Broken Mirror, Broken Trust

Sadie, pregnant and anxious on Friday the 13th, breaks a mirror, setting the tone for a day of dread. Her fiancé, Calvin, returns home with devastating news: he's received an email from a woman claiming to be his daughter, the result of a long-ago relationship. The revelation threatens their planned babymoon and the fragile sense of security Sadie has built around her new family. The news is not just a disruption—it's a crack in the foundation of trust, and Sadie's world begins to tilt.

The Email That Shatters

Calvin confesses he never knew about the daughter, Janelle, whose mother has died. Sadie is stunned, feeling betrayed despite knowing Calvin couldn't have hidden this on purpose. The couple's plans for a romantic escape are tainted, but Sadie insists they go on the trip anyway, determined not to let this new reality destroy what little peace she has left before the baby arrives. The emotional distance between them grows, as does Sadie's sense of isolation.

Cabin in the Snow

Sadie and Calvin drive through snowy Tennessee to a remote cabin, hoping to salvage their vacation. The journey is tense, with Sadie's thoughts swirling between her own childhood without a father and the new, complicated family dynamic. The cabin's isolation, meant to be romantic, instead amplifies her anxieties. The snow outside becomes a metaphor for the coldness settling between them.

Strangers at the Door

Shortly after arriving, Sadie and Calvin are visited by the cabin's elderly owners, Norma and George. Their presence is intrusive and unsettling, their questions probing. Sadie feels watched and judged, especially as Norma's attention lingers on her pregnancy. The couple's insistence on being available for anything feels less like hospitality and more like surveillance, deepening Sadie's discomfort.

Past Affairs, Present Fears

Interspersed with the present, Calvin's past is revealed: his predatory interest in students, his calculated charm, and his willingness to blur ethical lines. His relationship with Sadie began under false pretenses, and his history with Janelle's mother is marked by similar manipulation. These glimpses into Calvin's psyche expose a pattern of control and deceit, casting his current actions in a sinister light.

The Daughter's Arrival

Janelle, Calvin's supposed daughter, arrives at the cabin for lunch. Sadie is shocked to recognize her as Ellie, a woman she once befriended in spin class. The encounter is surreal—Janelle acts as if they've never met, and Calvin is oblivious to the connection. Sadie is left reeling, unsure of Janelle's motives and increasingly suspicious of the entire situation.

Unsettling Revelations

During lunch, Janelle's questions and comments are laced with double meanings. Sadie tries to confront her privately, but Janelle deflects. Calvin is distracted by a call from the cabin owners about a supposed water leak, giving Sadie an excuse to send Janelle away. The sense of being watched intensifies, and Sadie's paranoia grows as she questions everyone's intentions.

Watching Eyes, Hidden Motives

Norma and George return, ostensibly to check the plumbing, but their true motives remain unclear. Their presence is invasive, and Sadie's fear that they are monitoring her becomes overwhelming. Calvin dismisses her concerns, but Sadie's instincts scream that something is wrong. The couple's repeated intrusions blur the line between protectors and predators.

The Web of Lies

Back home, Sadie finds evidence that someone has been in their apartment. Calvin gaslights her, insisting nothing is amiss. Sadie's sense of reality begins to fracture as she uncovers more inconsistencies in Calvin's stories. Her attempts to seek comfort and clarity are met with deflection and manipulation, leaving her increasingly isolated and desperate for the truth.

The Spin Class Connection

Flashbacks reveal Sadie's friendship with Ellie (Janelle) from spin class. Their bond grows intimate, blurring into romantic territory. Both women are trapped in controlling relationships—Sadie with Calvin, Ellie with her husband. Their connection is a lifeline, but also a source of guilt and confusion. The revelation that Janelle is Ellie brings past and present crashing together.

The Surrogate Scheme

Calvin's obsession with fatherhood is exposed. Unable to have children with Janelle, he orchestrates a plan to use Sadie as an unwitting surrogate, exploiting her trust and vulnerability. Janelle is complicit, desperate for a child but increasingly horrified by Calvin's methods. The ethical and emotional violations are profound, turning Sadie's pregnancy into a battleground for control.

The Truth Unravels

Sadie, following her instincts, discovers Calvin and Janelle together. The truth explodes: Calvin is married to Janelle, not her father, and Sadie was targeted for her ability to carry a child. Calvin's web of lies collapses, and in a fit of rage, he attacks Sadie, attempting to kill her and take the baby. Janelle intervenes, saving Sadie's life and knocking Calvin unconscious.

Violence and Escape

With Calvin incapacitated, Janelle urges Sadie to run, warning that Calvin will never stop pursuing the child. Sadie refuses to flee, determined to protect her daughter and hold Calvin accountable. The police are called, and both women give statements, but the threat of Calvin's return looms. Sadie's labor begins, forcing her to confront both physical and emotional pain.

Birth and Betrayal

Sadie gives birth alone, surrounded by strangers. The joy of her daughter's arrival is tempered by the fresh wounds of betrayal and violence. Calvin survives his injuries, and the possibility of future legal battles hangs over Sadie. Janelle visits, offering apologies and explanations, but the damage is done. Sadie is left to navigate motherhood in the aftermath of profound violation.

Alone, But Alive

Sadie, once terrified of being alone, finds unexpected peace in her solitude with her newborn daughter. The absence of Calvin and the severing of toxic ties allow her to begin healing. Janelle, too, seeks a new path, filing for divorce and expressing hope for Sadie's future. The two women, both survivors, part ways with a fragile sense of closure.

The Final Confrontation

Sadie visits Calvin in the hospital, knowing he remains a threat. In a final act of self-preservation, she ensures he cannot harm her or her daughter again, staging his death as a suicide. The act is both an ending and a beginning—a reclaiming of agency after months of manipulation and fear.

A Mother's Strength

Sadie reflects on the journey that brought her here: the betrayals, the violence, the loss, and the unexpected alliances. She names her daughter Amelia, honoring her own mother and the strength she has found within herself. The scars remain, but so does the determination to protect her child and build a new life.

New Beginnings, Old Wounds

As Sadie and Amelia leave the hospital, the future is uncertain but filled with possibility. The wounds of the past will take time to heal, but Sadie is no longer defined by fear or manipulation. She is a survivor, a mother, and the architect of her own story.

Characters

Sadie Hawthorne

Sadie is the emotional core of the novel—a woman whose longing for family and stability makes her vulnerable to Calvin's predatory charm. Her journey is one of awakening: from trusting partner to isolated victim, and finally to empowered survivor. Sadie's relationships are marked by a desperate need for connection, first with Calvin, then with Janelle/Ellie, whose friendship and betrayal both wound and save her. Psychologically, Sadie is shaped by childhood abandonment and a mother's illness, making her susceptible to manipulation but also fiercely protective of her unborn child. Her development is a testament to the strength that emerges in the face of betrayal and violence.

Calvin Moon

Calvin is a study in narcissism and control. A university professor, he preys on vulnerable women, using charm and intellect to mask his predatory intentions. His obsession with fatherhood drives him to orchestrate Sadie's pregnancy, viewing her less as a partner and more as a vessel. Calvin's relationships are transactional—he exploits Janelle's desperation for a child and Sadie's longing for love. His psychological profile is marked by entitlement, lack of empathy, and a chilling capacity for violence when his plans are threatened. Calvin's unraveling exposes the dangers of unchecked male power and the insidiousness of emotional abuse.

Janelle/Ellie Moon

Janelle, also known as Ellie, is both Calvin's wife and Sadie's former friend. Initially complicit in Calvin's scheme, her own longing for motherhood and fear of abandonment make her susceptible to his control. As the truth emerges, Janelle's guilt and horror grow, leading her to ultimately save Sadie's life. Her psychological journey is one of complicity, awakening, and atonement. Janelle's relationship with Sadie is complex—marked by genuine affection, betrayal, and a shared victimhood. Her development underscores the difficulty of escaping abusive dynamics and the possibility of redemption.

Norma

Norma, the elderly cabin owner, initially appears intrusive and unsettling. In reality, she is an ally, placed by Janelle to watch over Sadie and protect her from Calvin. Norma's actions, though ambiguous, are motivated by concern and a sense of responsibility. Her presence complicates Sadie's sense of safety, blurring the line between threat and protection.

George

George, Norma's husband, is a quiet but watchful figure. His background as a police officer positions him as a potential protector, though his true role is only revealed later. George's actions are guided by a sense of duty and a desire to help, providing a subtle counterpoint to Calvin's predatory masculinity.

Sadie's Mother

Though physically absent due to illness, Sadie's mother looms large in her psyche. Her decline into dementia leaves Sadie emotionally adrift, fueling her longing for family and making her vulnerable to Calvin's manipulation. The memory of her mother becomes a source of strength as Sadie fights for her own daughter.

Baby Amelia

Amelia, Sadie's newborn daughter, is both the object of Calvin's obsession and the catalyst for Sadie's transformation. She represents innocence, possibility, and the future Sadie must fight to protect. Amelia's birth is a moment of both trauma and triumph, anchoring Sadie's resolve.

The Nurse

The nurse who dismisses Sadie's concerns at the doctor's office embodies the broader societal tendency to disbelieve and minimize women's fears. Her actions reinforce Sadie's isolation and the difficulty of being heard in a world that doubts women's experiences.

The Police

The police officers who investigate the violence are both potential protectors and sources of further danger. Their skepticism and procedural detachment highlight the precariousness of justice for women in abusive situations.

Calvin's Colleague

A fellow professor who warns Calvin about the consequences of inappropriate relationships serves as a narrative device to foreshadow Calvin's downfall. His presence underscores the institutional failures that allow predators to operate unchecked.

Plot Devices

Dual Timelines and Perspectives

The novel alternates between Sadie's present-day ordeal and Calvin's past, gradually exposing the depth of his manipulation. This structure builds suspense and allows the reader to piece together the truth alongside Sadie, heightening the emotional impact of each revelation.

Unreliable Narration

Sadie's growing paranoia and Calvin's gaslighting create a sense of unreliability. The reader is forced to question what is real, mirroring Sadie's own confusion. This device amplifies the psychological tension and underscores the theme of women's experiences being doubted.

Foreshadowing and Symbolism

Recurring motifs—a broken mirror, the isolating snow, the ever-present gaze of strangers—foreshadow the unraveling of Sadie's world. These symbols reinforce the themes of bad luck, entrapment, and the loss of privacy.

The Twist

The central twist—that Janelle is not Calvin's daughter but his wife, and that Sadie was targeted as a surrogate—reframes the entire narrative. This revelation is seeded through subtle clues and misdirections, culminating in a shocking confrontation.

The Final Act of Agency

Sadie's ultimate decision to kill Calvin in the hospital is both an act of self-defense and a reclaiming of power. The ambiguity of her actions—staged as suicide—raises questions about justice, morality, and the lengths to which survivors must go to protect themselves.

Analysis

The Last Trip is a chilling psychological thriller that explores the intersection of trust, manipulation, and female agency. Through its layered narrative and complex characters, the novel interrogates the ways in which women's fears and experiences are dismissed, both by individuals and institutions. Calvin's predatory control is not just personal but systemic, enabled by societal blind spots and the normalization of male authority. Sadie's journey from victim to survivor is marked by isolation, disbelief, and the necessity of self-reliance. The story's twists—rooted in the duplicity of those closest to her—underscore the dangers of misplaced trust and the difficulty of discerning friend from foe. Ultimately, the novel is a testament to resilience: even in the face of profound betrayal and violence, Sadie finds the strength to protect her child and reclaim her life. The message is clear—women's intuition, solidarity, and courage are powerful tools for survival, and the fight for autonomy is both personal and universal.

Last updated: June 26, 2025