Contents
2. Adam Morgan
Overview
At the lake house, Adam reveals his affair with Kelly and his resentment toward Sarah’s career-first life and refusal to have children. He lies to Sarah via text while planning dinner, feels fleeting guilt, and reaffirms his dependence on both women. The chapter reframes Adam’s marriage as broken and ethically compromised.
Summary
Adam Morgan works at the secluded Lake Manassas house, reflecting on the peace it gives his strained writing career and the growing emotional distance from his wife, Sarah. He recalls their college meeting, early passion, and how her thriving legal career and his faltering success reversed their roles.
As evening falls, Kelly arrives. Adam and Kelly immediately have sex, revealing an ongoing affair. Adam acknowledges losing control with Kelly at times, contrasted with how emotionally diminished he feels around Sarah.
Afterward, Kelly reads a text from Sarah asking what Adam is doing. Adam dictates a flippant reply, then instead texts Sarah that he’s coming home later and proposes dinner tomorrow. Sarah responds with love and pride in his new pages, prompting Adam’s brief guilt.
Adam reflects that Sarah chose career over family and rejected having kids five years ago, deepening his resentment. He admits he loves both Sarah and Kelly for different reasons and believes he needs them both, however wrong. Kelly asks if he’ll tell Sarah; Adam counters about her husband. They drink scotch, share the burden of loveless marriages, and have sex again—this time tenderly.
Who Appears
- Adam MorganNovelist at the lake house; reflects on failing career and marriage; conducts an affair with Kelly; lies to Sarah.
- KellyAdam’s lover from a café; married; arrives at the lake house; has sex with Adam; questions revealing their affair.
- Sarah MorganAdam’s wife, a top defense attorney; absent but texts loving support; past refusal to have kids fuels Adam’s resentment.