«Thank you,» she breathed out.
Jeff looked at the nail and shook his head in view of the size.
«You have to go to a hospital,» he told her. «I’ll drive you.»
«No.» Nina tried to get up, and Jeff helped her. «No hospital.»
«Don’t worry.» Jeff understood her concern. «They will give you aid even if you can’t pay immediately.»
«No hospital,» resolutely objected Nina. «I’m a Russian woman. I’ll be fine.»
She tried to walk, but she could not, and she cried again.
«What happened?» Seeing them, Bill Thompson called from the porch.
«I’ll be okay.» Helped by Jeff, Nina limped towards the house.
«The lady stepped on a nail in your yard,» the policeman told him, and an anxious Bill thought: `Damn! What if she sues me for that?»
«Thank God it was not Goldy!» Nina heavily sat down on the armchair in the anteroom and petted the snuggling retriever. «I’m almost done, could I finish tomorrow?»
Bill understood she was worried about the payment, and, confused, he felt pity for her.
«You are done,» he said, smiling. «My yards never were so clean.»
While they talked, Jeff took Nina’s shoe off and checked the wound. It was not bleeding, and Jeff became even more concerned, as it meant all the dirt and infection had stayed in her body. The injury required medical treatment.
«You have to go to a hospital,» he told her again.
«I’ll drive her,» murmured Bill Thompson.
«I have to call my husband.» the woman said hesitantly.
Bill moved a phone close to her, and Nina dialed the number.
«Marina?» she said in the receiver. «Is Vlad there? Can I talk to him? Thanks.» She waited for a while. «Vlad, don’t laugh, but I stepped on a nail… No, I’m okay! Vlad, I… Mr. Thompson’s house, but…»
Confusedly glancing at Bill, she put down the receiver. «He’s coming. Oh, who’s going pick Larisa after the school?» Nina dialed the number again. «Busy…»
Nina gazed at Jeff. «Did you say you can drive me to a hospital? Does it mean you have some time to spare?»
«Want me to pick up your daughter?» asked Jeff. «I’ll be glad.»
«No, I don’t want to scare her.» Nina sighed. «But maybe you can tell Vera about this? She’s done it a few times.»
«That’s even better.» Jeff barely restrained himself from saying it aloud and just nodded. Nina explained how to find Vera. They heard a car stop near the house.
«It’s Vlad.» Nina smiled as the loud impatient tap confirmed her phrase.
Jeff opened the door. Vlad stormed into the room and rushed to his wife. Falling on his knees, he checked her foot out and started nervously, «Stupid little girl. I told you to stay home.»