The Surrogate Mother
Abby wants a baby more than anything.
But after years of failed infertility treatments and adoptions that have fallen through, it seems like motherhood is not in her future. That is, until her personal assistant Monica makes a generous offer that will make all of Abby's dreams come true.
Or all of her nightmares.
Because it turns out Monica isn't who she says she is. The woman now carrying Abby's child has dark, twisted secrets.
And she will stop at nothing to get what she wants.
- Abby - Narrator
- Sam - Abby's husband
- Monica - The surrogate
- Denise - Abby's boss
- Gertie - Abby's old assistant
- Monica manipulates Abby by putting meth in Abby's coffee to make her appear unstable, tampering with her medical records and stalking her.
- Monica orchestrates the murder of Denise and frames Abby.
- Monica shows up at Abby's apartment while Gertie is there visiting and tells her that she and Sam want to be together and that Abby needs to leave.
- It's revealed Monica knew Sam in college and has been obsessed with him ever since.
- She wants to take Abby's place as Sam's wife and raise the baby with him.
- Gertie is revealed to be Monica's mother and in on Monica's scheming.
- The women drug Abby and plan to stage her death as a suicide.
- Sam comes home, realizes what is happening, and intervenes.
- Monica accidentally shoots and kills Gertie.
- After Sam refuses to leave Abby, Monica shoots herself.
- Abby and Sam keep the baby and name him David.
- Epilogue 1 year later: Monica remains alive but in a vegetative state.
- Monica's stepmother drops off a blanket that used to be Monica's and asks Abby to give it to David. Sam refuses but David screams until Abby gives him the blanket and he buries his head in the blanket that smells like Monica's perfume, symbolizing her lingering presence in their lives.
- Abby - Alive - Raising her baby, David
- Sam - Alive - Still with Abby and raising David
- Monica - Alive - In a vegetative state
- Denise - Dead - Killed by Monica
- Gertie - Dead - Killed by Monica
- Infertility
- Pregnancy
- Murder
- Gun violence
- Suicide attempt
- Mental illness
- Drug use
- Miscarriage
Ambiguous
Publisher: Hollywood Upstairs Press
ISBN: 9781464247484
Publication Date: October 10, 2018
Note: Details are for the original edition. Other formats, editions, and audiobook versions may be available.