Chapter 7 – Sarah Morgan: Summary & Analysis
⚠️ 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
Chapter 7 opens with Sarah Morgan waking beside her husband, Adam. She reflects on her desire for a baby, feeling that right and wrong are subjective. She recalls a week-old epiphany and a conversation with her friend Anne that solidified her wish for love, family, and meaning beyond her career. After a brief text exchange with Anne, Sarah goes to work.
At the office, she confronts Bob, a colleague who has been poaching her assistant, Anne. Sarah warns Bob to stop, threatening to recommend his termination at the next partners’ meeting. Bob resists but eventually backs down.
Back in her office, Sarah finds a bouquet of red roses from Adam with a note saying “it’s always been you.” She tells Anne they are trying for a baby, which excites Anne.
Soon, Sarah’s old friend Matthew from Yale law school arrives. Matthew, a lobbyist with a flamboyant personality, jokingly calls babies “knick-knacks” and mocks Sarah’s desire for children. Anne is offended, but Sarah is used to Matthew’s provocations. Sarah confesses her fear that at thirty-three, she may lack the energy for motherhood. Anne reassures her, while Matthew sarcastically hopes it’s too late.
Matthew reveals he will be in Washington, D.C. for a six-month contract. After Anne leaves, Matthew and Sarah banter about his testing people and his lack of a “best” side. Sarah agrees to make time for him while he is in town.
Key Events
- Sarah wakes next to Adam, contemplating her decision to try for a baby.
- She confronts Bob about using Anne, asserting her authority and threatening termination.
- Roses arrive from Adam with a romantic note; Sarah tells Anne about trying for a child.
- Matthew, a longtime friend, visits Sarah’s office after a year apart.
- Matthew expresses his controversial view that babies are “knick-knacks” that slow people down.
- Sarah admits her fear of motherhood at age thirty-three.
- Matthew announces a six-month contract in D.C., and Sarah welcomes his company.
Character Development
Sarah Morgan reveals a softer side beneath her fierce professional exterior. She is high-achieving, confrontational with Bob, but vulnerable about wanting a child. Her epiphany shows she craves meaning beyond her legal career.
Adam is present mostly through Sarah’s thoughts and his romantic gesture. He is supportive of the baby plan, and Matthew’s comment about Adam having a “flatlined career” hints at tension in the marriage.
Anne is loyal and excited for Sarah’s baby news. She also shows indignation at Matthew’s remarks, asserting her own moral stance.
Bob serves as a workplace antagonist. Sarah’s dominance over him underscores her power and protective nature toward Anne.
Matthew is charismatic and provocative. His contempt for children and his testing of Anne establish him as a friend who challenges Sarah’s life choices. His long absence and sudden return suggest he may play a larger role.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
- Motherhood vs. Career Ambition: Sarah wrestles with whether she can balance her demanding job with raising a child. Her fear of being too old or too tired reflects a common societal pressure.
- Subjectivity of Right and Wrong: Sarah opens the chapter by noting that right and wrong are subjective, a lens through which she justifies her own decisions.
- Power Dynamics: The confrontation with Bob illustrates office politics and Sarah’s willingness to use her position to protect Anne.
- Purpose and Legacy: Matthew’s claim that childless people breed for purpose echoes Sarah’s own search for meaning. The roses symbolize Adam’s investment in a shared future.
Why This Chapter Matters
This chapter deepens the reader’s understanding of Sarah’s inner conflict. It sets up potential conflicts between her professional life and personal desires, while introducing Matthew as a catalyst for questioning her choices. The tension with Bob and the subtext of Adam’s career stagnation lay groundwork for later revelations. Sarah’s desire for a baby personalizes the suspense, making her a more sympathetic character.
Study Questions & Answers
1. Why does Sarah confront Bob, and what does this reveal about her character? Sarah confronts Bob because he has been asking Anne to run personal errands, effectively stealing her assistant. This reveals Sarah’s protective, assertive side and her willingness to use institutional power to shield those she cares for.
2. What is Matthew’s attitude toward children, and how do Sarah and Anne react? Matthew mockingly calls babies “knick-knacks” and argues that people with no purpose breed. Anne is openly disgusted; Sarah is used to his provocations and deflects with humor, though she later confesses her fear of motherhood to him.
3. How does Sarah’s epiphany about wanting a baby conflict with her professional identity? Sarah has built a reputation as a high-powered lawyer defending major cases. Wanting a baby feels unfamiliar and frightening, because it challenges the single-minded ambition that made her successful. She worries that becoming a mother will demand energy she may not have and may shift her priorities.
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