And rarely interrupted anyone.
She asked whether we could speak.
I hesitated.
Then agreed to a conversation with Adrian present.
We met the following morning at his office.
Miriam arrived carrying a large canvas bag filled with documents.
She was a white woman with short salt-and-pepper hair, thin-framed glasses, and an expression that suggested she'd spent several nights sleeping badly.
She shook my hand.
“Mr. Brooks.”
“Daniel, please.”
She smiled faintly.
“Thank you.”
Adrian invited her to sit.
For several moments, Miriam looked toward the documents.
Then she took a breath.
“I want to begin by saying I'm sorry about what happened in your backyard.”
I nodded.
“Thank you.”
She continued.
“I wasn't aware Patricia intended to enter your property.”
My jaw tightened.
“Was the board aware?”
Miriam shook her head.
“Not through any meeting or authorization I attended.”
Adrian leaned forward.
“Can you explain the board's approval of the conservation initiative?”
Miriam opened a folder.
The original proposal was straightforward.
The HOA wanted to encourage efficient landscaping, identify water waste in common areas, and negotiate optional contractor discounts for residents who chose to upgrade their systems.
A few neighborhoods in the region had adopted similar programs.
The idea wasn't inherently suspicious.
Water was expensive.
Conservation mattered.
And properly maintained irrigation systems could reduce waste.
But during implementation, the program changed.
CanyonMark began appearing at board meetings.
Patricia described the company as a technical partner with special expertise in residential efficiency.
The contractor submitted an ambitious proposal covering property inspections, controller replacements, sprinkler upgrades, and ongoing monitoring.
The total projected value was substantial.
Miriam remembered asking whether residents were required to participate.
Patricia told her the details were being reviewed by counsel.
Miriam asked again at the next meeting.
This time, Patricia said the association needed flexibility to enforce community standards.
The board approved a limited budget for common-area assessments and educational materials.
But Miriam couldn't locate a recorded vote making individual homeowners' contractor purchases mandatory.
I looked toward Adrian.