[Intertwined Souls 05.0] No Good Deed

by Mary D. Brooks

  “Yes, it’s a possibility based on what Daphne said happened to her. Eva would inherit that from Daphne.”

  “This is the first time I’ve seen Eva’s eyes go white. Since Mama Saint healed her, she sits outside and doesn’t want to talk about what is happening to her. She says that she wants to process it first and then she will tell me.”

  “It’s a slow process, darling. Eva is trying to come to terms with everything. She was used to the constant pain, and now there’s nothing there. She’s expecting something to happen, but when it doesn’t… She’s worried it will. She knows it won’t, but that’s not how the mind works. If you add the gifts, then it becomes an even bigger problem.”

  Zoe stared down at the drawing for a moment. “I’m afraid that one day she will see something that will scare her.”

  “Yes, there is that possibility. So far she’s seen all good things, right?”

  Zoe nodded. “I think so.”

  “Has she seen anything that frightened her?”

  “Last week I woke up to find her looking out the window early in the morning. She didn’t hear me when I called her name. I had to get out of bed and touch her for her to respond to me.”

  “What was that about?”

  “She just said she was overwhelmed with all of it and trying to understand it.”

  “You don’t believe her?”

  “I do. Eva never lies to me. If she doesn’t want to tell me something, she just says ‘I don’t want to talk about it.’ I know not to push her when she says that.”

  “You’ve very perceptive.” Tessa put her hand over Zoe’s arm. “A lot of people would persist and just push until told.”

  Zoe shook her head. “That doesn’t work with Evy. She didn’t say that to me, so I know it’s not that, and I believe her. She is overwhelmed by it all. Her life, our lives have changed. It would have been worse if you were not around or if Aunty Jana was not around.”

  “Yes, that would have been extremely difficult. Finding yourself seeing visions is disconcerting, and you question your own sanity,” Tessa explained. “Having Jana and myself here, we are teaching her how to channel her emotions and deal with what she is seeing.”

  “It must be so terrifying. I told her what happened with the brass lamp.”

  “You did?”

  “We have no secrets, Aunt Tessa. We don’t. I told her on the day Mama Saint healed her because it was the right thing to do. She was upset that she nearly had the lamp hit me, but it didn’t happen. Mama Saint was there to stop it. That’s all. She understood it and we had a good cry over it.”

  “That’s the way to deal with it. You have a very good relationship, and being honest is the way you should continue to be with each other.”

  Zoe nodded. “Eva likes to have control, and this is the most unsettling part of it. The last thing she needs is for me to lie to her. I’ve never lied to her and she doesn’t lie to me.”

  Tessa smiled knowingly. “No control can sometimes be good. She has to learn that not having control over your environment doesn’t always mean it’s horrible.”

  “I think that part is not to her liking.”

  “Being a parent will also teach you that you have lost control of everything once those precious souls come into the world.” Tessa laughed, and her laugh echoed in the now empty waiting room. “When you’re a mother, the little being that you gave birth to has all the control.”

  “I suspect Eva will be very happy for that to happen,” Zoe said and joined Tessa in laughing. “She is so much in love with these babies. I think I’m going to learn how to speak Italian by listening to her reading to my belly. I found myself mouthing the words before she said them the other day. My French is terrible, but give it a few more months.”

  “You will be able to speak to the babies in French and Italian yourself!”

  “Aunt Tessa, can I ask you something?”

  “Of course. What’s on your mind?”

  “I don’t understand the purpose of these gifts,” Zoe mused. “I just don’t understand why God can’t do it Himself. He is the almighty and doesn’t need humans to achieve His goals. Why put humans through this?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “It’s just very strange,” Zoe replied. The door opened and Stella’s patient walked out and gave her a little wave before leaving the doctor’s surgery.

  “Hello, my favorite niece.” Stella put her arm around Zoe. She turned to Tessa with a smile. “Hello, my favorite wife.” She gave her a kiss before ushering Zoe into her room. “Now, I had a chat to Dr. Pappas…”

  “I told her that my aunty is a doctor and that I wanted her to look after the babies.”

  “Please, tell me you were not as blunt as that?”

  Zoe smiled. “No, not nearly as blunt, but Dr. Pappas understood and said she would talk to you.”

  “She did talk to me, and we are sharing you.” Stella chuckled as Zoe sat down. She brought over her own chair and sat in front of her. “Now, how are you feeling?”

  “I’m tired easily and I get very emotional.”

  Stella smiled. “What do you do?”

  “The other night Evy was talking about the nursery at the new house and I just started crying. It was nothing.”

  “How did Eva react?”

  Zoe sighed. “Eva’s become a pregnancy expert. She’s been reading every book ever written on the subject. She just stopped, put her arm around me, and waited for me to stop blubbering.”

  Stella took Zoe’s hand and held it. “It’s perfectly normal to feel that way.”

  “It’s quite draining to cry for nothing. I also go to the bathroom a lot. My breasts are bigger.” Zoe giggled. “Evy...erm…never mind…” She felt a flash of heat on her face when she realized she had said more than needed to be said.

  Stella put her arm around her. “Darling, trust me, that’s nothing to be embarrassed about. When Tessa—”

  Zoe put her hands over her ears. “No, I don’t want to hear it.”

  Stella chortled. “You can take your hands away from your ears. I was teasing you.”

  “That’s just mean.”

  “Yes, it is.” Stella nodded. “But it was funny. Now, are you experiencing heartburn?

  “No.”

  “Nothing?”

  “No. If I didn’t know better, I would have said I wasn’t pregnant. Eva is just being so good about it all. Eva has stopped throwing up now. She told me this morning she’s got heartburn.”

  “It’s a good thing Saint Theresa healed her, or else this would be impossible for her. Is her dizziness gone?”

  “Hm.” Zoe nodded. “She got up this morning too fast and was a little unsteady, but she was fine.”

  “She’s gone to work today?”

  “Yes. She went to resign in person even though she didn’t have to. She said that it’s about perceptions and that it would appear strange if she went to work on Lambros Steel without people seeing she is fine. She knows people will be talking about her and that everyone is interested in her recovery. We are still getting cards from people at work, which is so nice.”

  “That’s a very good tactic. Other than the throwing up and heartburn, is she alright?”

  “She’s taken to photographing me and my belly.”

  “I used to measure Tessa’s belly every day. It drove her crazy,” Stella said with a chuckle.

  “Have you spoken to Dr. Pappas about the delivery? I want Eva in the delivery room with me…”

  “Yes, I’ve spoken to her about that, and you know they don’t normally allow fathers there, but as Eva has said many times, money talks. The hospital has agreed to allow your sister-in-law in there with you and your aunt Tessa.”

  “That’s what we want. Did they cause too much of a fuss?”

  Stella shook her head. “Once they knew that Mrs. Eva Lambros from Lambros Steel wanted it done that way, they didn’t hesitate.”

  “No, I’m sure they didn’t. They want her on the board
and all sorts of things. What about Alex and Tommy?”

  “Dr. Pappas is amenable to Alexandra and Tommy being your nurses, so that’s not a problem.”

  “Eva’s going to be so happy about that! I’m happy I’m going to have Evy in the room with me.”

  “Now,” Stella said and picked up the pink stethoscope from her desk, “do you want to hear the babies’ heartbeat?”

  Zoe nodded vigorously. “Yes, please!” She lay back down on the examination table, allowing Stella to place the stethoscope on her belly. She squirmed a bit at the touch of the cold instrument, and watched Stella’s face as she listened to the babies.

  “Hmm,” Stella mumbled.

  “What’s the matter?” Zoe asked, a little frightened by Stella’s frown.

  “Nothing’s the matter. Shh for a moment.”

  The last thing Zoe wanted to do was be quiet, but she acquiesced. Her own heart started to beat faster while she wondered if her babies were okay and why Stella was making funny noises and frowning.

  “I want you to listen to something.” Stella took off the stethoscope and put it on Zoe, positioning the earpieces. “What can you hear?”

  Zoe smiled when she heard a distinctive thumping noise. It sounded to her like a galloping horse. “It sounds like I’m giving birth to a horse!”

  Stella looked up and grinned. “That’s the baby’s heart. Baby number one. What about here?” Stella moved the stethoscope a little bit to the right. “What can you hear?”

  Zoe smiled. “Two horses!” She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Two babies,” she said, not quite believing it. She knew she was carrying twins, but now was the real proof that there were two little souls growing inside her. “Eva is going to be overjoyed. I can’t wait for her reaction to this. She gets emotional when she plays ‘poke Mama’s stomach,’ so I’m not sure what she’s going to do when she hears them.”

  “Sit her down first before you let her hear them,” Stella said. “It’s easier for you if you don’t have to pick her up off the floor,” she said with a gentle laugh. “Excellent. Now I want to talk to you about taking care of yourself and the precious babies you are carrying.”

  With Stella’s help, Zoe climbed off the table. She ran her hands through her hair and took a deep breath. She put her hands over her belly and smiled down at her two babies growing inside her. She looked up to find Stella smiling at her. She was eager to rush over to Eva and let her hear the babies. She couldn’t wait to see the look on her face.

  CHAPTER 44

  Eva rubbed her temple with her fingers as she entered the office. She didn’t want to go anywhere near the External Affairs building, but she found herself in that area. She understood the need for people wanting to stop her, but it had become too much for her. Total strangers wanted to hug her, and she needed every ounce of her patience to deal with everyone’s attention.

  She was back at the cottage and entered to find Debbie chatting to Jana. They looked up and smiled. Jana patted Debbie on the shoulder and took Eva by the elbow. They entered Eva’s office and closed the door.

  “Sit,” Jana quietly ordered. Eva acquiesced. “I can only imagine the gauntlet you had to go through. I’m sorry, sweetheart; I could have taken those forms up myself. Why didn’t you wait?”

  “Ugh…I just wanted them done.”

  “Oh, I’m sorry.” Jana put her arm around her. “I know you dislike all the attention and people hugging you. You look like you have a headache.”

  “Hm.” Eva nodded. “It’s not just that. It’s the nausea that’s causing my head to ache.”

  “It’s not easy being pregnant.”

  Eva half smiled at the joke. “This will pass, and soon we will have two beautiful babies. It’s worth a little throwing up.”

  “I’ve done my fair share of throwing up.” Jana laughed lightly.

  “You don’t mean you…”

  “Oh, no.” Jana shook her head. “My child bearing days stopped relatively early. Oh, goodness, two thousand years of having monthlies? Imagine that,” she said with a little chuckle, causing Eva to smile. “Other than over eager colleagues, have you been doing your homework?”

  Eva smiled and nodded. “I’m trying. It’s a hit and miss affair.”

  “Would you like some tea?” Jana asked. On seeing Eva’s acceptance, Jana poured the hot liquid from the teapot that was sitting on her desk into two cups. She gave one to Eva, who gratefully accepted.

  “I know it’s not easy. Some of the gifts would be easier to control than the others. It’s early days. Have you noticed any changes in the way you perceive people?” Jana asked as she gazed at Eva.

  “I don’t understand,” Eva said as she brought the cup to her lips and took a sip.

  “When you see Zoe, how do you feel?”

  Eva’s face creased into a huge smile. “I get this feeling of absolute peace and security when I see her.”

  “All the time?”

  “Yes.”

  “Have you always felt that way?”

  Eva pursed her lips in thought and looked away. “No. I thought Zoe would be the one to put an end to my sorry excuse for a life. I taunted her and pushed her every way possible, but here I am. I knew she could kill me, but there was a part of me that didn’t believe she would, if that makes any sense.”

  “That was your precognitive gift, which you already had but didn’t know about it. We’re not talking about that.”

  Eva furrowed her brow. “I’m not sure if this is what you mean, but I’ve always felt that with Zoe. It hasn’t changed.”

  “Is that right? Hm. That’s interesting. Did you have that feeling with Tessa when you first met her?”

  Eva shook her head. “No. I was nervous about meeting her, but I wasn’t at ease.”

  “So you felt safe with Zoe in the middle of a war zone?”

  “There are two periods in Zoe’s life—one before and the other one after her mother was killed. Zoe was an annoying presence when I saw her for the first time. She was keeping watch on the house Muller had commandeered for us. Her cousin lived across the street, and that was the perfect place to monitor the guards. That’s where she was most days. I can still remember hearing her voice drift over to me when she called me a cripple.”

  “That sounds brutal.”

  “It was the truth. I was recovering from the bomb blast in Paris and learning to walk again. She said it loud enough in Greek for everyone to hear. I understood what she said because I could speak Greek. That young Zoe was living up to what her father wanted her to be: a brave partisan, like the ones in the stories she had heard during the War of Independence. She was annoying but not dangerous.”

  “And then it all changed when Muller killed her mother?”

  “Yes. Gone was the annoying child, and in her place was a bitter and extremely angry woman. She was out for blood and she became a formidable Resistance member. I taunted Zoe so many times because I wanted her to kill me. As determined as she was to kill me, even when we were working together, I found myself feeling safe. It was the oddest feeling.”

  “Hm. That’s very interesting. All right. I’ll be back in a moment,” Jana said and left the room. Eva was on her own for a few minutes, and then Jana came back with a photograph in her hand. “Tell me what you sense when you see this photograph.”

  Eva took the photograph and gazed at it. It was of a woman with two children beside her, smiling and holding a parcel in her hand. “It’s a nice photo. Am I supposed to feel something?”

  “You tell me?” Jana asked as she looked at Eva intently, waiting for the answer. “What do you feel?”

  “Is this a test?”

  “If you want to think of it that way, yes, but I want to see if you have one particular gift.”

  “Um…” Eva gazed at the photo. “The woman looks uneasy…”

  “Do you know this or are you guessing?”

  “Um…guessing.”

  Jana nodded. “It’s alright. I’m actually
relieved you are not showing signs of this particular gift,” she replied with a smile. “This woman was arrested two weeks ago for collaborating with the Nazis. She sent twenty Jews to their deaths by alerting the police to their hiding places.”

  “Wow.”

  “The children are not her own.”

  Eva looked at Jana and blinked. “If I had known about this woman, what would that mean?”

  “It would mean your abilities have progressed beyond precognition.”

  “You mean when I can sense someone is looking at me?”

  “Yes. Non gifted ones have this ability, in some way, but yours is enhanced.”

  “What if I had what you were looking for?”

  “You would have my gift, which so far has only occurred once before. When I was a child, I had a very sensitive precognitive ability. Whether it was through the Holy Ghost or by Jesus’ blood, I’m not sure, but I found after His death, I could see those who walked in the darkness.”

  “When Zoe told me what you said during…”

  “The Big Reveal.”

  Eva laughed and nodded. “Zoe has a name for everything. Yes, she calls it ‘The Big Reveal Night.’ I’m really glad I wasn’t awake because it would have confused me even more. I just find this gift of yours very frightening.”

  “It is and it isn’t. They can’t touch me, but it affects the lives of normal humans in a very dramatic way. I don’t need to tell you.”

  Eva leaned forward and regarded Jana intently. “Are you trying to see if I have this gift?”

  “Yes. It could be that my normal precognitive ability was influenced by God and that would be where it ends, but it might also happen that another gifted one will also have this ability,” Jana explained as she reached for her cup of tea.

  “How will I know if I have it?”

  “Oh, you will know. There will be no doubt about it.”

  “That sounds ominous.”

  “All the gifts appear ominous, but once you learn to control what you can control, they won’t be difficult.”

  “What use is it?”

  “I believe there is a reason God has given me this gift. I don’t know why, at this point. In time it will be revealed. I’m here to guide you and Tessa, and I leave the rest to God.”