Margaret smiled.
“No.”
I thought she was joking.
She leaned closer.
“I never submitted anything.”
“Margaret.”
“They’ll never notice.”
“What if someone reports it?”
“Who would?”
Then she pointed at me.
“You’re the only person I told.”
I had said nothing.
Not because I approved.
Because at that point Adrian and I were already struggling, and reporting his mother would have created another war.
So I kept Margaret’s secret.
Until she ran a hose into my yard and laughed about stealing my water.
I called Willowcrest HOA.
A woman answered.
“I need to report an exterior modification that may never have been approved.”
She asked for the property address.
I gave Margaret’s.
“What modification?”
“Pool expansion and associated hardscape.”
“Do you know approximately when?”
“Two summers ago.”
“Do you have evidence?”
“I have dated photographs showing before and after.”
That changed her tone.
She thanked me.
Said someone would review the file and inspect if necessary.
I ended the call.
Then drove to work.
On the way home, I stopped at a hardware store.
Bought a locking cover for the outdoor faucet.
Installed it that evening.
Took photographs.
Then went to bed.
The following morning, I woke to Margaret shouting my name.
Not calling.
Shouting.
“CLAIRE!”
I looked outside.
She stood near the fence holding a paper.
Her face was red.
I went down eventually.
Not quickly.
She marched toward me.
“You reported me.”
“Good morning.”
“Don’t do that.”
“Do what?”
“Pretend you don’t know.”
She waved the paper.
