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From Russia With Love

Chapter Twenty - Soyedinennyye Shtaty Ameriki

Dominika was jerked awake by the plane touching down on the runway and she looked around for a moment, dazed and confused before she remembered where she was. The brakes groaned beneath them as the plane slowed on the asphalt. She opened her window shade and craned her neck to look outside, but there was nothing to be seen except grass and concrete gated in with an imposing razor wire fence. The fact that it was also broad daylight was disconcerting considering she’d left Russia in the morning thirteen hours ago. She counted back in her head quickly and noted that it would be close to midnight there by now.

One of the soldiers was suddenly above her, retrieving her little bag from the storage locker over her head. He looked down at her and smiled.

“Welcome to America, Princess”

Dominika returned his smile and noticed the silver watch on his wrist, glinting in the artificial lights.

“Do you have the time?” she asked.

“Sure” he said, glancing at his wrist “Its 1512, twelve past three in the afternoon. We’re eight hours behind Moscow”

“Thank you”

Dominika glanced out the window again and was shocked to see a swarm of people beginning to cluster at the front of the plane. She looked back at the soldier, horrified.

“Who are all those people?” she asked, eyes wide.

“The media, that’s exactly why we’re here” he said, gesturing to the other soldier who was pulling camouflage backpacks out of the overhead storage locker. “Gotta keep them in check and get you home safely”

Home. This place wasn’t her home, home was thirteen hours over the ocean. This was just a place she’d stay for a while…like a holiday. She tried to console herself with the thought that it was only temporary and she would go home to Russia. One day.

They shuffled Dominika out of the plane quickly, and as they walked down the stairs from the cabin and onto the tarmac, a barrage of camera flash almost blinded her. She threw her hand over her face, not wanting to be photographed jetlagged with bed hair. She was wedged between the two soldiers, one in front and one behind her in an attempt to shield her from the onslaught of the crowd who shouted questions at her. A barrier held them back but the noise and the flashing was disorientating and intimidating, and she just wanted to hide. They hurried her inside the nearest building and closed the doors behind them, instantly drowning out the racket from outside.

This room was empty of furnishings except for two rows of plush red seating in the center of the room. The wood-paneled walls were lined with black-and-white photographs of the air base at different stages of development and completion. An American flag hung proudly down a wall at the opposite end. A door that blended flawlessly with the wall opened suddenly and Dominika was overcome by emotion as Gerard’s parents entered the room, flanked by another man in uniform she’d never seen before.

The soldiers rose to their feet and snapped a salute as Gerard’s Mother, Donna’s eyes found hers, swimming with empathy. She strode over to Dominika and pulled her into a tight hug.
“I’m so sorry about your family, Dominika. We grieve along with you”

“Thank you” Dominika breathed, reveling in the feeling of a hug from a Mother, even if it wasn’t her own.

“We’ll take good care of you here, don’t worry about anything”

Gerard’s Father, Donald expressed his sympathies and introduced her to the man in uniform standing behind them.

“This is Sargent Major Woodman, he’s our top correspondent with the Russian base command. Major Woodman and I are going to do everything possible to keep you updated on the situation and seek your input where needed” he said formally. Dominika nodded and shook the Major’s extended hand politely.

“Nice to meet you Princess” he said kindly. He had warm brown eyes and sandy, greying hair underneath his starched hat.

“I spoke to Gerard on the phone only an hour ago” Donald continued “he sends his best”

She thought back to kissing him on the tarmac only a few hours ago and her cheeks flushed pink.

Dominika was ushered out of the building to a waiting glossy black car with tinted windows.

She climbed into the backseat and buckled herself in as Donna slid in next to her. Donald stood outside, holding the door open as he explained he needed to go back to his office to attend to a board meeting. He bid them farewell and shut the car door shut, waving as they disappeared down the street and around the corner.

As the car ambled along the road, Dominika watched the streets of Washington from behind the tinted windows with awe. As opposed to the rolling green of the Russian hillsides, this place was built up and developed, the whole skyline interrupted by intruding walls of grey concrete buildings. Evergreen trees lined the streets, dotting it with greenery despite all the urbanization. People were everywhere in the afternoon sun, going about their business as the car passed them. As they travelled through the city, the landscape became less built up and instead the streets were lined with pretty, neat little houses and perfectly manicured gardens and lawns.

Dominika had no idea how long they’d been on the road when they pulled onto a winding paved driveway, leading up to a beautiful, large Colonial Revival style house with white weather boards and dark green shutters. It was surrounded by a vast, well-kempt lawn and tidy flower beds filled with rose bushes of all colors. As they pulled up at the house Donna spoke beside her suddenly.

“Welcome home Dominika”

Notes

Sorry for the lack of updates, didn't have access to my laptop for a couple days. Enjoy guys xo

Comments

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

Jackie Jackie
12/15/17

Thank you for the update!! It was a surprise & wonderful!

I’m so sorry to read about your husband. What a difficult & heartbreaking thing to go through. Thinking of you.

Jackie

Jackie Jackie
12/14/17

I love this story!! It’s so good!

Has it Really been two years since an update?

Jackie Jackie
11/30/17

I literally screamed when I saw this update.

AccidentalMurder AccidentalMurder
11/25/15

You've got quite a few loyal readers that will stick w this story no matter how long the break is.