I just wanted to spend a quiet weekend at my beach house. But my sister’s husband was already there with his entire family and yelled, “Why is this parasite here? Get the hell out.” I smiled and said, “Sure, I’m leaving.” But what happened next made him regret ever saying that.

Within an hour we had created a plan. By noon I had made several calls and signed a few documents. Everything we were doing was completely legal because I was simply exercising my rights as the property owner.

I drove to a café near the coast and waited. Around three in the afternoon Harold called.

“It is done,” he said.

“What about the utilities.”

“All suspended temporarily at your request.”

I thanked him and hung up. Exactly twelve minutes later my phone exploded with an incoming call from Lauren.

Her voice sounded frantic. “Abigail what did you do. The power just went out and there is no water.”

I kept my voice calm. “What do you mean.”

“Do not pretend you do not know. Bradley called the utility company and they said the account holder requested a service suspension.”

“I am the account holder,” I replied. “Since I am not using the property this weekend I decided there was no reason to pay for electricity and water that strangers are using.”

There was a long silence. “You cannot do this,” Lauren said finally. “There are fifteen people here.”

“They are welcome to leave at any time.”

She lowered her voice. “Mom and Dad will hear about this.”