Chapter 24 Summary & Analysis – The Surrogate Mother

⚠️ 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 is exhausted because she has stopped taking her sleeping pills ahead of annual drug screens at work. While touching up her makeup in the ladies’ room, her colleague Shelley comments on her tired appearance. Abby admits it has been a rough month. Shelley then shares that Monica, Abby’s surrogate, has been acting as if she plans to keep the baby: she discussed the name David with another coworker and asked for advice on cribs. Alarmed, Abby decides to call Monica’s roommate, Chelsea, to learn more. At home, while Sam cooks dinner, Abby retrieves Chelsea’s number from Sam’s organized files and dials it, only to hear a recorded message stating the number is no longer in service. Sam suggests Chelsea may have forgotten to pay her bill, but Abby is skeptical. When she tells Sam about Monica’s name choice (David), Sam reveals he mentioned the name to Monica. Abby confronts him about referring to the baby as “my baby,” and Sam defensively reminds her that the surrogacy was her idea. The chapter ends with tension between them.

Key Events

Abby skips her sleeping pills to avoid detection in drug screens.
Shelley tells Abby that Monica is behaving as if she is keeping the baby, citing conversations about the name David and crib research.
Abby attempts to call Chelsea, Monica’s roommate, but the number is disconnected.
Sam admits he discussed the baby’s name with Monica and referred to the baby as “my baby.”
Abby and Sam argue about trust, ownership of the baby, and the origins of the surrogacy arrangement.

Character Development

Abby: Grows increasingly paranoid and insecure. Her physical exhaustion mirrors her emotional strain. She suspects Monica of planning to back out and questions Sam’s loyalty.
Sam: Shows signs of defensiveness and impatience. He tries to downplay Abby’s fears but accidentally reveals his attachment to the baby and his private conversations with Monica.
Monica (off-screen): Her behavior, as reported by Shelley, suggests she may be emotionally attached to the baby she is carrying.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Deception and hidden agendas: The disconnected phone number and Monica’s private name discussions suggest secrets operating beneath the surface.
Control and powerlessness: Abby’s inability to influence Monica’s actions or Sam’s reactions highlights her lack of control over the surrogacy.
The name “David”: Becomes a flashpoint for marital conflict, representing Sam’s bond with Monica and Abby’s fear of being replaced.
Exhaustion and self-preservation: Abby’s choice to stop medication for the drug screen shows she is willing to sacrifice her well-being to hold onto her job and the baby.

Why This Chapter Matters

Chapter 24 escalates the central suspense of whether Monica will surrender the baby. It deepens Abby’s isolation by cutting off her only source of inside information (Chelsea) and introduces a direct emotional fight between Abby and Sam. The chapter sets the stage for Abby to take more drastic investigative steps and foreshadows a potential betrayal from both Monica and Sam.

Study Questions and Answers

Why does Abby stop taking her sleeping pills?
She is afraid the pills will show up on the company’s annual drug screen and give her boss Denise a reason to fire her.
What evidence does Shelley provide that makes Abby worry Monica might keep the baby?
Shelley overheard Monica discussing the baby name David with a coworker and asking for advice on cribs, behaviors more typical of an expectant mother planning to raise the child.
How does Sam respond when Abby confronts him about the name David?
Sam admits he mentioned the name to Monica, then becomes defensive, reminding Abby that the surrogacy was her idea and that he originally wanted to adopt.