Page 32 of Sheltering You

What had just happened?

Derrick weaved along the city streets—seemingly randomly, though he must have a plan. He didn’t say a word.

Finally, Rabie took a couple of breaths, then wiggled away and studied her again. “You used to give me rides on your back.”

“Yes, you remember!”

“And you let me sip your tea, even though Basma would tell you not to.”

She shrugged. “A little sugar is not such a big thing.”

He didn’t smile, but a tiny bit of the fear left his eyes. “Can I play with my toys? They’re in my backpack.”

“Of course.” She reached for the bag, switching to English. “Your sister told me you’ve been going to the international school.”

“Uh-huh.” He plopped it on his lap and opened the top. He’d changed, of course, since she’d last seen him. He was tall—almost as tall as she, not that that was saying much—and lean, having lost all the chubbiness he’d had as a baby. But his hair was still curly and wild. His nose and eyes were wide with surprise on his angular face. She remembered that, when he smiled, his smile was even wider. Maybe she’d see it, eventually.

“I went to the same school when I was your age. Do you like it?”

“It’s okay, I guess. I have a lot of friends, and I play soccer. Forward.” His English was excellent, one of the benefits of the international school. That was where she’d learned, after all. He pulled out some kind of electronic toy, gave her a look, then dropped that one back in the bag and grabbed another one. His hands were shaking, but he seemed to be trying to hold himself together, settling a multicolored cube-shaped puzzle in his lap. “Are we going to get Basma? Those guards were really mad. I’m afraid they’re going to hurt her.”

The thought had her stomach twisting. “Do you think your aunt and uncle would allow that?”

He seemed to take the question seriously. “They will be angry that I’m gone. Very angry.”

“Yes.” Jasmine saw no point in disagreeing with the obvious. “But have you ever seen them hurt your sister? Did they ever hurt you?”

He shook his head. “Basma isn’t afraid of them. It’s Dari she’s afraid of, our half brother. He wants us to live with him.”

Jasmine took Rabie’s hand. “Your sister is very afraid of him, afraid enough that she was willing to do all of this to protect you from him. She loves you very much.”

His eyes filled again. “When am I going to see her?”

“I don’t know, love.” Jasmine pulled him close again. “Soon, I hope. Let’s ask God to help.” She uttered a short, simple prayer, asking God to protect Basma and reunite her with them, then kissed Rabie on his head. “Okay?”

He shrugged and started twisting the toy in his hand.

When he was distracted, she focused on Derrick. Though his gaze still flicked often to the rearview, he didn’t seem nearly as worried.

“Everything all right?”

He nodded, though the action was brisk.

She leaned forward, between the seats. “You are angry with me.”

“You promised to stay in the car.” His words were practically growled at her.

“I saw you coming and thought⁠—”

“You got out of the car before that, when Basma first pushed the door open.”

He’d seen that? She had only wanted to make sure Basma knew where she was. “I was worried. I wasn’t thinking.”

“I asked for one thing.”

“I had to make sure she knew⁠—”

“What about you?” He was getting louder. “Who died and made you Joan of freaking Arc, standing there like a symbol of freedom?”