***
I called a pool technician and walked him through everything I’d done.
Her smile tightened.
He checked the pump, filter, and chemical levels.
“The equipment is working,” he said.
“Then why does the smell keep coming back?”
“Has anyone been swimming while you’re gone?”
“No. I don’t think so.”
He looked toward the side gate, then at the camera installed.
“The equipment is working.”
“Check your camera.”
My stomach tightened. “Why?”
“Something’s entering the water. Until you know what it is, keep the pool closed.”
I didn’t wait for him to leave before opening the security app.
I scrolled back to the day before.
“Check your camera.”
***
At 1:17 p.m., my side gate opened.
Denise walked into my yard carrying towels and snacks. Liam, Josh, and Noah followed her in swim trunks.
“Mom, shouldn’t we ask Michelle?” Liam said.
“She’s at work.”
“She might want to know if we’re here.”
“She leaves the gate loose, Liam. She won’t care.”
My side gate opened.
I paused the video.
The stiff latch needed a hard pull to close, and Denise knew it.
I pressed play.
The boys jumped into the pool.
Denise sat in Leo’s chair and looked at her phone.
Then Noah climbed onto the shallow step.
I pressed play.
“Mom, I need the bathroom.”
Denise barely looked up.
“Just go in the pool.”
Noah hesitated. “In the water?”
“Like you always do.”
I stopped the recording.
“Mom, I need the bathroom.”
Like you always do.
It hadn’t happened once.
Repeated use had contaminated the water.
***
Denise had been bringing them into my yard while I worked and teaching them that my home didn’t require permission.
I saved the video before anger could make me careless.
Denise had been bringing them.
Then I called the technician and arranged a full sanitation.
Only after that did I walk next door.
***
Denise opened the door holding iced tea.
“What’s wrong, doll?”
I raised my phone.
“What’s wrong, doll?”
“Did you tell Noah to use my pool as a toilet?”
Her expression shifted, then settled.
“They’re children, Mich. It was harmless.”
“You entered my yard without asking.”
“You weren’t using it.”
“That doesn’t make it yours. Even your son knew that.”
“It was harmless.”
She rolled her eyes. “A little water never hurt anyone.”
“The pool has to be sanitized.”
“Then clean it.”
I stared at her.
“You knew exactly what was happening.”
“After everything we’ve done for each other, you’re turning this into a crisis, Michelle?”
“The pool has to be sanitized.”
“What have we done for each other?”
“I brought your trash cans in last week. I didn’t have to do that.”
“I’ve watched your children, fed your dog, stored your groceries, and checked your house.”
“Because you like helping.”
“I helped because I cared.”
“Same difference.”
“Because you like helping.”
“No, Denise. It isn’t.”
She crossed her arms.
“They wanted to swim.”
“Then you should’ve asked.”
“You would’ve said no.”
“They wanted to swim.”
“And that was my right.”
Her mouth tightened.
I kept my voice level.
“You and the boys are not to enter my yard again.”
“You’re punishing children over a pool.”
Her mouth tightened.
“I’m holding their mother responsible for bringing them here.”
She shut the door in my face.
***
The next morning, I replaced the weak latch, added a heavy lock, and pulled a fitted cover across the pool.
I was tightening the final screw when Noah called through the fence.
“Michelle?”
I set down the screwdriver. “I’m here.”
I replaced the weak latch.
He pressed his face near a gap in the boards. Liam stood behind him with his hands in his pockets.
