Contents
4. Adam Morgan
Overview
Adam wakes at the lake house with Kelly and discovers threatening texts from her husband, Scott. He leaves Kelly a heartfelt note and returns home late. Sarah, unexpectedly tender, proposes having a baby. They reconnect intimately, and Adam resolves to end his affair, shifting his loyalty back to his marriage.
Summary
Awakened by a car door after midnight at the lake house, Adam realizes he fell asleep with Kelly. Hearing her phone, he unlocks it and reads a stream of increasingly abusive messages from her husband, Scott, ending with a menacing “Too late” at 11:45 p.m. Disturbed and protective, Adam chooses not to respond, sets an alarm for Kelly, and leaves her undisturbed.
In the kitchen, Adam writes Kelly a note professing love and hinting at a decision, then departs around 12:30 a.m., intent on returning to his wife. He drives back to their large D.C. home, reflecting on the house Sarah chose and their long-standing disagreement about children.
Arriving at 1:45 a.m., Adam finds Sarah asleep but receptive. She welcomes him into bed without reproach. After brief small talk, Sarah surprises Adam by saying, “Let’s have a baby.” Adam is elated, confirming she’s serious, and they make love with renewed tenderness and hope.
Afterward, Adam is overcome, believing fatherhood may be ahead. He resolves to end things with Kelly and recommit to Sarah, whom he identifies as his family and future, as Sarah falls asleep in his arms.
Who Appears
- Adam MorganNovelist torn between his affair and marriage; reads Scott’s threats, leaves Kelly a note, returns home, and resolves to recommit after Sarah proposes a baby.
- Sarah MorganAdam’s wife; warm and receptive late at night, proposes having a baby, reconnects with Adam intimately.
- KellyAdam’s mistress; asleep at the lake house while Adam reads threatening texts from her husband. Receives Adam’s love note.
- ScottKelly’s husband; sends a series of abusive, threatening texts, escalating to a menacing final message.