«My love,» he addressed Lana. «I was lost in admiration for you, and stumbled over your table.»
«Are you okay?» she asked with worry.
Tom set the coffee table on its legs again. Solid wood, this table was very heavy, and it had crushed the vase with the flowers. The housekeeper cleaned up the mess, and Lana went with Oleg to her bedroom.
They made love, and soon the tired Lana dozed off. But before dreams clouded her mind, the picture of the smashed carnations lying helplessly on her carpet arose into her mental view, and the girl cried, feeling sorry about the loss.
«It was not an accident!» flashed in her head. It was such a strange idea that Lana was as amazed, as she would have been if someone else had spoken. But the girl had already fallen asleep and was unable to work the thought to a logical end.
Chapter 15: St. Patrick’s Day
It was St. Patrick’s Day, and the weather was perfect for being outside. The tender sun peeped at times from behind the white and cobalt clouds, and neither showers nor wind marred the day.
Wearing green colored clothes, Vera Grach, Nina Lapina, and Megan VanStein, with their kids, were standing on Main Street waiting for the oncoming parade.
They stood there for a while, then the Russian women exchanged whispers and moved down the road, leading Hannah and Larisa. Megan was surprised, as the first place was not bad for observation.
But Dylon in her arms demanded all her attention, so Megan just followed her Russian friends. She tried to put her son in the baby carriage, but the boy started crying and she lifted him out again. Then Vera pulled the conveyance, and Nina took the girls’ hands.
They went down the street about two blocks, and stood next to a police cruiser parked at the corner.
Hannah waited, hopping with impatience, but Larisa came close to the vehicle and stroked the door, and Vera neared too. She saw Jeff, and this is why they moved here, but another police officer was next to him, so Vera pretended to just watch the girls.
Jeff could not help his smile, and he addressed Larisa, «Do you like that car?»
The girl nodded.
«Would you like to be in the front or the back seat?» he asked, glancing at Vera.
«I’d like to be in front,» Larisa replied seriously.
«You betcha.» Jeff smoothed the girl’s head.
«The back seat is for bad guys,» Larisa explained, and, remembering her rides, Vera blushed.
But Jeff misunderstood the reason why her cheeks became the color of a robin’s breast. Inspirited by her presence, he continued to talk to Larisa, and Vera kept her eyes fixed on him, enjoying their game and suffering with guilty feelings about it. Trying to act naturally, she took up her notebook for making sketches.