Mustard on Top (25 page)

Helen felt queasy. She wasn’t surprised Seth assumed he’d been chosen by some higher power to fulfill a certain fate. The man’s ego could fill a warehouse, but his belief she was supposed to be his partner for the ride was disturbing. She scooped up the cards when there came a knock at the door.

“Everything okay?” Ben asked.

“Fine.”

“I can’t sleep either. May I come in?”

Helen suspected he knew what she was doing. “In a second.” She shoved the cards in her purse then stood. “Come in.”

Ben opened the door. Worry lines creased his forehead. “May I read the cards?”

Helen didn’t want to involve him in yet another problem, but she’d learned he wasn’t easily thwarted. Indecision plagued her. When she didn’t answer, Ben reached out and tugged at her purse. “Please.”

Helen released a breath and let go.

“Thank you. Seth gives me the creeps. I don’t trust him,” Ben said.

Naked, Ben read the cards once quietly then again out loud. Hearing the words spoken, felt like a slap in the face, and Helen squeezed at the headache forming between her eyes. She’d seen the signs of Seth’s affection for years, but chalked it up to the fact she was about the only woman in Nalley he hadn’t slept with.

“You need to stay away from him.” Ben sounded like a father reprimanding an ill-behaved child.

“Give me a break. You can’t ramble into Nalley and start giving me orders. You won’t even be here in another week.”

“Get a restraining order.”

“Based on what? He hasn’t done anything.”

“Take these weird-ass cards to a shrink, and get an expert to tell the police the guy is cracked.”

Helen planted a fist on her hip. Seth was cracked, sure, but dangerous? She recalled Humphrey’s beating. Probably dangerous, too. Even if she had a restraining order, would that stop Seth? “I think you’re overreacting.”

“Come back with me to Chicago.”

Ben issued more crazy statements than her credit card company. “What?”

“The way you are, you need a man around.”

“What do you mean, ‘the way I am?’”

“Trusting, nice. Your disposition leaves you…” He seemed to struggle for the word. “Vulnerable.”

Helen threw her hands in the air. “Oh, brother. I choose to see the best rather than the worst in people, so what.”

“Come and live with me in Chicago. I’ll keep you safe.”

“If you haven’t noticed, I have a life here. I know it’s hard to believe, but I have managed to stay safe
all
these years without your help.” Her anger grew. “Not to mention, Theo is here. I’ve got a thriving—no—more than thriving business.”

Ben frowned. “I’m serious. You would get the chance to experience another place.”

“Chicago?” she said the city’s name as if it were synonymous with Hell. “Sorry, but no.”

“You wouldn’t have to work.” He splayed his arms wide for emphasis. “You could go back to college or relax for the first time in your life.”

“You think I need to be taken care of.” Helen shook her head. “I don’t care about your money and furthermore I don’t need you. Neither does Theo.”

“Yes you do.”

Helen groaned. “You’re wrong.”

“Consider the messes you’ve been in just since I’ve been here.”

Helen narrowed her eyes. “I can’t believe I slept with you. Your ego is as big as Seth’s. Take me home.”

“It’s four in the morning.”

“Good. It’ll be light traffic.” Helen grabbed her pants and underwear off the floor and began putting them on.

“I am not driving home right now. We both need to sleep. Come back to bed. We can discuss this like rational human beings in the morning.”

Ben’s gaze was one reserved for bratty toddlers. Helen stuffed her bra in her back pocket, and pulled on her T-shirt. “I’ll get home without you then.”

When she tried to charge past him, Ben caught her around the waist. “Give me a second to get dressed. I’ll drive you.”

Helen wriggled free. She hadn’t relished the idea of finding alternate transportation, but was prepared to take a taxi if necessary. She flipped on a light. Ben’s wet socks lying on the floor caught her eye and a pang of regret welled inside her. Whether she regretted sleeping with him or the fight, she wasn’t sure.

The inky black sky mirrored Ben’s mood.
The only people on the roads are overtired truckers
, Ben thought as he jammed his key into the ignition. He was beyond annoyed.

In typical Helen-fashion, she’d acted impetuously. Now they sat less than a foot apart and were forced to deal with each other for the two-hour drive ahead of them. With her arms crossed over her chest, her face angled down, and a pair of sunglasses over her eyes, Helen reminded him of a sulking teenager, only more charming.

Smelling the shampoo and soap he’d rubbed all over her, diffused his anger. “There’s no sun right now.” Ben broke the silence.

“Huh?”

“There’s no sun. You don’t need to wear your sunglasses.”

Helen shot him a glare. At least he assumed she’d glared based on her pursed lips. Ben started the car. He didn’t understand the woman, he’d offering her a life of leisure, gave her choices, and she acted like he was being a jerk. He didn’t know what he’d said wrong. Okay. Maybe the part about her needing him was a bit much, but it was true.

As they drove in silence, the rift between them saddened Ben. He reminded himself he’d come to Nalley to strike up a relationship with Theo not Helen. When he pulled in front of her house, Helen opened her door before he’d even stopped.

Frustrated, Ben took his time going inside. Helen sneezed repeatedly. Seth and his damn flowers. Ben propped open the door to the garage and picked up a bouquet that had been on the dining room table. Helen appeared from the hallway, sneezed, and headed down the stairwell.

Ben took the flowers to the garage, depositing them on Matty’s hood. He returned for more when Helen and Jeremy emerged from the basement.

Jeremy, grinning like a Cheshire cat, had his arm flung across Helen’s shoulders. His yellow teeth pocked with black holes were on display. Ben glanced down, the bucket had been replaced by a bloodied clump of cement.

“Hi Ben,” Jeremy said.

“How’d you get the bucket off?”

“You should see the basement,” Helen said. “Looks like a mini hurricane went through it.” Helen’s tone held no anger.

“I was innovative.” Jeremy had genuine pride on his face as he gestured toward the bloody lump.

Ben pondered the problems Jeremy’s new-found freedom caused. “I think he ought to clean up his mess,” Ben said.

“Cut him a break. I’ll clean up later.”

“Cut. Him. A. Break?” Ben’s voice was higher pitched than he’d intended. Had Helen forgotten that he’d risked his career to take care of Jeremy, that he’d personally cleaned up the man’s vomit and shit? She probably had, she seemed to forgive and forget quickly. Except in his case.

“Why is he even upstairs?”

“I’m driving him to a rehab center in Pateros,” Helen announced then sneezed. Twice.

With Jeremy gone, Ben could go home, so why did his gut churn? “Right now?”

“It’s a three-hour drive, so I need to get started. With any luck I can get back before the lunch rush.”

Ben stepped back then noticed the crutches in the kitchen. They confirmed his suspicion that Jeremy didn’t need Helen’s help getting up the stairs. The little weasel.

“Why don’t I take him? You take a nap and go to work.”

“If it’s all the same to you, I’d rather have her take me,” Jeremy eyed Helen as if she were his Aunt Hazel.

“I can clean up my own messes, Ben.” Helen tone was icy.

“You’ll be late for work.” Ben tried another tactic.

“That wouldn’t be the end of the world.”

“You can take your arm off her now,” Ben snapped at Jeremy.

Both Jeremy’s arms rose in mock surrender. Helen sneezed as Ben snatched the crutches and thrust them toward Jeremy. He hated the idea of Helen driving for six more hours. She was tired, plus he didn’t trust Jeremy.

“Why don’t I go with you?” he offered.

“No thanks.” Helen smiled tightly.

“You might fall asleep and get into an accident.”

“I’m capable of driving.”

“What about Agatha? She could ride with you.”

“No reason to wake her. I’ll call her later.”

He couldn’t win. “Take your insulin before you go.”

“I’ll do that.” Helen went to the kitchen.

That she’d taken his suggestion, eased Ben’s frustration. He retrieved another bouquet, and carried it into the garage.

“Ben,” Helen called from the kitchen then sneezed.

He pivoted to face her. “What?”

“Thank you for moving the flowers.”

“You’re welcome.”

“And for dinner.” A sly smile crossed Helen’s face.

Ben knew what that smile meant and his disposition brightened. “My pleasure.”

****

Gravel crunched beneath her car tires as Helen pulled into the Pateros address Jeremy had given her. She’d envisioned Healing Meadows as a rambling building set in a meadow with plenty of grass and trees. Not as a utilitarian, brown cube with bars on the windows. A few older-model cars were parked at the rear. She searched for a sign, but didn’t find one.

Helen wished she’d called and confirmed the existence and address before leaving, but she’d feared any delay, that showing any doubt about Jeremy’s plan, might cause him to change his mind. So, on a hope and a whim, she’d hopped in the car.

The front door had been painted over in areas with several shades of green. “You sure about the address?” she asked.

“Yes.” Jeremy pushed the car door open and heaved his cement-covered foot out. It hit the ground with a thud, and Jeremy winced before twisting in his seat and clambering out.

Helen took his crutches from the trunk and handed them to him. After balancing himself, Jeremy hobbled toward the unmarked door. Reluctantly, Helen followed.

She caught up to Jeremy as he pushed a red button to the left of the door. A buzzer, sounding like a thousand angry hornets, sounded. Jeremy turned and gave her half a smile. With his unkempt, scraggly hair and a bird’s nest growing around his mouth and down his chin, he appeared a rehab prime candidate. Helen smiled back.

The door swung open. An elderly woman standing on the other side looked from Jeremy to Helen and back again.

“Is this Healing Meadows?” Helen asked.

The woman gave a single curt nod then focused on Jeremy. “You coming here of your own free will?” Her voice sounded as if her vocal chords had gone through a coffee grinder.

“I am.”

The woman looked him up and down. “You can come in,” she said to Jeremy. “You wait out here.” She nodded in Helen’s direction.

“But–”

Grasping Jeremy’s elbow, the woman guided him through the open door. Helen considered barging past them, but settled for a peek inside. There were no people in lab coats, only three men, all grungy and tattooed, playing cards. Compared to Jeremy’s gaunt features, they looked healthy.

Once Jeremy was over the threshold, the woman turned to Helen. “Give us a bit of time, we’ll let you know if he qualifies for the program. If you’re not here when we’re done, we’ll release him over 38th Avenue and Venice.”

“You can’t do that,” Helen said.

The woman stared at her. “Wait here.” She pointed down.

“Wait.” Helen yelled.

The woman made a slow pivot. “Yes?”

“I need to make a phone call. Can I leave and come back?”

“We’ll be at least half an hour.”

“Thank you.”

Aware of the minutes passing, Helen drove around looking for a pay phone while cursing herself for not having a cell phone.
Chicago.
The annoying word floated across her mind like an airplane banner.

She found a phone in the parking lot of a twenty-four-hour, convenience store with barred windows. After fishing in her purse and car and finding a mere $1.30 in change, she was relieved to learn the phone took credit cards. After inserting her card, she dialed Agatha’s number.

“Hello?” A man’s voice.

Wrong number?
“I was trying to reach Agatha Cashman.”

“One moment. Hon, it’s for you.”

Hon?
“Hello?” The voice was Agatha’s only happier than usual.

“Agatha?”

“Yes. How may I help you?”

“Who answered the phone?” Helen asked. “Not Moe.”

“Oh you didn’t miss much at the book club meeting,” Agatha said. “Half the girls didn’t read the book as usual.”

“Uh.” Agatha had obviously taken the charade with Moe too far. Helen would be paying her a visit when she got back. “Can I tell you something?”

“Yep. As usual, we are in agreement. I didn’t think Gabrial’s motivation was strong enough either.”

Helen took that as a yes. “I brought Jeremy to a rehabilitation center this morning.”

“Really? Did you understand the end? I’ve never heard of the place where Gabrial went. Where’d he go again?”

“Healing Meadows in Pateros.”
If they let him stay.

“That’s right,” Agatha said.

“I thought you’d want to know.”

“The next book we’re reading is
In Love
by Adrianne Lane.”

Was Agatha telling her she was in love with Moe? Helen hoped not. Before Helen had responded, Agatha spoke again.

“Okay. I must run I’m afraid,” Agatha said. “Thank you for the call.”

“Bye.” Helen hung up. After buying another coffee, she went back to Healing Meadows. Afraid to disobey the old woman’s orders, Helen leaned against the wall next to the door where she’d dropped Jeremy off.

Every minute dragged by. Forty-five minutes later, she wondered if she’d been forgotten. She was about to ring the bell when the door opened and the little woman who’d greeted them before smiled, showing her own set of bad teeth.