Sequoia Valley: Risk (Free Preview)

17

Guilt pricked Aileen’s conscience when she glanced into the den on her way to her bedroom and found her husband asleep on the couch. His tall frame was too long for the couch, his knees bent to keep his legs from hanging off the opposite end. The kind thing to do would have been to offer his use of her bedroom, but she couldn’t. If she allowed him to enter the room, he might assume he could do so again whenever he wished. It was a risk she wasn’t willing to take. 

So she turned away and left the room to continue on to her bedroom. She donned an ’abâyah and hijâb, dropped her phone into her purse, and picked up her keys. As she made her way to the door, she glanced once more into the den at Jâsim. He was fast asleep and didn’t stir. 

After putting on her coat, hung on the back of the door, she quietly let herself out of the apartment, locked the door behind her, and then left the building. After she stepped into the frigid outdoors, she walked the short distance to Janân’s home. 

She stepped up to the porch and rang the bell. Moments later, the door opened and Janân smiled in welcome, gesturing for her to enter. “Come in.”

“Salâm,” Aileen said as she entered. 

“Wa’alaykumus salâm,” Janân replied warmly, closing the door. Turning, she led the way to the kitchen. “Would you like some hot chocolate?”

“Yes, thank you,” Aileen agreed. 

When they stepped inside, Aileen seated herself at the table. Moments later, Janân set down two mugs of hot chocolate and sat across from her. Aileen pulled her mug closer, said bismillâh, and took a sip. 

“How are things going?” Janân finally asked. 

“He’s been very good to me, very kind,” Aileen said softly. “But I’m...”

“Afraid,” Janân said knowingly. 

Aileen nodded miserably. “He brought me breakfast, and I couldn’t even completely enjoy it because I kept thinking Jeremy only brought me things when he wanted something. I practically accused him of trying to manipulate me just for being nice.”

“Oh, Aileen...” Janân said softly, her voice kind and understanding. “I’m sure he understands where you’re coming from. Jâsim is a good man and a patient one. You’ll see. Let him help you heal. I know he wants to.”

“I’ll try,” Aileen said. It was all she could promise. It would take time before she could completely trust him. 

Janân nodded. “That’s all we can expect. I understand. I’m sure he does, too.”

Aileen hoped so. 

When she returned to the apartment about an hour after she’d left, Jâsim was still asleep. Though she felt bad about it, she was relieved. When he was asleep, he couldn’t seek her out and she didn’t have to worry about how to act around him or react to anything he said or did. 

After she’d removed and put away both her ’abâyah and hijâb, she quietly entered the den and removed the Islâmic books she’d been reading and studying. Then she made her way to the table, set down her books, and sat down. She opened her notebook and one of the books. Then she began to read. 

Reading and studying kept her occupied for a long time. It wasn’t until her phone’s alarm went off to remind her about prayer that she realized how many hours had passed. As she pushed back from the table and rose, she glanced toward the den. There was no sign of movement. 

When she reached the entrance of the den, Jâsim was still asleep and showed no signs of waking up. She knew she should wake him for prayer, but the thought of it was terrifying. She wasn’t sure how he’d react or behave if he was woken when he was tired. She only remember how Jeremy had acted if she woke him up, even accidentally, and it was far from pleasant.