Chapter 7 (Chapter 6) 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
In an Italian restaurant Abby has chosen to avoid familiar staff, she and her husband Sam meet Monica, the potential surrogate. Monica arrives dressed formally, like a job interviewee; Sam treats the meeting the same way, bringing a legal pad and taking notes. He asks for Monica's roommate's name and phone number, which Abby finds rude. Monica remains composed and answers openly.
Sam questions Monica's eagerness to become a surrogate. She explains her financial situation: she cannot afford graduate school after college, and surrogacy offers a way to pay for it. Sam, a math professor, is skeptical but engaged. Abby reflects on how she and Sam met over ten years ago, when she was a personal assistant at Stewart Advertising and interviewed him for a university campaign. Despite his dull lecture on differential equations, she was attracted to him, and they went to dinner (with the promise he would not discuss equations). Their connection grew, leading to marriage.
The dinner continues with Sam growing more relaxed toward Monica. Monica declines alcohol (choosing water), earning Abby's approval. The chapter ends with Abby hopeful that Monica has swayed Sam.
Key Events
- Abby and Sam meet Monica at an unfamiliar Italian restaurant for the surrogate interview.
- Sam treats the meeting like a formal job interview, taking notes and asking detailed personal questions.
- Monica answers all questions calmly, sharing her roommate's name and explaining her financial motivation.
- Sam questions why Monica is so eager; she compares her desire for education to his passion for math, arguing that financial barriers can be overcome through unconventional means.
- Abby has a flashback to her first meeting with Sam, when she was a personal assistant and he a grad student teaching differential equations.
- The flashback reveals how their relationship began—with dinner and a promise not to discuss equations.
- Monica orders water instead of alcohol, impressing Abby.
- By the end of the meal, Sam's initial skepticism appears to soften, and Abby feels more optimistic.
Character Development
Abby emerges as the hopeful mediator, anxious about Sam's rigid approach but also trusting Monica. Her internal flashback humanizes her relationship with Sam and shows her long-standing admiration for his seriousness, even when it is frustrating. Sam is depicted as cautious and protective; his methodical questioning reflects his logical mind and need for control. However, Monica's reasoned response—drawing an analogy between his pursuit of math and her need for funding—forces him to reconsider. Monica demonstrates integrity and self-awareness. She dresses conservatively, avoids alcohol, and articulates her motives without defensiveness. Her composure contrasts with Abby's earlier worries about being judged, and she succeeds in presenting herself as trustworthy.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
Trust and Skepticism drive the chapter. Sam’s legal pad and list of questions symbolize his need for certainty in an inherently uncertain process—entrusting a stranger with their future child. Monica's openness and consistency aim to build trust. Financial Desperation is a clear motif: Monica's willingness to become a surrogate stems from economic barriers to education. This theme is reinforced by the flashback to Abby's own earlier life (as a personal assistant), suggesting that desperation can take many forms. Marriage Dynamics emerge through the tension between Sam and Abby: Abby wants to move forward, while Sam demands proof. Their differing approaches highlight the strain infertility places on relationships. The first meeting memory also establishes the motif of chance connections—how a seemingly awkward interview can lead to love, paralleling the current interview that may lead to family.
Why This Chapter Matters
Chapter 7 (Chapter 6) is a turning point in the surrogacy process. It moves the story from abstract planning to a real interpersonal test. Monica’s successful handling of Sam’s interrogation advances the plot toward a potential agreement. The flashback deepens Abby and Sam’s backstory, explaining why Abby tolerates Sam's rigidity and how their partnership formed under similarly unlikely circumstances. The chapter also reinforces Monica’s humanity—she is not merely a vessel but a person with dreams and struggles—making the ethical stakes of the arrangement more tangible. Readers now understand the financial pressures that drive Monica and the emotional stakes for both Abby and Sam.
Study Questions and Answers
1. How does Sam’s behavior during the interview reflect his personality and concerns?
Sam's note-taking, detailed questions, and insistence on verifying details (like the roommate's phone number) reveal his need for order and control. He is skeptical about the surrogacy arrangement and cautious about trusting Monica. His approach mirrors his analytical mind as a math professor, but it also shows his protective instincts toward Abby and their potential child.
2. What does Abby’s flashback to her first meeting with Sam reveal about their relationship?
The flashback shows that Abby was initially charmed by Sam despite his awkwardness and obsessive focus on differential equations. It explains the origin of their deep affection—built on a willingness to compromise (Sam agreed not to talk equations over dinner) and mutual respect. The memory underscores that their marriage is strong enough to withstand disagreements, yet it also reminds Abby that Sam's stubbornness is nothing new.
3. Why does Monica’s analogy about her educational aspirations resonate with Sam?
Monica asks Sam to imagine not being allowed to pursue advanced math due to cost, and then to consider taking a drastic step to finance it. Sam, who loves math deeply, understands the longing for knowledge. Her analogy bridges their worlds and makes her desperation relatable. It is the moment Sam begins to see her as a person rather than a transaction, which is why he stops his harsh questioning and picks up his pen to continue the interview in a more cooperative tone.