Chapter Text
Vera had developed the habit of driving across Melbourne's borders when Grace was away with Jake so she wouldn't overwork herself. It helped her relax and set her mind elsewhere, with no other target, but the road.
After Wentworth exploded, she decided she would leave Corrections. It just felt odd. Everything had been too much and she desired, somehow, peace for her and Grace. That was all she could ever want since Grace was born, due to the fact she felt it instinctively, this great and pure love, that made her wish to protect her daughter at all costs.
As she kept driving, she looked at the tank monitor and it indicated it was getting low enough to the point she would not return to Melbourne if she didn't pass by a gas station. So, she kept driving further where she already knew there was a station.
There weren't many cars in there, in fact, only one, that was in front of her in the row.
Due to waiting, she overheard the attendant:
"Good afternoon, ma'am. How much would it be?"
"Good afternoon. Can you fill the tank?" – it was a woman's voice, somewhat familiar, but she just couldn't quite identify.
"Yes. In which card will you pay?"
"I won't pay by card. I'll pay in cash."
"Alright, ma'am. Then I'll ask you to go in the restaurant along with the bill to pay it." – The attendant said, while passing the paper over. "Here it is."
"Ok. Thank you."
As Vera kept observing, the woman left the car and by doing so, Vera analyzed her figure.
She was tall, had black straight hair with some grays in it, she wore dark sunglasses and had defined lips, she looked older than her... She reminded her of someone.
Joan. Joan Ferguson is who she was reminded of.
After realizing that, Vera opened her glove compartment and searched for a book or flyer so she could cover her face in case the woman looked at her.
She found 'Meditations' by Marco Aurelio.
After the woman had entered the establishment, Vera left the line and parked her car.
She watched the woman pay her bill, walk back to the car, and start driving. Instinctively, Vera waited a bit and started to follow her along the empty highway.
Keeping some distance, Vera followed her for about 10 miles and then, she watched her park inside a house in the middle of nowhere.
Then, about a mile she parked her car to observe.
For about two minutes, Vera was very indiscreet. That until she saw the blinds moving and realized she, too, was being observed.
"Oh no…" – she sighed. – And then turned her car in and drove further both the house and the gas station.
It didn't take long until she was being followed.
While the other car could not reach her still by something like 100 meters, Vera had to park soon because she was about to run out of gasoline. Because of that she drove her car to the grass, in the middle of nowhere, and tried to go as far as she could until finally, she stopped near the end.
Which, in this case, was a river.
"Shit…" – She sighed. Again.
The time she took to think wasn’t enough. Soon, the sound of steps coming closer got to her ears.
Someone knocked at her car's back. Vera wouldn't dare to look, so she just closed her eyes.
"I see you've been following me… So, whoever you are I'd like to see you close…" – The woman said, coming closer.
Vera felt terrified, irrationally, she squeezed her eyes.
So it was, until the woman arrived next to the car door, gave her a soft laugh, and said: "Oh. It's you.".
Vera, opened her eyes, gave Joan a shameful smile and said nothing.
"Long time, no see, Vera."
Vera stood silent and staring.
"So we meet again… May I ask…" – Joan opened Vera's car front opposite door. – "What for?" and she took a sit next to Vera.
Vera didn't say a word and she stopped staring as well.
Joan came close to her ear.
"You were the one following me." – She took a step back to look into Vera's eyes and make her look back. – "StarT talking…"
Vera sighed with the closeness.
"I…- she started, backing down their distance a bit. – "I just wanted to thank you. For saving me."
Joan went back to sitting straight on the seat and she looked down, slightly disappointed:
"You needn't to do that."
Both women stood in the car without saying a word. Joan does not look at Vera, but Vera looks at her, trying to think of something to say.
Instead, Joan looks her over: "I see you were reading Meditations."
"I was? I mean, I am…" – Awkwardness took over Vera. Classical. Has she changed a bit? – Joan wondered.
"For someone who has been through a great deed…" – Joan paused. – "Like yourself, of course. It might do wonders... Maybe after that you’ll approach life more stoically… But I guess… You might’ve change already."
Vera observed her talking with a familiarity that hadn't ever been seen.
In the beginning, they were co-workers, under a hierarchy. Afterwards, they were archenemies that fought for power motivated by pride. Now…
They were even.
In the good and in the bad.
Lost in her mind, Vera heard the woman ask:
"How is your new career?"
Surprised, she felt somewhat ashamed for thinking things had changed.
"What?! Are you still keeping tracks on my life? Oh, are you planning on kidnaping my daughter again?! I swear Joan, that if you do anything I’ll…" – Vera inquired violently.
Joan looked down and started to explain herself: "NO! It is not like that… I…"
Something felt really tiring about listening to the older woman explain herself for her currently mute presence, Vera, then, interrupted: "Ok. Stop… I believe to this point… we are even ." – Joan looked at her not quite understanding how the ex-little mouse came so quick to this answer. In the back of her mind, she wondered are we even ? – "I mean… I have followed you too… So…"
Not so deeply speaking… In shallow waters, they can navigate safely.
"RighT." – Joan gave her a smile, quite like the one she did when they last saw each other.
Silence.
Out of the blue, an answer: "I'm enjoying working as a lawyer… It's… Quieter."
"It certainly must be." – They shared laughs.
Silence meets them again.
"How is life as a supposedly free woman?" – Vera dares to ask.
Joan hesitates to answer.
"Quite lonely, actually."
Sadness takes over Vera. She feels sorry for her and wonders where exactly they started to go wrong as friends.
It's certain there was trust at some point... Once, Vera looked up to her, feeling like she could depend on her. And then…
Well, things escalated quickly.
But aren't they supposed to be even now?
"Would you…" – Vera started to elaborate… - "Help me with my car? I'm running out of gasoline."
Joan's face was lightened up.
"Why, of course." – She answered. – "But you would have to fill the extra gasoline bottle I keep later, because everything is quite distant here and I'm…"
"Yes." – She interrupted.
"Are you with any spare time right now?"
"I have the whole weekend, actually."
"Are you offering me the entire weekend?" – Joan joked.
Vera blushed and laughed out of nervousness.
Why so much detail, so quickly.
There was still something dismantling about Joan's presence, however friendly they could be. She couldn't quite tell what.
"I'm not asking for so much time, though." – Joan superimposed an answer. – "Just… Coffee…" – She explained and suddenly looked insecure about the lands she was stepping onto. – "Would you?"
Vera smiled.
"I would."