Hidden Truths (Intertwined Souls Series Book 3)

by Mary D. Brooks

  “Larissa,” Eva replied, giving the photo back to him. “Zoe saved my life.”

  “The bullet scar on your shoulder?” Dr. Salvatore asked.

  “Nothing slips by you, does it?” Eva gently teased. “Yes, I got that just before the war ended for both of us.”

  “Hmm. God was looking out for you.”

  Eva looked up into the heavens and contemplated how true that statement was. “Do you believe in guardian angels?”

  “I used to believe in God and guardian angels, but not anymore. There is no God, and there are no guardian angels. This God took my Katarina. Why should I believe in Him?”

  “I used to think that too, but He sent me a guardian angel when I thought He wasn’t there.”

  “You are lucky. Not many people heard from God, and His angels were not working.”

  “The angels were doing overtime during the war,” Eva said quietly.

  “Too many stars in the sky, too many stars,” Dr. Salvatore said as he gazed up into the heavens.

  They watched the stars for a while.

  Eva glanced at her watch. “I have to go because my guardian angel will be most upset if I’m later than I already am.”

  “Yes, it's good to have someone to go home to.” Dr. Salvatore clasped Eva on the shoulder. He gazed at her and then gave her a hug. They parted and he kissed her on the cheek. “Take good care of her, Eva.”

  “I always do, Vito,” Eva replied. “May I suggest you close the door or you're going to get a cold?”

  “Yes, yes, Mama,” he replied as Eva shook her head.

  “Good night, Vito.” Eva smiled and walked off the deck and down the corridor. “Good night, my darling Katarina,” Dr. Salvatore said quietly as the door closed from the deck.

  Eva stopped and smiled.

  Eva quietly opened the door, hoping not to wake Zoe, as it was well past midnight. She smiled on seeing Zoe sleeping sitting up on a chair, the book she was reading on her lap. She watched her for a few moments as the light from the nightstand cast Zoe in shadows.

  She put down her bag and went quietly to Zoe's side. “Zoe,” she whispered.

  Zoe stirred, opened her eyes, and smiled. “Hi.” She rubbed her eyes.

  “Were you waiting for me?”

  “Uh huh. I thought I would read a bit but I must have dozed off.” Zoe got out of the chair. “You look tired. Did you get all of them printed?”

  Eva nodded and put her arms around Zoe's waist. “Yes. I'll take them down tomorrow.” She couldn't help a yawn from escaping.

  Zoe smiled. “I think it's time for bed, huh? You are a bit late.”

  “Yes,” Eva replied. “I found Vito outside gazing at the stars.”

  “Out in this cold?”

  “I don’t think he was feeling the cold. He was saying goodnight to his Katarina.”

  “Who?”

  “His wife,” Eva replied, and went into the bathroom. “He lost her during the war.”

  “Oh, that's sad,” Zoe said as she leaned against the door.

  “Hmm, he apologized to me,” Eva mumbled as she brushed her teeth and gave Zoe a smile.

  “Why?”

  Eva rinsed her mouth out. “For going after you.”

  “Oh gosh, Evy, you didn't—”

  “No, of course I didn’t say anything. He did. It seems you have a twin, or had a twin.”

  “Huh?”

  “Katarina looked like you so much that he thought it was you when he first saw you. The red hair, the green eyes, the smile.” Eva smiled. “My kind of woman.”

  Zoe laughed. “I have a thing about tall, dark-haired, blue-eyed women.”

  “Women?” Eva raised her eyebrow.

  “Woman. Just one.” Zoe pulled Eva out of the bathroom and wrapped herself around her. “Absolutely just one.”

  “Oh, good.” Eva kissed her. “So are you going to keep me?”

  “Hmm.” Zoe tapped her finger against her chin and looked up into Eva’s eyes. “Oh, absolutely. I don't have the time to break in a new wife.”

  Eva yawned again, and Zoe giggled as she tried to stifle her own yawn. “You're tired; let's go to bed. I've been thinking, Evy...”

  “Am I in trouble?” Eva asked.

  “Have you done anything to be in trouble?”

  “No, I've been good,” Eva replied. She stopped before removing her shirt. She smiled as Zoe started on the first button. “I like it when you do that.”

  “You do, huh?” Zoe looked up and caressed Eva's cheek. “I like undressing you.”

  “I know.” Eva chuckled as Zoe removed her shirt and slacks. She leaned against the top bunk while Zoe folded her shirt and set it aside.

  Zoe put her arm around Eva's waist as they snuggled together in the bunk.

  Eva drifted off but then remembered what Zoe had said. “What were you thinking about?”

  “EHZL Studios,” Zoe mumbled.

  “EHZL Studios? What kind of name is that? Sounds like a disease.”

  “That's our new photography studio and art gallery, Eva Haralambos Zoe Lambros.” Zoe grinned. “It doesn't sound like a disease.”

  “Want another name.”

  “When we get back, I think it would be a good idea to open one, and we’ll find a good name.”

  “We don't have time to manage a studio. I’ll still be working at the Immigration Department.”

  “No, you won’t be.”

  “What?” Eva asked, trying to keep her eyes open.

  “I’ve listened to so many stories from the returning refugees. I’ve spent time with them, and they all talk about what if and what should have been,” Zoe explained. “We both know life is so very short and we don’t know what will come.”

  “We have always known that, love.”

  “I know, but I’ve seen you these last four weeks and you have been so happy. You have been in love with what you do. That makes me happy too. I want you to be this happy every day.”

  “I am.”

  “No, you are not. You come home from that place and some days you hardly say two words because of all those stories you hear. They are sad and they make you sad.”

  “What do you want me to do?”

  “I want you to do what makes you happy. Photography makes you happy.”

  ”Zoe, we have a mortgage and—”

  “I know, but I’m going to sell all the properties I own in Larissa. Yes, it is my inheritance, but I know Mama and Papa would want me to be happy.”

  “But—”

  “Bricks, wood, mortar, and dirt won’t make me happy. I can never forget my family, and I don’t need buildings or fields to remind me.”

  “Okay,” Eva sleepily replied.

  “The money would give us some good capital.” Zoe looked up. “I’ve been having this dream that you owned your own studio and I had the art gallery. It's something we both want.”

  “What about Mrs. Muldoon’s job offer?”

  “You really want me to work for a woman that has spied on us?”

  “No.” Eva yawned and tightened her arms around Zoe.

  “So do you think it’s a good idea?”

  “If it will make you happy, my guardian angel, then yes, it’s a good idea.”

  “Your guardian angel?”

  “Hmm, lots of stars in the heavens and my guardian angel,” Eva mumbled as she closed her eyes and drifted off.

  “Oh, you have that so wrong, my love. It’s you who is my guardian angel.” Zoe looked at Eva, the moonlight casting shadows across her face. She pushed herself up and kissed her tenderly on the lips before snuggling back down to sleep.

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  The Arcadia sailed quietly into the seaport of Piraeus, devoid of the fanfare that started her voyage in Sydney. It was a solemn occasion for many of the passengers, who stood quietly—the first time many had returned home since the war.

  Eva stood at the railing, looking out at the sleepy port. It was early in the morning and fishing boats slipped
in and out of the harbour at a leisurely pace—a different scene from 1942. The Italians had been defeated on the Albanian border, but that didn’t stop the German war machine, which crushed the Greek army and occupied Athens and the rest of Greece.

  Against this backdrop, Eva remembered the last time she had sailed into the port, standing at a railing and looking out at the docked ships. She felt a cold chill run up her spine as she recalled the overwhelming feeling of dread that had overcome her then.

  “Very different from when you were here last time,” Zoe whispered to her.

  Eva turned to find Zoe looking up at her. “How did you know what I was thinking?”

  “I just know,” Zoe replied as she looked out at the harbor. “I’ve never been to Athens.”

  “It’s a beautiful city. Well, the bits that I remember.”

  “How long were you here for?”

  “Two days. I was still in bad shape and in no condition to go anywhere. That wasn’t my first trip here- I came with my mother when I was twelve. I want to see some of the places I remember.”

  “Something we have to do. It’s a must.” Zoe smiled as she took Eva’s hand. “We have two days here before we leave for Larissa, so I think it would be a good idea to go to the Acropolis and see the pile of rocks.”

  “You do?” Eva smiled at Zoe’s attempt to distract her from the memories. “They are not a pile of rocks, love.”

  “I know, but that's what Michael called them.” Zoe smiled. “He said his favourite place was where Saint Paul preached to the Athenians. We have to go there. Michael said that if I take the Bible and sit on the steps, I can hear Saint Paul telling them about the one true god.”

  Eva put her arm around Zoe's shoulders. “I love how you want to distract me. Love you,” she whispered in her ear.

  “I will distract you in other more enjoyable ways as well,” Zoe whispered back. “So, it's a date. We will go up to the Acropolis.” She bumped Eva with her hip.

  “We will, but Mrs. Muldoon wants me to interpret for some of the refugees later today since they don’t speak Greek, and they want to—”

  “Let her find someone else.”

  “Zoe, you know it’s part of my job.”

  “Was part of your job. You were rehired as a photographer, not as an interpreter.”

  “Well, she is paying the bills, love, so that means I’m back to being an interpreter.”

  “The sooner we get rid of Mrs. Muldoon the better.”

  “She won’t be disappearing for a while. She will be on the same train to Larissa with the rest of the refugees going back to Thessalonica.”

  Zoe shook her head. “Why do we have to travel with her?”

  “Because you booked it for that time.” Eva smiled and turned away, not wanting to laugh at Zoe’s very sour look.

  “Just my luck we would have Mata Hari on the same trip. Can’t we change the train tickets?”

  “We can try, but Father is expecting us, and if we delay it longer than necessary, you’re going to miss Thanasi’s wedding.”

  “Don’t you mean we will miss Thanasi’s wedding?”

  “They don’t want me there. They are just being courteous to invite me.”

  “Fine,” Zoe replied.

  Eva shook her head. Zoe’s ‘fine’ meant that it wasn’t fine at all. She was well aware that Zoe’s easy capitulation meant she was going to have a battle on her hands in trying to get her way. It was a lost battle, but that wouldn’t stop her from trying to get out of going to the wedding.

  The excited chatter of Greek-speaking people flowed around her, and Zoe gazed up at Eva, who looked less than thrilled to be amongst a large crowd as they disembarked. They went through customs and found themselves on a bus with the rest of the refugees headed to a nearby hotel.

  The bus pulled up to a red brick building, quite unremarkable in appearance. All the passengers got off. Eva went into the building to arrange their stay, and Zoe stayed outside with their luggage and waited for a porter to arrive.

  Zoe gazed up at the Greek flag which fluttered in the gentle breeze and smiled. Her flag. The flag many of her countrymen had fought and died under-The Blue and White. The Motherland. The land of her birth, and she was back.

  “We are home, little sister, we are home.” An older man stood next to Zoe and put his hand on her shoulder. “We are home, at last.” He took off his hat and gazed up at the flag. In a strong voice he started to sing, “We knew thee of old, Oh, divinely restored, By the lights of thine eyes, And the light of thy Sword.” He looked around as a group formed around him and Zoe.

  “From the graves of our slain, Shall thy valour prevail, As we greet thee again- Hail, Liberty! Hail!” everyone sang.

  “Long time didst thou dwell, Mid the peoples that mourn, Awaiting some voice, That should bid thee return, Ah, slow broke that day, And no man dared call, For the shadow of tyranny Lay over all.”

  “While thy raiment was dyed, In the blood of the Greeks,” Zoe sang with her hand over her heart. Tears welled up in her eyes. She turned to find Eva watching her. Zoe smiled and gazed back up at the flag.

  “Yet, behold now thy sons, With impetuous breath, Go forth to the fight,” a young man next to Zoe sang and smiled at her. “Seeking Freedom or Death.”

  Visitors came out of the hotel and stood to attention.

  “From the graves of our slain, Shall thy valour prevail, As we greet thee again-, Hail, Liberty! Hail!” they all sang and as one, and saluted the Blue and White amidst the tears.

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  The porter opened their door and entered with their suitcases. Zoe glanced around the room, which was quite spacious and airy. Against the wall were two single beds and two small bed stands with a lamp on each.

  The two beds could easily be moved together, Zoe mused. The beds on the ship were just wide enough, which allowed them to sleep together, but the single beds in the hotel room were very narrow. Good thing it’s only two days. There was a desk with a reading light near the window and a comfortable-looking recliner next to it.

  She poked her head into the bathroom and grinned at the tub. It wasn't as big as the one back home, but she thought Eva could stretch out in it. She would pamper Eva tonight and let her get some sleep.

  Eva had been working long days and slept fitfully. Zoe was pretty sure it wasn’t the workload but the impending arrival to Larissa. As the days turned into weeks and the ship neared Greece, Eva’s mood had also changed. She had become quieter, which wasn’t unusual, but she stayed up till the early hours of the morning and only slept for a few hours.

  Zoe answered a light knock on the door.

  The young man who had assisted her to their room smiled at her. “The housekeeper said you would like some more towels.”

  “Ah, thank you, Emmanuel.” Zoe smiled.

  “For a pretty lady like yourself, it's my pleasure,” Emmanuel replied. He was a little taller than Zoe with mousy brown hair and twinkling brown eyes. “You're not with Mrs. Muldoon’s group, are you?”

  “No, I'm with my friend Eva.”

  Emmanuel gave her a blank look.

  “The tall, dark-haired woman. You can't miss her.”

  “Oh! Yes, she’s very tall. Has nice eyes.” Emmanuel grinned.

  “Yes, she does.” Zoe nodded.

  “And you have beautiful green eyes.” Emmanuel looked around and smiled. He quickly turned back to Zoe. “If you have some free time, would you like to see the sights with me?”

  “That’s very sweet of you, but Eva and I will be going out. We only have two days here in Athens.”

  “Let me know if you need a guide.” Emmanuel flashed her a quick smile and strode past Eva in the corridor.

  Zoe took Eva’s hand, pulled her inside the room, and closed the door.

  “I think you've won another one, Zo,” Eva joked as Zoe put her arms around her waist. “Not that I blame him.”

  “You're seeing things.” Zoe snuggled up in Eva's embrace and si
ghed, then looked up into tired blue eyes. “Emmanuel brought up some towels. Here's the plan. Let's take a bath.” She undid Eva's shirt buttons, pulled the shirt off her shoulders, and let it fall. “Then I'm going to give you a nice soothing massage, and you are going to sleep because you haven’t been sleeping.” She put her arms around Eva, unclasped her bra, and let it fall to the floor.

  “Yes, I have.”

  “Three hours of sleep isn’t sleeping. It’s snoozing.”

  “That’s sleeping,” Eva protested as she removed the rest of her clothes.

  Zoe brought her down for a kiss, her hands entangled in Eva's dark hair. She let out a contented little moan and broke off the kiss.

  “Time for some pampering.”

  “You, me, bath. I like that idea,” Eva replied, getting another kiss.

  “Oh, yes. Come with me, Miss. H.” Zoe took Eva's hand and walked into the bathroom.

  Zoe leaned against the window, gazing at the view of Athens stretched out before them. In the distance she could see the famed Mount Olympus—the home of the gods. She smiled when she thought of her childhood and the stories her brother used to read to her about Zeus and the rest of the pantheon. It was a lifetime ago. The child that believed in mythological gods and their deeds was long gone.

  She gazed back at the bed and smiled. Eva was sleeping soundly, her dark hair framing a face that looked very tired. She was sleeping on her stomach and wearing only a singlet and her underpants despite Zoe’s urging to wear pajamas in case they needed to get out of the hotel in a hurry. Eva merely laughed and ignored the pajamas.

  They'd had a bath in between kissing and cuddling. They were both too exhausted to go further, and Zoe was anxious to get Eva out of the bath and into the bed so she could give her a massage. It didn't take long for Eva to fall asleep while Zoe massaged her back.

  Zoe had pulled up the blankets and watched her sleep. She was tired, but too excited about where she was to get any sleep. She turned back to the window and watched the sky turn dark and the stars begin to twinkle.

  “Zo?”

  Zoe turned and met sleepy blue eyes. “Why aren't you asleep?”

  Eva blinked a few times. “Come to bed.”