Chapter summaries The Surrogate Mother Freida McFadden

The Surrogate Mother Chapter 22 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 notices that Monica’s pregnancy is now impossible to hide at the office. She asks Monica to resign as previously agreed, but Monica refuses, saying the verbal agreement was never part of her contract. Frustrated, Abby later accidentally sends an email to her boss Denise in which she calls Denise a bitch. Denise confronts Abby, and at that moment HR manager Sonia arrives to discuss the surrogacy arrangement. In a meeting with Denise and Sonia, Monica defends Abby, claiming the surrogacy was entirely her own idea and that Abby did not coerce her. Monica offers to leave the company rather than see Abby fired. Sonia decides not to pursue termination, though Denise remains furious.

Key Events

  • Abby confronts Monica about her visible pregnancy and asks her to resign per their verbal agreement.
  • Monica refuses, pointing out that the resignation clause was never in the written contract.
  • Abby accidentally cc’s Denise on an email calling her boss a “bitch.”
  • Denise storms into Abby’s office with the email; the confrontation is interrupted by HR manager Sonia.
  • Sonia calls a meeting with Abby, Denise, and Monica to discuss the surrogacy arrangement.
  • Denise reacts with shock and anger, assuming Abby coerced Monica.
  • Monica unexpectedly defends Abby, insisting she initiated the surrogacy herself and that Abby did not pressure her.
  • Monica offers to resign if anyone is to be fired, but Sonia declares no one will lose their job.

Character Development

  • Abby: Her desperation to control the surrogacy situation leads to careless mistakes (the email). She shows anxiety about losing her job and relies on Monica’s goodwill.
  • Monica: Grows more assertive, first refusing to resign and then taking charge in the HR meeting. Her defense of Abby suggests either genuine loyalty or a calculated move to maintain influence.
  • Denise: Her bias against pregnant women and dislike of Abby intensify. She is initially outraged but is forced to accept the situation when Monica supports Abby.
  • Sonia (HR): Acts as a neutral mediator, focused on legal risk and paperwork rather than moral judgment.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

  • Power imbalances: The employer‑assistant dynamic complicates consent in the surrogacy arrangement. Abby’s authority is undermined when Monica refuses to follow verbal agreements.
  • Secrecy and exposure: The pregnancy and the surrogacy secret are both forcibly exposed—first by Monica’s visible body, then by the accidental email and the HR meeting.
  • Control vs. surrender: Abby tries to control every aspect (Monica’s resignation, the narrative at work), but events slip away from her. Monica, by contrast, actively shapes the outcome.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter escalates the central conflict beyond Abby’s personal life into her professional sphere. The surrogacy arrangement is now known to HR and to Abby’s hostile boss, raising the stakes for Abby’s job security and her relationship with Monica. Monica’s refusal to resign and her public defense of Abby create a new, uncertain dynamic—she is no longer a passive surrogate but an active participant who can leverage her position. The accidental email also reinforces Abby’s increasing recklessness under stress.

Study Questions & Answers

  1. Why does Monica refuse to resign from her job, and how does this change the power dynamic between her and Abby?
    Monica refuses because the resignation was only a verbal promise, not a contractual obligation. By insisting on staying, she asserts agency and reminds Abby that she holds leverage—without Monica, Abby’s chance to have a baby collapses.

  2. What does Abby’s accidental email reveal about her state of mind?
    The email shows Abby’s growing resentment toward Denise and her inability to keep her emotions in check. It illustrates how the surrogacy stress is causing her to make professional errors that jeopardize her career.

  3. How does Monica’s defense of Abby in the HR meeting serve her own interests?
    By taking responsibility and offering to leave, Monica appears generous and selfless, which may strengthen her position. It also prevents Abby from being fired—keeping Abby employed means Monica can continue to influence the surrogacy arrangement and remain connected to Abby.

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