“Nearly.”
Denise said, “She waited until I was asleep and called parking enforcement.”
Mark looked from her to me.
“Why?”
I crossed my arms.
“Because she blocked the driveway again.”
He sighed.
“Denise.”
She immediately said, “It was six in the morning!”
“That doesn’t make it better.”
That surprised me.
Mark came fully outside.
“How many times have I asked you not to park there?”
She looked irritated.
“I don’t know.”
“At least four.”
I blinked.
“What?”
He glanced at me.
“I asked her too.”
“When?”
“Couple of weeks ago.”
I hadn’t known that.
Denise said, “You were nicer about it.”
Mark’s eyebrows rose.
“Apparently it didn’t work.”
I loved him a little extra for that.
Denise looked at me.
“You cost me money.”
“No. Parking illegally cost you money.”
“You knew I would move it.”
“I knew you would move it if there were consequences.”
Her face tightened.
“You embarrassed me in front of the street.”
I looked past her.
Nobody was outside.
“At 6:30 in the morning?”
“People saw.”
“Your car has embarrassed my children in front of their class three times.”
She laughed in disbelief.
“Don’t be dramatic.”
I felt my anger rise.
Then Mark touched my arm.
Not to stop me.
Just enough to remind me the boys were upstairs.
I lowered my voice.
“Do you know what Oliver asked me last week?”
Denise said nothing.
“He asked if his teacher thought he was naughty because his name kept going on the late chart.”
Something changed in her face.
Not enough.
But something.
