Fragments of Faith

pan, and pistachio hummed through her taste buds. She pinched her tummy, still less than an inch of fat, and tucked Ismail' note int

esides, a man who coached special children and care

she buckled a wide simple black belt and slipped on a pair of flip-flops. She dabbed sunscreen

as early, the devil. Aminat rubbed on a healthy coat of

r feet and her bright pink painted toen

orning?" she teased. "What happe

, how a

st him, making sure to sha

h his eyes drawn to the way her ample hips swayed

ldlife, mister." She hid

'am. I s

to yo

" He mock s

w and led the way to the parking ar

ty-mile training ride

ed and snack. They walked to his c

ked his lips. "Did you

d her car. "If you're fishing for gratitud

tting in, he slid the seat all the way back.

n't have nor appreciate your sense of humor." She st

asy to push around. Unfortunately, his body heat radiated the short distanc

address or is

space preserve, bu

it calle

uta Re

She pulled out of her stre

tle bit of climbing and a waterfall. And

ght be a torture march for

ack. "Always prepared.

tic notes, he'd been the perfect gentleman, well, minus the silly fli

of herself. She was always pinning her hopes on the

he radio. "Music?

u p

st men were bos

ge, the road traffic slowed down, they passed the busy part of Bauchi road and wound their way past the tree and rock lined lined

mirror and checked her lip gl

es music that blared from the car stereo, and he hadn't put h

fume." He appeared to sniff he

use

paround sunglasses, hiding h

I didn

insect repellant. B

e my chances." She put on her sunglasses. If she couldn

ilhead. Monkeys and baboons and what to do when confronted. Tick Danger. Poison ivy. Aminat t

ind me. See the sign? Ke

." Aminat pinche

to look big and mean. Here, I'll show you." He waved his backpack i

. makes sense. monkeys get hissy and

't know.

The air gave off a mixture of

pollen bother y

s and got my shot this week. Reason I moved here. Less pollen and

ithout trying to make a move on her. He hadn't even put his arm around her shoulder, and it was r

ward the left, but Aminat was drawn to the wooden rail fence with a na

te." Ismail brandished a came

to be with her. She posed within the narrow space.

truction." He laughed

he trying too hard to act like a

ping onto the trail. They walked under a canopy of trees. Moss hung in strings off spiny branches, and ferns waved from the

ith her flip-flops through a narrow passage bet

. "Those are agbal

po

droppings. Aminat stepped back, right into h

for a seven-mile loop or you wan

d her a moment longer or even copped a feel. She'd showered and shampoo

oice cut into the foreground. "See those switchbacks down

op at him, and he shook his head but wisely refrained from mak

estic trees with rugged trunks and massive rock formations that towered toward the sky. Ismail helped Am

of being in love, but not the man behind it. But Aminat wanted more. She wanted a m

didn't respond by pulling her closer. Ins

periodically peppered the tall trees, and it was soon joined by that of trickling water. Ferns sprawled along t

ays careful to watch her footing or steer her ar

and swung his backpack off hi

eet into the soothing water of the stream. "I

ly Jos. Chicken or beef?" Ismail pointed to the spread-two wr

to swoon, but she had to dial back her attracti

ian?" She twisted her lips and stu

I'm

leaned toward him. If she were taller, she'd lay her lips on his t

oss his face. "Okay, I'll

e unwrapped a burger. "I haven't seen many h

e

r. Couldn't he at least put his arm around her?

red over her shoulder and jum

a piece of bread. She grabbed

ves. Was the cat stalking behind the ferns? H

t was wrong with him? Aminat's head snapped back and forth. There

ghs and doubled over w

concerned, it was a death march. Was she pissed off at I

g as a joke. Maybe he wasn't attracted to her and thought it better if he

g she hadn't worn flip-flops. Thankfully, the trees blocked the sun most of the way, and Aminat's car was still the

arm. "We climbed fourteen hundred feet from t

g to have blister

rounds. "About that

forgave you about five miles back,

and a brightly checkered madras shirt from his bac

open, his ridged abdominals in full view. A trickle of sweat rolled down the center line but was quickly dabbed away. He turned his back and put on deodorant-Brute. Hm

n throwing herself at him all day. This man-drought made her irritable and snappy. It'd been, what? Four months

pared in case of an emergency kiss. Is

hispered, so c

as doable. She trailed her fingertips to his collarbone. His body stiffened, and he cleared

her voice have to

ink you'll

vanity mirror. All clear. Eye makeup was a little smeared

a right at Terminus round about and turn into

minat turne

g her. But then, why did he pursue her so persistently? She stepped

oving truck before clearing near a stretch of businesses. An arrow pointed to the winery on the left. Amina

or white?" she

pointed to a tin building on th

s over

walked to the front of a glass door that opened into an art studio. Glass apples, translu

grey hair greeted them. "Hi, I

Aminat. We're here to ta

ts, and life-forms. "Before you lea

How do you get the detailin

s he took the money from Isma

der tree with summer green leaves shaped as infin

avorite," Dan said

ple heart," Is

t hey, he was definitely dif

go first?"

head. It look

Dan said. "Put

urnace. He created different layers of color by rolling the molten glass in colored powder.

Ismail waved Aminat o

e'll cut your he

ating the two lobes. Ismail used large tweezers to draw the tip, and

ate the rod to keep the glass from flopping downward. When it was time to shape the tree, Dan helped her push the heated glass into a tree mold and pull it out.

'd never made something out of hot, molten glass before. Unfortunately, Da

p tomorrow or I ca

it up," I

s, feeling let down. Forgive her for being impatient, but she w

, but wasn't this what Priye meant about

ly wanted her as a friend. After all, he passed up the wine tasting class-a favorite pl

f the studio where Dan had many be

ith curly glass tentacles. "If you want

purple turtle shell wall lamp. It was probably a c

ulse hammered behind her ears. Flustered, she turned for the parking

ggling during the glass work, and now she stood in front

her side. "

I be? Thanks,

pset. Anyth

made me sad, nothing about you." Her voic

and delicate. "Stick with me, and

m toward the tasting roo

ng?" Ismail stopp

isn't going t

nd has heavy traffic, e

nd she pulled out of his grasp. "Are you

stuck his hands in his poc

is chest. He could never figure out women. Hot, cold. Flirty, indif

room carrying a bottle of wine. She popped a chocolate

he said in a teasing voice. "But I think

il held the car door for her, but

knew you want

ught her a drunk. Back off and risk an accident. His friends back

orn. "What are y

r's seat. "Talk to me.

rhaps she really had only a taste. She tic

not you. My mother imbibes a bit too much alcohol, and

ough her nose. He caressed her cheek, her complexion ebony and shiny like melted dark chocolate, so perfect and smooth. And when she opened her eyes and gazed into his, he felt l

. Lightly gliding over and around her tongue, he explored the silky parting between he

l locked passionately, he struggled for breath. He couldn't allow this to continue, couldn't break

latched onto the steering w