Chapter 12: Anniversary Dinner and Unexpected Encounters

⚠️ 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

Abby and Sam celebrate their eighth wedding anniversary with dinner at a Spanish restaurant. They reminisce about their courtship and engagement, including Sam’s playful proposal outside a Zales store. The evening is warm and affectionate until they run into Monica, the surrogate carrying their child. Abby offers Monica a ride home. During the drive, Monica sits in the front passenger seat—a choice that makes Abby uncomfortable—and enthusiastically discusses Quentin Tarantino movies with Sam, quoting Pulp Fiction. Abby remembers a previous conversation in which Monica described Tarantino as “so violent,” a contradiction that fuels Abby’s growing unease. She tries to dismiss her suspicions but cannot shake the feeling that Monica is strategically ingratiating herself with Sam.

Key Events

Sam parallel parks the Highlander with a crowd watching; he succeeds and receives applause.
At dinner, Abby and Sam exchange anniversary gifts: a math-themed apron for Sam (which he puts on in the restaurant) and a diamond-handled letter opener for Abby.
After dinner, the couple is about to kiss when Monica calls out to Abby.
Abby invites Monica to ride home with them; Monica immediately takes the front passenger seat, leaving Abby in the back.
During the drive, Monica and Sam bond over Pulp Fiction, quoting lines from the film.
Abby recalls a prior meeting where Monica criticized Tarantino as excessively violent, contradicting her current enthusiasm.
Once Monica is dropped off, Abby moves to the front seat and voices a mild complaint; Sam dismisses the oddness.
Abby internally wrestles with paranoia but resolves to avoid overthinking.

Character Development

Abby: Her contentment with Sam’s devotion is undercut by a growing distrust of Monica. She notices small behavioral inconsistencies—the front seat maneuver, the sudden movie expertise—that chip away at her confidence. Abby’s internal monologue reveals a deep need to believe in the surrogacy arrangement while her instincts warn her otherwise.
Sam: Presented as affectionate and oblivious. He genuinely enjoys the Tarantino conversation with Monica without considering how it might look to his wife. His refusal to see the front-seat seating as odd highlights a problem later: he may be too trusting or naive about Monica’s motives.
Monica: Appears calculated. By inserting herself between the couple at an intimate moment and mirroring Sam’s interests, she signals a strategic move beyond mere surrogacy. Her earlier dismissal of Tarantino becoming full-blown fandom when Sam is present suggests she alters her preferences to match his.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Boundaries and Trespass: The front passenger seat becomes a symbol of Monica crossing a line. Abby feels replaced in her own marriage, underscoring how surrogacy blurs personal and family roles.
Identity and Performance: Monica performs a version of herself designed to appeal to Sam (knowledge of Pulp Fiction), while Abby recognizes the contradiction. This raises questions about Monica’s true identity and intentions.
Trust and Paranoia: Abby’s rationalizations (“I’m making too much of this”) clash with her gut feelings. The chapter explores the fragility of trust when a third party has a biological bond with one’s spouse.
Memory and Narrative Control: Abby’s recollection of Monica’s earlier comment about Tarantino serves as a clue. The reliability of memory becomes thematic, as Abby doubts herself even when she has clear evidence.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter escalates the psychological tension by moving Monica from a peripheral figure into a direct threat to Abby’s marriage. The anniversary setting contrasts a happy past with an increasingly uneasy present. Monica’s actions—sitting in the front, bonding over shared interests—mirror classic manipulation tactics, signaling that the surrogacy arrangement is not as straightforward as Abby hoped. The chapter also deepens Abby’s internal conflict: she wants to trust Sam and Monica, but her instincts point to deception. This sets the stage for a central question of the novel: who is really in control of the narrative?

Study Questions

Why does Monica sit in the front seat instead of the back, and what does this choice reveal about her?
Answer: Monica intentionally positions herself next to Sam, physically and symbolically inserting herself into the couple’s dynamic. It suggests a disregard for social boundaries and a desire to be seen as Sam’s equal or partner rather than a service provider.
What does the contradiction between Monica’s earlier comment about Tarantino (“so violent”) and her later enthusiastic quoting of Pulp Fiction indicate?
Answer: The discrepancy implies that Monica may be fabricating or exaggerating her interests to align with Sam’s. It raises the possibility that she is studying Abby’s conversations to craft a persona more appealing to Sam.
How does Abby’s reaction to Monica’s behavior in this chapter affect the reader’s understanding of her reliability as a narrator?
Answer: Abby acknowledges her own paranoia and tries to dismiss it, which makes her seem prone to self-doubt. Yet she also remembers clear details (the anti-Tarantino comment). The tension leaves the reader uncertain whether Abby is imagining threats or correctly interpreting red flags—a key element of suspense.