* * * * *
He drove her to her house and stopped the car. Vera looked at him.
«I’m sorry about today,» Jeff told her.
«I’m not.» Vera smiled. «Thank you for everything…» And she petted his cheek.
«Tell her about your feelings! Tell her! Tell her right now!» his mental voice cried out, and Jeff tried to compel himself, but he could not. Closing his eyes, he just silently pressed her hand to his face for a few seconds.
Suddenly he sensed a kiss. He looked at Vera, but the door slammed; she’d already left, and, almost running, she went to the house. Jeff hesitated, feeling the desire to follow her, then he slowly turned his car and drove home.
Chapter Twenty – One: Larisa’s Birthday
It was in Moscow, Saturday morning, 5:40 a.m.
Vlad had just come back home after his night’s work. He was still studying at the University, but when Nina became pregnant, he found this job to make additional money. He was contented, as, working an entire Friday night, he could sleep and take it easy on Saturday.
He entered the apartment and sensed at once that Nina was not here. Somehow, he always felt her presence as well as her absence. Nina’s mother Alla held a receiver and her face had such a strange look that Vlad grew scared, and addressed her, «Where is Nina?»
«The doctor just called,» Alla answered with a mechanical voice, and, struck with horror, Vlad blanched.
«Something has happened to Nina!» he thought, feeling his life at once would lose all meaning in this case. «If she’s dead, I’ll kill myself.» It was not just a phrase, but a final decision.
«It’s a girl,» Alla continued, and Vlad gaped at her with bewilderment.
«Damn,» said Alla, shaking her head. «I did not ask, what is her name?»
«What are you talking about?» yelled Vlad angrily.
«Don’t dare shout at me.» Alla was surprised, as Vlad had never raised his voice at her. «Nina gave birth to a girl. Congratulations, father!»
«Father, father, father,» sounded repeatedly in his mind, and a marvelous wave of pride and enjoyment flowed over the young man.
«But we thought we had about a month left,» he mumbled.
«So, we were wrong.» Alla put the receiver in its place. «The doctor said they are both okay.»
Uttering a whoop of delight, Vlad spun around, dashed out, and, elated, he ran along the street. He wanted to sing and hug the whole world.
He did not have the patience to wait for a bus, so he raced down the boulevard.
This early summer morning was fantastically charming. The bright sun just rose above the tall city buildings. It was not hot yet, and the warm golden sunlight flowed through the leaves of the trees, trembling with light fresh wind. A dazzling blue sky showed no clouds, the singing birds were pottering about near their nests, and it seemed as though the nature echoed Vlad’s exhilaration.