Page 109 of Sheltering You

“Especially when you consider that I use the Bible app on my phone most of the time.”

“This I like, to have it always with me, as you have always had. You must know so much, being able to study whenever you wish, to go to church and study with others.”

“I don’t know. From all the conversations you and I have had, I think you know more than I do. I have all the access I want, but I never had to fight for it like you do.”

She considered that. “To have to fight for it is good?”

“When you became a believer, you knew what it might cost you. When I became a believer, everyone celebrated me. I had nothing to hide, nothing to worry about. Yeah, maybe some kids at school made fun of me sometimes, but really, what did I care about that?”

“You had all the freedom to study the Bible and didn’t.”

“I did, I just didn’t treasure it like you did.”

“I see, yes.” She thought about the leather-bound book she’d loved, its pages worn, her handwritten notes in the margins. She never would have dared writing in it if not for the kind man who’d given it to her. He’d encouraged her to not only make notes but to date them so that, years later, she could remember what the Lord had taught her during different seasons.

Though Jasmine had bought a new Bible in Maine, that first, treasured Bible was lost to her forever. She’d had no choice but to leave it behind. It was the only thing she missed about her home.

Had Khalid found it? If so, what did he think? That it had corrupted her?

If he thought that, then he was a fool, and that was no surprise to her. His eyes had been darkened by lies and deception. He didn’t know better, and she prayed he would, someday. That he and Baba and Uncle Hasan would someday understand the truth.

At least, when she was her best self, she prayed for them.

Mostly, she prayed Khalid would never find her.

Jasmine was relieved when Derrick exited the highway.

“We need gas,” he explained. “And I could use some caffeine.”

She twisted to see Rabie sitting up and stretching. “Do you need to use the bathroom?”

“Where are we?” His words came out on a yawn.

“About halfway there.” Derrick shot her a look she figured was meant to remind her not to tell him anything more detailed than that.

Inside the brightly lit gas station, he accompanied Rabie into the men’s room and was waiting outside the ladies’ room door when she emerged. “You need anything?”

“Maybe some water.”

He grabbed two bottles of water and one of Coke. After he paid for them, they all returned to the car together. It seemed Derrick didn’t intend for them to split up for even a second this time around—and she certainly wasn’t complaining.

She and Rabie climbed into the car while he filled the tank.

“Are you excited to see your sister?” Jasmine asked him.

“Uh-huh.”

No matter how hard Jasmine had tried, Rabie hadn’t warmed up to her again after catching her on the bed with Derrick.

“Can I talk to you about what happened this morning?”

His narrow shoulders lifted and fell.

“I know you have heard that men and women who are not married should not sleep together, yes?” At his nod, she continued. “This is true. There is more to that—what men and women are not to do in bed—than what happened between Derrick and me last night.”

“I know.” He crossed his arms. “I’m not a baby.”

She did her best not to smile. “Then you understand that Derrick was under the covers, and I was under a different blanket on top of his covers. You see? We were not together in that way.”