“Hello, darling,” Daphne said. “I really like Zoe.”
“You do? I love her, Mutti.”
“Yes, I do, and I know you do. She is a beautiful woman and she loves you.”
“Hmm,” Eva murmured and enjoyed the feel of her mother’s hand that held her own. “I miss this.”
“I miss it too, my baby girl, I miss it a lot.”
“I’m going to be a mother…me.”
“I know and I’m going to be a grandmother.”
“Do you really like Zoe?” Eva asked again.
Daphne smiled and nodded. “Oh yes. If I had to choose the person that was worthy of my Evy, Zoe would be it. Have you enjoyed being pregnant?”
“I love every minute of throwing up and of this hallucination.”
Daphne laughed. “That’s the first time I’ve heard that.” Zoe entered the room with the wheelchair. “Are you going to introduce me to Zoe?” Daphne whispered in Eva’s ear.
“Who were you speaking to?” Zoe asked as she locked the chair’s wheels and looked at Eva.
“Um…you won’t believe this, Zo, but I’m having this really nice hallucination and talking to my mother.”
Eva giggled when Zoe lost her balance and fell backwards on to the chair.
***
Zoe took a deep breath and put her hand on her heart. She wasn’t surprised to find it racing. She looked around the room and it was only herself and Eva. Eva was looking just over her shoulder. Zoe turned around and didn’t see anyone else.
“See what happens when I tell her?”.
“Pardon?” Zoe asked and turned to where Eva had addressed her remarks. Still not seeing anyone behind her, she turned back to Eva.
“I have someone I want you to meet.”
“Oh? Is your mother here?” Zoe asked with a smirk. Eva’s hand reached out and stopped her from bringing the chair closer.
“No, wait,” Eva said and held Zoe’s hand. A woman materialized in front of Zoe. Zoe blinked in surprise and looked up into pale blue eyes that matched Eva’s so perfectly that it was almost unbelievable.
“Wow!” Zoe took a step back, letting go of Eva’s hand, and the woman disappeared. “Oh, Evy, I must be tired, because I’m seeing your hallucinations and I’m not taking your drugs!”
“Zoe, hold my hand,” Eva said quietly. Zoe came forward and sat on the bed. She clasped Eva’s hand and Daphne Mitsos materialized again. Zoe was captivated.
Daphne was an older version of Eva; there was absolutely no denying that. Zoe thought the pictures she had seen of Daphne did not do her justice. The only difference she could see was Daphne’s slightly curly hair to Eva’s straighter locks, and the slightly different eye shape. She cocked her head to the left and gazed at Daphne.
“Eva, what is Zoe doing?”
Eva turned from her mother to Zoe. “She’s memorizing you. I suspect we’re going to have another mural in the house soon.”
Daphne nodded and struck a pose as she draped herself over the back of Eva’s chair with one hand gently laid over Eva’s head, making Zoe laugh. “I’ll give her something to paint. How’s this?”
“Mother!” Eva exclaimed.
“Hello,” Zoe shyly greeted Daphne. “Seems to be the day I’m meeting...ah…” She looked down at Eva and then back to Daphne. “Seems I’m meeting all the relatives today.”
“Huh?” Eva asked with a quizzical look on her face.
“Hello,” Daphne replied. She straightened up. “My name is Daphne M—”
“Daphne Mitsos,” Zoe finished off the name in somewhat of a daze. Two spirits in one day was enough to make her run screaming out of the house in search of a priest for an exorcism, but she didn’t want to move. The woman who was smiling at her enthralled her. “That other M word is banned in this house. We don’t mention that name here,” she continued. Her eyes never left Daphne, who stood behind Eva with a protective hand on her shoulder.
“As it should be, and thank you.”
“I don’t believe I’m talking to you, Mama Daphne.”
“No, I don’t believe it either, but my daughter’s little gift has given us a chance to meet.” Daphne indicated for Zoe to sit. Zoe sat down on the bed near Eva and held her hand. “I’m not sure how you are able to see me…”
“I think it has something to do with the visitor I saw in the chapel today,” Zoe said cryptically. She noticed by Daphne’s demeanor that she knew who she was talking about. “That someone surprised me and I think she has done something.”
“Who?” Eva asked. “When did you go to the chapel?”
“You were seeing the eye doctor,” Zoe explained, her eyes on Daphne. “That someone said they were coming by tonight.”
“Hm, yes,” Daphne replied before nodding to Zoe over Eva’s head. “We have some time before that happens. I hear you’re going to make me a grandmother.”
Zoe nodded. “We’re having twins.”
“Are you naming one after me? I’ve always wanted a little one called Daphne.”
Eva covered her mouth to hide the giggle. Zoe gazed at Daphne and stuttered, “Um...we…”
“She’s joking, Zo. My mama hates her name.”
“You do?”
“Oh, I dislike it a great deal, bordering on hate.” Daphne shuddered melodramatically in response. “That poor child would have such a hard time at school.”
“Oh.”
“I do like my first name if you want to use that.”
“Isn’t your first name Eva?”
“Yes, see why I like it?” Daphne looked at her daughter lovingly. “My precious little girl was my pride and joy. She was adorable.”
“She’s still adorable,” Zoe replied as she brought Eva’s hand to her lips and kissed it.
“You both are. You are going to be such wonderful mothers.” Daphne’s voice broke and she struggled not to let the tears spill.
A quiet descended on them while Zoe watched Daphne kiss the top of Eva’s head.
Zoe’s face creased into a grin. The simple loving gesture by Daphne touched her more than she had ever thought possible. “Mama Daphne, can I ask you a question?”
“Certainly.”
“What gifts did you have?”
“When I was ten, I discovered that I had a gift for languages; I loved to hear and learn new languages. I also had visions. There were another couple of gifts.”
“That was young. Did it frighten you?”
“It terrified me. I told no one of these gifts. I’d heard the stories of my aunts being sent to asylums for being mad, so I thought the same thing would happen to me.”
“But it didn’t.”
“No. I didn’t tell anyone.”
“Didn’t your eyes change color?”
Daphne nodded. “At first they did, but the older I got, my eyes stayed the same color. It’s not the same for everyone.”
“Is that why sometimes Eva’s eyes don’t change color even when I know something is going on?”
“Yes. When Eva is sensing there is a presence, her eyes won’t change color. When she uses her gift of languages, her eyes remain the same. Each generation is different but she is my daughter and she has inherited my gifts. As I said, in time her eyes will adjust.”
“How did they manifest for you when they stopped changing color?”
“I had terrible migraines that lasted for days. Eva also suffers from migraines which are a precursor to the change in the gifts’ manifestation.”
“Wow,” Zoe exclaimed. “Could you also see the dead?”
Daphne gazed at Eva for a long moment. “I could—”
“Zo, who came to you in the chapel?” Eva interrupted them.
Zoe looked at Daphne with a slight headshake. “It takes a while for Evy to catch up.”
“Does not,” Eva muttered.
“Are you comfortable?
Eva’s eyebrow rose at Zoe’s question. “No, but please continue.”
Zoe saw Daphne’s nod and took it as the go-ahead to intr
oduce Saint Theresa to Eva. The last thing Eva needed was to get a shock. Zoe could not afford for that to happen and also have Eva coherent enough to listen to what Theresa was going to reveal to them. With another glance at Daphne, Zoe took a deep breath and was ready to reveal all.
CHAPTER 36
“What is this about, Zo?”
“Alright, this morning when you were having your eyes checked, I took a walk around the hospital and found myself at the hospital chapel.”
“Was it pretty?”
Zoe couldn’t help but smile. “Yes, it was gorgeous. I met a very odd nun there when she also came into the chapel. She was a short nun, a little on the nutty—”
“Who are you calling odd and nutty, Red?”
Zoe didn’t turn around–that was Theresa’s voice, so she knew she had just materialized behind her. One look at Eva, whose eyes had widened in shock, made her hang her head and sigh deeply. “You couldn’t wait until I finished my story?”
“What do you mean your story? It’s my story.” Theresa came forward and stood in front of Eva with a hand on her hip.
“Don’t you ever knock?”
Theresa sighed. “Who do you think I am? An Avon lady?”
Eva continued to stare open mouthed at the banter between Zoe and the mysterious woman who had appeared out of nowhere. “This morning you were in awe of me. Now, meh, I get the sass! So, Red, what’s buzzin, cuzzin?”
Zoe couldn’t help but laugh. She was certain Eva was very confused—it wasn’t going to be difficult to confuse Eva in the state she was in. Theresa was making things worse.
“You like that one, huh?” Theresa asked merrily as she went over to the still chortling Zoe. “So how has our loopy girl today?” They grinned at each other before Theresa put her arm around Zoe and kissed the top of her head. “I see my little surprise gift is being used. Did you enjoy meeting the mother-in-law?”
“I did, but you could have warned me,” Zoe continued the conversational tone and noticed Eva’s wide-eyed look didn’t alter. Eva didn’t even blink.
“Zoe and I have been catching up,” Daphne said quietly.
“Wh…Who...” Eva stuttered and then stopped. She looked at Zoe and then at Theresa in utter confusion.
“You sound like an owl, my sweet.” Theresa sat down on the bed and smiled at Eva.
Zoe knelt at Eva’s feet and held her hand. “This is our visitor. Her name is Saint Theresa Eva.” Eva gaped at her.
Theresa glanced at Zoe and smiled before she turned her attention to Eva.
“Wha…”
“We’re going to get a full sentence at some point, right?” Theresa asked Zoe, who went to sit down on the chair nearby. She lost sight of Daphne, but she knew Eva’s mother was still there. Theresa turned to Eva and smiled. “Hello, my sweet.”
“Who are you?”
“There it is! Wow, that took ten minutes but it’s alright—you’re drugged up to the eyeballs.”
Eva blinked and shook her head as if to clear it.
“No, I’m still here, and shaking your head like that is only going to give you a headache.” Theresa reached out and caressed Eva’s cheek. “My name is Theresa Eva.”
“Another one?”
Zoe and Theresa exchanged a look before Zoe came forward again. “Evy, my love, she’s the original one.”
“What?”
“This is Saint Theresa Eva of Jerusalem.”
“Actually, I lived in Hebron for most of my life, but let’s go with Jerusalem,” Theresa explained.
“THAT Theresa Eva?”
“Why do people keep asking me that? Yes, THAT Theresa Eva.”
“You’re d...d…dead.”
“Yes. I’m dead.”
Eva put her hand over her eyes. “Oh, my god, I’m going crazy,” she said and closed her eyes. She opened them again and closed them several times. Theresa continued to smile at her.
“You are probably asking yourself why this young, vivacious two thousand-year-old is sitting on your bed.”
“Uh…,” Eva said and glanced at Zoe, who was leaning back in her seat shaking her head.
“See, I know these things,” Theresa replied and waggled her eyebrows. “Alrighty, I think we’ve entertained and confused our injured little Eva far too much.”
“What are you?”
Theresa took Eva’s hand and held it. “My name is Theresa Eva. I was and still am a disciple of our Lord Jesus Christ. I am one of the chosen to rule with Christ in heaven. I am known as Saint Theresa,” she said solemnly.
“But you’re dead!” Eva repeated loudly.
“Yes, I am.”
“How am I able to see you?”
“You can because I’m letting you see me.”
Eva reached out and touched Theresa’s hand. “Wow.”
“You don’t recognize me, do you?”
“Um…no...”
Zoe sat up straighter in her chair. “Has she seen you before?”
Theresa looked back at Zoe. “Eva knew me very well, but not like this. She knew me as Sister Abigail. I didn’t lie to you. I said I hadn’t spoken to her here in Sydney. You missed that little bit.”
“Sneaky,” Zoe mumbled.
“You’re my Sister Abigail?”
Theresa turned back to Eva. “Yes, my darling girl, I am.”
“No, you’re not.”
Theresa stood and took a step back. Her body glowed and she transformed herself into a much shorter woman with white hair and clear brown eyes. She wore a nun’s habit. Zoe sat forward in her chair and watched the transformation in awe. “Do you recognize me now?”
Eva stared open mouthed at the transformation. She tried to talk but it was obvious the miracle before her had robbed any coherent thought from her drug-addled mind.
“Sister Abigail…”
Theresa smiled and leaned down. She kissed Eva on the cheek before standing again and transforming back to Theresa Eva.
“You needed me to be there for you, to hold your hand. You asked God for help. He sent me,” Theresa spoke as her voice took on a more serious tone. “When you needed His help, He gave it to you.”
“You...”
“God loves you and I love you.”
Eva’s eyes glistened. “You came to me?”
“Of course, my darling. God also sent Irene, Johan, Stella, Tessa, and Tommy to help you through that horrible place. I gave you Sister Abigail to talk to about your fears and God. I came to you at night and held your hand. You didn’t know I was there.” Eva bowed her head and Theresa brought her into her arms, where she sobbed.
“When you needed a friend and someone to listen to you, I sent Father Haralambos to you. When you needed someone to share your hopes, your dreams and be a friend, I sent that gorgeous woman behind me who is now crying out of deep love for you.”
Eva lifted her head and met Zoe’s tear filled eyes. “She is the best thing to happen to me.”
“Yes, she is. When you needed it the most, I was there. I will always be there. You won’t always see me, but I will be there.”
“Thank you,” Eva said quietly.
“I hear you’re going to have some babies.” Theresa smiled.
“Did you have a hand in that too?” Eva asked.
Theresa chuckled. “No, my baby making days are over, and we know how well that turned out. This baby making was done the old fashioned way.” She waved her hand around. “You’re going to have beautiful babies. You have already seen the twins in your visions?”
Eva nodded. “On the ship coming back to Sydney, and one other time when I thought I was dreaming.”
“We also share something else, little one.”
“The same sense of humor,” Zoe quipped, making Theresa chuckle.
“Other than that. We were both resurrected. You died in that paint accident, and—”
“I was brought back to life.” Eva rubbed her chest.
“Yes. We both died and we came back. I died and was resurrected. You b
y a paramedic, and I got the Super Deluxe model of Jesus Christ.”
Eva’s eyes widened. “You were resurrected by Christ?”
“Yes. I suspect this gift that keeps on getting transferred is because of the double dose of Holy Ghost.”
At that instant Eva’s rabbit, Jasper, decided to wander out from under the bed. Theresa looked down and then back up at Zoe, who was grinning.
“Jasper!”
“You know about Jasper?”
“The real one or the squished imaginary one?” Theresa asked with a twinkle in her amber eyes.
“How...”
“Tsk, of course, I know about Jasper,” Theresa replied and picked up the white rabbit. She cuddled him in her arms. “Who do you think gave that idea to you?”
“YOU?”
“Me!” Theresa chuckled. “You needed it and Tommy needed it, because he was getting so despondent about you. He had a good laugh, and you enjoyed yourself with your rabbits. No one was hurt…except for Hera and poor Jasper.”
“Wow.” Zoe came over and put her arm around Theresa’s waist. “Thank you,” she mouthed and hugged her tightly. Theresa smiled and kissed the top of Zoe’s head.
“Aunties in the house!” Stella’s voice rang out from the living room.
“We’ll be out shortly, Aunty!” Zoe called out before she turned back to Theresa. “Mama Saint, Eva can’t take this in. She’s having a hard time adjusting to you right now, so whatever you have to say…”
“Yes, I know.” Theresa nodded. She sat back down and gazed at Eva. “What I’m about to reveal outside will be overwhelming, and whatever I say afterwards will be overlooked. Now is the time to let you both know about your babies.”
“What about our babies?”
“Your little girl, who is no bigger than a pinhead right now, will inherit the gifts. Even though they didn’t come directly from Eva, God has given them to her through Tommy. Tommy is not gifted, but they are passed through Tessa.”
Both women looked at each other in surprise. Zoe was the first to speak. “Are you sure?”
“Yes, I’m quite sure. With each generation, the gifted become stronger and sometimes when there isn’t a direct route from mother to daughter, God directs the gifts to be inherited from mother to son to daughter, with the son not having the gifts.”
[Intertwined Souls 05.0] No Good Deed Page 26
