Chapter 70 Summary and Analysis: The Teacher by Freida McFadden
⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.
Summary (Complete and Chronological)
Nate passes a terrible night, unable to sleep soundly. When he does drift off, he dreams of Eve rising like a zombie from the pumpkin patch, wearing red stilettos and attacking him with a shoe. The nightmare poisons his childhood memories of that place.
The next morning, Nate makes instant coffee because the coffee machine is still broken. While drinking it, the doorbell rings. He checks the peephole and sees Detective Sprague. Hoping for good news about Eve, he opens the door. The detective seems taken aback by his disheveled appearance—yesterday he played the part of the worried husband, but today his exhaustion is genuine. She asks to come in, and he lets her, though he doesn’t invite her to sit.
Nate asks if there is any word on Eve. Sprague shakes her head, then says she spoke with Debra Higgins that morning, a conversation he assumes has solidified suspicion on Addie. But the detective pivots: she asks why Nate never told her that Adeline Severson was not only Eve’s student but also one of Nate’s own students. She adds that Addie wrote for the poetry magazine Nate supervises. Nate, caught off guard, claims he didn’t think it mattered because Addie’s grudge was against Eve. He says Addie did adequately in his class and that he had no issues with her.
Detective Sprague studies him closely and then asks point-blank whether he or his wife ever had an extramarital affair. Nate denies it for himself too quickly, then admits he is not sure about Eve. He suggests she might have been unfaithful, though he claims not to know. The detective presses, and Nate plays the card of exhaustion from worrying about Eve. Sprague gives him a sympathetic nod and says she will give him space, but adds that she will come back later—or he can come to the station. Nate weakly agrees to stay home. As she leaves, he senses that she is onto him, even though she lacks proof.
Key Events
- Nate suffers a nightmare about Eve attacking him with a stiletto heel.
- Detective Sprague visits Nate and reveals that Debra Higgins has been interviewed.
- Sprague confronts Nate about hiding the fact that Addie was also his student and magazine mentee.
- Nate stumbles through explanations, claiming the connection was irrelevant.
- Sprague directly asks about extramarital affairs; Nate denies his own but floats the possibility of Eve having one.
- The detective departs but implies she will continue investigating, and Nate realizes she suspects him.
Character Development
- Nate Bennett: His carefully maintained facade crumbles. Yesterday he performed the role of the worried husband; today his disheveled state is real. He shows signs of panic, stuttering and overcorrecting when questioned about Addie and affairs. His inner monologue reveals he is hiding something—possibly his own infidelity or involvement in Eve’s disappearance.
- Detective Sprague: Sharp, methodical, and patient. She does not accept Nate’s evasions at face value. By bringing up Addie’s dual role as his student, she demonstrates she is digging deeper than the surface narrative. Her final look signals she is building a case even without hard proof.
- Eve (absent): Though missing, her presence looms. The discussion of a possible affair casts doubt on her character, but also gives Nate a convenient deflection.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
- Deception and Masks: Nate oscillates between acting and genuine exhaustion. He admits he “played the role” the previous day, highlighting how appearances are manipulated. Sprague’s scrutiny suggests the mask is slipping.
- The Pumpkin Patch: Once a place of childhood nostalgia, it is now tainted by Nate’s nightmare. The pumpkin patch symbolizes the loss of innocence and the corruption of memory through trauma.
- The Broken Coffee Machine: A small detail that underscores the disorder in Nate’s household. The lack of a functioning appliance mirrors his inability to function smoothly under pressure.
- Infidelity as a Plot Lever: The affair question shifts suspicion from Addie (who resented Eve) to Nate (who may have had motive). It exposes the fragility of trust in the marriage.
Why This Chapter Matters
Chapter 70 marks a turning point in the investigation. Detective Sprague pivots from focusing on Addie to scrutinizing Nate. The revelation that Addie was also Nate’s student introduces a critical piece of evidence that Nate deliberately omitted—a lie that puts him squarely in the suspect pool. Nate’s panicked denial of an affair, coupled with his willingness to blame Eve, makes him look guilty. The chapter ratchets up psychological tension, moving the reader from wondering “who took Eve?” to “what did Nate do?”
Study Questions and Answers
1. Why does Nate’s explanation about Addie being his student fail to satisfy Detective Sprague?
Nate claims he “hardly knew” Addie, but the detective has already learned that Addie was in his English class and wrote for the poetry magazine he supervised. His minimization of the connection appears deliberate, suggesting he was hiding the extent of his contact with a key suspect. This inconsistency makes Sprague more suspicious.
2. How does Nate’s answer to the affair question reveal his guilt?
When asked if he or his wife had an extramarital affair, Nate immediately denies it for himself, then adds “I certainly haven’t,” which sounds defensive. He quickly pivots to suggesting Eve might have had one, shifting blame. This overeager deflection, combined with his earlier lies, indicates he is trying to create a false trail.
3. What does Nate’s nightmare symbolize about his state of mind?
Eve rises from the pumpkin patch like a zombie and attacks him with a stiletto heel—the same type of shoe that previously appeared at his doorstep. The dream reflects his guilt and anxiety: Eve (possibly dead) returns to punish him, and the shoe, a recurring motif, becomes a weapon. His childhood memories of the pumpkin patch are destroyed, mirroring the destruction of his carefully crafted life.