The Housemaid Is Watching
by Freida McFadden
Contents
Chapter 38
Overview
Suzette nearly drowns at the beach, and Enzo rescues her before the lifeguard can intervene. Suzette’s gratitude turns intimate as she clings to Enzo, repeatedly calling him her hero and holding his hand, while Jonathan seems obliviously pleased. The scare rattles Ada and Nico and ends the outing early, leaving Millie unsettled about Suzette’s closeness and the fact they live next door.
Summary
A scream rises from the ocean, and Millie jumps up, realizing the commotion is near where Ada and Nico were swimming. The lifeguard rushes toward the water, but Enzo gets there first.
Enzo emerges carrying Suzette, who has nearly drowned. Suzette is conscious but coughing and distressed, clinging to Enzo’s neck as he brings her to shore and lays her on the sand.
As the lifeguard checks on Suzette, she focuses almost entirely on Enzo, repeatedly thanking him and calling him her hero while holding his hand. Suzette explains she felt something tangle around her leg and pull her under; the lifeguard suggests seaweed, though Suzette seems unconvinced.
Ada and Nico come out of the water shaken; Ada hugs herself while Nico stands at the shoreline watching with an unreadable expression. Jonathan suggests taking Suzette home, and despite Suzette insisting she doesn’t want to ruin the day, everyone packs up because the mood has shifted.
Enzo supports Suzette as if she can barely walk, leaving Millie and the children to haul most of the beach gear. At the car, Suzette continues to gaze at Enzo and touches his biceps as she thanks him again, while Jonathan cheerfully expresses gratitude to Enzo for “looking after” his wife, heightening Millie’s discomfort as the neighbors drive away.
Who Appears
- MillieNarrator; watches Enzo rescue Suzette, feels jealousy and growing unease.
- EnzoMillie’s husband; rescues Suzette from drowning and comforts her closely.
- SuzetteNeighbor; nearly drowns, clings to Enzo, and lavishes flirtatious gratitude.
- JonathanSuzette’s husband; oddly cheerful and thankful to Enzo after the rescue.
- AdaMillie’s daughter; shaken by the drowning scare, hugs herself afterward.
- NicoMillie’s son; exits the water shaken, watches the aftermath with unreadable expression.
- LifeguardArrives after the rescue; checks Suzette and suggests seaweed caused the incident.