Free One Way or Another by Rhonda Bowen

insurance.”
    â€œPlease.” Toni smirked as Tarik and Sheldon helped her onto the roof. “You’re more likely to fall off than I am. Okay, let’s see this leak.”
    Toni crawled over to a section of the roof that met a higher attic wall. The shingles had already been pulled away from where Adam had attempted to start some work. Adam gritted his teeth as he watched her. Was she serious? Did she think she could just go wherever and do whatever she wanted? What was with this crazy chick?
    â€œToni, this isn’t a joke,” he began.
    â€œNo, but this flashing is.” She pulled at the metal piece that sat at the corner between the roof and the wall. “Nothing’s wrong with it, really. It’s just not installed properly. Come, let me show you.” She motioned for them to come over.
    Sheldon and Tarik got there before Adam. He wasn’t sure if it was their enthusiasm to learn, or to get a closer look at Toni.
    â€œLook, Adam,” Toni said, beckoning him closer. “The flashing is supposed to overlap and fit under the shingles. But here it’s just sitting on top. We just need to pull it off and reinstall it properly.”
    â€œToni ...”
    She turned to look at him. Then she took off her sunglasses and he realized she was serious. “I know what I’m talking about. Just trust me,” she urged.
    She turned back to the problem in front of them. “Now, we can get this fixed in no time, we just need some tin snips, a hand brake, a hammer, a couple nails, and some rubber sealant. Oh, and I’m gonna need some gloves.”
    â€œI got you,” Tarik said, disappearing down the ladder to collect the supplies she requested.
    Adam gave her his own gloves and watched, amazed, as she pulled off the shingles from the section of the roof near the attic wall and removed the metal flashing that was in place. She was about to replace it when she peered closer and frowned.
    â€œWhat?” he asked with apprehension. He was almost afraid to know. He had been in this house long enough to expect that when you pulled away the source of one problem, you often found several others hiding underneath.
    â€œUh, well, the felt under these shingles is damaged,” she said. Glancing over her shoulder, he saw that the fabriclike material that was supposed to act as a layer of protection was torn in several areas.
    â€œGuess we need to replace that too.” Adam sighed. So much for thinking this was going to be a quick and easy repair. “Sheldon, you’re gonna need to help Tarik bring the roofing felt up from the ground.”
    â€œDon’t worry.” She placed a hand on his shoulder. “It won’t take as long as you’re thinking. And on the bright side, I think this part is the worst of it. Your other leaks are probably just missing shingles and damaged felt.”
    To Adam’s surprise, she was right. But then, why wouldn’t she be? She clearly knew more about roofing than he did.
    In twenty minutes they had fixed the leak near the attic wall. After that, she showed the three of them how to fix the other leaks and then left them to it while she checked the flashing near other sections of the roof. In an hour and a half they were descending the ladder to the ground.
    â€œYo, Miss T, you the man,” Sheldon said, giving her dap.
    Toni laughed. “I do what I can.”
    Adam watched as she sat down on the grass and stretched her long, slim legs. He still couldn’t believe she had crawled up onto the top of the house and fixed the roof like it was no big deal. All the women he knew, and a lot of men also, were too afraid of heights to clean their roof gutters. But not this one. She was something else.
    â€œDo I even want to know why you know how to fix roofs?” Adam asked, sitting down beside her on the grass. The boys had long abandoned them for the kitchen.
    Toni leaned back on her elbows and grinned. “I