The Surrogate Mother Chapter 3 Summary and 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 joins her husband Sam at the office door, and he pulls her aside near the copy machine. His hands are shaking as he delivers devastating news: their surrogate, Janelle, has changed her mind and decided to keep the baby. Abby is stunned and immediately begins to cry in Sam’s arms. He volunteers to inform the baby shower guests while she waits. On the drive home, Abby notices the new SUV Sam bought for the baby, including a car seat that will now never be used. Once home, she trips over a bassinet and answers a phone call from a female student asking for Sam; Abby angrily warns the student never to call again. Sam arrives and they sit together, grieving. A flashback reveals Abby’s long struggle with infertility: after years of trying, IVF failures, and the discovery of scarring in her uterus and poor egg quality, they turned to adoption. Janelle finally matched with them, but now that match is gone. Sam proposes they adopt an older child instead of waiting for another newborn. After initial resistance, Abby agrees.

Key Events

Sam tells Abby that Janelle has backed out of the surrogacy agreement and intends to keep the baby.
Abby breaks down crying in Sam’s arms; Sam volunteers to tell the baby shower guests the bad news.
During the silent car ride home, Abby sees the new car and car seat, which feel like painful reminders of their loss.
At the apartment, Abby trips over a bassinet, then answers a call from a student named April who is seeking Sam’s attention after hours.
Abby angrily threatens the student and hangs up, showing her grief spilling into other areas.
Sam and Abby console each other on the sofa; Abby reflects on years of infertility treatments, failed IVF cycles, and the emotional toll.
Sam suggests they pivot to adopting an older child; Abby hesitates but finally agrees.

Character Development

Abby: Her grief is raw and visceral. The chapter reveals her deep guilt over being the “defective” one in the relationship, as well as her obsessive past with fertility treatments. She shows a fierce protective side when confronting April, but her vulnerability is central.
Sam: He appears supportive and steady, but his own devastation is visible in his bloodshot eyes and shaking hands. His suggestion to adopt an older child reveals a pragmatic, compassionate nature and a desire to move forward.
Denise: Though only present through a text message, Denise’s cold professionalism highlights the pressure Abby feels at work and the lack of emotional support from her boss.
April: The student caller represents an ongoing nuisance—young women attracted to Sam—but Abby’s reaction shows how stress amplifies her jealousy and anger.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Infertility as a source of guilt and inadequacy: Abby repeatedly calls herself the problem, emphasizing her sense of failure as a woman and a wife.
Loss of control: The surrogate’s decision to keep the baby is a stark reminder that Abby’s plans—clinical, legal, emotional—can be undone by another person’s choice.
Objects as painful reminders: The new SUV, the car seat, the bassinet, and the blue onesie all become symbols of a future that will not happen.
Marriage tested by crisis: Sam and Abby cling to each other, but the strain is clear. Abby’s outburst at the student and her resentment about parking show cracks in their dynamic.
The pivot to adoption: The discussion about adopting an older child raises the theme of letting go of a fantasy in order to build a family in a different way.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter delivers the central catastrophic event of the novel: the collapse of the surrogacy arrangement. It forces Abby and Sam to confront the end of their long pursuit of a newborn. More importantly, it deepens the reader’s understanding of Abby’s history of infertility, the emotional cost of failed treatments, and her deep-seated guilt. The chapter also sets up a new direction for the couple—deciding to adopt an older child—which will shape the rest of the plot. Additionally, the introduction of the student caller and Denise’s unsympathetic text hint at external pressures that will continue to complicate Abby’s life.

Study Questions and Answers

Question	Answer
Why does Abby react so strongly to the phone call from April, the student?	Abby is already raw from the loss of the baby, and April’s flirtation triggers her anger and insecurity. She takes out her grief on the student, showing how the situation has eroded her usual patience and humor.
What does Sam’s suggestion to adopt an older child reveal about his character?	Sam is practical, compassionate, and focused on the goal of becoming a parent rather than on a specific vision. He is willing to sacrifice the newborn ideal to give a home to a child who needs one, and he gently pushes Abby to let go of her dream.
How does the chapter use objects (the car, car seat, bassinet) to emphasize Abby’s loss?	Each object was purchased in anticipation of the baby. Seeing them now—especially the tiny socks and the car seat in the SUV—reminds Abby of the future that has been taken away, intensifying her pain and making her grief concrete.