She wore a cream jacket and the same confident expression she had used when she ordered my car removed
The difference was that no one seemed impressed by it anymore
Margaret took a seat near the center aisle with her prepared questions
I sat behind Evelyn Mercer
She had come because the contractor named on Samuels paperwork appeared in the association records
Meredith opened the meeting by declaring that the community had been harmed by reckless accusations
She said the board had acted in good faith to protect property values
Several residents asked her to explain the invoices
She replied that the financial details were too complicated for a public discussion
Margaret stood and asked whether the association had approved the contractor contracts in recorded votes
Meredith said the board had delegated routine enforcement decisions
Margaret asked for the meeting minutes that documented the delegation
Conrad reached for the microphone
He said the documents would be reviewed by counsel
A man near the back asked why the documents had not been produced after multiple written requests
Meredith told him to sit down
He remained standing until the chair recognized his question
The room grew tense but no one shouted
I could see Meredith losing the advantage she usually gained from making people angry
Margaret asked whether the proposed amendment would apply to removals that had already occurred
Conrad said the amendment merely clarified existing authority
An attorney who lived on the next street raised her hand
She asked why a clarification included language attempting to waive claims against contractors
Conrad said he would not discuss hypothetical litigation
The attorney replied that the words were printed on the agenda and were not hypothetical
A few people murmured in agreement
Meredith called for a vote on the amendment
Margaret objected that the required notice period had not been satisfied
The board secretary checked the bylaws and confirmed that the objection was valid
Meredith glared at her
The secretary quietly repeated her conclusion
The vote was postponed
I had never seen Meredith fail to control a room without anyone raising a voice
The election proceeded under the supervision of a neutral counting committee selected from volunteers
Residents lined up to submit their ballots
Meredith tried to leave before the count but several people asked her to remain for the results
She stayed near the side door with her arms crossed
When the count was announced the candidates who had challenged her slate won every open seat
