Page 57 of The Housemaid Is Watching

I glance down at his phone, protruding from his pocket. “Were you talking to the client?”

“Yes.” He hesitates. “Well, no. Not exactly. That was Suzette on the phone. The clients… they are friends of hers. She would like me to meet with them tomorrow.”

“Oh…” I had been hoping tomorrow could be a family day. “Where are you meeting them?”

He hesitates another beat. “It is informal meeting. At private beach.”

Alarm bells sound in the back of my head. “A meeting at thebeach? Will Suzette be there?”

“Well… yes. They are her friends.”

I do not like any part of this. First, Enzo is ducking out on a family day. Second, a business meeting at thebeach? Third, I don’t want him alone around Suzette in a bikini. Especially after that smile on his face when he was talking to her.

A fleeting thought drifts into my head. The other day, when the plumber showed up to demand his money, Suzette waswearing a new expensive-looking bracelet that she told me was a “gift.” And then at the same time, a thousand dollars were suddenly missing from our bank account. Is it possible that Enzo used that money to buy a gift for Suzette?

No, I don’t believe that. He wouldn’t.

And yet…

“If you’re going to the beach tomorrow,” I say, “you need to take the kids. The whole family.”

“What? No.”

“I’m not asking, Enzo.”

He shakes his head. “Millie, this is important business meeting.”

“Our familyis important too,” I point out. “You’ve been working nonstop since we moved here?—”

“Forus.”

“And we hardly ever see you,” I continue. “You haven’t taken the kids to the beach yet since we moved here. They would love it. Nico especially could use a day at the beach—he’s been so down since getting kicked out of Little League. And I’ll keep an eye on them. I won’t disturb you until you’re done with your meeting.”

He’s quiet for a moment, thinking it over. “Okay, yes. I see what you say. I will speak with Suzette. But… she will not be happy.”

Yes, I’ll bet he’s right.

THIRTY-SIX

We are on our way to the beach.

Suzette reluctantly permitted the family to tag along on the beach trip. I didn’t hear the conversation, but I’d imagine she did everything in her power to keep us from going. But we’re still here.

I’m looking forward to it though. It’s a private beach on the coast that only Suzette and her elite group of friends have access to. The beach requires a special card to get in. I’ve been to a lot of beaches in my life, but this is most likely the snootiest beach I’ve ever been to. I bet it’s really nice.

Enzo is driving, and as usual, he’s driving way too fast. I thought he would stop doing that after we had kids, but he still does it. And it doesn’t help that the kids love it.

“Can you please slow down?” I murmur as we pass a sign on the expressway that says 55 mph. We are at least twenty miles above that.

“Millie,” he says. “Everyoneis going this fast. We go slower, and they will all be going around us.”

“I don’t drive this fast,” I point out.

He winks at me. “Yes, but you drive like old lady.”

“No, I don’t.”

“My mistake. Old ladies drive faster than you.”