Chapter summaries The Surrogate Mother Freida McFadden

The Surrogate Mother – Chapter 17 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

Abby meets her friend Shelley for lunch at a Mexican restaurant. She is tempted to order a margarita but resists, worried about her job performance and her boss Denise. Shelley notices Abby looks upset. Abby admits things have become “weird” with her husband Sam and their surrogate Monica. She describes how Monica has grown closer to Sam—taking the front seat, bonding over math jokes, texting him, and meeting him for coffee after an ultrasound Abby missed. Shelley suggests Monica may have manipulated Abby’s calendar to make her appear irresponsible. Abby rejects the idea but internally decides to change her phone password. Later that evening, Sam receives a text from Monica revealing the baby’s gender. Sam, unaware that Abby wanted it to be a surprise, tells her it’s a boy. Although Abby is hurt that Monica contacted Sam first, she shares his excitement about becoming parents.

Key Events

  • Abby and Shelley discuss Abby’s growing unease about Sam and Monica’s friendship.
  • Shelley theorizes Monica could have altered Abby’s calendar to make her miss the ultrasound.
  • Abby resolves to change her phone password but still trusts Monica as her assistant.
  • Sam receives a text from Monica disclosing the baby’s gender.
  • Sam reveals the baby is a boy; Abby is initially upset but then shares his joy.

Character Development

Abby is increasingly insecure about her marriage. She questions Monica’s motives yet tries to rationalize her fears. Her decision to change her phone password shows she is starting to act on her suspicion, even as she outwardly claims trust.

Shelley serves as a pragmatic sounding board. She does not immediately dismiss Abby’s worries and offers a possible explanation for the missed ultrasound, demonstrating her loyalty and sharp insight.

Sam appears genuinely excited about the baby. His casual mention of Monica’s text suggests he does not perceive the boundary issues that bother Abby. His focus is on the pregnancy itself rather than the implications of his relationship with Monica.

Monica remains offstage but her actions—texting Sam privately and revealing the gender without consulting Abby—suggest she is deliberately building a bond with Sam.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

  • Trust vs. Suspicion: Abby struggles to maintain trust in both Monica and Sam. The chapter examines how a surrogate arrangement can strain a marriage when boundaries become unclear.
  • Secrecy and Information Control: Monica’s decision to tell Sam the baby’s gender first, and the possibility that she manipulated Abby’s calendar, highlight the power of information in this triangular relationship.
  • Jealousy and Insecurity: Abby’s comparisons between herself and Monica—age, curves, pregnancy—reflect her fear of being replaced. Shelley’s comment that Monica looks like Abby reinforces this theme.

Why This Chapter Matters

Chapter 17 escalates the emotional tension by showing Abby’s fears are not entirely unfounded. Monica has now shared a significant milestone (the baby’s gender) with Sam before Abby, undermining Abby’s role in the process. The chapter also introduces the idea that Monica may be actively sabotaging Abby, planting a seed of doubt that will likely drive the plot. Finally, learning the baby’s gender gives Sam and Abby a moment of shared happiness, but the shadow of Monica’s intrusion remains.

Study Questions

  1. Why does Abby decide to change her phone password after lunch?
    Answer: Abby realizes her birthday is not a secure password. Although she claims to trust Monica, her decision indicates she is beginning to doubt Monica’s intentions and wants to protect her private communications with Sam.

  2. What possible explanation does Shelley offer for Abby missing the ultrasound?
    Answer: Shelley suggests that Monica, who has access to Abby’s calendar, could have told Abby the wrong time, then later changed the appointment to the correct time, making Abby look foolish for arriving late.

  3. How does Sam react when he tells Abby the baby is a boy?
    Answer: Sam is enthusiastic and joyful. He climbs onto the couch with Abby and expresses his love for her, but he remains oblivious to Abby’s earlier distress about Monica’s boundary crossing.

Previous Chapter: Chapter 16
Next Chapter: Chapter 18
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