The Divorce Chapter 27 (Chapter 25) – Searching for Veronica Chesson
⚠️ 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 her lawyer Ezra leaves, Annie becomes fixated on Veronica Chesson, the woman Jeremy is seeing. She decides to investigate Veronica thoroughly. Annie retrieves her laptop and a jar of homemade kombucha she’s been fermenting. She searches online for Veronica but finds only superficial profiles. Undeterred, Annie uses a paid background‑check service, authorized by the credit card Jeremy reinstated after mediation.
While waiting for results, she sips her homemade kombucha, which tastes strongly fermented. The background check loads, showing a last known address that matches the woman Annie suspects. Then she sees a drug possession charge on Veronica’s record. Annie is shocked but views this as valuable ammunition for her custody case. She wonders if Jeremy knows his girlfriend has a criminal record.
Suddenly, Annie’s stomach lurches. She rushes to the sink and vomits violently, blaming the kombucha—and Veronica, because Annie wouldn’t need to make her own cheap kombucha if she hadn’t been forced out of her home. She vows to uncover the true identity and motives of Veronica Chesson, determined to stop the divorce.
Key Events
- Ezra leaves Annie’s apartment, and she cannot stop thinking about Veronica Chesson.
- Annie retrieves her homemade kombucha and laptop to dig into Veronica’s background.
- A basic internet search yields nothing useful; she turns to a paid background‑check website.
- The background report shows a drug possession charge connected to Veronica.
- Annie reacts to the discovery by drinking more kombucha, then becomes violently ill.
- She vomits in the sink, blaming both the homemade drink and Veronica for her destitute situation.
- Annie resolves to learn everything about Veronica and find a way to prevent the divorce.
Character Development
Annie (the narrator) – This chapter reveals Annie’s obsessive side and her willingness to cross ethical boundaries. Her fixation on Veronica consumes her thoughts. She also displays a strong tendency to externalize blame: she blames Veronica for making her poor (forcing her to make cheap kombucha) and blames the kombucha for her sickness, rather than considering her own choices. The physical illness may hint at a deeper vulnerability, yet her determination remains fierce.
Ezra – Though off‑stage, Ezra’s earlier visit spurred Annie’s investigation. He functions as a catalyst, providing information that pushes Annie to act. His suggestion that Veronica might have a shady past is now validated by the drug charge.
Jeremy – Off‑screen but central to Annie’s anxiety. His reinstatement of her credit card inadvertently enables the background check, showing he still exerts control over her financial resources.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
- Surveillance and Privacy – The chapter highlights the ease of obtaining personal records online. Annie uses a paid service to dig into Veronica’s past, raising questions about how far she’ll go to win her case.
- Homemade kombucha as a symbol of reduced circumstances – The kombucha represents Annie’s fall from affluence; she must make her own because she can’t afford store‑bought. Its rancid taste and the resulting sickness mirror the poisonous nature of her obsession.
- Blame and Victimhood – Annie repeatedly deflects responsibility. When she gets sick, she blames Veronica instead of her own fermentation experiment. This pattern of externalization is a key character flaw.
- The “drug possession” charge – Functions as a plot device that might shift the custody battle. It reinforces the theme of hidden pasts and the idea that people are not who they seem.
Why This Chapter Matters
Chapter 25 (numbered 27 in the book) deepens the mystery around Veronica Chesson. Annie gains concrete evidence—a drug charge—that could change the custody fight. The chapter also escalates Annie’s desperation: she is physically ill and emotionally unhinged, showing how the divorce is taking a toll on her health. The kombucha incident injects a queasy comic relief while underscoring her decline. Annie’s vow to “get to the bottom of this” sets up future investigations and possible confrontations.
Study Questions and Answers
1. Why does Annie decide to run a background check on Veronica?
Annie wants to find any information that could help her in the custody battle. After Ezra’s visit, she becomes obsessed with uncovering Veronica’s true character and potential criminal history.
2. What does the background check reveal about Veronica, and how does Annie react?
It reveals a drug possession charge. Annie is surprised but sees it as a weapon against Jeremy’s parenting fitness. She immediately wonders if Jeremy knows, and she feels vindicated in her suspicion of Veronica.
3. What does Annie’s reaction to the kombucha symbolize in the chapter?
The violent sickness from homemade kombucha symbolizes how Annie’s own attempts to save money (a forced consequence of the divorce) backfire. It also mirrors her internal nausea at the thought of Veronica, and her tendency to blame others for her misfortunes.