Weddings Chapter 10: Taylor’s Violence, a Pregnancy Ultimatum, and Dominique’s Crushing News

⚠️ 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

The chapter opens the night after Taylor’s violent outburst. He returns home sober, apologetic, and insists Felicity keep the baby. She argues she isn’t ready, but Taylor refuses to consider abortion. The next evening, Felicity meets Taylor at his parents’ apartment. His mother, Elizabeth, accuses her of cheating and demands a DNA test. Felicity leaves, intending to cancel the wedding and get an abortion. Taylor follows her home, crying and begging forgiveness; he persuades her to keep the baby. She agrees, now uncertain about the future.

Parallel to this, Dominique receives a phone call from Bill. His wife Eileen has been seriously injured in a car accident and will need round-the-clock nursing for two to three months. Bill tells Dominique he cannot leave the house during that time, effectively putting their relationship on hold. Dominique is left heartbroken, eating ice cream alone in her kitchen.

Key Events

Taylor comes home at 2 a.m., sober and apologetic for hitting Felicity. He still refuses to let her have an abortion.
Felicity argues that she is not ready for a child and that the pregnancy will destroy her career. Taylor insists she is “made to have babies.”
The next evening, Felicity goes to dinner at Taylor’s parents’ home. Elizabeth accuses her of cheating and demands a DNA test.
Taylor weakly supports his mother’s accusation. Felicity leaves, telling Taylor she will cancel the wedding and get an abortion.
Taylor follows her to her apartment, crying and begging forgiveness. He says he knows the baby is his and wants to marry her.
Felicity relents and agrees to keep the baby. She does not tell her mother yet.
Bill calls Dominique to report that Eileen has been in a serious car accident and will require months of nursing care.
Bill explains he cannot leave the house or see Dominique for two to three months. Dominique is devastated.

Character Development

Felicity is torn between her love for Taylor and her instinct for self-preservation. She starts the chapter resolute about abortion, but Taylor’s manipulation—alternating between threats and tenderness—wears her down. Her decision to keep the baby marks a dangerous surrender of her autonomy.

Taylor reveals a deeply controlling and violent side. He uses physical assault, verbal threats (“I would kill you”), and emotional pleading to control Felicity. His willingness to let his mother humiliate her shows his fundamental untrustworthiness.

Dominique is blindsided by Bill’s news. Her initial calm acceptance quickly gives way to deep loneliness. Her reliance on junk food illustrates the emotional vacancy left by Bill’s absence.

Bill demonstrates loyalty to his injured wife, but his decision to cut Dominique off for months strains their relationship. He prioritizes obligation over their romance.

Elizabeth shows herself as cruel and manipulative, immediately accusing Felicity of infidelity and demanding a paternity test. She embodies the hostile, judgmental in-law.

Themes, Symbols, and Motifs

Control and Violence: Taylor’s physical aggression and verbal threats are tools to dominate Felicity. His quick shift from abuser to supplicant shows a cycle of control.
Pregnancy as Loss of Autonomy: Felicity’s pregnancy becomes a battleground for her freedom. Taylor and his family treat her body as a vessel, stripping her of choice.
Gaslighting and Manipulation: Taylor’s mother twists events (claiming Felicity slapped him) and calls her a whore. Taylor later denies his mother’s cruelty to get Felicity back. This pattern destabilizes Felicity’s sense of reality.
Family Loyalty vs. Personal Desire: Bill chooses his duty to Eileen over his love for Dominique, highlighting the tension between familial obligation and romantic fulfillment.
Isolation: Both Felicity and Dominique face emotional isolation. Felicity is isolated from her mother by shame; Dominique is physically cut off from Bill.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter is a turning point for Felicity. She decides to marry Taylor and keep the baby despite clear red flags of abuse and control. That choice sets up the core conflict for the remainder of the story—will she survive this marriage? For Dominique, Bill’s absence tests her patience and love. Her loneliness mirrors Felicity’s, reinforcing the novel’s theme of women bearing emotional burdens alone.

Study Questions and Answers

1. Why does Felicity ultimately agree to keep the baby after being so determined to get an abortion?

Felicity is worn down by Taylor’s alternating threats and apologies. His tears and promises of help appeal to her love for him. She also begins to feel a sense of responsibility for the fetus after seeing it on the sonogram. However, the decision is made under emotional duress, not genuine enthusiasm.

2. How does Elizabeth’s accusation of infidelity affect Felicity’s trust in Taylor?

It destroys what little trust remains. Felicity realizes Taylor not only failed to defend her but actively supported his mother’s lie. His later claim that he “doesn’t believe any of it” rings hollow. This moment solidifies Felicity’s understanding that Taylor and his family are united against her.

3. What does Bill’s decision to stay with Eileen for months tell us about his character and his relationship with Dominique?

It shows that Bill is honorable and deeply committed to his family obligations, even when they conflict with his personal happiness. However, it also reveals that Dominique will always come second to his responsibilities. His willingness to go months without seeing her puts the longevity of their relationship in doubt.