“NOW I’LL FINALLY GET SOME PEACE!”
I ran barefoot across the patio.
I was still wearing my robe.
The concrete truck roared beside the fence.
Gray sludge poured steadily into the pool.
Marlene saw me.
“Finally!”
She shouted over the machinery.
“Now there will be some peace and quiet around here!”
I stared at her.
Her husband sat behind the wheel.
His construction-company logo was clearly visible on the door.
“Marlene.”
My entire body shook.
“Do you understand what you just did?”
She looked almost pleased.
“I understand that maybe now I can sleep.”
“At five in the morning?”
“Maybe now you’ll teach those children manners.”
I opened my mouth.
Then closed it.
There was no argument that would fix this woman.
I had spent two years trying to reason with someone who viewed every compromise as surrender.
So I stopped speaking.
And lifted my phone.
