I said:
“That isn’t the real problem.”
“What is?”
I took out my phone.
“Listen.”
Pressed play.
Margaret’s voice came through.
I used your faucet for the lawn all the time when you and Adrian were married.
Adrian’s face changed instantly.
He looked at me.
Then back at the phone.
The recording continued.
Years.
I’d connect after dark.
Why would I pay extra when there was perfectly good water ten feet away?
Adrian sat down slowly on the porch step.
I watched the understanding arrive.
Not all at once.
Memory by memory.
The bills.
The arguments.
His accusations.
Me insisting something was wrong.
He whispered:
“Years?”
“Yes.”
“We fought about those bills.”
“I remember.”
His face tightened.
“I told you that you weren’t tracking things.”
“Yes.”
He closed his eyes.
“Claire.”
I said nothing.
He looked toward Margaret’s house.
“She knew.”
“Yes.”
“She knew I blamed you.”
“Yes.”
“Did she ever admit anything back then?”
“No.”
Adrian stood.
He looked furious now.
Not loud.
That was always more serious with him.
Before he could cross the yard, Margaret appeared near her fence.
Perfect timing.
“Adrian!”
She came outside.
“You came.”
He stared at her.
She barely noticed his expression.
“Tell Claire this HOA nonsense has gone far enough.”
Adrian said:
“Did you use our water for years?”
Margaret stopped.
Her eyes flicked toward me.
Then back to him.
“Did she record me?”
Adrian’s jaw tightened.
“Answer.”
“It wasn’t like that.”
