For a second, Vanessa looked relieved.
Then Martin continued.
“Because if the trees were still standing, most residents would barely see Jack’s building.”
The room went silent.
Carol Bennett raised her hand.
“I live directly across from Jack.”
Vanessa exhaled.
“Carol, please.”
“I want this on the record.”
Martin nodded.
“Go ahead.”
Carol stood.
“Before those trees came down, I could not see most of Mercer Marine Works from my patio.”
Another homeowner spoke.
“Same here.”
Another nodded.
“We couldn’t either.”
Vanessa looked around.
“The trees interfered with the lake views residents purchased.”
Carol answered.
“We already had a lake view.”
“Not the view represented in sales materials.”
A man near the back spoke.
“Then that’s a developer problem.”
Murmurs moved through the room.
Martin turned on the projector.
The first email appeared.
His email.
WAIT FOR CONFIRMATION.
Then Susan Blake’s legal warning.
DO NOT AUTHORIZE TREE REMOVAL.
Then Vanessa’s message.
PROCEED WITH THE TWELVE MARKED PINES.
Then the contractor’s question.
PLEASE CONFIRM SILVER RIDGE OWNS OR CONTROLS THE WORK AREA.
Then Vanessa’s answer.
CONFIRMED.
Nobody spoke.