The Surrogate Mother – Chapter 36 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.

Detailed Chapter Summary

Abby and Shelley spend a long night out. After coffee, they eat dinner, then go to a bar where Abby drinks heavily to dull the pain of Sam’s betrayal. She returns home after midnight to a dark apartment. Tripping over Sam’s discarded shoe in the bedroom, she is reminded of how trivial their past arguments now seem.

Sam is asleep, covers thrown off, his glasses on the nightstand. His cell phone is plugged in nearby. Abby remembers that Sam once gave her his phone password, and she doubts he has changed it. With murder charges now a real possibility, she decides to violate his privacy. She snatches the phone and unlocks it.

The texts show a conversation with Monica. The last lines are:

Sam: “I really don’t know what to do about Abby. This is bad.”
Monica: “I know.”
Sam: “She wouldn’t come home tonight. So that plan is off.”

Abby wonders what “plan” involved her not coming home and whether it included duct tape.

Sam wakes up and catches her. He asks what she is doing. Abby admits she was snooping. She then asks directly if he is having an affair with Monica. Sam reacts with shock, takes the phone, and stands over her. Abby feels physically threatened by his size and strength. Instead of harming her, Sam grabs his pillow and says he will sleep on the couch because he does not want to share a bed with her. He tells Abby he does not know her anymore; she retorts “Likewise.” He adds that she smells like whiskey, then slams the door.

Alone, Abby thinks she has likely destroyed any chance of working things out, but at least she has not been duct-taped to a chair.

Key Events

Abby drinks heavily with Shelley and returns home after midnight.
She enters the dark bedroom and trips over Sam’s shoe.
She decides to look at Sam’s phone while he is asleep.
She reads a text exchange between Sam and Monica referencing a “plan” that is now off.
Sam wakes and catches her snooping.
Abby confronts Sam about a possible affair with Monica.
Sam takes his phone, leaves the bedroom, and announces he will sleep on the couch.
Abby reflects on the ruined relationship but notes she is not physically restrained.

Character Development

Abby: Her earlier reluctance to invade Sam’s privacy gives way to desperation after she becomes a murder suspect. She acts impulsively, even carelessly—reading the phone right next to Sam. Her emotional state is raw; she uses alcohol to cope and is willing to risk everything for the truth.
Sam: When caught, Sam does not deny an affair but reacts angrily and withdraws. His comment “I don’t know you anymore” suggests he feels betrayed by Abby’s distrust, yet his own secret texts point to concealed plans. His physical size becomes a source of intimidation, even if he does not act on it.
Monica (offstage): Although not present, her text replies imply she is complicit in whatever “plan” Sam envisioned.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Infidelity and Betrayal: The entire chapter revolves around the erosion of trust. Abby’s snooping and Sam’s ambiguous texts confirm that their marriage is fractured.
Power Imbalance: Sam’s larger build and Abby’s fear of being physically overpowered highlight an unequal dynamic. The mention of duct tape darkly invokes captivity and control.
Secrecy and Surveillance: Abby’s decision to spy on Sam mirrors the theme of hidden truths. Both characters keep secrets: Sam’s affair (or conspiracy) and Abby’s drinking and snooping.
Alcohol as Escape: Abby drinks to numb the pain, but it also impairs her judgment—she almost gets caught immediately.

Why This Chapter Matters

This is the first direct confrontation between Abby and Sam over the affair and the mystery surrounding Monica. The text message about a “plan” raises the stakes: Sam may have intended something harmful, and Abby’s failure to come home may have derailed it. The chapter shifts the relationship from passive suspicion to active conflict. It also reinforces the psychological tension—Abby feels physically vulnerable yet remains defiant. The scene foreshadows further escalation and sets the stage for Abby to take more drastic steps to uncover the truth.

Study Questions

Why does Abby decide to look at Sam’s phone despite earlier reluctance?
Answer: Earlier, Abby valued Sam’s privacy, but now murder charges are involved. The threat of being framed or harmed overrides her scruples. She needs to know what Sam and Monica have been planning.
What does Sam’s text “So that plan is off” suggest about his intentions?
Answer: It implies Sam and Monica had a coordinated scheme that required Abby to come home that night. The word “plan” combined with the earlier duct-tape reference suggests a potentially violent abduction or silencing plot. Its failure leaves Sam frustrated.
How does the power dynamic between Abby and Sam change in this scene?
Answer: Initially, Abby holds the power of surveillance (reading the texts). Once caught, the power shifts—Sam physically towers over her, and she feels one step away from being harmed. Yet she verbally fights back. The standoff ends with Sam retreating to the couch, indicating emotional withdrawal rather than resolution.