Mustard on Top by Wanda Degolier Page B

today?” he asked.
    “Don’t change the subject. Show me what to do.”
    “I’m serious. You could die if you fell off the roof.”
    “Oh brother.” Helen’s mouth quirked on one side. “You’ve been taking lessons from Theo.”
    “Well, did you?”
    “Yes I did,” she answered testily then pointed. “The roof.”
    The urge to kiss her nearly overwhelmed Ben. “You’ve got a million things on your plate. I’ve got this under control. Take a break.”
    “If you don’t tell me what to do, I’ll make it up as I go.”
    Well acquainted with the negotiation process and stubborn people, Ben decided not to argue. “Brat.” He gave her the basics.
    When he finished, Helen asked, “That’s all there is to it?”
    “I’m afraid so.”
    Helen frowned. “I should have reroofed years ago.” Her gaze skimmed the roof. “It looks professional. You do good work.”
    A childish pride welled inside Ben. “Thank you.”
    “Can I take some of these?” Helen gestured toward the pile of shingles.
    “Sure.”
    As Ben watched Helen collect the shingles and move into place, he wondered what she thought about him, and whether she viewed his arrival as good or bad for Theo. He’d ask her another time.
    When the light faded to the color of murky water, Ben packed his tools into his belt and stood on the roof’s peak. To the south lay the Nalley Boardwalk and Salmon Bay. The yellow-white sun cast orange-and-pink rays across cloudless skies and over water dotted with green islands. Off to the east was Mount Rainier. Ben had forgotten his Nalley was breathtaking.
    He called out, “Helen, you need to see this view.”
    “In a second.”
    A few minutes later, Helen scooted next to him. “I’m not balancing on the peak like you,” she announced.
    Ben smiled down at her, glad to be able to share the moment. “Look at the sunset, it’s breathtaking.”
    “Yep. I have the pleasure of seeing it nearly every day at work.”
    Ben cocked an eyebrow, of course she did.
    Helen drew her knees to her chest and wrapped her arms around them. Ben sat beside her. “You cold?”
    “A little.”
    Ben inched closer and wrapped his arm around her shoulders. “I’m just keeping you warm.” She fit like she belonged there.
    Helen slid him a sideways glance then pointed. “That’s Edgar Island.”
    “You have a great view from up here. If you popped the top and installed a balcony, you’d double maybe even triple the value of your home.”
    “Yeah, but we don’t need that much space, although I’ve always sort of planned to build a catwalk.”
    “I’ve missed living here.” Ben surprised himself with the statement. “Helen?”
    “Yeah?”
    “I’m sorry for the past, for the selfish bastard I used to be.”
    Helen’s shoulders went rigid. “I’m over it.” Her voice sounded cold.
    “You been so good about my returning,” he said, unsure why he was bringing up the topic. Did he want her to say she understood? That she forgave him?
    “I’ll push you off the roof if that makes you feel better.” Her offer sounded a little too genuine.
    “Seriously, weren’t you angry with me all those years?”
    Helen sighed, continuing to stare at the sunset. She let several beats pass before responding. “Anger is an ugly emotion I try not to indulge in. I’d rather worry about other things.”
    “Have you been happy?”
    Helen jerked her face his direction then scooted out of his embrace. The fire in her eyes seared Ben’s heart. “Are you asking me if you ruined my life?”
    “I don’t… I don’t know.”
    “If you think the lack of your presence in my life or in Theo’s life has made our lives hell, you’re a pretty pompous ass.”
    “I don’t think that.” Bewildered, Ben stared down at the rooftop.
    “What did you mean?”
    “Why aren’t you married? You’re beautiful and smart, you deserve...” his voice trailed off when he realized anything he said could be taken as an insult.
    Helen scoffed. “For