Chapter 25 - Eighteen DoorsLenora insisted on accompanying Kalista to the next neighborhood meeting.
"You don't have to do this," Kalista said.
"I know."
"Celeste's lawyers may become aggressive."
Lenora smiled.
"Then they can speak to my lawyer."
Kalista laughed.
She was still discovering how much her former mother-in-law had changed.
At Harbor Row, Elias introduced them to the residents' association.
The meeting began awkwardly.
A young father wanted immediate financial assistance.
A retired teacher demanded an explanation of the property contracts.
Another resident accused Havenbridge of bringing wealthy strangers into their neighborhood and calling it charity.
Kalista did not interrupt.
Then Margaret stood.
"When the old housing fund cheated me, I lost almost everything."
The room fell silent.
"I slept on my daughter's couch. I kept my clothes in two suitcases. And every morning, I wondered what I'd done wrong."
Her voice grew steadier.
"Now I have a kitchen. A little bedroom. A blue teapot that belongs to me."
She looked at Kalista.
"I don't want another rich person deciding where I should live."
Kalista slowly stood.
"Neither do I."
She placed her prepared speech facedown on the table.
"I came here thinking I could negotiate a better deal than Celeste Vale."
Elias watched her carefully.
"But I was wrong about where the decision should begin."
Kalista faced the residents.
"The future of Harbor Row belongs to the people who live here. If you want my resources and legal support, I'll help. But you decide what we're fighting for."
An elderly man near the back raised his hand.
"What if we want to stay?"
"Then we'll examine every lawful way to make that possible."
"And if it costs more than you expected?"
Kalista hesitated.
She had learned the danger of promising victory without understanding the cost.
"Then I'll tell you the truth. And we'll decide together."
Lenora smiled.
For the first time that afternoon, Elias looked at Kalista without suspicion.
Not with admiration.
May you like
With respect.
And somehow, that mattered more.
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