“You already had this?”
“Yes.”
“You were already going to build this building?”
“Yes.”
“And you never told us?”
“Why would I?”
“Because it affects our homes.”
“So did my trees.”
She looked toward the stumps.
Then back at the building.
“You could move it.”
“I considered moving it.”
That caught her.
“Why?”
“To save the trees.”
Nothing moved in her face for a second.
I pointed east toward the alternate location.
“My engineer already designed another site. More grading. Longer power run. Worse truck access. More expensive.”
“You were going to use that?”
“I was considering it.”
“Because of the trees?”
“Yes.”
Vanessa looked slowly toward the twelve stump locations.
Then back at the steel.
“You’re saying…”
“I’m saying you solved the problem for me.”
Her face turned red.
“This is retaliation.”
“No.”
“You expect me to believe this is coincidence?”
“The permit predates our dispute.”
“You didn’t have to build it.”
“That is true.”
“You could still move it.”
“That is also true.”
“Then move it.”
“No.”
“Why?”