The Perfect Marriage

Adam is brought back to the Sheriff’s station and put into holding. He is in trouble after breaking his house arrest, but he remains convinced that he did the right thing—it was the only way to get everyone to listen to him.

Sarah arrives at the Sheriff’s station, along with Matthew. Anne and Bob are coming in separately, voluntarily, for questioning. Eleanor arrives at the station. She is angry and asks Sarah how she could let this happen. Sarah responds: “Your son is thirty-six years old. He’s a grown adult and responsible for his own actions. I can’t watch him 24/7,” to which Eleanor replies, “No, you obviously can’t. And that’s probably why he was unfaithful to you” (249). Eleanor then references Sarah’s mother, saying “You couldn’t even keep an eye on your own mother… and look what happened to her” (250). Sarah replies: “Your son is a liar, a cheater, and possibly a murderer. Your coddling and over-the-top mothering has gotten Adam into this mess. The best thing you could do as a mother is to take note from mine and kill yourself” (250). Eleanor slaps Sarah and storms out.

This is the first time it is revealed that Sarah’s mother apparently died by suicide through a deliberate heroin overdose.