chapter 26) – Polly’s Secret Plan
⚠️ 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
Polly pretends to offer Tegan two Dilaudid pills but has actually given her Benadryl, hoping the placebo effect will ease Tegan’s pain or at least help her sleep. Tegan refuses the pills, concerned for her unborn baby. Polly later joins Hank in bed. He has showered by flashlight using cold water. Surprising him, Polly initiates sex – a rare occurrence since their infertility struggles and the mysterious “Incident” that ended her nursing career. During and after intimacy, Polly reflects on their past: failed IVF that emptied their savings, a failed adoption when the birth mother changed her mind, and the Incident in the newborn nursery that forced her to leave the hospital and withdraw from adoption lists. She cared for her dying mother and now does part‑time bookkeeping for Hank’s auto shop. Hank expresses contentment with just the two of them, but Polly silently disagrees. She has made up her mind: very soon they will have a child, using the teddy bear with a heart she has kept hidden in the pantry for years. The chapter closes with Polly thinking her mother was right – their family will soon be complete.
Key Events
- Polly gives Tegan two Benadryl pills, falsely claiming they are Dilaudid. Tegan refuses to take them.
- Polly initiates sex with Hank, a rare moment of closeness after a long period of abstinence.
- Polly’s internal monologue reveals her history of infertility, failed IVF treatments, a failed adoption, and a traumatic Incident at the hospital that cost her job.
- Hank expresses love and contentment with their childless life; Polly cannot honestly reciprocate.
- Polly resolves to obtain a child soon, referencing a teddy bear with a heart stored in the pantry.
Character Development
- Polly: This chapter exposes the depth of Polly’s longing for motherhood and her willingness to deceive both Tegan and Hank. Her unresolved grief over infertility and the Incident has festered into a quiet but dangerous determination. She outwardly plays the caring host but internally plans to take what she wants.
- Hank: He remains loving, supportive, and unaware of Polly’s true feelings. His contentment with their current life contrasts sharply with Polly’s desperation, highlighting the growing rift between them.
- Tegan: Although physically present only at the start, Tegan is firmly established as Polly’s pawn – injured, vulnerable, and pregnant. Her refusal of the pills shows she prioritizes her baby’s safety even in pain.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
- Infertility and Desperation: Polly’s obsession with having a child drives every hidden decision. The failed IVF and adoption represent shattered dreams that now fuel a reckless plan.
- Deception: Polly lies about the pills, hides her feelings from Hank, and prepares to manipulate events to get a child. The gap between what she says and what she thinks is a central motif.
- The Teddy Bear with a Heart: This object, saved for years in the pantry, symbolizes Polly’s deferred hope of motherhood. Its mention at the end foreshadows that she will soon take action to use it.
- Cold and Darkness: Hank’s cold shower, the dark bedroom, and the absence of hot water mirror the emotional chill between Polly and Hank. The flashlight represents the faint light of truth Polly refuses to turn on.
Why This Chapter Matters
Chapter 28 shifts the narrative from survival thriller to psychological drama by laying bare Polly’s motive. Until now, her care for Tegan could be read as kindness; this chapter reveals it as opportunism. Polly’s past trauma – the Incident, the loss of her nursing license, her mother’s death – contextualizes her instability. Her final declaration that “very soon, we will have a child” sets the clock ticking for the novel’s climax. Readers now suspect that Tegan is not a guest but a target.
Study Questions and Answers
1. Why does Polly give Tegan Benadryl instead of real pain medication?
Polly claims it is safe for pregnancy and may offer a placebo effect or help Tegan sleep. But her deception also serves to maintain her image as a caring helper while keeping Tegan sedated and passive. It reveals Polly’s willingness to manipulate Tegan’s medical care for her own ends.
2. What is “The Incident” Polly refers to, and how has it shaped her life?
The Incident occurred at the hospital when Polly worked in the newborn nursery after the failed adoption. It was serious enough to cost her job and to force her and Hank to withdraw from adoption waiting lists. The Incident likely involves Polly harming or attempting to take an infant, though the exact details are withheld. It left her without a nursing career, without a child, and with deep psychological scars.
3. How does Polly’s view of her marriage differ from Hank’s by the end of the chapter?
Hank believes they are happy as a couple without a child, saying “I’m glad that it’s just the two of us.” Polly cannot lie when she says she loves him, but she explicitly states she will never be satisfied with a childless life. She is already planning how to obtain a child without Hank’s knowledge, creating a fundamental betrayal that will drive the story forward.