The Girl Before

Jane worries about what Edward will think when she tells him that she’s pregnant, and spends some time reflecting on her stillbirth. To distract herself, she begins sorting out her notes on Emma’s death using Post-it notes to write down possibilities; she includes Simon, Edward, Saul, Deon Nelson, and Edward’s stalker on the list. After looking at the notes, she feels that she’s gotten “nowhere” (235) and goes to recycle them. In the recycle bin, she finds one of the sketches Edward did of her, and notes that there’s a kind of “double image” (235). The neighbor, Maggie, talks briefly to Jane about Emma’s “cancer treatment” (236). Jane realizes that Emma had told yet another lie. When Maggie leaves, Jane takes the Post-it notes back out of the recycling bin.

Jane goes to her sonogram appointment and the doctor tells her that while the placenta and umbilical cord are as they should be, there is a probability that her baby will have Down’s syndrome. Jane feels all of her “carefully laid plans” falling apart (241). Jane does more research about Down’s syndrome and cries.

Jane goes back to Carol Younson and tells her about all of Emma’s lies.