Chapter 4
Contains spoilersOverview
Millie spends the day restoring order to the filthy Winchester home and meets Cecelia, whose aloofness quickly turns to crisis when a peanut allergy is triggered by an attempted snack. Nina chastises Millie, insists the peanut butter remain, and sets expectations for dinner. The incident deepens tension and raises doubts about communication and safety in the household.
Summary
Millie devotes seven hours to cleaning the Winchesters’ filthy home, tackling fused pizza boxes, overflowing trash, and multiple loads of dishes. Feeling accomplished and eager to keep the job, she’s startled when Cecelia appears, distant and watchful.
Trying to be helpful, Millie prepares peanut-butter-and-banana crackers. Cecelia reacts with alarm, claiming a severe peanut allergy and calling for Nina. Millie is blindsided, noting nobody told her of the allergy and that peanut butter was openly stored in the pantry.
Nina rushes down, immaculate and authoritative. Cecelia accuses Millie of trying to harm her. Nina insists she informed Millie about the allergy and scolds her. To protect her job, Millie apologizes, offers to discard the peanut butter, and promises it won’t happen again. Nina refuses to remove it and emphasizes not to forget such details.
Nina then asks when dinner will be ready and accepts Millie’s promise of seven o’clock, adding there are no other allergies. Millie, shaken by the scare and Cecelia’s hostility, resolves to regain their trust and keep the position despite growing unease about the household.
Who Appears
- Millie Calloway
New live-in maid; cleans extensively, unknowingly offers peanut butter to allergic Cecelia, apologizes, and resolves to keep the job.
- Nina Winchester
Employer; scolds Millie over Cecelia’s allergy, claims she warned her, refuses to discard peanut butter, and demands dinner at seven.
- Cecelia Winchester
Daughter; aloof and watchful, alarms over peanut exposure, accuses Millie, and clings to Nina after the scare.