The Housemaid Is Watching
by Freida McFadden
Contents
Chapter 67
Overview
Ada, trying to focus on school and a future goal of becoming a pediatrician, stumbles on Nico using a hidden door in their wall to access a cramped, dirty room he calls a secret clubhouse. Ada joins him despite feeling unsafe and thinking of missing Braden Lundie, hoping to reconnect with her increasingly distant brother. When Enzo and Millie catch them and ban the clubhouse, Ada is relieved even as the sibling distance remains unresolved.
Summary
Ada reflects that school is going well and that she is a strong student, even though her new teacher, Mrs. Ratner, assigns more homework than her old teacher, Ms. Marcus. Ada doesn’t mind because Ada wants to become a pediatrician.
While heading downstairs for water during homework, Ada sees Nico slip through a hidden door in the wall. Ada calls out before Nico can close it and discovers a small, dark, dirty room with a single bulb and a stack of comic books.
Nico insists Ada must keep the space secret, calling it his “secret clubhouse,” and initially says no girls are allowed. Ada worries the cramped room feels unsafe and claustrophobic, and Ada thinks of missing Braden Lundie, imagining Braden trapped somewhere similar. Wanting connection with Nico, Ada asks to stay, and Nico reluctantly lets her inside.
Ada tries to repair their relationship by bringing up a sleepover, but Nico refuses and criticizes Ada for crying. Nico hands Ada comic books, which helps Ada calm down. Soon after, Enzo and Millie discover them in the hidden room, react angrily, and forbid them from using the “clubhouse” again, which secretly relieves Ada.
Who Appears
- AdaNarrator; finds Nico’s hidden room, feels unsafe, tries to reconnect with him.
- NicoAda’s brother; sneaks into a secret wall room, calls it his clubhouse, pushes Ada away.
- EnzoAda’s father; discovers the kids in the hidden room and forbids them from returning.
- MillieAda’s mother; reacts angrily when she finds Ada and Nico in the hidden room.
- Mrs. RatnerAda’s current teacher; assigns more homework than Ada’s previous school.
- Ms. MarcusAda’s former teacher; used to give less homework than Mrs. Ratner.
- Braden LundieMissing boy; Ada thinks of him and fears someone could be trapped in a room like Nico’s.
- SpencerMentioned as a boy Nico is no longer allowed to play with.