[Intertwined Souls 05.0] No Good Deed

by Mary D. Brooks

  “Money talks.”

  Eva nodded. “Money talks, Zoe. Money talks and everyone listens. You wanted me in a private ward in another hospital when I had the accident. If I was anyone other than Eva Lambros, Heiress to the AEMullerStahl fortune, there would be no way you would have got me into that private ward. I was someone important to them. This is the same thing. I’m going to take advantage of it.”

  “Why can’t I give birth at home?”

  Eva sighed. “No. Didn’t we discuss this for some time? You’re having twins, love. If we were only having one baby, I’m sure we could do it at home, but it’s a bit tricky with two.”

  “Oh, but how did they manage when there weren’t any hospitals?”

  “A lot of babies died,” Eva replied. “I want our money to talk and I’m going to use that to get my way.”

  “Hm, I like the feisty you.” Zoe giggled.

  Eva laughed and took Zoe’s hand. She brought it to her lips and kissed it. “Nothing is going to stop me being present at the birth of our babies. Nothing.” She handed the letter to Zoe.

  “It’s in German, and what’s this? It’s unopened.” Zoe held up a second envelope.

  “It’s pictures.”

  “Why didn’t you open them?”

  “Read the letter, Zo,” Eva whispered as she rested her cheek against Zoe’s shoulder and her arm encircled Zoe’s stomach. “You can read German. Try it, and if you find a word you can’t read, show me.”

  Zoe took the letter and straightened it out. “Are you comfortable?”

  “Yes, very much,” Eva replied and gently tapped on Zoe’s stomach.

  Moments later her gentle tap was answered.

  “I’m really glad the three of you are having fun.” Zoe giggled and turned her attention to the letter.

  “My dearest Eva, I hope this letter finds you on the road to a speedy recovery. Your last letter was a little shocking. How does one hit one’s head on a bucket?” Zoe read with a smile. “I don’t think that has ever happened to me, so you will just have to tell me.”

  Eva looked at Zoe, who had stopped. Zoe’s mouth moved, forming the words. “Are you going to share?”

  Zoe tapped her lightly on the head with the letter and continued to read. “We are looking forward to seeing the both of you on our grand honeymoon visit. Our wedding was a wonderful event. Your new aunt can fill you on the frilly details, but I can tell you that I had been dreaming of this day for a long time.”

  Zoe chortled. “He is funny,” she said before returning to the letter. “We will be arriving by airplane in October. We are looking forward to spending time with you and Zoe. We were thrilled to learn Zoe was pregnant, and I’m looking forward to becoming a Great Uncle for the first time. Eva, there is another matter I wish to discuss with you that needs your attention. I know this is difficult, but your decision is needed.” Zoe noticed Eva had stopped playing with the babies, and her hand that was splayed across Zoe’s belly had stilled.

  “As you know, the War Crimes investigations into Dieter and Mother have continued even though they are now both dead. They are eager to catch as many as those involved. They have arrested two doctors, Dr. Ingrid Durr…” Zoe stared at the paper.

  “It’s alright if you don’t want to read further.”

  Zoe ran her hand through Eva’s hair and kissed the top of her head. “No, I’m fine,” she said softly and went back to the letter.

  “Dr. Ingrid Durr and Dr. Karl Hoch, and they are going to be tried for crimes against humanity. It is going to be a long process. Last week we made a gruesome discovery...” Zoe stopped when she saw Eva take a deep breath. Zoe didn’t want to continue but she needed to. For Eva’s sake she needed to know. “Last week we made a gruesome discovery. The investigators found a mass…grave.” Zoe’s voice wavered. Eva looked up at her and blinked.

  “Stop, Zo.”

  “No, I need to read this,” Zoe responded softly and continued, “We found a mass grave towards the southern wall. I was shocked by what the investigators found. I gave them all the records. Yours is amongst them because I felt it necessary for the true horror of this place to be revealed. I’m sorry for doing this without your consent, but these bastards need to pay for their crimes. I know you wanted this hell-on-earth to be demolished and obliterated, but we can’t do that.”

  Zoe wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. Eva was quiet. The babies were quiet as well, as if they were aware of what was going on.

  “There is another reason we shouldn’t. This decision is going to be hard and it will be painful. A man approached me representing a group of survivors who want the building to be turned into a memorial. I told them of our plans, but they begged me to reconsider. I cannot make this decision, Eva. This is your property and it should be your choice. I will stand with you whatever choice you make. Please, think about this. I will understand if you want to demolish the place.”

  Eva looked up at Zoe. Her blue eyes glistened. “Do you want to obliterate it from the face of the planet?”

  “I want to, but who will remember those that didn’t walk out, Zo?”

  “They will be remembered. You don’t need to keep that building for people to remember.”

  “I know,” Eva quietly responded and went back to lying against Zoe’s shoulder. She remained quiet for a few moments. “I have this recurring dream… I’m standing inside the gates of the hospital and I’m looking out. I can’t go forward, and I can’t go back. I am stuck looking out the gate.”

  “You’re frozen in time?”

  Eva took a deep breath. “It feels that way.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “It’s a vision, love.” Eva looked at Zoe. “I had a vision last night in my office. I thought it had been a dream all this time, but it hadn’t. It was the same vision. I was looking out past the gate. It was me and I was back in Aiden. I was a few steps away from walking out but I couldn’t move my legs.”

  “What does it mean?”

  “I need to leave that god forsaken place, the Bauer Medical Research Facility, on my own. I need to walk out on my own. I need to do this, because if I don’t, I’ll never be able to leave up here.” Eva tapped the side of her head. “I want to leave that hellhole where it belongs. I don’t want to revisit it. As much as I don’t want to think about it, I keep thinking about it.”

  “It’s part of your life and it changed you.”

  “Hannah says in order to move forward, I need to leave Aiden behind, but I don’t know how I can do that. Walking out of the place is a good way to do it.”

  Zoe nodded. “When we were in Larissa, Aunty Tessa said that you needed to walk out of Aiden and that you hadn’t done so.”

  “Yes. I need to walk out. That’s what I’m going to do.”

  “You want to go back to Aiden and then walk out of that hell-hole?”

  “When the investigators are finished. I want to obliterate that building and pulverize those bricks. We will open a memorial to those that lost their lives at the main hospital grounds, and I want it to be a beautiful garden. All the buildings and the land will be a park. I want it obliterated. They will walk out even if it’s only in spirit; their souls can then rest.”

  “A beautiful garden designed with those that never made it out in mind and for those that did. The place that tortured you and them will no longer exist. I will design it.”

  “You will?” Eva looked up and smiled through her tears.

  “Of course.” Zoe couldn’t stop the tears from falling as she embraced Eva, who was also crying. “We make quite a pair,” she said as she wiped her eyes. “I love you so much, and I know how much this is hurting but—”

  “I need to walk out. We’re going to Aiden.” Eva sniffed. “That’s if you want to come with me.”

  “Do I want to come with you? There isn’t a force anywhere that can stop me from joining you. Our babies will come too. I want them to see how brave their mutti is.”

  “No, I don’t want them
to. It’s just you and me, love. I don’t want our babies to see what evil can do even if they are too young to understand it. I don’t want to expose them to any of it. I never want them anywhere near Aiden.”

  “We will go alone and you will walk out.”

  “I’m afraid that I won’t be able to.” Eva rolled over and took a cigarette pack from her bedside table. She took the ashtray and placed it on the side. She lit a cigarette and took a drag, and then rested her head against Zoe’s shoulder. “In my vision I am rooted to the spot.”

  “Aunt Jana says that your visions are not set in stone. We can change the future. Just because you saw yourself unable to walk out of the gate, doesn’t mean that’s what will happen.”

  “She said that? There is a chance?”

  “Yes, of course. You will walk out when the time comes, Evy. I know you. You will be walking out with your head held high and I will be waiting for you,” Zoe responded. Eva kissed her hand tenderly.

  “I hope you tell my legs that’s what I’m doing.”

  “Not to worry; your legs and your head will talk to each other.”

  “Hm,” Eva murmured. She looked down when one of the babies started to poke. She followed the poke with one of her own and chuckled when it was answered.

  Zoe watched her play with their babies. Her decision was one she never expected, but it was something Eva would do. Zoe’s fingers touched the second envelope. She looked at it for a long moment. “What’s in this envelope?”

  “He says its newspaper reports about the investigation and photographs. Uncle Wilbur sealed it for a reason.”

  “He doesn’t want you to see these and neither do I.”

  “I don’t want to see them.”

  Zoe put the envelope aside and stared at it. “I’m going to see them.”

  “Why?”

  “I am your eyes. There are things you can’t see, and when you can’t do something, I will. When I can’t do something, you do it for me. It’s what we do for each other. I will do this for those that didn’t make it, and more importantly, for you.”

  “I love you, but you have a photographic memory. You remember everything you see.”

  “I know. It’s why I need to see them…long after the paper and the bricks are pulverized, there will be someone who will remember that building and them. I will remember all their names, Evy. The memorial should have everyone’s name on it. Aiden should never forget,” Zoe said quietly. Eva stubbed out her cigarette in the ashtray and turned to her. She cupped Zoe’s face and kissed her passionately.

  CHAPTER 47

  October 10, 1951

  “Are you going to be alright out here, Zo? It’s a little cold.”

  “I’m fine. It’s a little chilly, but I have my blanket and I have my coat. I want to watch you do your GiftDrills when Aunty Tessa gets here.”

  Eva laughed and tucked the blanket around Zoe’s body. “GiftDrills?”

  “That’s my new name for the things you are doing.”

  “Alright, I like the name. Tessa won’t be long. Did you have a think about…”

  Zoe sighed. “How many times are we going to discuss this? You are just so determined about this. Alright, I’m going to say yes,” she replied and laughed on seeing Eva’s wide-eyed stare. “Oh, stop looking like that. People would think you go around with a perpetual surprised look on your face.”

  “I just can’t help it. You’ve spent weeks telling me you didn’t want a housekeeper.”

  “I have, and I think we can manage, but…”

  “But?” Eva asked. The corners of her mouth twitched as she tried to stifle a laugh, which only made Zoe giggle.

  “I do love the way you humor me sometimes.”

  “I’m not humoring you. I just love the way your brain works. You deal with one thing, then the next and the next.”

  “Well, I was thinking about this dilemma we are having.”

  “I didn’t think it was a dilemma. It makes sense, Zo. We will be busy with our babies.”

  “I know and I have found a solution,” Zoe said as she gently tapped Eva on the tip of her nose. “You are going to get that housekeeper. Now, this was going to be a surprise, but since you hate surprises, I’ll tell you now.”

  “Alright, I think.”

  “I know how much you love Isabella and how strongly you feel that we need a housekeeper.”

  Eva’s smiled widened. “You want Isabella to come here?”

  “Yes. I had a chat to Jana a few weeks ago and she talked to Percy about getting Isabella to come here as a migrant. She told me today that he had approved it.”

  “You did all that even when I was trying to convince you about the housekeeper?”

  “I did, and I didn’t want to interrupt your mission,” Zoe grinned at Eva’s overly dramatic exasperated sigh. “I loved watching you try and convince me. You are so cute when you beg.”

  “You could have saved me from weeks of coming up with reasons, love.”

  “Yes, I could have, but I loved listening to you. Now that it’s approved, I can tell you. I also wanted to get Aunty Marlene’s approval, which she of course gave, and then there was Isabella to ask if she wanted to come out here.”

  “What did she say?” Eva took Zoe’s hands and held them in her own. She smiled broadly.

  “She wanted to hop on the next ship! She loves you so much. She’s going to come over with Uncle Wilbur and Aunt Marlene in October.”

  “I love Isabella. She was our housekeeper, cook, and my nanny for a long time, and she really took care of me. She loved my mother. After my mother was killed, Marlene took Isabella to her house. Thank God she did, because I don’t think she would have enjoyed working for my grandmother.”

  “I don’t think Satan would have enjoyed working for your grandmother,” Zoe quipped.

  “Thank you, love.”

  “I know you had your heart set on a housekeeper and I can’t resist you when you beg.” Zoe cupped Eva’s cheek with her hand and smiled. “I love it when you beg,” she whispered as Eva leaned into her hand and closed her eyes. “I love you so much.”

  Eva gracefully fell to her knees in front of Zoe. They faced each other and smiled. “Surprise,” Zoe said. Eva entangled her fingers in Zoe’s hair. She leaned down and kissed her passionately.

  “Ahem.”

  Eva, still on her knees, swivelled around to see Tessa smiling at them. “You have great timing.”

  “That’s what Stella always says,” Tessa responded, making Zoe laugh. “Get off your knees and let’s start the drills.”

  “GiftDrills.”

  Tessa put her arm around Eva and laughed as the two walked out into the yard.

  Zoe watched them walk away and smiled. They were able to do the drills in complete privacy, owing to the secluded area their new home was located in. A large block of land housed the two-story house, the stables, and the cottages, and it was surrounded by a brick wall. The estate was accessed through an iron gate that had angels interwoven through the design. It was Zoe’s surprise for Eva, who fell about laughing when she saw it.

  The main house was a two-level beautiful building situated at the back of the secluded estate, surrounded by trees, and in particular Morton Bay fig trees. It had six bedrooms which overlooked the Pacific Ocean.

  The back yard afforded them privacy with the magnificent Morton Bay fig trees lining against either side of the main house and a fence that ran around the yard. The end of the large expanse of lawn was a sandstone wall which separated the property from the cliff top overlooking the sea. The covered veranda ran the length of the house, and it had a cast iron lace fretwork and cast iron railing.

  Zoe was sitting on the orange sofa they brought with them from the old house. It took pride of place on the back veranda despite looking very out of place. The old sofa was a reminder of the days when Eva and Zoe had barely any money and scraped by on a government handout. A gentle sea breeze blew across the yard bringing the cool air towards Zoe. She
was aware of Eva’s worried glance towards her when even a hint of a breeze blew.

  She pulled the collar of her jacket up and watched Eva train.

  “She’s good, isn’t she?”

  Zoe shook her head and let her head drop back against the sofa as Theresa materialized next to her.

  “I thought you were going to play the tambourine to announce yourself?”

  “Now, why would I want to spoil your fun and not see your happy face when you saw me?”

  Zoe chuckled and pulled the blanket around her. “You are just unlike any other saint I’ve ever read about.”

  “Well.” Theresa sniffed. “They don’t write about the fun ones,” she said with a giggle. “Now, how you are you, sweetheart?”

  “I’m getting bigger and I’ve been banned from the second floor. Eva is in super protective Mutti mode.”

  “I don’t blame her. This place is haunted.”

  “What?” Zoe asked in surprise. “What do you mean it’s haunted?”

  “By me,” Theresa said with a smile and then laughed when Zoe shook her head in disbelief. “I like the new house. It’s perfect for the two of you.”

  “We love this place. It’s so peaceful.”

  Theresa put her hand on Zoe’s belly. “I bet you’re getting tired of strangers doing this.”

  Zoe smiled. “You’re not a stranger.”

  “No, I’m not, I’m their thousand times grandmother. Unfortunately I will have to leave until the time is right for my return.”

  “You will be looking over Eva, right? You won’t leave her?”

  Theresa smiled. “See, you miss me already!”

  “Of course I will miss you, but I have another reason why I don’t want you gone forever. I don’t want Eva and Larissa to be without their guardian angel.”

  “You will all continue to have my protection.”

  Zoe nodded. “Will you be in Aiden as well? Looking after her when we go?”

  “Yes, I will be there and I won’t interfere. It’s something Eva has to do on her own. It’s a very courageous decision,” Theresa replied as she put her arm around Zoe. “You’re a little cold.”