over and put his arm around me.
“Claire’s right,” he said. “Stop calling me for things around your house. If something breaks, use one of those numbers.”
Vanessa’s face went red.
I didn’t make a speech.
I took Irvin’s hand.
And we went home.
For about forty minutes, I felt fantastic.
Then I started wondering what Vanessa would do after being embarrassed in front of half the neighborhood.
I got my answer quickly.
NEXT PAGE
First came petty complaints.
Irvin mowing the lawn at noon.
Our trash cans supposedly being visible from the street.
Annoying.
But harmless.
Then the letter arrived.
I stood in my kitchen and read it twice.
My home bakery had to stop operating immediately pending a compliance review.
I had permits.
I had passed inspections.
But after several frantic phone calls, I discovered one problem.
The converted garage itself had never received final approval for commercial