Chapter Thirty-Two: Soledad – A Prison Visit and a Shocking Discovery

⚠️ 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

On New Year’s Day, Soledad’s three daughters—Lupe, Inez, and Lottie—ask to visit their father, Edward, in federal prison. Though Soledad has no desire to see him again, she agrees to accompany them. At the prison, Edward is warm with the girls but clearly uncomfortable with Soledad’s presence. When Inez asks why he committed his crimes, Edward deflects, and tension flares when he learns Judah Cross attended Soledad’s cooking event. Edward cuts the visit short, claiming time is up. As Soledad and the girls leave, she spots Amber, Edward’s mistress, arriving for a visit. Confronting her, Soledad sees Amber holding a baby boy with Edward’s distinctive leaf-green eyes. Amber insists she didn’t mean to hurt Soledad and claims her own life is wrecked, but Soledad sees through her lies. She sarcastically wishes Amber luck and walks away, shaken but refusing to let Edward’s betrayal break her. Back at the car, she cheers up her daughters by suggesting a vision board party and a s’mores charcuterie.

Key Events

Lupe, Inez, and Lottie tell Soledad they want to visit Edward in prison.
Soledad drives them to the federal prison on New Year’s Day after preparing emotionally with the help of her friends.
Edward greets the girls warmly but avoids serious questions about his crimes.
Edward notices Soledad’s mention of Judah Cross and directs suspicion at her.
He cuts the thirty-minute visit short, claiming he doesn’t want his daughters seeing him there.
Outside, Soledad sees Amber entering the prison carrying a baby with Edward’s eyes.
Soledad confronts Amber, who reveals the baby is Edward’s son.
Amber claims her own life is ruined, but Soledad suspects a hidden nest egg.
Soledad walks away, then disguises her pain to cheer her daughters with dance moves and party plans.

Character Development

Soledad demonstrates fierce maternal strength and self-care. She visits the man who betrayed her solely for her daughters, and later encounters his mistress with his newborn—yet she holds her head high. Her whispered remark about needing “a bigger dick” shows a playful, revenge-oriented empowerment, while her decision to conceal her shock from the girls highlights her protective nature.

Lupe, Inez, and Lottie each grapple with loving a father who hurt them. Lupe is protective of Soledad, delaying her hug to check on her. Inez bluntly asks “Why did you do it?” Lottie cries and clings to Soledad. Their willingness to see Edward shows they can hold two conflicting feelings—love and disappointment—at once.

Edward remains self-centered, rushing his family out when Amber arrives and failing to own his actions fully. His anger at Judah reflects jealousy, not remorse.

Amber is presented as a woman who rationalizes her role in the affair; she claims victimhood while wearing expensive clothes. The baby’s eyes confirm the paternity.

Judah Cross is mentioned only in passing but his presence lingers as a rift between Edward and Soledad.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Motherhood as Sacrifice and Strength: Soledad enters Edward’s world again solely for her daughters. Her “I will not trust him with you” speech reaffirms her ultimate priority.
The False Fine vs. Honest Mess: Soledad recalls pretending everything was fine before. Now she values truth over false comfort, even when it hurts.
Eyes as Truth: The baby’s green eyes (identical to Edward’s and Lupe’s) visually corroborate the affair’s real consequence—a child Soledad never knew about.
Sisterhood as Support: The “Boricua High Council” FaceTime and Yasmen’s yellow roses show that Soledad survives because other women hold her up.
Reclaiming Pleasure: Soledad’s parting whisper about “bigger dick” and her immediate pivot to a dance party in the parking lot illustrate her refusal to stay a victim.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter delivers the long-dreaded prison visit and the revelation that Edward fathered a child with Amber—a tangible blow to Soledad’s healing. It tests the mother-daughter bond, forcing Soledad to manage her own pain while supporting her girls. The confrontation with Amber also introduces the possibility of hidden money, a plot thread that may surface later. Soledad’s emotional resilience is on full display, and her choice to prioritize her daughters’ well-being over her own hurt cements her character growth from the earlier chapters.

Study Questions and Answers

1. Why does Soledad agree to let the girls visit Edward despite her own feelings?
Soledad believes it’s natural for her daughters to love their father even after his betrayal. She says, “Finding out he’s not perfect doesn’t erase all your love for him.” She prioritizes their emotional needs over her own desire to never see Edward again, while firmly stating he will never have custody.

2. What does the baby’s eye color reveal, and why does it shock Soledad?
The baby’s leaf-green eyes match Edward’s—and Lupe’s—providing incontrovertible proof that Amber’s child is Edward’s son. Soledad is stunned because she had no idea Amber was pregnant, and the visual confirmation makes the betrayal feel even more concrete.

3. How does Soledad handle the confrontation with Amber?
She allows herself a brief, sharp spray of insults (“Liar,” “Home-wrecker”) but quickly shifts to cool sarcasm. She guesses that Edward and Amber hid a “nest egg” and watches Amber’s panicked reaction confirm it. Rather than pursue the information, Soledad chooses to walk away, saying “Good luck” to signal she’s done letting Edward’s mess consume her.