One neighbor was floating in the shallow end with a drink in her hand, looking more comfortable in my backyard than she had ever looked speaking to me.
My husband asked, ‘Are you going to tell them to leave?’
‘Not yet.’
I opened the camera controls.
Our security system had a speaker.
They had apparently forgotten that part.
Before I touched it, I made one more call.
I gave the address.
I explained that we were out of town.
I explained that people who did not have permission were currently using our backyard and pool.
And I told them I had live security footage.
Then I went back to the camera.
The party was getting louder.
Someone had turned music up.
Another guest carried food toward our patio table.
The neighbor who had complained most about our construction noise stood beside the pool, laughing as if she had personally booked the place.
Then she looked toward the security camera.