The Divorce Chapter 22: Seeking Dirt on Veronica

⚠️ 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

After the awkward encounter with Cheryl and Ashlyn at school pickup, Naomi now waits with Cora, whose outrage over Jeremy's custody move matches Naomi's own. Cora kicks a soccer ball in frustration and insists Jeremy only wants custody to avoid paying child support. Naomi mentions that her new lawyer, Ezra, suggested the same reasoning, and she privately wonders if Jeremy's girlfriend Veronica put the idea into his head.

Cora asks about Naomi's new lawyer and whether he is attractive; Naomi reluctantly admits he is cute, but she is not yet ready to move on from Jeremy. The conversation shifts to Naomi's desire to dig up information on Veronica. Cora offers to use her boyfriend, a police officer, to run Veronica's license plate number and find out her full name and background. Naomi sends Cora the photo of Veronica's New York plates. Although Naomi feels conflicted—Ezra has promised to handle everything, and she does not want to rock the boat—she ultimately concludes that she needs to know the truth about the woman who will be around her son Teddy.

Key Events

Cora expresses fury at Jeremy's custody attempt and links it to avoiding child support.
Naomi shares that Ezra confirmed that theory and privately speculates that Veronica may be the instigator.
Cora asks about Ezra's appearance; Naomi admits he is cute.
Naomi voices her need to investigate Veronica; Cora reveals she is dating a cop who can run the plate number.
Naomi texts Cora the license plate photo she took earlier.
Naomi wrestles with the risk of going behind Ezra's back but decides to proceed.

Character Development

Naomi shows growing desperation as she moves from passive acceptance of Jeremy's actions toward active investigation. Her trust in Ezra is strong but not absolute; she is willing to act independently to protect her son.
Cora emerges as a fiercely loyal and resourceful friend. Her anger is visceral, and she immediately offers practical help. Her casual mention of dating a cop adds depth to her character as someone with connections.
Jeremy remains offstage but his action—seeking custody—drives the chapter's tension. The implication that Veronica may be influencing him casts her as a potential antagonist.
Veronica is still a shadowy figure, but Naomi's suspicion that she is hiding something solidifies her as a mystery to be solved.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Female Friendship: Cora and Naomi bond over their shared outrage. Cora's immediate offer to use her boyfriend's resources highlights the theme of women supporting each other in a male-dominated legal system.
Distrust and Secrecy: Naomi's decision to investigate Veronica without telling Ezra reflects her lingering distrust of anyone outside her inner circle. The license plate becomes a symbol of hidden information.
Power Imbalance in Divorce: Jeremy's attempt to gain custody to avoid child support exemplifies how the legal process can be weaponized against a less powerful spouse.
New Beginnings vs. Lingering Attachment: Cora urges Naomi to move on, but Naomi admits she is still emotionally tied to Jeremy, creating tension between practical advice and emotional reality.

Why This Chapter Matters

Chapter 22 advances the plot by moving Naomi from a reactive stance to a proactive one. Her decision to investigate Veronica marks a turning point in her agency. The chapter also deepens the friendship with Cora, providing Naomi with a new ally and a potential source of critical information. The seed planted here—the cop boyfriend running the plates—will likely yield revelations in future chapters. Additionally, the chapter reinforces the theme that the divorce battle is not purely legal but also personal and secretive.

Study Questions and Answers

1. Why does Cora believe Jeremy is seeking custody of Teddy?
Cora thinks Jeremy wants custody primarily to avoid paying child support. She calls him an asshole for trying to take a child away from his mother just to save money.

2. What conflict does Naomi feel about her plan to investigate Veronica?
Naomi is torn because she trusts Ezra, her lawyer, who said he will handle everything. She does not want to undermine his strategy or “rock the boat.” Yet her maternal instinct and suspicion that Veronica is hiding something push her to act on her own.

3. How does the chapter show Naomi's emotional state regarding her marriage?
When Cora asks if Ezra is cute, Naomi struggles to answer because she is still emotionally attached to Jeremy. She admits she is “not there yet” in terms of moving on, revealing that she has not fully accepted the end of her marriage even as she pursues divorce.