Chapter 39 Summary: The Near Drowning of Suzette
⚠️ 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
At the beach, a commotion erupts in the ocean where the children were swimming. The narrator Millie and Jonathan watch as the lifeguard rushes too late to help. Enzo emerges from the water carrying Suzette, who is coughing and pink-faced but conscious. She clings to Enzo, thanking him profusely and calling him her hero. The lifeguard suggests seaweed tangled her leg, but Millie doubts that explanation. Ada and Nico look shaken. Suzette continues to hold Enzo’s hand, and when he helps her to the car, she touches his biceps. Jonathan seems unbothered, thanking Enzo. The group packs up early. Millie feels jealous and annoyed, dreading that Suzette lives next door.
Key Events
- A sudden drowning alarm sends people rushing to the ocean.
- Enzo rescues Suzette before the lifeguard can reach her.
- Suzette claims her leg was tangled by something pulling her under.
- The lifeguard speculates seaweed, but the explanation feels weak.
- Suzette fawns over Enzo, calling him her hero and clinging to him.
- Jonathan remains oblivious or indifferent to Suzette’s behavior.
- The group abandons the beach trip due to the scare.
- Millie struggles with jealousy as she watches Suzette touch Enzo.
- Suzette and Jonathan drive home; Millie dreads their proximity.
Character Development
- Millie: Her jealousy intensifies as she interprets Suzette’s gratitude as flirting. She remains suspicious of the drowning incident, questioning its authenticity.
- Enzo: Enjoys being the hero. He accepts Suzette’s attention without apparent discomfort, showing a lack of awareness of Millie’s feelings.
- Suzette: Appears vulnerable and grateful, but her lingering physical contact and dramatic gratitude suggest possible ulterior motives or a desire for attention.
- Jonathan: Remarkably unconcerned, he thanks Enzo for saving his wife, indicating either trust or obliviousness to the intimacy between Enzo and Suzette.
- Ada and Nico: Their shaken reactions reinforce the seriousness of the event from the children’s perspective.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
- Rescue and Heroism: Enzo’s act of saving Suzette creates a bond between them that undermines Millie’s sense of security. The motif of rescue is twisted—what should be selfless feels threatening.
- Jealousy and Insecurity: Millie’s internal commentary reveals her growing distrust and jealousy. Suzette’s physical proximity to Enzo symbolizes a threat to Millie’s marriage.
- Appearances vs. Reality: The ambiguous drowning—whether accidental or staged—mirrors the book’s larger theme of deceptive appearances. Suzette’s distress could be genuine or manufactured.
- Proximity and Entrapment: The beach setting becomes a stage for unwanted closeness. The chapter ends with Millie’s dread that Suzette lives next door, emphasizing inescapable tension.
Why This Chapter Matters
Chapter 39 escalates the domestic tension by introducing a crisis that forces the characters into new dynamics. The near-drowning incident deepens the bond between Enzo and Suzette while isolating Millie. The chapter strengthens the psychological thriller elements—uncertainty, jealousy, and suspicion—by leaving the drowning’s cause ambiguous. It also foreshadows potential future conflicts as Suzette’s gratitude may be used to manipulate Enzo. The chapter moves the plot forward by making Millie’s emotional state more volatile and her need for answers more urgent.
Study Questions and Answers
1. Why does Millie doubt the lifeguard’s suggestion that seaweed caused Suzette’s near drowning?
Millie finds it unclear how seaweed could pull someone under the water. Her skepticism reflects her general distrust of Suzette and hints that she suspects the incident might have been exaggerated or staged.
2. How does Jonathan’s reaction to Enzo saving Suzette differ from Millie’s?
Jonathan openly thanks Enzo and shows no jealousy or concern about his wife clinging to another man. Millie, by contrast, watches with growing irritation and feels that Suzette is being overly familiar with Enzo.
3. What does Suzette’s repeated physical contact with Enzo reveal about her intentions?
Suzette holds Enzo’s hand, gazes at him, and touches his biceps while thanking him. These gestures go beyond simple gratitude and suggest she is attempting to create intimacy, either to provoke Millie or to draw Enzo closer.