Summary

After Mia had accepted Mrs. Richardson's employment offer, it was settled: "for the equivalent of their rent," Mia would clean their house three times a week and cook dinner for them nightly. This was an arrangement that infuriated Pearl. Pearl viewed the Richardson's house as "her space," (71) but for Mia, it was an opportunity to "study the Richardsons both when they were there and when they weren't," (73) and "every afternoon, she would be there to check on Pearl" (74). Mr. Richardson, who had employed "a long string of" domestic helpers after "so many years of comfortable suburban living," introduced himself to Mia and promised that she may quit at any time with "no hard feelings" (73).

One morning, a week into the new job, Mia met Izzy Richardson in the kitchen and made her a sweet snack, a gesture of kindness "with no strings attached...