"None."
Three days later, the HOA board held an emergency meeting.
Patricia arrived with a stack of papers.
She expected support.
Instead, she found five board members looking uncomfortable.
Helen, the retired accountant, had reviewed the survey.
Another board member, Frank, had checked the bylaws.
The board's attorney was present.
Patricia sat down.
"We need to discuss the Reed property."
The attorney interrupted.
"Before that, we need to discuss the authority under which the fence was removed."
Patricia stiffened.
"I was enforcing the rules."
"You personally removed fencing from a resident's property."
"Under the HOA's authority."
"Please identify the provision."
Patricia opened a binder.
"It's in the architectural standards."
The attorney looked at the page.
"This provision concerns approval of fence construction."
"Yes."
"It does not authorize the association to physically remove a fence."
Patricia frowned.
"We have enforcement powers."
"Through notices, fines, hearings, and legal proceedings."
"Exactly."
"Not through self-help demolition."
Silence.
Patricia looked at the board.
"Are you seriously going to take his side?"
Helen answered.
"This isn't about sides."
"It is."
"No."
Helen shook her head.
"It's about whether we followed our own rules."
Patricia stared at her.
"You've been on this board for eight years."
"And that's why I'm concerned."
The attorney placed the survey on the table.
"The fence is on Mr. Reed's property."
Patricia looked away.
"The surveyor is wrong."
"He's licensed."
"So?"
"So his work is evidence."
"He was hired by Marcus."
"That doesn't invalidate his measurements."
Patricia slammed her folder shut.
"This man has been trying to undermine this association since he moved here."
Frank spoke.
"That's not true."
Patricia looked at him.
"What?"
"He attended every meeting he was asked to attend."
"He challenged us."
"He asked questions."
"Constantly."
"That's not the same thing."
Patricia stared around the table.
For the first time in seven years, she realized the room was not automatically hers.
The board members were thinking.
Not obeying.
Thinking.
The next morning, Marcus received a letter.
The HOA board acknowledged that the fence was on his property.
They acknowledged that Patricia had acted without proper authority.
They apologized.
They offered reimbursement.
They suspended Patricia from enforcement duties pending review.
Marcus read it at the kitchen table.
Denise sat across from him.
"Well?"
"It's over."
She smiled.
"Really?"
"Mostly."
"What does that mean?"
"The fence still needs rebuilding."
She laughed.
"You're impossible."
Marcus folded the letter.
"No."
He looked out the window.
"I'm just practical."
They rebuilt the fence.
This time, Marcus had the boundary line marked permanently.
The new fence was beautiful.
Stronger than the old one.
A little taller.
The posts were reinforced.
The wood was stained a warm natural brown.
Denise planted flowering shrubs along the inside.
The finished fence became one of the nicest in the neighborhood.
People commented on it.
Some complimented the design.
Others joked about the old dispute.
Marcus never did.