“Oh, my goodness.” Stella put her hand over her mouth. “She’s had the nausea, forgetfulness, moodiness, fatigue…all of that?”
“Oh, yes, especially the moodiness. Debbie told me she had never seen Eva being so cranky in all the time they worked together.”
“Were her breasts tender?”
Zoe nodded. “Very tender. A few nights before the accident I barely touched her and she mentioned it.”
Stella giggled. “Oh, my goodness. Poor thing. I have heard of instances where the husband experiences those symptoms. I remember when Tessa was pregnant with Tommy I got blinding headaches and I couldn’t stop eating chocolate and other cakes. I didn’t have every symptom you described but it is possible.”
“We thought she was coming down with a bug.”
Stella looked at Zoe and smiled. “She’s either going to be very happy or think she’s cursed.”
“Nah. She’s going to be so thrilled, I’m going to say that you won’t have any problem with her accepting medications or doing anything you want her to do that she doesn’t like.”
***
“Is that a rabbit lying on her chest?”
“Yes.”
“Where did it come from?”
“1939.”
“What?”
“I got it for her to make her feel better. She loves rabbits.”
“Does your mother know that there is a rabbit in the hospital?”
“Yes, and she’s not happy that Jasper is here.”
“Jasper? What kind of name is Jasper for a rabbit?”
“Long story. Come on, Earl, let’s get out of here.”
“Can you wake her?”
“She’s recovering from a severe injury, and I’m not going to wake her up.”
Eva wanted to hurl something at Tommy and Earl while they were arguing in her room. She didn’t have the strength to do it or else she would have sent her pillows flying. All she could do was wait and hope they would go away. It was obvious Zoe was not there or she would have thrown both of them out. Eva’s nose twitched at the smell of very strong aftershave.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes, he’s sure,” Eva said as she slowly opened her eyes to see Tommy wearing what appeared to be his best shirt and pants. She turned her head to see Earl, who was sporting a new shirt and a new hat. “Oh, boys, my eyes can’t focus very well, but are you wearing your Sunday best?”
“Hey, she’s awake!” Earl exclaimed. He sat down on the bed and made it shake.
“You could wake the dead, Wiggy.”
“Hey there, slugger,” Earl greeted his friend and leaned in for a kiss on the cheek. “I wonder if paint bucket head bunting is an Olympic sport. You would win the gold medal,” he teased. Tommy chuckled, earning himself a very unhappy glare from Eva.
“Someone, knock me out,” Eva muttered. “Who is wearing that god-awful aftershave?”
The two men looked at each other. “I am,” Earl replied.
“Me too.”
“God. It stinks.”
“I thought you liked this aftershave on me!” Earl protested.
“She does,” Zoe said as she entered the room. “Normally, she does, but you may have noticed she’s had brain surgery, so strong perfume is not allowed.”
Eva turned to Earl and crooked her finger. He came forward. “Can you do me a favor?”
“Yes, of course. What do you need?”
“See that boy?” Eva pointed to Tommy. “Take him out on a date so you can put me out of my misery of watching the two of you dancing around each other.”
“Eva!” Tommy screeched.
“What if Tommy doesn’t want to go on a date with me?” Earl asked.
“My god, this is painful,” Eva muttered.
“What is? Your head?” Tommy came forward.
“No, the two of you. You are making my head hurt. Before I got hit in the head with the paint bucket I made reservations at um….” Eva put her hand against her temple.
Zoe came forward and took her hand. “The Daffodil,” she supplied and met Eva’s gaze for a moment.
“Yes, the Daffodil...nice...um...” Eva couldn’t remember the word. She glanced at Zoe with an exasperated sigh. After a moment she looked at Earl. “It’s a nice...place. I want you to go, put on your fancy duds, and have a good time.”
“But—”
“Oh, for the love of God,” Zoe exclaimed, taking over from Eva. “Will you two just go on a date?”
“Okay.” Earl nodded. “Um...” He looked back at Tommy, who nodded as well.
“At last,” Eva exclaimed and shut her eyes. “Now, can you please go and make goo goo eyes at each other so I can get some sleep?”
“I don’t make goo goo eyes at my dates,” Earl muttered. He gave Eva a kiss on the cheek.
“And stop wearing that god-awful aftershave,” Eva added just as Earl and Tommy left the room. “Good grief.”
Zoe started to laugh. “Did you just bully them to go on a date?”
Eva opened her eyes and smiled. “Now I can get some peace and quiet.”
“You will, but I have to take Jasper out of the room or else Dr. Stella will be very cross with you.”
“No, leave him.” Eva put her hand on the rabbit, who was sitting contentedly on her lap. “He’s going to be lonely if you leave him at home.”
“How do you know rabbits get lonely?”
“Jasper told me.”
Zoe chuckled and shook her head. “You are adorable, but I have to take Jasper out because we have something to discuss.”
Eva sighed and watched as Zoe picked up the rabbit. “When I come back I’m going to feed you. There’s some yummy breakfast for you this morning.”
“Zoe, I can eat on my own now,” Eva said as Zoe left the room. “I can eat on my own,” she repeated aloud to an empty room.
She closed her eyes and felt nauseous as soon as Zoe said breakfast. The pain medication was making her stomach ache. Her eyes were not focusing, which was also making her cranky. She heard a rustling sound and opened her eyes. No one appeared to be in the room with her but she sensed someone was there. Moments later the door opened and Tommy came into the room, oblivious to what was going on. Eva watched him pace. “Tommy, what are you doing?”
“I’m going on a date.”
“Yes.”
“Um…” Tommy nibbled his bottom lip and paced. “Um. I’ve never been on date.”
“You were married, so you have been on a date.” Eva followed him back and forth as he paced. “You’re making me dizzy with all that pacing.”
“I’ve never been on a date...with a man.”
“Oh, boy, I’m hallucinating this.”
“Eva!” Tommy exclaimed and started to bite his fingernail. He sat down, and then he stood up and started to pace again.
“I’m too old for this,” Eva muttered.
“I’ve never been with a man. At all.”
Eva blinked in surprise. “Really?”
“Yes, really. I’ve never kissed a man.”
Eva put her hand over her eyes and shook her head. “Oh, this is getting better and better. Tommy, kissing a man is the same as kissing a woman, but their lips are not as soft. There, that’s all the kissing advice I have for you.”
“That doesn’t help me.”
“Just go on your date.”
Tommy looked at her for a long time. “Now, what am I going to wear?”
“Clothes.”
“You’re not helping.”
Stella entered Eva’s room and stopped when she saw her son. “Honey, what are you doing here?”
“He’s got a hot date tonight,” Eva said.
“You have a date?”
“I do, but I’m going to cancel,” Tommy said and watched Eva with a scowl. “Eva set it up.”
“The things I miss,” Stella replied in amazement. “Who is this mysterious date?”
“Earl,” Eva answered for him.
“You have a da
te with Earl? Will wonders never cease? You took your time about that.”
“I didn’t ask him, Ma. Eva bullied us into it.”
“You got your cousin, who is recovering from a severe brain injury, to ask Earl out for you?” Stella looked over at Eva. “Tommy, darling, hasn’t Eva got enough on her plate?”
“But Ma, Eva suggested it,” Tommy reasoned. “No, she not only suggested it, she bullied us into it.”
Stella took hold of Tommy’s arm and led him out of Eva’s room, all the while admonishing him for disturbing Eva.
“At long last, some peace.”
CHAPTER 23
Eva opened her eyes when Zoe entered the room again minus the rabbit and tracked her as she brought her bag over to the bed and took out a multi-colored scarf. “Lean forward, love,” she asked, and Eva complied. She loosely tied the headscarf around Eva’s scarred bald head.
“There, now you look a little brighter.”
“Must look nice on the village idiot.”
“Can you please stop saying that? It’s annoying me, and you’re not the village idiot.” Zoe sat on the bed. She reached out and stroked Eva’s cheek. “How are you feeling?”
“No pain,” Eva said hoarsely. “Other than the boys being stupid with each other, it doesn’t hurt.”
“That’s good. You can’t heal if you are in pain. You need to rest. You’re going to be going home tomorrow.”
“I am?” Eva asked brightly. “I’m really going home?”
“You are. Aunty Stella told me that Dr. Harvathe thinks you are ready to go home. Theo and Earl are going to get the bedroom ready and you’re going to be comfortable at home instead of this place.”
“I want to go home.”
“I know. Evy, I have something else to tell you.”
“Oh.”
“First you have to promise me something. I know you won’t like it, but you have to promise to do this for me.”
Eva blinked and stared at Zoe for a long moment. “What is it?”
“I want you to take the pain medication and do everything Stella asks you to do to heal. You have to stop resisting the drugs. You’ve had no choice here because they give them to you, but when we get home I know what you’re going to do.”
“Don’t make me promise that, Zo,” Eva replied. Zoe noticed her eyes were glistening. “I won’t lie to you, and if I make that promise, I’m lying.”
“I know you hate this, I know it makes you feel funny, and I know you are hurting, but I have a good reason.”
“I don’t want to promise something like that. Not that. I will heal, but I just don’t want to do it when I’m drugged.”
“Let’s have some breakfast.” Zoe changed the subject, making Eva gaze at her quizzically.
Eva sighed. “Zoe...”
Zoe ignored Eva’s reticence and brought the bowl with the porridge closer to her. Eva watched her with a puzzled expression on her face.
“Didn’t I say I can feed myself?” Eva mumbled.
“You did. I’m still going to do it,” Zoe replied and positioned the bedside table closer. She took the towel from the tray and laid it out on the front of Eva’s chest. Eva looked down and then up at Zoe, outrage clearly evident in her eyes.
“I have two good hands.” Eva held up her hands and waved them around.
“I know,” Zoe repeated. She put the spoon in the porridge and took a portion. She glanced at Eva, who still didn’t object to the porridge, and blew on it.
“Zoe!” Eva exclaimed. “I’m not a child.”
“I know,” Zoe replied again and brought the spoon to Eva’s mouth. “Open for the choo choo!”
“Zoe!” Eva scowled. She reluctantly opened her mouth. She blinked and pursed her lips. “Oh, I like this,” she mumbled.
“You do realize this is porridge?”
“Yes, but it tastes differently. It’s sweeter than the gunk you make.”
Zoe chuckled. “There’s a reason I asked you to promise that you would take your medication.” She smiled on seeing Eva’s exaggerated sigh. “I want you to be healthy because you will have to get up at two a.m. to feed our babies.”
“We’re not having babies.”
“I thought you said we were having twins.”
“I dreamt it. It’s not real.”
“Hm. So that vision you had on the ship about our twins was not real?”
Eva looked at Zoe. “I don’t know.”
“I think it’s a bit late to change your mind.”
“No, it’s not. We’re not having children, so what I do is my business.”
Zoe rolled her eyes to the ceiling and counted silently in her head. That was the only way she was going to stop herself from being upset with Eva.
“Stop counting.”
“I have to, because if I don’t I might tell you that you are being silly, and even though I know you’re feeling funny on the pain medication, you’re acting like a two-year-old child.”
“I thought you said you were counting because you weren’t going to say that?” Eva glanced at Zoe.
“You interrupted me.” Zoe had to laugh at the look Eva was giving her. “You are adorable.”
“I’m not being silly.”
“Evy, I have something to tell you.”
“You’re repeating yourself. My memory isn’t that bad, Zo. My porridge is getting cold,” Eva responded and pointed to the bowl.
Zoe cupped Eva’s cheek and smiled. “So if I told you that I wanted you to take all the medications and listen to Stella, would you do it if we had our babies?”
Eva closed her eyes and sighed. “Yes, of course, but we’re not having babies.”
Zoe took Eva’s hand and placed it on her stomach. Eva opened her eyes and gazed down at Zoe for a long moment. “Evy, we are going to have our babies.”
“In another life…”
“No; in this life,” Zoe replied with a huge smile. She chuckled when she saw Eva’s face go from puzzlement to comprehension. “We are pregnant.”
Eva stared at her. Zoe wasn’t sure Eva understood what she had just revealed until the scowl was replaced by the widest grin she had ever seen on Eva’s face. “We’re pregnant?” Eva asked in a child-like voice. “No,” she said, her eyes widening in shock. “We are?”
“We are.” Zoe nodded. “So can you stop resisting and heal? Our babies are going to need you.”
“Our babies,” Eva said in wonder, and gave Zoe a lopsided grin.
“Larissa and Nicky are going to need their mutti to slay the aliens from outer space.”
“Aliens with big teeth.” Eva chuckled tiredly.
Zoe leaned over to kiss Eva. They smiled at each other when they parted. Zoe found Eva’s joy so beautiful to watch, it brought tears to her eyes. Eva reached out and tenderly stroked her cheek. “We’re pregnant, Zo.”
“Want to know something else?”
“What?”
“Do you remember how you were sick before the accident?”
“Ugh. Do you have to remind me?”
“You were tired, had nausea, you lost your temper quickly, you were moody…”
“I wasn’t moody.”
“Yes, you were. You felt really sick all the time.”
“Still do.”
“Do you know what you have?”
“A bug. I don’t care right now. Why are we talking about this and not about our babies?”
“We are talking about our babies, love. You have all the signs of pregnancy.”
Eva stared at her for a long while. “Huh?”
“It looks like you’re having my symptoms. I’m carrying the babies and you are suffering from morning sickness.”
Eva let her head drop and laughed. The sheer joy on her face made Zoe want to kiss her senseless.
“Zo?”
“Yes, love?”
“I’m going to love every single minute of throwing up,” Eva replied, unable to stop grinning. “Every single minute.”
CHA
PTER 24
Zoe sat in the kitchen and looked at her notebook. Beside her lay three scrunched up pieces of paper. She was trying to write a letter to Eva’s father, Father Haralambos, to tell him about Eva’s recovery. She had written to him after she was confident that Eva would be all right, but she hadn’t written since Eva was discharged. She took a deep breath and put pen to paper.
Dear Father, I hope this letter finds you well. I know it’s been too long since I’ve written to update you on how Eva is faring since we came home. I didn’t think her recovery would be easy for her, but it’s harder than we thought. She has been struggling with her memory and her vision, and she’s unsteady on her feet. Aunty Stella tells us that this is normal and that it’s going to take a while for her to regain her strength.”
Zoe stopped writing when she heard the very familiar sound of Eva’s canes on the wooden floor of the living room. The gentle ‘thump thump,’ stop, and then ‘thump thump,’ stop alerted her to Eva’s imminent but slow arrival.
Zoe was about to get up when she heard Alexandra’s voice. She couldn’t hear what they were saying, but she was pretty sure Alexandra would win the battle of wills. Eva was stubborn in her refusal to take medication and to rely on her wheelchair. Their friend was an exceptional nurse who didn’t take a backward step with her recalcitrant patients. So far Eva was on the losing side in the battle with Alexandra.
Zoe shook her head at Eva’s stubbornness. She glanced at the clock up on the kitchen wall before she bent over the notepad and resumed her letter.
As you can guess, she is impatient. It’s going to take time. I have some very sad news to report. Henry and Alexandra have lost their baby. It happened soon after Eva’s accident and they withheld the news from us until a few days ago. Please, pray for them. They deserve to be happy. Alexandra is such a caring, beautiful woman, and she has nursed Eva through this ordeal with such patience and gentleness. She has become a beloved friend. Eva’s ongoing battle of wills with Alexandra has become legendary. I’m in awe of how she handles Eva. She’s always gentle but firm. Eva hates being told what to do. She hates the loss of control, but she is getting better and that’s the main thing. How we get there is a rocky road, but we will get there.
[Intertwined Souls 05.0] No Good Deed Page 17
