Chapter 14 - MARGARET'S HOUSE GOES QUIET
Margaret resigned from the HOA safety committee.
Not voluntarily at first.
The board requested it.
Arthur Wilson dissolved Wilson Community Advisory.
Their marriage survived.
Barely, according to neighborhood gossip.
Emily stopped listening.
Margaret still lived next door.
That was the harder ending.
No dramatic moving truck.
No exile.
No complete collapse.
Sometimes consequences move in next door and stay there.
For months, Emily and Margaret avoided each other.
Buddy did too.
Margaret crossed the street when she saw him.
Good.
One afternoon, Emily found a note under her door.
Not apology.
Just:
Please keep your dog away from my property.
Emily wrote back:
He will be leashed. Please do not approach him.
Boundary.
No insult.
May you like
No threat.
That was enough.
