She was holding her phone.
Her face was flushed with anger.
I placed one hand against the grill handle.
"You're not supposed to be here."
She pointed toward me.
"I've had enough of your arrogance!"
I stared.
Then she looked toward the burgers.
Her expression changed.
For a fraction of a second, she seemed almost pleased.
As though the grill gave her exactly the confrontation she'd been looking for.
She marched across the patio.
I held the stainless-steel tongs in my right hand.
I wasn't advancing toward her.
I was standing where I'd been cooking.
She looked at the tongs.
Then at my face.
"Put those down!"
I frowned.
"I'm grilling lunch."
She stepped closer.
"You're creating a fire hazard."
I glanced toward the small, controlled flame.
Then back at her.
"No, ma'am."
She suddenly struck my wrist with an open palm.
The tongs flew from my hand.
They hit the concrete.
A burger dropped beside the chair.
For a moment, I was too surprised to move.
Then she shoved both hands against my chest.
"Turn it off!"
I stepped backward.
The edge of the pool was several feet behind me.
I remained aware of it.
I didn't want either of us slipping into the water during an argument.
I raised my empty hands slightly.
"Don't touch me."
She smiled.
Then lifted her smartphone.
"Good. Keep acting aggressive."
I felt my stomach tighten.
"What?"
She glanced toward the screen.
"I already called the police."
I stared at her.
She continued.
"I told them you threatened me with a metal weapon."
I looked toward the tongs lying on the ground.
Then back at her.
For the first time, I understood that she wasn't simply angry about the barbecue.
She wanted the officers to arrive believing I was dangerous.
She wanted a police report.
And she wanted that report to become the next piece of evidence in her campaign to portray my property as a neighborhood problem.
I took a slow breath.
Then said quietly.
"You need to leave."
She stepped toward me again.
"No."
I looked toward the gate.
"You were formally warned not to come here."
She laughed.
"That warning means nothing. I'm the HOA president."
I didn't argue.
I simply moved toward the grill, turned off the burners, and stepped away.
Then I took out my phone.
I called the nonemergency number and explained that the woman previously warned for trespassing had entered my backyard again and was making accusations against me.
The dispatcher confirmed that officers were already responding to a complaint at my address.