Page 27 of A Class of Her Own

His voice was low and gentle, the way someone would try to talk to a wild animal or a person on the brink. I suddenly saw myself through his eyes and realized that my intensity over this was absurd and confusing to both of us. For some reason I’d been triggered over something that didn’t actually matter. Sure, I’d recently started to dislike him a little less than before, but Brooks and his chosen lifestyle meant nothing to me. I swallowed hard and worked to shrug casually as I reminded myself that there were many, many people with artistic hobbies who managed to live full lives and not sacrifice their children for their art. Again, didn’t matter what he did with his time. It wasn’t like we were chummy or that I depended on him for anything.

“That’s . . . whatever.” I pulled the now destroyed note from my pocket and flapped it in the air. “Care to explain this?”

He continued to watch me for a moment, and I waited with prickly skin for him to ask what that had been all about. His eyes were kind and curious, and, if I’d been another type of woman, he’d probably have pressed. But he seemed to recognize the barriers I had in place, and, instead, his shoulders relaxed and his expression shifted into unbothered innocence.

“It’s pretty self-explanatory,” he said. “It’s what we in the biz call a cease and desist notice.”

“The biz, huh?”

He nodded. “The biz.”

“I was unaware that HOAs have the power to deliver this type of letter.”

“Oh, we have all sorts of power. This, however, is a non-binding letter with no legal effect, but it can be used as evidence if litigation becomes necessary.” He ended with a smirk.

“If litigation becomes necessary? Are you going to sue me for an excess of holiday spirit?” I huffed.

“If the misconduct continues.”

“Alleged misconduct.”

He bit on his lower lip for a second, and I was suddenly sure he was trying not to laugh. “Trust me, there’s nothing alleged about what’s happening in your yard. Did you miss the traffic jam this morning?”

“So, I had to dodge a few cars on my way over here. People want to get into the holiday spirit by driving by. That’s called fun, Brooks.”

It actually hadn’t been fun. There had been at least five cars parked along my curb, and for someone as private as me, it felt like a total breech. I wasn’t exactly loving the consequences of my choices today. But, again, backing down wasn’t part of my genetic code.

“They’re stopping to take selfies,” he continued.

I nodded. “Because it’s such an awesome attraction that they want to be seen there.”

He tugged off his safety goggles and put them on the bench next to whatever he’d been working on. Running a hand through his thick hair, he shook his head and sat down on a stool nearby.

“Meredith. Let’s be real. In the several years you’ve lived here, you’ve never once decorated for any holiday until that first Halloween after I became president. Now you’ve become this neighborhood’s number one holiday enthusiast.”

“You haven’t been here long enough to know that for sure.”

“I’ve lived here for four years, and your house is near the community entrance. I would know if it had been decorated like this before.”

That sort of deflated me for a second. He’d been here that long? “How did I never see or notice you before?”

“I’m going to ignore you pointing out how unworthy of notice I am and tell you that I avoided involvement like the plague. I paid my monthly fees, and, other than that I did not have any interest in how this place ran or what the retired population wants to spend their time worrying about. I laid low, kept my house tidy, and that’s how I liked it. Then one day Hazel dragged Leland and Shayla over here, begging me to take on the HOA presidency just because they’d heard I’m a lawyer.”

It hurt, like it always did, hearing that they’d begged him to take the job when I’d been more than willing. So willing that I’d set up a meeting with them and offered to take on the position. Sometimes I wondered if they’d gone directly from meeting with me to his doorstep. What had I done so wrong?

“What kind of lawyer are you?” I asked, pushing down the questions and hurt.

“I handle property law.”

“What, exactly, is that?”

“Real estate and property disputes. I help with things like foreclosures, deed transfers, zoning restrictions, wills, and coordination with lending agents involved in the sale of a property.”

“Seems to me that an HOA would fall neatly into your profession then. You’re the property pro.”

“I’m not.”

Now it was my turn to smirk. “You sort of are. But if you didn’t want to do it, why did you say yes?”

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