She would thank God for helping Eva. If only Father Haralambos were here to share in her joy. "I hope you’re behaving yourself, Father H," she muttered and looked to the heavens. She looked over at the flagpoles and saw the blue and white cross of Greece, her country. But now she would have a new country. She wondered how it was going to be, with new customs and language. No matter. They would manage. They had survived the war; they would survive Australia and all it had to offer.
Now, to find someone who can teach me some English before we get there. She spied Anthony and Thanasi at the mess tent and she walked purposefully over to them.
Chapter Forty
Six Months Later.
Zoe gazed at the ocean liner in awe—she had never seen a ship that large before. It was sitting serenely in the harbor at the Egyptian Port Said. The sea was tranquil compared to the sizable number of people on land. Zoe looked around at her fellow travelers—war weary and just as anxious as she was to start their new journey in Australia.
Eva stood next to her, scanning the faces of those around her. Zoe mentally sighed at Eva’s obvious discomfort. Eva had a very difficult six months with her recuperation in Larissa. Zoe put her hand on Eva’s back, which caused Eva to look down.
"You’ve been on a ship before, haven’t you?"
"Yes." Eva nodded. "A few times."
"What is it like?"
"Depends if you get sea sick," Eva quipped and smiled a little at Zoe. "Also depends on where they put us. Let’s hope we don’t end up sleeping next to Mrs. Austerlitz," she whispered, making Zoe try and muffle her laugh by putting her hand over her mouth.
"She can’t help it, Evy."
"Hm, that doesn’t help when you’re getting the fart in your face," Eva said in Greek making Zoe completely lose composure as she leaned against Eva and laughed.
"Alright, I have the bags, now where do we go?" Henry announced his arrival with the porter in hand. He led the way through the crowds. His bulky frame caused the crowds to part, which only made Zoe smile. Henry had been like a brother to her in the last years of the occupation and in the last six months he had proven to be an ally in Zoe’s attempts to get Eva mentally and physically well.
There were so many people milling around that Zoe was feeling claustrophobic. One glance at Eva and she was certain that, given half a chance, Eva would bolt out to the deck.
"Why don’t you stay here? Henry and I can go find the cabin," Zoe quietly said.
"I’m alright."
"Hm, why do you look like you’re going to pass out? And it doesn’t have anything to do with that god-awful ugly cloak you’re wearing."
The edge of Eva’s lips curled at Zoe’s remarks. "I’ll go and sit out on deck."
"That’s a good idea." Zoe smiled on seeing Eva walk through the throng and find the nearest door.
"You are getting good at noticing her discomfort." Henry put his arm around Zoe as they walked behind the porter.
"It’s one of the few times she has actually admitted she wasn’t feeling well," Zoe replied while they passed other passengers down the narrow corridors. Some faces she knew well and others were total strangers. "That is progress."
"This is it," the porter announced and unlocked the door to the cabin.
Zoe stood at the threshold and glanced back at the corridor. "I think the corridor is bigger," she muttered as Henry tipped the porter to leave the luggage. The tiny cabin had room for two bunk beds, a small window, and a table with one chair. There was just enough room for their two pieces of luggage in the wardrobe behind the door.
"It is tiny."
"This is going to be a very long two months," Zoe muttered as she sat down on the lowest bunk.
"I know what you did." Henry tapped Zoe on the knee and sat in the chair that was slightly too small for his frame.
"What did I do?"
"Thanasi told me."
"Thanasi has a big mouth," Zoe replied and smiled broadly when Henry leaned forward and kissed her on the cheek.
"That was very generous of you."
Zoe waved him away and shook her head. "No, it’s not. The refugee camp was hell for Eva. Sleeping in that dormitory with all those women was just…" Zoe shuddered. "You know how shy she is, and subjecting her to it again on the ship wasn’t something I wanted to happen. I couldn’t do anything about it at the camp but I can do something about it here."
"Have you told her?"
Zoe shook her head. "No. She still thinks we’re going to be in the same cabin they assigned us when we got the letter of acceptance."
"We’ve come a long way since you threw that rock, haven’t we?" Henry asked as he leaned back on the chair.
"We have and we survived, all three of us."
"It’s been a long and difficult journey. At times I thought the three of us would get caught, and we nearly did several times, but then Muller got distracted by something."
"Did he suspect it was us?"
Henry leaned forward and took Zoe’s hand. "Muller knew about the forgeries."
Zoe’s eyes widened at the revelation. She leaned forward. "How?"
"General Rhimes caught two poor unfortunates with the papers. The only thing that saved us was the bombing. Muller thought it was you. I overheard him talking to Reinhardt just after Rhimes visited."
"Now that was close. They didn’t suspect Eva?"
"Muller suspected, but Reinhardt said it wasn’t possible. He knew Eva’s handwriting."
"Muller was always quick to suspect Eva was behind everything that went wrong. If it rained, it was Eva’s fault. Now as for the other idiot," she said, "how he became a Captain I’ll never know."
"His father bought him the command." Henry shrugged. "His father was a general."
"So much for that. I hope they are both roasting in hell." Zoe scrunched up her face in disgust.
Henry got up from his seat and looked down at Zoe. "Kiria Despina came to me one morning and told me Eva had hired a maid. When she said it was you, I thought it was a joke."
"Is that right?" Zoe rose and looked up at Henry.
"I thought it was the worst decision she could have made, but she knew something I didn’t know."
"What was that?"
"You are the second most courageous woman I’ve met. The two of you, working together, allowed so many to escape. I’m sorry I doubted you." Henry put his arms around Zoe and hugged her.
"I’m glad you didn’t try and convince her not to."
"I did try," Henry revealed to a very bemused Zoe. "Eva told me she saw something in you and knew it would work but she didn’t know what that was. As much as she disliked you, she knew it was going to work out."
"You’re going to make me cry now." Zoe’s voice broke as Henry kissed her tenderly on the cheek. "I’m going to miss you."
"I will write, and your German reading will improve because I can’t write Greek." Henry tapped Zoe on the nose. "You will protect her, won’t you? Please, don’t hurt her, she will die over there and I won’t be around."
Zoe nodded. "You’ve been in love with her since Paris, haven’t you?"
"Yes, and after Erik died, I thought she might have feelings for me but I’m like her brother rather than her lover."
"She does love you a great deal."
"I know, but she loves you, Zoe. Please, tell me you feel the same way?"
Zoe gazed up at Henry and nodded. "I fell in love with her a long time ago."
"You won’t allow her to brood; you know how she gets."
"I won’t allow her to brood even if I have to make her angry to get her out of her mood." Zoe grinned and started to laugh on seeing Henry’s eyes crinkle.
"You have figured out my ruse?"
Zoe nodded. "I figured it out when she wouldn’t go out of Despina’s house. You got her so angry she stormed out of the house and stayed out till late."
"She was out of the house." Henry raised his arms and shrugged.
"She was so mad at you for several days."
"Eva’s anger doesn’t last very long. She was just mad at herself that I outmaneuvered her." Henry chuckled.
"Why don’t you change your mind? Come with us to Australia."
"I can’t. I want to go home and see what’s left. We have to rebuild and it’s going to be very difficult."
Zoe pursed her lips for a moment. "Will you consider coming out to Australia one day?"
"Maybe." Henry nodded. "I don’t know but let’s see how it goes."
"Alright." Zoe put her arms around Henry’s waist and looked up at him. "I love you."
Henry smiled. "I love you too, little sister," he said in Greek, which made Zoe’s smile widen.
Reluctantly they parted and Henry put his hat back on. "I’ll go say goodbye to Evy and escort her back to this broom closet."
Without another word Henry turned and left the cabin, leaving Zoe alone. She sat back down and gazed at the drab and very dreary cabin.
"Hello."
Zoe turned towards the door, where a young woman stood. Her dark brown hair was tied in a ponytail. She appeared to be the same age as Zoe and her brown eyes crinkled.
"Hello." Zoe got up from the bunk.
"I’m your neighbor, two cabins to the left. My name is Elena Mannheim."
"Pleased to meet you, Elena, my name is Zoe Lambros. Come into my broom closet," Zoe introduced herself and patted the chair.
Chapter Forty-One
Eva leaned against the railing and watched the water gently slap against the ship’s white hull. The sun glistened off the emerald colored sea; the color reminded her of Zoe’s eyes and she smiled. Her life had dramatically changed in the last two years. On a cold, damp day she noticed the young girl who defiantly stared at her during her father’s killing rampage. Eva wasn’t sure why she focused on Zoe but she did. Stormy green eyes stared back at her. Zoe’s undisguised hatred was clearly evident. The general hubbub behind her faded into the background as Eva stared down as the last two years played out in her mind. She brought the cigarette to her lips and took a long drag. The smoke drifted as a gentle breeze blew across the deck. Eva had lost her heart to this courageous woman even before she was aware of it. The gentle Sister Abigail, whom she had met in an Aiden church, told her the heart wants what the heart wants. Eva wasn’t sure what the elderly nun was talking about but she finally understood the meaning.
Eva shook her head in amazement at how the events had transpired. Two years ago she had no hope beyond living through the day. Now, she was on a ship bound for a country she didn’t know with a woman, she hoped, loved her as much as Eva loved her.
Eva heard the sound of a cane against the wooden deck and turned around to find Doctor Hannah Koch. Hannah was an older woman in her late fifties, almost as tall as Eva, with long silver hair which framed an oval face. Her amber colored eyes were hidden behind clear octagonal framed glasses. Hannah was a psychiatrist helping those who had survived Hitler’s Final Solution adjust to freedom and cope with their lives after they were set free. Hannah had gained Eva’s trust despite her hatred and mistrust in doctors.
"Oh, Hannah, you’re here.."
"I’m getting myself settled in and I came to find you," Hannah replied as she leaned forward and gave Eva a kiss on the cheek. "Now what are you doing here all alone? Where is Zoe?"
"Henry and Zoe went to the cabin; I was feeling a little claustrophobic."
"Hm," The doctor nodded. "Probably feeling quite hot as well since you’re wearing your security blanket."
Eva looked down at her cloak and then back up at her therapist with a knowing smile. "I need to wear it."
"No," Hannah shook her head. "You don’t need to wear it, you want to wear it."
"I feel safe."
"I know," Hannah said as she took Eva’s hand and led her to the deck chairs, where they sat down. "We haven’t seen each other for a few weeks; how are you feeling?"
"Is that my friend asking or my psychiatrist?"
"A little of both. You’ve been through a great deal and you’ve made great progress."
Eva looked out the brightly colored streamers that were festooned across the railing. "I’m still not cured."
"No, you’re not, yet. That’s going to take time. Undoing the damage takes time, Evy. We have been working together for only a few months; you have to give yourself time."
"Time," Eva murmured. She looked down at her hands, which rested on her lap, before she lifted her head to meet Hannah’s gaze. "What if Zoe doesn’t want to wait?"
Hannah burst out laughing as she clutched Eva’s hand in her own and held it against her chest. "Oh my goodness, I’m sorry. We are talking about Zoe Lambros? About five feet four, with blazing red hair and green eyes. Right?"
"Yes," Eva replied, feeling a little sheepish at uttering the question.
"Goodness me, my dear Eva. Zoe isn’t going anywhere. That woman will wait for as long as it takes for you to be ready. Zoe is not a patient girl, but for you, she will wait an eternity."
"But," Eva looked around the deck to see if there were any other people around them but found it empty. She glanced back at the doctor. "I can’t.."
"You haven’t made love to her. Yes, I know. You’re not ready yet."
"I tried a few days ago but—"
"You tried but you weren’t able to. Zoe understands that more than anyone else. You will get there if we continue to work together. We can’t undo the damage done to you overnight. It’s going to take a lot of time. Keep writing your journal, work with me and then we will see progress."
"Kissing her has become easier," Eva said shyly with a slight smile. "Like you said it would."
"Do you still feel nauseous?"
"A little, but not as bad as before. My legs go weak but I’m not sure if that’s because my head is telling me to stop or if it’s because I’m in love with her."
"I would say a little of both," Hannah replied with a smile as she put her arm around Eva’s shoulders. "That’s progress but—"
"I know, slowly slowly."
"We will work on this together, you and me. Nice and slow."
"Can’t we go a little faster?"
"No. It won’t be pleasant for you if we rush things. Just nice and slow."
Eva sighed and nodded. "Can you fix me before I turn forty?"
"How old are you now?"
"Twenty six."
‘Oh, yes, well before then," Hannah said with a slight laugh. The two women looked at each other and smiled. "I have to go but I will see you later tonight. Alright?"
Eva nodded. "Yes."
"Good," Hannah rose and saw Henry approaching. She greeted him with a hug and left the deck leaving the two friends alone.
"So you saw the cabin?"
"I did," Henry replied and leaned back against the railing and looked up into the blue sky above him.
"And?"
"It’s a cabin."
Eva smiled at her ex-guard’s non-description of her new home for the next two months. "Does Zoe like it?"
Henry turned to his friend, a knowing smile creasing his lips. "Yes, Zoe likes it"
"Oh, good, then that means we won’t have more than ten to a cabin."
"No, I don’t think you will."
Eva gazed at her friend as she reached out and cupped his bearded face. "I’m going to miss you. You’ve been with me since Paris and I’ve trusted you."
"We’ve been on a long road together and now the road ends," Henry replied as he took Eva’s hand and they both sat down on a long wooden bench. "It’s time for your new life to begin."
"I never thought this day would come, Henry. I don’t know what to do," Eva said, threading her arm through the crook of Henry’s elbow.
"You live it. What else is there to do?"
"I don’t know."
"Are you having second thoughts about Zoe?"
"NO!" Eva exclaimed, causing a couple of the passengers nearby to glance her way. "Sorry," she mumbled to Henry. "I mean, no, absolutely not."
"So what’s the problem?"
"Zoe."
Henry stared at Eva with a quizzical look on his face. "Zoe is the problem?"
Eva took a drag of her cigarette and inhaled. For a long moment she didn’t say a word as Henry patiently waited. "I don’t know if Zoe loves me or heavy likes me or where she is on that scale of hers."
Henry chuckled at his friend and put his arm around her shoulders. "Really?"
"Don’t laugh at me, Henry."
"I’m not laughing at you…no, wait, yes, I am laughing at you," Henry continued to chortle to himself. "You don’t know if Zoe loves you?"
"Why are you laughing at me?"
"I’m laughing because you are so blind. Zoe loves you. She said she loves you to you, to me, to Thanasi. She roused up half the Resistance in the middle of a firestorm. Have you thought about what she did?"
"Yes, of course I’ve thought about it, I was there."
"No, you don’t know what she did, Evy. She persuaded Thanasi and Apostolos to split up their teams and instead of both of them fighting the Germans, he sent men to rescue you. I don’t know how that young woman did it. It’s a good thing Zoe was on our side," Henry replied as he took Eva’s cigarette and took a drag. "She killed that son-of-a-bitch for you; if that’s not love then I don’t know what else to call it."
"Are you in love with my girlfriend?" Eva teased her friend and pinched his cheek. They looked at each other and started laughing.
"I don’t think I could handle Zoe; the woman is unstoppable. Zoe loves you so much she even put up your moods. You are not an easy woman to nurse, Eva."
"I’m not that bad," Eva mumbled but knowing Henry was right.
"Yes, you are. Zoe has seen every side of you and here she is, on a ship bound for the other side of the world. If it’s not love, what is it?"
"I don’t know. I just don’t want to think she doesn’t have options."
"Options? What kind of options? We’re not going over this again, are we? Zoe was being friendly; you know she loves the Australians. She told me the story about the Australian soldiers in ‘41. She loves the stories they told her," Henry shook his head at his friend. "Stop thinking that you’re going to lose her."
In The Blood Of The Greeks (Intertwined Souls Series Book 1) Page 31
