Character Analysis
Gemma's mom seems to be one of those people who is really bent on keeping up appearances. When we first meet her, she's criticizing Gemma for wearing a skimpy top to the airport, and she has a job that centers almost exclusively around acquiring artwork. Gemma doesn't seem to have a lot of respect for her profession, calling her "an artist who collects instead of paints" (1.33). And clearly, she has the money for it—how else would she be able to go to Vietnam "all the time" (1.33) for the purpose of buying art?
Like her husband, Gemma's mom seems to have a superficial streak to her. Nonetheless, it's clear that she loves and has special concern for Gemma, partly owing to pain in her past. Gemma tells us her mom had two miscarriages before she finally had Gemma, and as a result, she "kept me pretty close" (31.26). Mrs. Toombs has a fragile side and may use her art expertise and money to build herself up. This also explains why she basically shuts down emotionally in Gemma's visions of the investigation back home, how she's "confused, looking to Dad for the answers" (9.11). Mrs. Toombs' sense of self is only skin deep.
She's also one of the few people who seem interested in Gemma's needs and emotions following her hospitalization. While returning home to London might seem like the most obvious course of action, she quickly gives in to Gemma's desire to stay in Australia, saying, "You don't have to do anything you don't want to do, not anymore" (104.13). Aw. Thanks, mom.
This kind of makes us wonder what life will be like for the family once the trial ends and they resume their lives. Will this softer side of Gemma's parents remain, or will the division that was among them before Gemma's disappearance return? We can't say, but we do know that the way Gemma's absence changes her parents is a subtle yet important part of the story.
For the bigger picture, be sure to check out "Mr. Toombs (Gemma's Dad)" in this section.