The kind of smile somebody wears when they're finally doing something they've spent a long time imagining.
I grabbed the large beige bath towel hanging beside the shower and wrapped it securely around my waist.
Then I ran.
I didn't stop to put on a shirt.
Didn't look for shoes.
Didn't even think about the fact that the patio stones would be slippery.
I hurried through the bedroom, crossed the hallway, and threw open the sliding glass door.
“WHAT ARE YOU DOING?”
Patricia spun around.
The hammer was still in her hand.
For a fraction of a second, her expression revealed genuine surprise.
Then she straightened.
Raised her chin.
And looked me up and down.
“Oh, wonderful. The homeowner finally decides to appear.”
I stepped onto the patio.
Water was spraying across the grass behind her.
The broken sprinkler head lay near her shoe.
“Drop the hammer.”
She laughed.
“Excuse me?”
I pointed toward the tool.
“You entered my property without permission. You just destroyed my irrigation system. Put the hammer down.”
Her blue eyes narrowed.
She looked at my towel.
Then smiled contemptuously.
“Couldn't you at least put on proper clothes before confronting a woman?”
I stared at her.
For a moment, I genuinely couldn't believe the audacity.
“You broke into my backyard while I was showering.”
She folded her arms, keeping the hammer in one hand.
“I'm conducting an authorized compliance inspection.”
I looked toward the shattered sprinkler.
“With a hammer?”
Her expression hardened.
“That irrigation head was in violation of community conservation regulations.”
I took one step closer.
“Then you should have issued a lawful notice.”
She gave a sharp laugh.
“Oh, I've issued plenty of notices, Mr. Brooks. You ignored every one.”
I felt anger rising in my chest.
“Because the fines were fabricated.”
Patricia's face reddened.
“Watch your language.”
I pointed toward the water.
“You deliberately broke my property.”
She raised the hammer slightly.
I stopped moving.
Not because I was afraid of Patricia herself.