Chapter 2

On the porch, Jeremy tells Naomi he has a “big surprise”: a full-home renovation—new paint, floors, and a kitchen overhaul. Naomi’s initial anxiety eases, but she’s wary that he made unilateral plans, a pattern in their marriage. He says it’s a belated anniversary gift.

Inside, Jeremy shows three packed suitcases and proposes they stay at his parents’ old apartment during the work. He asks Naomi to go ahead alone to clean the dusty, cluttered space, promising he and Teddy will follow the next day. He insists he’ll handle dinner and maintain Teddy’s bedtime routine, asking Naomi to sleep at the apartment that night.

Naomi worries about explaining her sudden absence to Teddy. Jeremy minimizes the issue and agrees to tell Teddy about the renovation. The bags are extensive for a short stay, and Jeremy claims the project will take one to two weeks, with kitchen work continuing later.

As they load the car, Naomi questions why Jeremy changed the locks. He says it’s to keep keys from contractors, but the timing feels off. Naomi recalls Jeremy’s history of skilled lying to others, though she has trusted him in their marriage. She asks about specific items to test whether he truly packed everything; he confidently says he did.

Jeremy hands Naomi a single key to the apartment and promises to call so she can say good night to Teddy. Naomi, uneasy about inconsistencies and his control over logistics, agrees to go. The final warning sign is Jeremy’s failure to kiss her goodbye as she drives away, reinforcing her suspicion that the renovation story may be a cover for something else.