Then looked up.
“This says the amendment takes effect next month.”
Karen's face tightened.
“That is irrelevant.”
“No,” Nate said quietly. “It's very relevant.”
Melissa shifted uncomfortably.
Harold looked at the document.
“She may be right.”
Karen turned sharply.
“Harold.”
He adjusted his glasses.
“The effective date is clear.”
Karen snatched the paper.
For the first time, she looked uncertain.
Nate noticed.
He didn't celebrate.
He simply said:
“We're staying open.”
Karen stared at him.
“You are making a mistake.”
“No.”
He folded the document.
“You are.”
The Trash Truck
At 10:37, a white pickup arrived.
Two men climbed out.
Neither wore an HOA uniform.
One carried a clipboard.
The other carried heavy-duty black trash bags.
Nate watched them approach.
“What are they doing?”
Karen stood behind them.
“Removing unauthorized materials.”
Erin stepped in front of the table.
“No.”
The man with the clipboard said:
“We were instructed by the association.”
“Show me the authorization.”
He pointed toward Karen.
“She has it.”
Nate looked at Karen.
“You hired people to take our stuff?”
“They are contracted property-compliance personnel.”
“That's not what I asked.”
Karen crossed her arms.
“They are removing violations.”
The first man picked up a box of books.
Sophie ran forward.
“Don't touch those!”
He stopped.
Nate moved between them.
“Put it down.”
Karen's voice sharpened.
“Do not interfere.”
“These are our belongings.”
“They are being removed from common-facing property.”
“Our driveway isn't common property.”
Karen ignored him.
The second man began folding tables.
Erin shouted.
“Stop!”
Customers backed away.
A woman began recording on her phone.
Another man called the non-emergency police line.
Derek, Nate's coworker, happened to be driving through the neighborhood and saw the crowd.
He parked.
“What happened?”
Nobody answered.
Then he saw the men putting yard-sale items into trash bags.
His face changed.
“What the hell?”
Karen turned.
“This is an HOA enforcement matter.”
Derek looked at Nate.
“Are you okay?”
Nate shook his head.
“No.”
The first box of toys went into a black bag.
Then another.
Sophie started crying.
Owen came out of the garage.
He saw his video games disappear into a trash bag.