The Other Woman

Kate, James’s new girlfriend, affectionately introduces herself to Emily and Adam. Emily can’t help but feel jealous of Kate’s beauty and slender build. She pities Kate, assuming Pammie will treat her as poorly as she treats Emily. When Adam and Emily break the news of Emily’s pregnancy, Emily notices Pammie looks fearful.

James and Kate announce their engagement, and Pammie seems genuinely happy with this development. Much to Emily’s confusion, Pammie warmly welcomes Kate to the family. Emily reflects on her early encounters with Pammie. She believes Pammie began playing malicious games with Emily from their first meeting by leaving the photo of Rebecca out for Emily to see. Emily feels determined not to let Pammie end her relationship with Adam.

Seb and Pippa throw Emily a small baby shower at Emily and Adam’s apartment. Emily enjoys her rekindled friendship with Charlotte, who is in attendance, while appreciating that Pammie is not at the baby shower.

Adam arrives home intoxicated, makes a loud entrance, and intentionally insults Seb. Emily insists on speaking with Adam privately in their bedroom, and Adam expresses irritation at Seb’s presence. Adam also dislikes how Emily announced the gender of their baby, since he hasn’t yet told Pammie. Emily reflects on Adam’s disappointment when the couple discovers they are expecting a girl. Seb confronts Adam, telling him Adam doesn’t deserve Emily.

Emily gives birth to Poppy via emergency C-section. She and Adam receive many visitors in the first few days out of the hospital. Adam leaves Emily alone with Poppy to meet friends at a pub. He tells Emily he will return shortly but stays out most of the night. His loud entrance into the apartment wakes Poppy, and Emily tends to her as Adam falls asleep.

Although Emily firmly states she doesn’t want Pammie to spend the night, Pammie insists on sleeping over, and Adam relents. Adam does nothing to assist Emily in preparation for Pammie’s visit. Emily feels alarmed at the sight of Pammie holding Poppy. Pammie ignores Emily’s concerns about drinking hot coffee while holding the baby and using her finger as a pacifier. Pammie takes Poppy out for a walk in the middle of the night, failing to leave a note about Poppy’s whereabouts. Emily panics at seeing Poppy’s empty cot, realizing Pammie has taken Poppy. Emily calls Pammie a “bitch” and threatens to call the police. Adam patronizes Emily and minimizes her concerns, but he dresses to go out and find his daughter. Pammie finally returns Emily’s calls, insisting she was trying to let Emily rest while getting Poppy out of the apartment. Emily threatens to kill Pammie and instructs her to bring Poppy home before she calls the police. When Pammie arrives, Emily takes Poppy and kicks Pammie out of the house.

Adam and Emily hardly speak to each other in the weeks after Pammie’s visit. Although Emily wants to skip James and Kate’s wedding, Adam insists on taking Poppy. Emily can’t be away from Poppy for extended periods because she is breastfeeding, so she yields to Adam’s request. Emily feels urged to object to the union during the ceremony to protect Kate from Pammie. She assumes Kate has already endured similar mistreatment. A family member informs Emily that Pammie’s cancer has returned, this time spreading to her lungs. Emily assumes Pammie tried to sabotage James and Kate’s wedding, similar to how she broke up Adam and her wedding. She feels proud of James for standing up to Pammie.

While congratulating Kate, Emily learns about the close and warm nature of Kate and Pammie’s relationship. They have coffee together every other weekend, and Pammie purchased Kate’s wedding dress. Kate maintains a favorable opinion of Pammie. Emily feels even more alienated because she expected she and Kate would share similar experiences with Pammie.

Emily, wanting to retire to their hotel room, looks for Adam. James informs Emily that Adam stepped outside to smoke. When Emily confesses she was unaware Adam smoked, James professes, “There’s a lot you don’t know about him” (261). James follows Emily as she leaves to find Adam and encourages Emily to return inside. While holding Poppy, Emily finds Adam engaging in sexual activity with a bridesmaid. When Emily confronts Adam, he blames Emily for his infidelity, noting how they haven’t had sex in weeks. James quiets Adam, and he helps Emily get a taxi home.

Pippa stays with Emily and Poppy for five days following James’s wedding, pleading with Emily to permanently end her relationship with Adam. Pippa believes Adam was likely unfaithful long before James’s wedding, and Emily agrees. However, Emily feels obligated to try and work things out with Adam for Poppy’s sake. She allows Adam entry into their apartment for a discussion. Adam tries to elicit sympathy from Emily, complaining about how hard all the life changes have been for him. In detailing the difficulties of her pregnancy, birth experience, and sacrifices as a new mother, Emily illustrates how comparatively uncomplicated Adam’s life has been. Adam becomes enraged when Emily asks him to hypothesize Emily having sex with another man, telling Emily he would kill whomever she slept with.

Emily allows Adam to return to their apartment two weeks after James’s wedding. Adam agrees to Emily’s firm boundaries, including never leaving Poppy alone with Pammie. The couple discusses Poppy’s christening, and Adam suggests they have the ceremony sooner rather than later. He informs Emily that Pammie’s health is worsening with her recurrent cancer and wishes for Pammie to attend the christening. Emily remains unconvinced that Pammie has cancer again, though she doesn’t understand why Pammie maintains the lie now that James and Kate are married.

Adam becomes upset while considering the possibility of Pammie dying. Emily consoles him, making statements about Pammie’s strength. Adam disagrees with Emily, explaining how his father used to abuse Pammie physically. He recalls sitting with James at the top of the stairs while his father would hit Pammie. He and James would make plans to run away with Pammie. Adam tells Emily his father died of a heart attack. He explains how Pammie lies about the nature of her relationship with her husband to protect the family’s reputation. Emily begins to consider Pammie with this new, disturbing perspective in mind.

Emily believes she and Adam are rebuilding their relationship. They happily prepare for Poppy’s christening, and Emily feels proud of her family. When she arrives at the church, Emily is shocked by Pammie’s frail appearance. Pammie’s hair is gone, and her face is swollen. Emily once again considers the possibility that Pammie actually does have cancer.

Seeing her for the first time since his wedding, James approaches Emily with genuine concern. Emily believes James, Kate, and Pammie work as a team against Emily, and she coldly informs James that she wishes he was not Poppy’s godfather. She hints about the sincerity of her feelings for James from months ago, and James validates the intimate nature of their relationship. James expresses confusion when Emily inquires about his asking Emily out for coffee and drinks at Pammie’s request. He clarifies that no one instructed him to pursue Emily, and he told Pammie only how Emily dismissed James and remained loyal to Adam. Adam walks in intoxicated mid-conversation and begins aggressively inquiring about James and Emily’s conversation. Emily kisses Adam, forcing him to return to the party.

Much to Emily’s irritation, Pammie approaches Emily and requests a conversation. She confesses to hurting Emily, and she apologizes sincerely for her actions. Having no trust in Pammie, Emily backs away from her when Pammie moves in for an embrace. Pammie stumbles and falls to the ground. Several family members, including Adam, rush to Pammie’s aid. Adam blames Emily for Pammie’s fall as Pammie stands, uninjured. Emily locates her parents and requests they take her and Poppy home, believing Adam will follow her home shortly after the christening party ends.

Emily falls asleep on the couch while waiting for Adam but wakes shortly after midnight to a pounding on her front door. Pammie calls just as she is about to open the door, instructing Emily not to let Adam into their apartment. Pammie explains how she told Adam about Emily’s relationship with James. Emily hangs up the phone and throws it across the room, believing Pammie is again trying to disrupt her and Adam’s relationship. She can tell Adam is angry but feels confident she can calm him down and explain the situation.

Emily talks with Adam through the door, only opening when she believes he is calm. However, as soon as the door unlocks, Adam aggressively swings the door open and begins physically abusing Emily. Emily feels desperate to get to Poppy, not knowing if Adam will hurt her in his rage. Adam accuses Emily of sleeping with James, and he questions his paternity of Poppy. He admits James caught him having sex with a different girl earlier in the night, causing James to lash out at Adam. He tells Emily he’s never been faithful to her throughout their relationship.

Adam begins to strangle Emily, but he is interrupted by the sound of Poppy’s cries. He hits Emily as they race to Poppy’s nursery, only to find Pammie holding the baby. Emily briefly believes Pammie and Adam orchestrated the evening with the intent to murder her. However, when James arrives, Pammie gives Poppy to Emily, declaring the police will soon follow. Pammie addresses Adam, detailing how she witnessed him refuse Rebecca her inhaler, causing her death. She then speaks to Emily and apologizes for hurting her. Pammie explains how she designed her malicious efforts to scare Emily away from Adam, knowing he is capable of abuse and murder. The police arrive and arrest Adam, who calls his mother “psychotic” and tells Emily she is making a grave mistake. Emily thinks back on Pammie’s story about James’s crushed crab at the beach and wonders about Adam’s inherently violent nature.

Pammie then reveals how Adam has been controlling her via blackmail for years. Pammie recalls seeing Adam sitting at the top of the staircase, watching Pammie push his father to the ground, where he hit his head and died. Pammie feels responsible for Adam’s abusive tendencies, believing his witnessing the traumatic death of his father turned him into a violent person. James consoles Pammie and confesses that he, not Adam, was at the top of the staircase.

The narration switches to Pammie’s perspective several months after Adam’s attack. Pammie, Emily, Poppy, James, and Kate enjoy a garden picnic. Poppy crawls in the grass, playing with James, and Emily suggests James will make a great father. Kate is pregnant. Pammie reflects on the fact that Adam lost his chance to experience the joys of parenting, as he will be in prison for over a decade. Pammie wishes Emily will find a loving and supportive partner. Emily now visits Pammie daily. Pammie ends her narration by describing feeling free from Adam’s control. She wishes for more time to enjoy her life, noting her cancer will soon cut it short.