“Does all of this scare you? You’re an immortal, but some of this has to be frightening even for you, right?”
“I would have been very concerned if you were not frightened by all of this. The situation you find yourself in is very different from any other gifted one that came before you.” Jana held Eva’s hand. “They had the gifts early, and as they grew older, the gifts matured. You don’t have that luxury. Everything is new, scary, and overwhelming.”
“When did you know I was gifted?”
“Darling, I knew you were gifted from the moment I saw you as a toddler. I spoke to your mother in Aramaic because I didn’t want anyone listening in to our conversations. What I didn’t know was that you were listening. I had mentioned something to your mother, and before she could respond, you giggled and answered. You were two years old and that is far too young for the gifts to appear. Normally they start showing at five years of age and beyond, but never under five. Each generation is different and the closer we get to God’s ultimate plan, the more intense they become.” Jana tenderly cupped Eva’s cheek. “I’m glad you are walking beside me. Your aunt Tessa and I will be guiding you. I know all of this is overwhelming for you. We will be here every step of the way.”
“This is taking a while to get used to. Sometimes I wonder what’s real and what’s not.”
“In time you will discern what’s real from what’s a dream. That will come with experience.”
***
Zoe looked up into the gray sky and smiled. She couldn’t stop smiling. She didn’t care about the weather or anything else. Her mind was on her babies and how she would tell Eva.
Theo had decided to drive her into town so he could pick up some supplies he had ordered. “You actually heard the babies?” he asked as he put his arm around Zoe’s shoulder.
“I did, and I can’t wait for Evy to hear them.”
“After she hears them, can I?”
Zoe looked up at him and smiled. “You are a goof. Of course you can! The rest of the boys will want to as well. I think I’ll start charging.” She giggled.
She knew that Eva was going to have one heck of a surprise. It was one thing to know they were pregnant with twins, but another thing to actually hear them. She hefted the picnic basket on her arm and walked towards the cottage.
“Hello!”
Zoe turned around on the sound of Emily’s greeting and smiled. “Miss Brandy! How nice to see you.”
“You remembered my name!” Emily said excitedly.
“Of course. How are you?”
“I’m well, thank you, Mrs. Lambros,” Emily replied and turned her attention to Theo. She smiled up at him.
“This is my brother, Theodore Lambros. Theo, this is Miss Emily Brandy.” Zoe glanced at her brother as she made the introductions. She turned back to Emily and found the young woman was looking up at Theo with such a sweet look.
“Mr. Lambros! How nice to see you again,” Emily said and she turned back to Zoe. “I saw Mr. Lambros at the hospital when I went to visit Mrs. Lambros. You look so much alike.”
“Nice to see you,” Theo said slowly in his heavily accented English.
“I’m so happy to see your wife back at work, Mr. Lambros,” Emily said as she tried to enunciate each word without mumbling as most Australians did. Zoe was very impressed with Emily’s courtesy. She wasn’t trying to raise her voice to Theo as if he was deaf. Zoe always found it very bizarre when someone found out they didn’t understand or speak the language well, and they would speak louder. Zoe never understood how talking louder would make understanding a language any better. The Australians were an odd lot, in her opinion.
“My brother’s English isn’t very good,” Zoe explained and she could almost hear Theo’s frustrated groan.
“Oh, that’s alright. I understand what he’s saying.” Emily leaned in and touched Zoe’s arm. “I saw Mrs. Lambros earlier and she looked very well. I love her short hair.”
“You do? She does look good.”
“Well.” Emily took Zoe’s hand in her own. “When Mrs. Lambros started working here, I heard on the grapevine that she was this really cold person, amongst other things…” She turned to Theo. “I’m so sorry, Mr. Lambros, but that’s what they said. Do you understand?”
“He understands,” Zoe mumbled, which got her a gentle poke from her brother.
“I get to hear all sorts of things because most people don’t notice me. I’m invisible most of the time because I’m not really anyone important around here, so they tend to ignore me.” Emily smiled sadly. “Most of the time, the important people don’t even bother to say hello.”
“Oh,” Zoe said, feeling sorry for Emily. “I think your job is very important.”
Emily laughed a little. “I’m only a mail room clerk, but I’m going to night school to be a secretary.”
“That’s a very industrious thing to do,” Zoe reasoned, giving Emily a pat on the shoulder.
“I like that, but I have to be realistic, you know. Only Mrs. Lambros ever greeted me, and that’s even after I ran into her with my mail cart on her first day.”
Zoe grinned. She had heard all the rumors and stories about Eva being cold and aloof, not opening up to anyone, but Zoe knew better. Eva knew the names of the cleaning staff and spoke with them often. It wasn’t that Eva was cold and aloof, it was just that she chose the people she befriended and not the other way around.
“Mrs. Lambros makes me feel like I’m doing a special job,” Emily said with a shy smile. “Oh, okay,” she said quietly. “I have to get going or Mr. Hester will wonder where his mail is, and that cow of a secretary of his will make my life miserable.” She stood and pulled the cart alongside her. “It was nice seeing you again, Mrs. Lambros, and you too, Mr. Lambros. Your wife is a very kind and wonderful woman.”
“Thank you,” Theo replied.
Emily looked down at her watch and sighed. “I have to go now. Thank you for the chat. Maybe when you next come over you’d like to have lunch in the cafeteria?”
“Sure,” Zoe quickly replied before Theo got a chance to say anything.
“I like her, Zo,” Theo said as he watched her leave.
“Hm. Me too. Did you understand most of what she said?”
“Of course.”
Zoe shook her head. “Are you coming in to say hello to your wife?”
“No, I can’t. I have to go and pick up the supplies…”
“And maybe run into Emily again?”
“Zoe! I’m a married man,” Theo replied with a quiet chortle. He kissed Zoe on the cheek and walked off.
“Hmm, Emily Lambros… That is a nice name. I like the sound of that,” Zoe said to herself as she walked down to Eva’s office. She was still shaking her head when she opened the door.
Debbie looked up with a scowl on her face, which was quickly replaced with a smile. “Well, hello, mama bear.”
“Grrr.” Zoe chuckled. “How is the boss?”
“A little overwhelmed by everyone’s attention. She’s been hugged one too many times today.”
“Hm. That’s not surprising,” Zoe said. “I’ve got some lunch for her. Is she in her office?”
“Oh, yes. I hope you brought some chocolate—she needs it.” Debbie laughed.
“Hey, stop talking about me.” Eva leaned against the door and crooked her finger at Zoe. “You, come here.”
“Oh, aren’t we the bossy one.” Zoe waved at Debbie before the door closed. “And you know how much I love that,” she said and stood on her toes to kiss Eva. She put her hands on her chest and frowned. “Evy, that shirt gives off more heat than standing out in the sun, if we had a sun today.”
“Oh, I know,” Eva grumbled. “It wasn’t a good idea to wear this today.”
“Off,” Zoe commanded.
“Um, you may not have noticed this, but I don’t have anything else to wear.”
“Yes, you do,” Zoe replied and unbuttoned her own shirt, which was in reality one of Eva’s shi
rts. The light cream shirt was comfortable to wear, and Zoe appropriated it whenever she could. Eva smiled and shook her head while Zoe unbuttoned the black shirt and removed it from her shoulders, replacing it with the lighter cotton one. “Now you’re going to be nice and cool for what’s left of your day here.”
“I love you,” Eva whispered and kissed her gently. She buttoned the black shirt she had been wearing only a few minutes before. Her hands rested on Zoe’s stomach. She went down on one knee. “Hello there, my babies.” She repeated the greeting in three different languages.
“I don’t want to interrupt your chat with our babies, but Stella said the hospital has agreed for my sister-in-law to be in the delivery room.”
Eva looked up and nodded. “Of course they did. They would be stupid not to, since they want me on the board and we gave them a hefty amount for the private wing.”
“We also have our choice of nurses plus Aunty Tessa. They gave you everything you asked for.”
“Money talks, Zo. As long as we have what we want, I don’t care how much money I give these people,” Eva said. “So, what happened with your latest checkup?” she asked, still on her knees.
Zoe sighed. “Finally,” she muttered.
“Huh? What’s the matter, love?”
Zoe looked into Eva’s puzzled face. “Don’t frown, or you’re going to get worry lines,” she muttered and smoothed out the wrinkles on Eva’s forehead.
“You’re scaring me. What did Aunty Stella say?”
“Well, we have some good news and some bad news,” Zoe said gravely, trying not to burst out laughing at Eva’s serious expression. “The good news is that I’m doing really well. In a few weeks, Aunty Stella thinks the morning sickness—which is really a terrible name for it since it’s not morning sickness at all, but every day at any time—” she stopped when Eva got off her knees and put her fingers to Zoe’s lips.
“You’re rambling.”
Zoe rested her head on Eva’s shoulder, her fingers above Eva’s heart. “Your morning sickness should lessen.”
“That’s the good news?”
“I heard our babies’ hearts.” She lifted her head and looked into Eva’s blue eyes, which went wide. Eva opened her mouth, and then closed it. “Both of them?” she asked.
“Both of them,” Zoe said softly. “Do you want to hear them?”
Eva almost fell down in a rush to make that happen. “Yes! How?”
Zoe pulled the pink stethoscope from her handbag and pointed to the chair. “Sit down, please.”
“Huh?”
“I don’t want you falling over and hurting yourself,” Zoe reasoned, getting a bemused look from Eva.
Eva sat as instructed and placed her hands on her thighs in anticipation. Zoe noticed Eva’s feet were tapping madly. She put the stethoscope in Eva’s ears and placed the other end on her belly.
The look of sheer joy on Eva’s face when Zoe moved the stethoscope to the other side for Eva to hear the other twin was one of unbridled joy.
“Oh.” Eva smiled and closed her eyes. She placed her hands on Zoe’s belly as she listened to the heartbeats. Eva looked up into Zoe’s face in awe. “Wow.”
CHAPTER 45
Zoe sat alone in Eva’s office, since Eva had one last thing to do before they left. Eva was not happy that she had to run up to that building again. Zoe sat at Eva’s desk and sketched her favorite subject. Eva was the subject of a lot of her art, something Eva had finally given up trying to convince Zoe not to do. She looked up to see the door open and Jana enter with a tray containing two tea cups and some biscuits.
“I thought you might like some afternoon tea,” Jana said and placed the tray on the desk.
“Ooh, Flossy Flutes!” Zoe exclaimed. She licked her lips on seeing the fairy floss topped shortbread. “Eva used to come home smelling of these things. Always made me hungry.”
“Is that when Eva worked at the biscuit factory?” Jana asked as she poured the tea and offered a cup to Zoe.
“Yes. That was hard for her, but I didn’t realize how hard until we went to Berlin and saw where she grew up. Growing up in such a rich area and then having to work in a factory is a big come down.”
Jana gazed at Zoe for a moment, and a slight smile formed at the edges of her mouth. “Did that make a difference to you?”
“It did. I appreciated it back then that she worked in that horrible place for me, but I didn’t realize how hard it would be for her.”
“We all do things that seem impossible or hard. We do it for love.”
“That was a whole lot of love. She didn’t want to leave, and it was only after she found the job in the Interpreter Service that she left,” Zoe said as she took the cup and blew on the hot beverage.
“She did it for you.”
“Yes, but I really didn’t want her to work there. I tried everything to make her stop.”
“What was wrong with the place?”
“It was back breaking work—taking the cookies off the assembly line and stacking them in boxes for hours at a time. It was hot and icky. Just a horrible place to work.” Zoe shuddered at the memory. “The smell was the worst. You would think that working around chocolate cookies would be great, but every time I set foot in there, I wanted to throw up.”
“That bad?”
“It was horrendous. How Eva managed to do it, I’ll never understand. She met our friend Earl at the factory on the first day. He really helped her.”
“Hm.” Jana nodded before she sipped her tea. “She did it for you, so you could go to school and be an artist.”
“She worked so hard, and every time I told her to stop and get another job she would just shake her head.”
“Have you always wanted to be an artist?”
Zoe sipped her tea and nodded. “For as long as I can remember.”
“When did you get your first pens?” Jana asked, bringing her tea to her lips and watching Zoe over the rim.
“I was eight years old and the gypsies had come to town. It was very colorful and I was mesmerized by it all. My mother bought me my first pencils.”
“That must have been very exciting for you.”
“It was and it still is. I’ve always wanted to be an artist, and nothing else interested me enough to pursue it,” Zoe explained as she rolled the pencil she was holding between her fingers. “What did you want to do?”
Jana stopped for a moment, her eyes unfocused as she thought about the question. “I wanted to travel to see the world. That was my secret desire, but it wasn’t going to happen.”
“So what did happen?”
“I got married and had three beautiful babies. I was a dutiful wife.”
“That’s different from seeing the world.”
“It was a come down from what I wanted to do, but it was expected of me. Women didn’t travel the world. I met our Lord on the day of Theresa’s funeral. When we saw Him resurrect Theresa, my husband, Caleb, and I knew we had found the Messiah. The proof he was the Messiah was in front of us and my sister was alive.”
“Didn’t that scare you to see Theresa alive?”
“No. I was happy I got my sister back and excited that the Rabbi we heard so much about was, in fact, the real Messiah. That’s what faith is, Zoe. We have to have faith in what we saw that it was the real thing.”
“Sometimes faith is not enough. It’s no secret I don’t trust God, and as much as I see what is going on, I think there is something else more sinister involved here. Why did God pick you, or Theresa, Tessa or Eva? Why all of you?” Zoe animatedly spread out her arms and waved them about. “What purpose do these gifts have?”
“Wise King Solomon—”
“Did you know him?” Zoe cheekily asked and smiled when Jana poked out her tongue at her.
“You’re funny. No, I didn’t have the pleasure of knowing King Solomon. He was a bit before my time. He wrote something that I think you know but I like to read.” Jana took out a small book from her pocket and flicke
d the pages. “To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven, a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together.” She stopped and looked up at Zoe. “There’s a whole bunch of a time to do, but these last three are most important,” she said quietly and continued to read. “A time to keep silence, and a time to speak; a time to love, and a time to hate and a time of war, and a time of peace.”
“In other words, shut up, Zoe, because God knows the time?”
“Yes.”
“No, that doesn’t work for me. I will always question and never stop until I get the answers. I don’t trust God to give me what I want,” Zoe said trying to take the sting out of her words since she was speaking to one of God’s chosen. “If Evy is one of His chosen, even by default because of who her ancestors were, there has to be a reason. I can’t sit back and say ‘I have faith that God will tell me.’ It’s been nearly two thousand years. Isn’t that enough time for God to have revealed it to you all?”
“The concept of time is different to God. It’s different to me as well compared to you.”
“That must be so hard for you.”
“Yes, it’s hard, but our Lord didn’t say it was going to be easy. I chose this path. We all do what we have to do.”
“You chose this path? You chose to be an immortal?”
“No, but—”
“You didn’t choose to be an immortal—God chose. You chose to go into a room with fellow believers. You didn’t choose to get the Holy Ghost—it chose you. Eva didn’t choose to be gifted. I want to know why.”
“You are right, but I chose to remain faithful. I chose to walk in the footsteps of Christ. I chose not walk into the darkness,” Jana explained.
“Could you have been turned to the other side?”
“Of course. That’s how Lucifer became who he is. He embraced his darkness and abandoned the light. We all have free will.”
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