Contents
Chapter 16
Overview
Naomi secures an appointment with Ezra Fletcher but doubts his competence. Hoping to confront Jeremy by dropping off Teddy, she is stopped at the door by Rosita, who claims Jeremy is working late. Shut out again, Naomi suspects Jeremy is home and realizes access will be harder than expected, strengthening her resolve.
Summary
Naomi arranges a next-day meeting with attorney Ezra Fletcher, but his distracted call and odd parking instructions shake her confidence. She briefly wonders if Stefanie’s referral is a setup, yet with few options, she proceeds.
When Jeremy asks her to drop Teddy at the house, Naomi seizes the chance to speak with him privately. She plans to recount Veronica’s supermarket threat to plant doubt about Veronica, steels herself, and tries to look composed for the encounter despite painful memories of the home she helped build.
At the house, Naomi and Teddy approach the door; she instinctively reaches for keys before remembering the locks were changed. Rosita answers. Teddy darts inside, but Rosita blocks Naomi’s entry. Naomi asks for Jeremy, and Rosita claims he is working late while avoiding eye contact, making Naomi suspect he is actually home.
Naomi pleads for a brief conversation but Rosita refuses and closes the door. Rejected and humiliated, Naomi returns to her car, concluding that getting Jeremy alone will be harder than expected, yet she remains determined to keep trying.
Who Appears
- NaomiProtagonist; schedules meeting with Ezra, attempts to confront Jeremy at the house, but is refused entry.
- RositaHousekeeper who answers the door and blocks Naomi, stating Jeremy is working late.
- TeddyNaomi and Jeremy’s son; excited about a possible sleepover, runs into the house with his backpack.
- JeremyHusband; allegedly working late, possibly home, uses Rosita as gatekeeper to avoid Naomi.
- Ezra FletcherReferred attorney; sets an appointment with Naomi but seems distracted and unpolished on the phone.