Chapter 27

Naomi prepares to confront Jeremy before their next mediation, intending to reveal Veronica’s past. She notices a kitchen knife missing again but is interrupted when Jeremy arrives early to pick up Teddy. Naomi discloses Veronica’s heroin arrest and alleged track marks, plus claims Veronica targets wealthy married men and dislikes children. Jeremy isn’t surprised about the arrest, insists Veronica is long clean, and grows angry that Naomi contacted a former employer.

When Jeremy goes to collect Teddy, he opens a dresser drawer and finds Teddy’s elephant doll impaled with a kitchen knife, its stuffing pulled out and smeared with a red substance. Teddy is distraught. Jeremy hides the doll, accuses Naomi of doing something deranged, and vows to raise it at mediation. Naomi denies it and suggests Veronica has a key and staged the scene during a prior break-in, but Jeremy refuses to consider it.

Jeremy leaves with a sobbing Teddy, deepening the rift and strengthening his narrative that Naomi is unstable. Alone, Naomi’s severe headache sends her to the medicine cabinet, where she discovers her nearly full Tylenol bottle now holds only three capsules. Realizing one bottle could be lethal if ingested unnoticed, she suspects Veronica tried to poison her by spiking her homemade kombucha, which Naomi had recently vomited—likely saving her life.

Without proof, Naomi knows Jeremy and even Ezra might not believe her. Convinced Veronica will go to any length to secure Jeremy and remove obstacles, Naomi resolves to be extremely careful moving forward, prioritizing Teddy’s safety.