Chapter 17 - The Vote
Mercer reached for the agreement as though he could close the conversation by straightening its pages.
"It was a free promotional partnership," he said. "The dealership donated a banner and discount certificates."
"The document supports that," Deirdre replied. "There's no evidence our association paid your company. But the board never voted to endorse the promotion, and you signed on both sides without bringing it to us."
He leaned back. "We've done favors for local businesses for years."
"Then we need a consistent process," Priya said. "Not favors the president approves alone."
The room grew loud. Tom called for order. A man in the back wanted to discuss fence colors; someone else wanted every past fine refunded immediately. Priya reminded everyone that tonight's agenda concerned specific complaints and that other claims would require their own review.
That distinction frustrated people. I understood why. I'd spent a month wishing one decisive sentence could fix everything. But a fair process was supposed to work when I wasn't the person being heard, too.
On the dust matter, Deirdre moved that the board decline to impose the proposed $1,550 because the association had not demonstrated a properly adopted daily penalty or a sufficient factual record supporting the entries. Tom seconded. Priya voted yes. Deirdre voted yes. Tom voted yes. Mercer voted no.
Laurel marked the ledger for removal and said an updated statement would be sent once the records were corrected. I didn't cheer. I squeezed Leah's hand under the table so hard she nudged my elbow.
On the equipment matter, the board found no documented evidence of a commercial operation at our home. It directed the management company to close that inquiry unless new, specific facts emerged.
Then Deirdre proposed a broader review of the enforcement matrix and a written policy governing board members' business partnerships with the association. Mercer argued the board was surrendering standards. He was outvoted again, though the directors agreed that legitimate maintenance violations still had to be addressed under valid rules.
He didn't resign. He didn't get arrested. His dealership remained open, and he still had friends in the room. But he could no longer act as if being president meant everyone else had to take his word for it.
After the meeting, he stopped me beside the exit.
"You could've handled this privately," he said.
"You had thirty-one days to do that," I answered.
May you like
Outside, Dani was waiting by my truck. I hadn't expected her. She handed me an envelope from Sonoran Finish.
"I promised you'd hear about the renewal directly," she said.
