Ann softens her tone, not necessarily because of his glare. This was her planned rhetorical move all along: first, be harsh—then be compassionate.
“I like Roy,” she says. “We all do. He’s a nice guy. He means well. But he clearly has too much on his plate. He can’t give the time to the presidency that the position needs. If we remove him from the presidency, that’s one less thing for him to worry about.”
She says that maybe Roy can focus his attention on his home renovations and get his houses looking like something he—and the rest of the community—can be proud of.
“This is what’s best for the board,” Ann says, “but it’s also what’s best for Roy.”
Henry, an electrician who lives a few blocks away from Ann, turns to Roy and says, “I’d like to hear from Roy. Maybe we don’t have to do a vote of no confidence. If this is what he wants, he could simply resign.”
Every face in the room turns to Roy, whose incensed expression has reverted back to that of a wounded, sad young man.
“Thank you,” he says, and rises from his chair to address the room. “I appreciate the opportunity to defend myself against this outrageous attack from Ann Hoover, who has proven time and again that she has a personal vendetta against me.”
CHAPTER 13
ANN FEELS A CHILL at Roy’s words.
Outrageous attack?
Personal vendetta?
The guy is an irresponsible homeowner who has turned his front yard into his own private scrap heap. And he thinks her actions are the ones that are outrageous?
“I will not resign,” Roy says from the start. “If you don’t want me as your president, you’ll have to vote me out.”
After this, Roy begins a long speech. He admits that he has neglected his duties as president of the association. However, he explains, the big plans he has for the community will take time. He can’t get immediate results overnight. He has been working on the group’s bylaws, he says, which he thought would be the best first step for the group.
“As for my own house, the one on Lawn Street next to Ann’s, I’ve turned a corner on the renovations,” he claims. “I really think things will start to move much quicker. Sure, the place looks rough now, but that’s what it takes to make improvements. Sometimes you’ve got to tear a thing down before you can build it back up.”
Ann rolls her eyes, but the others are rapt. Roy can be so charming that Ann fears his words are having an effect on the board.
“Let’s talk about what this really is,” Roy says, leveling his eyes on Ann. “Character assassination.”
Her breath catches in her throat.
“Ann isn’t satisfied with my progress on the Lawn Street property,” he says. “As soon as I bought the house, she was riding me about fixing the front porch when I had other things I should have been dealing with. But I tried to be a good neighbor and went along with what she wanted.”
Ann is fuming. He tried to be a good neighbor?
“This isn’t the right venue for Ann’s grievances,” Roy says. “What happens at my property has nothing to do with this association. She’s trying to punish me with this passive-aggressive attack.”
“That’s not true,” Ann replies, barely able to control her trembling voice. “This association exists to help beautify the neighborhood. Your house is the biggest black mark in the neighborhood. As president, you should be the model for other residents. Instead, you’re the model of what not to do.”
“I own eight properties,” Roy says. “All of them are in various states of renovation. But you don’t see any of my other neighbors in here complaining about me. You’re the only one being unreasonable.”
“Maybe those roofs aren’t leaking and causing water damage to the neighboring properties,” Ann snaps. “Maybe you’re not using those yards as landfill. Do you take garbage from your other houses and dump it in the yard on Lawn Street? You’re certainly not doing enough work on the house to accumulate that much trash!”
Roy leans over, clenching his teeth and pointing toward the table, as if ready to shout at Ann. But before he can say anything, Ted Fontana speaks up and says, “All right, all right. We’ve heard from both Roy and Ann. Does anyone else want to say anything before we vote?”
The association members look around, everyone too timid to speak up.
Finally, Marjorie Wilson says, “I’m going to vote to have Roy removed.”
She turns to Roy and says she’s sorry.
“I like you, Roy. I wish you the best in all your projects. I really do. But Ann’s right. You need to focus on your own properties. I hope someday we can welcome you back to this association.”
“Marjorie’s right,” Ted says. “You focus on your own homes—let us focus on the neighborhood.”
The others speak up and concur with Marjorie and Ted—they all want Roy to know there are no hard feelings but that they think this is what’s best for everyone.
“All in favor of removing Roy Kirk as president?”
“Aye,” they all say, though no one says the word emphatically.
Even Ann feels sad, rather than pleased—she can’t believe it’s come to this. But hopefully, this will serve as a wake-up call for Roy.
“Sorry, Roy,” Ted says.
Roy doesn’t respond. He walks out the door without a word. There seems to be a collective sigh of relief in the air.
After the meeting, as people are milling about chatting, Marjorie finds Ann, who is still shaken.
“You okay?” Marjorie says.
“Did you hear him?” Ann says, upset. “Passive-aggressive attack? Not the right venue?”
“It’s okay,” Marjorie says. “You got what you wanted. Calm down.”
“I’ll tell you what,” Ann says, “if he doesn’t make some serious progress on that property—fast—he’s going to be sorry.”
“What are you talking about?”
“If he wants me to go to the right venue to air my grievances,” Ann says, “I’ll call the city housing inspector.”
“Ann,” Marjorie says, trying to calm her friend. “You have to live next to this guy—try not to go to war with him.”
But Ann doesn’t seem to be listening.
“Passive-aggressive? Humph. He doesn’t want to see me aggressive-aggressive.”
CHAPTER 14
“USE THE BLACK KEYS to tell you where you are on the piano,” Ann instructs Jody, her nine-year-old piano student. “That’s what they’re there for.”
“Okay,” the girl says, orienting her fingers into place.
“Ready to start again?”
Jody begins to play Beethoven’s “Für Elise,” a good song for beginners. The notes ring through the house beautifully.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The cacophony from Roy’s house next door breaks Jody’s concentration, and the little girl stops, exasperated.
It’s annoying, but Ann can’t be mad at Roy. The truth is she wants him working. Hopefully, if he’s over there making noise it means he’s one step closer to finishing his renovations.