Yet even had been buried in her thoughts, Vera heard her husband drive away, and she wondered where he went. A colossal weight of loneliness pressed the woman down, and she surprised herself, realizing that Jeff was the only person in the whole wide world with whom she wanted to talk right now.
Trying not to think about Oleg, Vera got up, almost ran to her car, and drove to the police station. She parked, hesitated, then entered the building.
«Can I help you, ma’am?» the orderly officer addressed her.
«Can I see Officer Menard?»
The policeman pointed to the hall.
She shyly went between the desks, feeling nervous under the gazes of the other officers.
Jeff Menard was browsing through some documents when he sensed something and threw his face up. He dropped his papers, seeing Vera walk towards him. He could not believe his eyes, and joy overflowed his heart.
However, when she approached and he saw her livid face, the policeman became concerned. «What happened, Ve… ma’am?»
«I’d like to talk to you,» she said with lifeless voice.
«Come here.» Hastily getting up, Jeff opened a door to another room, and they entered.
But Vera did not like this place, as the walls had big windows onto the hall. Despite the people outside being unable to hear them, they could see them, and the woman felt uncomfortable.
«Can we talk in some corridor?» she asked holding back tears. Worried, Jeff nodded and they left the room, walked to the hall, and went deep into another wing of the building.
They made their way to the end, and here, unexpectedly for Jeff, Vera threw her arms around his neck. He sensed her sobbing, and painful anxiety struck his heart.
«What happened, Vera? Honey?» Remembering his nightmare, Jeff thought, «Maybe her husband beat her up? What if she has been raped?»
Vera explained.
Relieved, he patted her back. «There, there. Don’t cry, sugar. Maybe you should ask the officials here in the U.S.A. for assistance?»
«Don’t be naive, Jeff. How can they help me?» She sighed. «What can they do? Send policemen to guard my house? No, it’s over. This house was the last thing that I had in Russia. I’ve burned the bridge behind me. No way back… No place for living or even to stay… Oh, Jeff…»
She wept again, and he carefully kissed her hair. «I’m so selfish,» he thought. «I’m happy that nothing’s left that could take her back to Russia. Oh, dear God! Please, make her stay with me forever!»
She raised her face, and Jeff noticed with surprise that she was drunk.
«I’ll drive you home,» he said softly. Jeff knew that in such a condition the woman might respond to his love, but he did not want to get it that way.