"I know what it means. Zoe doesn’t, but I do."
"You should tell Zoe. Let her make the choice with all the consequences that it will bring."
"Yes, Father," Eva whispered. "About that promise..."
"God understands. I told you He knew you couldn’t keep that promise even if you thought you could."
"I don’t know what to do."
"Yes, you do. You will follow your heart."
"Please, don’t go."
"I have to, my child. I’m leaving tomorrow," Father Haralambos said quietly and brushed Eva’s tears away with the end of his black robes.
"Maybe Thanasi can take you away."
"This is my cup, my child. I can’t give it to someone else," Father Haralambos replied, knowing that no matter what he said, Eva would try and change his mind, just as Zoe had tried.
"Thanasi said they are going to blow up the train. I don’t want to lose you."
"I don’t want to lose you either, but my time has come. You have to be strong. You have to help Zoe as she will help you. You’re not alone anymore," Father Haralambos said, trying to ease Eva’s fears.
"Because I have Zoe, does that mean I have to let you go?" Eva asked, her voice breaking. "Can’t I have you and Zoe in my life?"
"I can’t let Major Muller know that I know what will happen to the train. He is not a stupid man. He is an evil man, but not stupid. He will make the connection. I don’t want you to suffer again at his hands. Do you understand?"
"Maybe I can escape with you and then he won’t be able to get his hands on either of us."
Father Haralambos sighed. "What of Zoe? Will you leave her behind?"
"No. But she—"
Father Haralambos stopped her with a finger against her lips. "My child, if I could do that, I would, but we can’t all escape. That would risk many lives. I have lived a long life, a very good life. I don’t have a death wish, but Eva, my darling daughter, there is no other way. I won’t sacrifice your life. You have lost too much already."
Eva sighed and sagged against him. Father Haralambos kissed her cheek tenderly. "I think you need to go to Zoe. She needs you now. You both need each other. She came to see me at Athena’s Bluff. I’m sure she’s still there."
Eva nodded, brushing away the tears.
"Tell her the consequences of both your actions, let her make that decision based on what is to come and trust in God," Father Haralambos said as he tenderly wiped away her tears with the handkerchief he had finally found when the sleeves of his robe had grown damp.
Eva swallowed the lump in her throat and she drank some of the now cold tea. "She is everything to me."
"I can see that. Be happy in the time you both have left. Will you do that for me?"
"Yes, Father," Eva said quietly as she held his hands.
"I want you to do something else for me," Father Haralambos continued. "If you are not found out and you survive this war, I want you to get out of Greece when the war ends. I want you and Zoe to leave. Thanasi tells me there is more bloodshed coming. He said Greece will be plunged into civil war and I don’t want you two to be here. Just remember that I’ll be with you in spirit. Zoe’s asked me not to try and reorganize Heaven, so I will need something to occupy my time," he joked. "Take care of yourself and of Zoe," he added.
Eva nodded.
"Remember, my child, I will always love you. I thank God every day that He brought you to me." Father Haralambos brushed back the dark bangs from Eva’s eyes. "Don’t forget now. Remember to pray," he admonished and kissed her tenderly on the cheek.
Chapter Thirty-Four
Eva had an idea as she left the church. She wasn’t going to give up trying to find a way to rescue Father Haralambos. She owed him that much. If she had learned anything from living in Larissa over the course of two years, it was the unyielding spirit of the Greeks against the occupation. They never gave up hope—they found ways to survive and to thwart the Germans.
She slowed as she came to the train station. It was tightly guarded on all sides. The soldiers were milling around and she wondered if they were from General Kiefer in Athens. The piteous cries coming from the boxcars broke her heart. She watched as the soldiers poured water onto the boxcars to quiet the yells and screams that were coming from inside. The weather had turned cold and it sickened her to think of the poor souls in the boxcars being drenched with the cold water. She shook her head and said a silent prayer. Turning away in disgust, she stumbled into Reinhardt, who caught her to keep her from falling.
"Ah, darling. Don’t fall now. We wouldn’t want that cold mud on you," Reinhardt said and grinned.
"Do they have to pour the water? It’s freezing," Eva said as she tried to regain her balance.
"Yes." Reinhardt put his arm around Eva. "What are you doing here?"
"I was curious," Eva replied. She hadn’t anticipated being stopped. There were some advantages to being the major’s daughter. The soldiers knew her and didn’t attempt to ask her questions. Except for Reinhardt.
"Curious?" Reinhardt repeated. "Would you like to see some of the scum that we took off the train?" he asked as he scrutinized Eva’s face.
"No, that’s fine. Nurse Klein has admonished me for not getting enough exercise." Eva made a face. "I think the woman wants me to walk around all day."
"Nurse Klein has a clean air and a clean mind approach." Reinhardt chuckled. "She was very annoyed with me for tiring you out."
Eva mentally rolled her eyes at Reinhardt’s egotistical need to be told he was a good lover. As far as Eva was concerned it was far from the truth. She sighed internally and laughed at her fiancé’s remarks.
"Don’t be too long. I’ll see you later," Reinhardt said as he watched Eva walk away.
Eva walked down the street towards Athena’s Bluff. She was distracted by her thoughts of the poor Jews, Father Haralambos, and Zoe. She was unaware of her surroundings, unaware of the children playing in the street or the dog that barked at her passing. Henry and Barkow were right behind her but they might as well have been invisible.
Finally reaching the bluff, she saw Zoe sitting on the lookout, sketching. Eva smiled and took a moment to drink in the sight of this lovely young woman who filled her heart with hope and joy. She shook her head as a throbbing behind her eyes signaled the arrival of yet another migraine. With a deep sigh, she tried not to think about Zoe, but it was becoming increasingly difficult not to.
Zoe turned around and smiled when she saw Eva. She got up and walked the short distance to where Eva was standing. "Hi. You look exhausted," Zoe said. "Let’s go inside the cabin."
"What’s wrong with out here? I love the view."
"Well," Zoe leaned in and whispered. "You have a headache. I can see it, so I would rather you not fall down that cliff. You’re taller and heavier than me."
"I’m not heavy."
"Evy, you’re much taller and heavier and I can’t catch you if you get dizzy. So my plan," Zoe lowered her voice, "is to get inside the cabin and do a bit of kissing. I have the bucket ready as well."
Eva couldn’t help laughing as she was led inside the cabin and the door was shut. She looked around in amazement. The flokati rug had taken center stage in the middle of the room and pillows were strewn around on an old sofa. It was rather inviting.
"It looks lovely," Eva said quietly and gazed down at the rug. "I think things are going too fast for me."
"You’re not regretting—"
"Oh, no, Zoe." Eva realized she had inadvertently given Zoe the wrong impression and it had frightened the younger woman. A part of her was more than a little pleased that Zoe didn’t want to let her go.
Zoe leaned against the wall and regarded Eva for a long moment. "This is difficult, not being able to touch you."
Eva met Zoe’s gaze and held it for a long moment. Without a word she closed the gap between them. She cupped Zoe's face and brought her lips down for a passionate kiss. She moved her kisses across Zoe’s jaw and down her neck as Z
oe slipped one hand into Eva’s dark locks to hold her closer. They parted and smiled at each other. Eva grimaced as her head started to ache. She tried to ignore it but her knees started to tremble.
"Oh boy!" Zoe said breathlessly as they parted. "That was even better than the first time." Zoe looked at Eva. "You’re getting another migraine."
"I’m ignoring it," Eva replied as she looked around and found the chair nearby. She sat down heavily and cradled her head in her hands.
"Do you have your medication with you?"
"Uh huh."
"Take it."
"No." Eva shook her head. "I want to just learn to live with it. I’m not giving you up because of a little headache."
"It’s not a little anything, Evy—"
"No, I’m not taking those pills. They make me feel fuzzy and right now I can’t afford to feel fuzzy."
"I can’t let you do this to yourself." Zoe knelt beside the chair. "I won’t be the cause of your pain. When this stupid war ends, we will find someone who can undo the damage those bastards did to you."
"I don’t think it can be undone," Eva mumbled. She let her head rest against the chair’s hard wooden headrest.
"I don’t believe that. If they can do it, they can undo it. There has to be a doctor who can undo this."
Eva gazed at Zoe and a smile slowly surfaced. "There isn’t anyone to help me."
"Why does the idea of someone helping you to overcome this scare you so much?"
Eva stared at Zoe for a long moment. "I’m scared of what they will do to get rid of this." Eva tapped herself on the side of the head.
"Why don’t we wait to find out what it is before you dismiss it?"
"I don’t know—"
"You are stubborn."
Eva laughed at the absurdity of the conversation. "I’m not in your league when it comes to stubbornness, Miss Zoe Lambros."
"Is that right?" Zoe grinned, leaned over, and blew Eva a kiss. "A kiss that doesn’t touch you doesn’t hurt, does it?"
Eva was going to say no but stopped. "It’s not just the kissing, Zo."
"What is it?’
"I’m physically attracted to you. I’m fighting myself over this. My heart is betraying me and this damaged head of mine follows."
"Oh," Zoe exclaimed softly and sat down on the floor. "How long have you been attracted to me?"
"I don’t know when it happened. It just did and I couldn’t stop it."
"That’s amazing. All those fancy doctors with their fancy ideas of how to change who you are, and they thought they did, but they couldn’t change you," Zoe replied as her gaze never left Eva. "Despite everything they did to you, you are true to who you really are."
Zoe got up off the floor and knelt beside Eva’s chair again. "Who you are can never be corrupted."
"Who I am is the reason I can’t kiss you without falling over in a heap."
"We will find a way to fix it. I know we will."
"This can’t be fixed," Eva said quietly. "I don’t want to lose you but—"
"This can be fixed; it will be fixed."
"I will believe because you believe it," Eva replied with a smile. "I saw Father today. I told him the truth about us."
"You spoke with Father H?"
"It’s alright, Zoe. He understands even though he doesn’t."
"Did you tell him we are more than friends?"
"Yes, I told him that I love you."
"Oh, boy. I bet that was a surprise to him."
"Yes, he was surprised. He was hoping we weren’t going to kill each other."
Zoe smiled. "I was hoping I would."
"I know." Eva leaned forward and cradled her aching head in her hands. "I hoped you would end this too."
"I’m glad I didn’t," Zoe said quietly and touched Eva’s leg. "We will find a way to make you better."
"Zoe—"
"Don’t give up hope. You survived hell and you are giving up now?"
Eva looked down at Zoe and marveled at her unbelievable strength. "If you have hope, then I have hope. I said to Father I broke a promise to God."
"What promise?"
Eva looked up at the ceiling for a long moment. If she was going to trust Zoe with her heart, she had the right to know. "I promised God that I wouldn’t fall in love with another woman."
"That’s just plain silly," Zoe exclaimed.
"Why?"
"Well, because it is. I can promise God that I wouldn’t draw again but He gave me that gift, so how can I promise not to use it? I can’t. It’s a part of who I am."
Eva wasn’t quite sure if Zoe truly understood. "Zoe, loving to draw is different from being a lesbian."
"I know that, but can you control your heart?"
Eva shook her head. It was plainly obvious that she couldn’t. "No."
"What makes you think you can promise God something you have no control over?"
"So you think that God made me a lesbian?" Eva asked a little incredulously.
"Did you make yourself love women instead of men?"
"I don’t know. I never thought about it."
"Exactly. Now why did you promise Him that?"
"I was in a very dark place, and I just wanted…" Eva didn’t want to tell Zoe about that particular memory. It was too raw and too personal. "Can we not talk about this now?"
"Maybe one day you will tell me, but until you’re ready, I’ll wait. Now did Father H give his approval?"
"Well, he wasn’t doing handstands in his office, but he wanted us to be happy for the little time we have left."
"What little time? I plan on surviving this war and taking you with me to see what’s beyond Mount Ossa." Zoe placed her hand on Eva’s leg. "We will survive this. I know we will. We will find a cure for what they have done to you."
"If we are found out…"
"They won’t find out, and if they do, we can escape into the mountains."
Eva gazed down and smiled. "Run away with you into the mountains."
"Yes. We will survive this war, Evy. If only Father H could be with us. There must be something we can do. What if we sabotage the train before it leaves?" Zoe asked.
"It will only postpone the inevitable," Eva responded dejectedly.
"What if Ares can get Father H out of the train?" Zoe tried again.
"I’ve seen the train, Zoe. It’s guarded by so many soldiers no one can get close without being stopped. There are four boxcars," Eva replied, unable to dispel the image of the soldiers pouring the water into the boxcar and the screams that she had heard.
"What’s in the boxcars?" Zoe asked, gazing up at Eva. She frowned when a tear rolled down Eva’s face. "What’s the matter?" She asked and brushed away the tear with her fingers.
"They...they hold Jews. I could hear their screams. The soldiers were pouring water into the cars to quiet them down," Eva whispered. She rubbed at her eyes.
Zoe closed her eyes and sighed.
"When this war ends, I want us to leave together, get out of here," Zoe pleaded. "We can go to Germany so you can see your grandmother."
"There’s nothing there for me."
"Why don’t you want to go back?"
"My grandmother disowned me. I don’t want to go back. Do you still want to go to Australia?"
"Yes, but only if you are with me. It would be a very lonely journey without you."
"It’s a long journey by ship. Have you ever been on a ship?"
"No, but it’s going to be fun."
"I told you, Zo, I will go anywhere you want to go. I will follow anywhere you go," Eva whispered as Zoe rose and kissed her lightly despite the searing pain in her head.
Chapter Thirty-Five
Father Haralambos sat on his bed, the early morning sun shining through the threadbare curtains. His suitcase stood in the corner and he frowned. Yesterday, Sister Maria brought him a woolen scarf she had made, saying that he would need it since she had heard that the weather in Thessaloniki had turned cold. He had tried to decline, but
the good Sister was quite stubborn — more so than his own stubborn tendencies — so he relented. He was again surprised when Sister Gregoria gave him a woolen jacket stating the same concern. He had spent the rest of the day writing letters to the Archbishop and getting the church ready for the Sunday sermon, which was to be delivered by the organist, since he wasn’t supposed to be back in time. In fact, he knew well that he would never be back.
He was brought back from the goings on of the previous day by a knock on the door. Father Haralambos frowned and took out his pocket watch. It was only 7:00 a.m. — too early for his call to go to the train. He opened the door. Thanasi stood there thumping his feet on the ground because of the cold. Father Haralambos ushered him inside. "What are you doing here?" He asked as Thanasi removed his scarf and coat.
"I know I said goodbye last night, but I had to see you one more time," Thanasi said.
"I thought we already had this discussion yesterday?" Father Haralambos went to the teapot to brew some tea.
"Father, please, I beg you, please, reconsider," Thanasi pleaded.
Father Haralambos sighed and turned to Thanasi. "Don’t you know how much I would dearly love to stay? Do you think I haven’t thought about escaping? Don’t make it more difficult for me. Today I know maybe one tenth of what Jesus must have felt like in the Garden of Gethsemane. Don’t you know that I would dearly love to hand this bitter cup to someone else?" He turned away from Thanasi and hurriedly brushed away the tears.
Thanasi watched as Father Haralambos poured him a cup of tea and then sat down. "I’m sorry," he apologized quietly.
"I know, my son, I know. I want you to promise me something."
"Anything," Thanasi knelt near Father Haralambos.
"I want you to promise me you will keep an eye on Zoe and Eva. Watch over them. They are going to need your help. When the war ends, I want you to take them out of the country. I don’t want them to be here when the civil war starts. Can you do that for me?"
"I promise."
"Good boy. I know you don’t believe in God anymore, but for a tiny moment I want you to believe. Believe in Him." Thanasi put his head on Father Haralambos’ lap and began to cry. Father Haralambos held Thanasi and patted his head. "Now, now...come on, have courage." He lifted Thanasi’s face and brushed away the tears with his hand.
In The Blood Of The Greeks (Intertwined Souls Series Book 1) Page 27
