Authority on Borrowed Ground

Karen stood five paces away, her floral blouse trembling with each heavy breath. Her square jaw was set like a clamp, eyes fixed on Alicia’s sunglasses.

Alicia did not move for three slow beats. She lifted her hands, slid the dark frames from her face, and placed them faceup on the cedar table. Her pool towel followed, folded once and set beside her glass of water. Every motion was measured, giving the intruder nothing to read.

“Get up,” Karen repeated. “I will not ask a third time.”

Alicia rose without pressing her palms to the arms of the lounger. She straightened her posture, planting both bare feet flat against the sun-warmed flagstone. At five feet eight, she stood two inches taller than the woman invading her yard. She did not cross her arms. She did not offer a defense.

“You are trespassing,” Alicia said.

Karen let out a harsh laugh that sounded like twigs snapping underfoot. “I am the board president. I go where the community charter requires me to go.”

“The gate was latched,” Alicia said. “You forced entry onto private property.”

“Your deed is subject to covenant review, Miss Bennett.” Karen tapped her metal pen against the board with a sharp ping. “Move aside, or the daily fines begin today.”

Alicia dropped her gaze to the aluminum board in Karen’s hand. Three blue violation notices fluttered under the tension clip, printed and pre-dated.

The midday sun reflected off the water behind them, throwing pale bands of light across the flagstones. The yard remained quiet, shielded by eight-foot cedar fencing that Karen had ignored. A hot gust of wind stirred the hem of Karen’s white trousers.

“Turn around,” Alicia said.

Karen blinked, her painted eyebrows pulling together. “Excuse me?”

“Turn around, walk through that gate, and close it behind you.”

“You don’t give orders here.” Karen sneered, the skin around her mouth tightening. “I do.”

Karen scoffed and took two aggressive steps forward to cut the distance. The soles of her sandals slapped the stones, planting her heels four inches from the pool coping.