«About hiding love,» staring at him, she said under her breath. «How could we condemn her? Can we?»
«I asked about this, just because I don’t want any misunderstanding,» he explained, and continued waveringly. «And I was thinking… Would you visit a church… with me… together?»
Her smile showed that she did understand, and joyful shame filled the policeman.
«When?» Vera asked calmly.
«Sunday morning… It’s the next city… If it’s fine with you I’ll pick you up around 8:30.» Jeff gazed at her, anxiously awaiting her reaction.
Vera nodded. «Okay.»
«It’s a date!» he exclaimed delightedly.
«A date?» Vera said, still smiling, and he felt a hot flush of his blood creeping up his face.
«It’s just a figure of speech.»
«I’ll go.» She looked at him. «Have you just finished your shift?»
«Yes,» he said, surprised. «How do you know?»
«You look tired,» she voiced tenderly. «Go, Jeff, I’ll see you tomorrow.»
«Yes, ma’am!» He saluted, and they both guffawed.
They heard a siren, as it was 10 a.m., and they laughed again and waved to each other. Then Jeff slowly went away, looking back many times, and he saw that she followed him with her eyes until he disappeared from her view.
«He’s handsome,» Vera thought continuing her work. «The athletic black man in the black uniform… Mmmmmm. These clothes suit him; like he’s made with ebonite. Oleg is built great, however some Afro people have such beautiful bodies that it’s simply amazing! Like this girl, for example.» A black teen-aged girl took the attention of the artist, and she quickly made a sketch of her. The work captured Vera, but thoughts of Jeff still ran through her head.
* * * * *
A siren woke her up and Marina was frightened. Pressing her hand to her chest, she sat up in bed trying to normalize her palpitation.
She wildly looked at the man sleeping beside her. A slight gladdened smile was on the lips of Joe Jones, but Marina’s hair moved up when she recalled all the events of last night.
Trembling all over, Marina reached the bathroom and took a shower as hot as she was able to stand. Her teeth were chattering, she was shuddering. She rubbed and rubbed her skin trying to wash away the feeling of his caressing.
She turned the shower off, then tottered to the sink, and washed her face with icy-cold water. She stared at her reflection. Dark brown spots surrounded her eyes, and the scarlet lips, tired with kissing, looked, on her deadly white face, like blood on the snow.
«Oh, how awful!» she thought, feeling sick. «Why? He’s so nice… He was gentle