Chapter summaries The Divorce Freida McFadden

Chapter 66 Summary: Naomi's Fire 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

Naomi concludes that fire is the only way to explain the two bodies in the cellar—Ezra and Veronica. The tape marks on Veronica’s wrists and ankles would be impossible to explain otherwise. If the house burns, all forensic evidence will be destroyed, and the deaths will appear to be a tragic accident. Naomi plans to light the fire, then rescue Teddy from his bedroom (where he is waiting for her special code words), making herself look like a hero. She believes this will earn back Jeremy’s love, since he cherishes Teddy above all else.

She goes upstairs and searches for something to ignite the alcohol in the cellar. Finding a lighter in a kitchen drawer, she prepares to act quickly. As she crosses the living room, Veronica’s phone lights up with a message from a woman named Lola: “You should go straight to the police.” Naomi realizes that the positive test result Veronica received was a DNA test, confirming that Teddy is Veronica’s biological child. This secret is now known to at least one other person. Naomi checks Lola’s contact info and finds her address in St. Louis, not far from Naomi’s mother. She resolves to deal with Lola after Veronica is dead, possibly with her mother’s help. Then she returns to the cellar to start the fire.

Key Events

  • Naomi decides to use fire to cover evidence of the two deaths in the cellar.
  • She finds a lighter in the kitchen.
  • She intercepts a text from Lola on Veronica’s phone urging Veronica to go to the police.
  • Naomi deduces that a DNA test proved Teddy is Veronica’s child.
  • She notes Lola’s address in St. Louis and plans to eliminate her.
  • Naomi heads back to the cellar to ignite the alcohol.

Character Development

  • Naomi: Shows increasing ruthlessness and calculation. She is willing to commit arson and further murder to protect herself and regain Jeremy’s affection. Her plan to act as the rescuer highlights her manipulative nature and her view of motherhood as a performance.
  • Teddy: Remains a passive pawn, sequestered in his room, unaware that Naomi is about to use him to win back Jeremy.
  • Lola: Becomes a new threat. Although not physically present, her knowledge of Teddy’s parentage puts her in danger.
  • Jeremy: Serves as the emotional prize Naomi hopes to reclaim; his love for Teddy is the lever she is using.

Themes, Symbols, and Motifs

  • Fire as cleansing and cover-up: Naomi believes fire will erase all evidence of her crimes, symbolizing her desire to burn away the truth and create a new narrative.
  • Motherhood as performance: Naomi’s plan to “rescue” Teddy is a calculated act to portray herself as a selfless mother, revealing that maternal love is a tool for manipulation.
  • Secrets and DNA: The DNA test is a concrete truth that threatens Naomi’s fabrication, underscoring how biological facts can unravel lies.
  • Geographic proximity: Lola’s location near Naomi’s mother suggests a potential connection or future confrontation.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter marks a major escalation: Naomi moves from murder to arson and plans additional murder to protect her secret. The revelation that Teddy is Veronica’s biological child—and that Lola knows—introduces a new conflict. Naomi’s decision to involve her mother hints at a family web of complicity. The chapter sets up the climax of the fire and the impending confrontation with Lola.

Study Questions and Answers

  1. Why does Naomi believe setting a fire is the only option?
    She cannot explain the presence of Ezra and Veronica’s bodies in the cellar, especially the tape marks on Veronica’s wrists and ankles. Fire will destroy all physical evidence, making the deaths look accidental and allowing Naomi to appear as a hero rescuing Teddy.

  2. What does the message from Lola reveal, and how does Naomi react?
    The message says “You should go straight to the police,” which confirms that Lola knows about the DNA test proving Teddy is Veronica’s son. Naomi immediately checks Lola’s contact details, notes her address in St. Louis, and decides to kill Lola after dealing with Veronica.

  3. How does Naomi plan to use Teddy in her scheme?
    She will light the fire, then go to Teddy’s room using her special code words to retrieve him, thereby presenting herself as the mother who saved her child. She believes this act will restore Jeremy’s love because he values Teddy above everything else.

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