The Housemaid (The Housemaid, #1)

by Freida McFadden

I have one of those prepaid flip phones that people only use if they’re going to commit a crime or else they’ve traveled back fifteen years in the past.

As Nina and I exchange details about tomorrow, I wonder if she would feel the same way about me if she knew I spent the last ten years of my life in prison.

“You…” He hisses a word in Italian, but as soon as we hear the front door start to unlock, Enzo hurries back to where he had been crouched in the front yard and makes himself very busy. I could just barely make out the word he said. Pericolo.

She waves a hand. “I added you to our family plan. It cost almost nothing.”

The dark, suspicious look returns to her eyes. “Do you think so?”

Nina throws her head back and laughs. “I’m just kidding. It’s your room, Millie! If you want a key, I’ll get you one. I promise.”

ubiquitous

“I’m allergic to peanut butter!” Cecelia’s cheeks turn bright pink. “Peanut butter could kill me! Are you trying to kill me?”

There’s one of Nina and Andrew together from many years ago, and she looked so different then. Her hair wasn’t as blond and she had on less makeup and more casual clothing—and she was at least fifty pounds thinner. I almost didn’t recognize her—but Andrew looked exactly the same.

I don’t even need mace anymore.

The Winchesters locked me in this room. Nina locked me in this room. But why? Is this all some kind of sick game? Were they looking for some ex-con to trap in here—someone nobody would miss?

“So you’re saying my notes just walked away?”

Nina isn’t the person she used to be.

Nina called me and told me to pick up Cecelia. She was very clear about it. Well, except for the part where she told me the wrong school. But other than that, she was very clear.

haloperidol.

delirium,

Unbidden,

That’s when I notice he’s only got on a white undershirt and boxers. But at least he’s not shirtless.

hors d’oeuvres.

suburban crazy.

“Stay up in the attic at night.” She blinks at me. “Do you understand?” She doesn’t have to tell me a second time. I never want to come out of the attic again.

“Thank you again, Millie.” She winks at me. “I really don’t know what we would do without you.” She likes to tell me that. Or that she’s going to fire me. One or the other.

“Che cavolo!”

“I’m Amanda, by the way,” she tells me. “I’m your official tap-dancing waiting-room drug dealer.”

“She tried to drown Cecelia in the bathtub.”

Why not? That’s no worse than trying to kill her. But I can’t say that.

I tug at the hem of my skirt, which seems like it’s on a mission to show off my underwear.

He rotates his head to look at me. His lips curl. He’s so handsome when he smiles. “My pleasure.”

I slide the playbill into my purse.

What is wrong with the stupid dress? I’m trying so hard to be good, but this dress won’t let me.

Maybe he’ll wake up and decide he’s had enough of Nina and her bullshit. He’ll decide he loves me and he wants me to live with him in his gorgeous gated home. And then I can give him the baby he so badly wants, which Nina will never be able to do.

She smiles at me, and that’s when I notice her bright red lipstick looks a little bit off. It’s smeared over the right side of her lips, which gives her almost a demonic clown appearance.

She’s deliberately tormenting me. But to be fair, I did sleep with her husband.

We stare at each other for a moment. There’s still electricity between us. I can see in his eyes that he feels it, too. He glances at the back door, and before I know what’s happening, his lips are on mine.

“You haven’t been able to fit into this in years.”

“What are you saying, Andy?” “I’m saying… I don’t think I’m in love with you anymore, Nina. I think we should separate.”

“Cece is your daughter. You never wanted me to adopt her.”

The lightning flashes one last time when she reaches the top of the stairs, and the glow on her face makes her look like she’s standing at the gates of hell.

love waking up next to you. Instead of her.”

Cecelia and I need a place to live, and the pediatrician says there’s a set of shots she requires next month (for diseases she doesn’t even have!).

intonation

“Because you couldn’t take care of your hair, now you will give it to me.”

“I’m sorry I had to do that,” he says, “but it’s the only way you’ll learn.” “Go to hell,” I hiss at him.

“You’re too sick right now,” he says. Like I’m getting over the flu rather than him trapping me in a room for two days. He’s talking to me like I’m the crazy one. “Come on.”

The anti-psychotic has ramped up my appetite, and I’ve put on twenty pounds since I’ve been here.

“Of course,” Evelyn says. “She was well behaved today. But…” Her eyes drift up toward the ceiling. “I noticed you left the lights on in the bedroom upstairs. Such a terrible waste of electricity.”

few years ago, when I was getting very close with Suzanne, we had a few too many drinks at her house and I confessed everything. Everything.

After all, if the police didn’t arrive exactly when they did, she could’ve drowned in that bathtub all those years ago. I brought it up with him once, and he just smiled at me. That would’ve taught you a lesson, wouldn’t it?

malodorous,

Anyway, somehow last night the air freshener was too much and it irritated his eyes. My punishment? I had to pepper-spray myself.