Page 75 of In This Moment
Wendell ran his hand along the back of her head. “It’s all in your mind.” He wanted desperately to believe that. “Who do you think it could be?”
She lifted her pretty eyes to his. “Who else?”
“Jack? But he’s married.” Wendell hadn’t considered for a minute that Jack Renton might be the one following Alicia. “You said he was out of your life.”
“He was. It’s just... Only Jack would do something like that.” Her eyes told him she was fighting the fear, trying to keep it from rising up within her once more. “It has to be my imagination.”
“Why don’t you come over for dinner? We’re getting takeout. Jordy’s picking it up on the way home.”
“Really?” Her fear eased a little. Alicia smiled at him. “I’d love that.”
“Okay, then.” He stepped back. They were still taking things one day at a time. For now, anyway. “See you there.”
It wasn’t until Wendell backed out of his parking space that he saw something that made him wonder if Alicia was right. Maybe someone was watching her, following her. Parked thirty yards away from the exit was a familiar car, one very much like the car that had sped out of the lot a few minutes earlier.
A dark SUV.
Before Wendell could pull up beside the SUV, the driver raced off. Wendell thought about chasing the vehicle or calling the police, but then he stopped himself. What could he say? And what would the police be able to do?
Crazy people hung out at courthouses. There were trials taking place in every courtroom. No one was following Alicia. Jack Renton was married. He hadn’t called her in months. Wendell waited at the next light. He and Alicia were about to have a fun evening together. Nothing to worry about.
End of story.
•••
ASHLEY BAXTER BLAKEwas working in Janessa’s classroom that day, the way she always did on Thursday afternoons. It was story hour, time for the kids to read books they’d brought from home. Students could read either quietly to themselves or aloud with their classmates.
Today Ms. Jenkins wanted the kids to read aloud.
Janessa ran with the other children toward the cubbies lined up on one side of the classroom. Ashley watched her daughter pull a large book from her backpack and then carry it to her desk. Ashley was organizing puzzles on the other side of the room, but she was curious about the book.
The other kids were still getting situated, so Ashley walked over to Janessa and only then did she see what her daughter had brought today. It was her pink Bible, the one Ashley and Landon had given her last Christmas.
This ought to be interesting,Ashley thought. She knelt beside her daughter’s desk. “You brought your Bible?” She smiled into the girl’s blue eyes. “What made you choose that one, honey?”
Janessa rubbed the leather cover, her expression completely free of guile. “Ms. Jenkins said to bring our favorite book.” She smiled at the Bible. “This is my favorite.”
“Perfect, honey. That’s perfect.” She kissed Janessa’s cheek and returned to her organizing.All right, then.Ashley kept her trepidations to herself and waited.
Ms. Jenkins took volunteers. The first little girl read a selection fromJunie B. Jones. “That’s my favorite book,” the child said sweetly.
Janessa’s hand was up next.
“Go ahead, Janessa.” Ms. Jenkins was a young teacher, in her mid-twenties. The students were crazy about her. She smiled at Janessa. “Tell us about your book.”
Like her classmate before her, Janessa stood and held up her book. “I brought the Bible. My favorite part is the Twenty-Third Psalm because—”
“Oh, honey, no.” Ms. Jenkins approached Janessa quickly and reached for her book. “You can’t bring a Bible to school. That’s against the rules.”
“Hold on, boys and girls.” Ashley couldn’t stop herself. She smiled at the students, all of whom were turning to hear her. “I need to have a little talk with Ms. Jenkins.” Ashley pointed to a few of the students. “Read your books quietly until we’re finished.”
Ms. Jenkins looked shocked. But given the situation she didn’t seem to have any choice, so she followed Ashley to a back corner of the room. “Mrs. Blake... what’s this about? I’m the teacher here.”
“I realize that.” Ashley had to make her point quickly. “I’m very sorry. No offense intended.” She hesitated. It was important for the teacher to understand the full weight of what she was about to say. “My brother is a lawyer, Ms. Jenkins. He takes on religious freedom cases. And I assure you that what you just did was a violation of Janessa’s First Amendment rights.”
“What?” The young teacher looked confused. “I thought Bibles were against the law?”
Ashley couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “You thought— Never mind. Ms. Jenkins, I assure you Bibles are not against the law. It would be a violation of church and state if you forced the students to read the Bible. But you cannot deny any child the right to read his or her own Bible.” She straightened herself. “I’m glad I was here to clear things up for you.”
