«Okay,» she said to himself, observing Marina playing with the kids and Joe. He laughed loudly and sincerely, and Vera envied his joyful mood. «If even Marina’s dating, nothing’s wrong if I go with Jeff. It’s just a church.» She smiled. «Interesting, what if he starts to harass me in the car? Heh-heh… I’ve never made love in a car! He has such wonderful lips! I bet he’s a great kisser!» She blushed as her thoughts became intimate. And Vera was ashamed, not because she, a married woman, had such dreams, but because she did not feel sorry about having them.
* * * * *
Only late in the evening did Marina Aleksandrova and Joe Jones finally return to her apartment.
It was the longest and the most painful day in the life of Marina. They walked around the whole town, and hearing the elated Joe inform every person he knew about their future marriage, the girl suffered with guilty feelings.
«Don’t you want to go home?» she asked him with a vexation, seeing him sit on her couch.
«Here is my home now,» he said happily.
«No, it’s not.» Marina thought it was time to make things straight. «And it will never be.»
He gaped at her with such a seeable shock that she felt shame and pity, and became even angrier. He slowly got up. «What do you mean?»
«I don’t like you.» Marina forced herself to speak the truth. «I won’t marry you. Never.»
«Why did you pretend all day long?» Suddenly he realized the reason, and gasped. «You used me. You just used me to cover your affair with VanStein!» Joe shook his head. «You guessed correctly. I won’t tell people that our betrothal was faked. I don’t wanna become a laughing stock for the whole town. But it was really mean.»
Slowly he went to the door, then looked at her again. «I can’t believe it! Marina, honey, how is it possible? You’re not such a person. Why did you do it to me? When we were together, I saw you were happy.»
«I was just satisfied,» Marina squeezed out. «Because I was drunk, and hadn’t a man for so long.»
He choked, and his eyes went wide open. He called her a name. Marina did not know this word, however she understood its meaning.
He spat on the floor in front of her feet, and rushed out slamming the door.
Marina did not cry, just sighed. Slowly taking her guitar, she sat on the couch and sang a Russian love song:
«Love is like an unsheathed sword.
When two are trying to keep it up,
One pulls the grip; one holds the sharp blade tight.
Then all can change. You are the one with the handle.
And you will not pity your partner clenching cold steel.