“Tommy was supposed to arrive tomorrow, and we were going to sit down and talk to both of you then.”
Zoe got up. “Because Tommy decided to be stupid, I have my Evy in pain in the other room, and she has bruised her back because of nothing.”
“I’m sorry…” Tommy began.
“I don’t know you, but you make a lousy first impression,” Zoe said. “I know how important this is, but I also know keeping this from Eva was wrong.”
“We were trying to find the right time, Zoe. We just didn’t know what the right time was. You can’t spring this on someone,” Stella tried to reason.
“Oh, no. You can’t spring this on her, but that’s exactly what was done.” Zoe sighed. “I’ll have to explain this to her. ‘Oh, Evy, you know last night when you hit your head and your back? That was done by your crazy cousin. The cousin you didn’t know you had and the cousin that was your nurse in Aiden.” Zoe said and worked on keeping her voice low.
Tessa put her arm around Zoe. “Darling, I know you are angry, but I think it has more to do with your fear at the moment that something happened to Eva. Tommy was in the wrong, and Stella and I were in the wrong.”
“Aunty Tessa, this has been a trial from the moment we sailed into Athens. I know you want the best for Eva and for me, but something like this…This is just incredible news.”
“I know. In the morning you can tell Eva, and then Stella and I will be in to have a word.”
Chapter Five
Zoe opened her eyes and immediately closed them against the glare. Sunshine streamed in through the curtains and flooded the room with light. The previous evening’s thunderstorm had disappeared. They had finally gone to bed just a few hours earlier.
Zoe tenderly stroked Eva’s cheek. Even in slumber, the stress and fatigue over the last few days had taken a toll on her. She tucked the blanket around Eva. The pillow that Stella had placed between her knees was still there, and the black back brace stood out against her pale skin. Zoe was annoyed with herself for having forgotten to pack Eva’s own brace.
Zoe rolled out of bed, trying not to make it squeak but she had forgotten how to stop the squeaking. She winced on hearing the squeak. Eva didn’t move and was peacefully asleep.
Zoe put on her robe and slippers and left the room. The house was quiet as she walked into the kitchen. One of the cupboard doors was missing. She imagined Eva’s head colliding with it and winced. Tessa was at the kitchen window, looking outside while cleaning potatoes. Zoe cleared her throat and walked up to her.
“Good morning, sweetie.” Tessa dropped the potato in the sink, picked up the towel, and dried her hands. She kissed Zoe on the cheek. “How are you?”
“I’m tired.” Zoe sat down at the table. “Evy’s still asleep.”
“The sedative will keep her asleep for a little while longer. I’ll make you some tea.”
“Thank you.” Zoe tried to stifle a yawn. “Where are the boys?”
“They went into town to bring back the boxes from Theo’s house,” Tessa explained. “Stella went with them. She had to pick up some groceries.”
“Is Thomas’s shoulder okay?”
Tessa smiled. “Yes, he’s fine. He’s had worse. He shouldn’t have been so reckless. He actually does know better.”
“What kind of nurse is he?”
“He’s a mental health nurse.” Tessa smiled wryly.
“So he was really a nurse when he worked in Aiden?”
“Oh, yes.” Tessa nodded. “He was fully qualified.”
“Hmm.” Zoe accepted the cup and poured some tea from the teapot. “How does he know Theo?”
“Tommy wanted to go help in the battle against the Italians and was a field medic. He wasn’t a doctor but he had the skills to help the soldiers on the frontline. Tommy got captured along with Theo and they spent the war in a POW camp. When they got out, they fought during the Civil War.”
“Did you know they were both alive?”
“No.” Tessa shook her head. “Sometimes my gift helps and other times it falls down on the job. They both ended up wounded during the Civil War and found themselves at Stella’s hospital.”
“Hm. I wish all of this could have been said sooner.”
“I know and we are truly sorry. Eva’s going to be okay.”
“She’s hurting, Aunty Tessa. Not just last night but since we arrived in Greece. I can see her just willing herself to get up and face another day of being here.”
Tessa came to the table and sat down opposite Zoe. “Darling, it’s not easy for Eva whether she is in Sydney or Larissa. She has her memories and those are very powerful.”
“It’s exhausting. I see her try and just deal with her memories. She doesn’t want to say anything, but sometimes she opens up and will talk and other times she just clams up.” Zoe shook her head slowly. “She’s better at talking about how she is feeling.” She smiled. “Sometimes she will tell me before I have a chance to ask.”
“What do you love about her?”
“She has never given up, even when everything was against her,” Zoe said. “I love her courage, her strength, and her faith. She never lost her faith. I lost my faith the day Mama died and I don’t want it back.”
“One day you will get it back. You also see Eva the way most people don’t see her.”
“Yes. Everyone else sees this aloof and cold person, but that’s not Eva.”
“That’s the persona that was born in Aiden.” Tessa touched Zoe’s hand and gently squeezed it. “People can’t hurt you if you don’t let them in.”
“What truly amazes me about her is that despite what they did to her, she still opened her heart to me,” Zoe said shyly. “She gives herself to me. Unconditionally.”
“Do you think that’s hard for her?”
“She says it’s easy with me, but I know it’s difficult. She doesn’t losing control.”
“That’s because in Aiden she had no control. Her life was in someone else’s hands. She trusts you, Zoe, more than anyone in the world. In Eva’s mind she’s still in Aiden, and she needs to have control.”
“Hasn’t she left?”
“No. In her mind she’s still there.”
“How do I get her out of that place?”
“You can’t.” Tessa stroked Zoe’s cheek. “I have seen you in my vision, but meeting you in person, you amaze me. You have a tremendous amount of love to give, but sometimes love is not enough. Eva needs to forgive herself and learn how to deal with Aiden and her pain.”
“How do we do that?”
“You both get some help. Stella and I are here for you, and we think that Stella can give Eva the help she needs.”
“Eva has been talking to Doctor Hannah. I’m not sure if she’s told you about her, but she has helped Evy so much. How can you help her if you live in Thessalonica and we are going back to Australia?”
“Eva has told me about Doctor Hannah, but she needs more than that.” Tessa smiled. “I hear Sydney has a nice weather, which would be good in the summer. I can’t stand the cold winters.”
“You’re coming to Australia?” Zoe grinned. “Really? Doesn’t Aunty Stella have a practice in Thessalonica?”
“She does, but that doesn’t mean she can’t leave. Are people so healthy in Australia that they don’t need a doctor?” Tessa joked.
“Oh, Evy is going to be thrilled.”
“We are not going to Sydney just for Eva, but for you as well.”
“Why?”
Tessa smiled. “You try and hide your pain, but it’s there. Eva supports you and gives you the unconditional love you give her, but there must be days when it becomes unbearable for you.”
Zoe took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. “There are days when I see children with their mothers and I want to scream. I want that—I want my mother back.” Her voice wavered. “I didn’t have enough time with her.”
“Of course you didn’t, sweetheart.” Tessa pulled Zoe into her arms and held her. Zoe sobbed into Tessa�
�s shoulder and Tessa rubbed her back. “I know. You’ve wanted to cry since you got here, but you were being stoic for Eva’s sake.”
“I just couldn’t fall apart. She wouldn’t be able to deal with that right now.” Zoe sniffed back the tears.
“I know.” Tessa wiped Zoe’s tears with her apron. Their eyes met, and she smiled. “That’s why we are going to Australia. For the both of you.”
“I’m really happy. We now have family instead of being just the two of us.”
“You two have done a remarkable job in surviving.” Tessa smiled and cupped Zoe’s cheek. “It’s time you both got a little help and started to heal.”
“That would be good.”
“Of course. When you both are ready I’ll bring in some breakfast.” Tessa looked up at the wall clock. “Make that lunch. You can have that chat with your darling and tell her about Thomas.”
“Oh, that’s going to be interesting. I’ve been thinking about how I’m going to tell her.”
“Well, when you are ready, let me know and I’ll come in and join you.”
“When will Thomas be back?”
“The boys won’t be back for a while. I told them to take their time. The last thing Eva needs is to see Thomas before you’ve told her.”
“Something that should have been done when we got here?”
“I know. I’m sorry.”
“It’s alright.” Zoe put her arms around Tessa. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome, darling. I’m sure Eva will also welcome a nice cool bath after being doused with roses and two days old stinky water,” Tessa gently teased.
Zoe smiled. “That’s the only thing I could find that was heavy enough.”
“It’s alright. We can get another vase and some more roses.” Tessa laughed lightly, causing Zoe to smile. “Now go back to your darling wife.”
Zoe kissed Tessa on the cheek, and took a glass of water and a damp towel with her.
Chapter Six
Zoe entered the bedroom and quietly removed her robe. She came around the bed and put the water and the damp cloth on the bedside table. She looked down at Eva, and then got into bed and lay down facing her. Eva was snoring ever so quietly, and Zoe smiled. She wiped her eyes and sighed.
For the last ten years she had been either alone or with Eva. Father Haralambos came into their lives but only stayed for a little while. It was just the two of them trying to deal with their life. Now they would have Tessa and Stella with them. She sniffed.
“Why are you crying?”
Zoe opened her eyes and gazed into Eva’s sleepy blue eyes.
Eva cupped Zoe’s cheek. “Are you alright?”
“Yes. I got a little emotional earlier.” Zoe took Eva’s hand and kissed it. “How’s the head?” She felt the sizeable bump on the back of Eva’s head and winced. “Ouch.”
“Aren’t you going to tell me what happened?”
“Yes, but not right now. Stella told me to ask you some questions.”
“Alright.” Eva nodded. “I already know my name.”
“What is it?”
Eva smiled. “Eva Lambros.”
Zoe smiled and kissed Eva’s lips. “You got that one right. Recite the words to my favorite song.”
“My heart goes flitter flutter when I gaze into your eyes.” Eva gazed lovingly at Zoe. “My heart goes flitter flutter for you.”
“There is absolutely nothing wrong with you.” Zoe hitched herself up on her elbow and braced her hand next to Eva’s head. She kissed her again.
They parted and smiled at each other.
“That song is imprinted in my brain, love, and even if I had a concussion I would still remember the words. You’ve played it often enough.”
Zoe chuckle. “You are adorable.”
“I’m sorry.”
“What for?”
“I can’t even get some water without making an idiot of myself. First with Stella in the cabin and now this.”
“It’s not your fault, Evy.”
“Yes, it is.” Eva took Zoe’s hand and intertwined their fingers.
“No, it’s not. You were startled by an intruder.”
“A what?”
“Someone else was in the kitchen with you.”
“There was only me, Zo, no one else. I didn’t turn on the light,” Eva explained as she rolled onto her back and winced. “Ugh, that hurts.”
“Please, stop blaming yourself.” Zoe got out of bed and went over to Eva’s side. She sat down, took the damp cloth, and tenderly wiped Eva’s face. She playfully cleaned her dimpled chin, and Eva smiled.
“I smell.” Eva sniffed.
“Dirty rose water.” Zoe wiped Eva’s neck and chest. “I’ll give you a nice cool bath after we’ve had a chat.”
“You’re back to being my maid?” Eva asked as Zoe took the pillow and put it aside.
“When did I ever lose that job?”
“I’m sorry.”
“Evy, stop. Your stupid cousin is to blame.” Zoe kissed Eva tenderly and got into bed next to her. She hitched herself up on her elbow and took Eva’s hand.
“My what?”
“Shh, let me tell you a story. Once upon a time…” Zoe stopped on seeing Eva’s head shake. “Oh stop looking at me like that. Alright, no long story. Last night, while you were getting a drink of water, someone else was in the kitchen.” Zoe put her fingers to Eva’s lips. “Shh, let me finish. Your cousin decided to be funny and surprise Tessa.”
“My cousin?”
“Yes, you have a stupid cousin.”
“I have a cousin called Stupid?”
Zoe grinned. “No. He has a name, but he was stupid.”
“You’ve met him?”
“Oh, yes.” Zoe nodded. “I heard you go down like a sack of potatoes—”
“That’s not fair. I didn’t go down like a sack of potatoes; more like a giant boulder,” Eva joked.
Zoe giggled. “Well, my giant boulder, you went down and I came out and…”
“And you panicked,” Eva said quietly.
“Um, yes.” Zoe nodded. “A little.”
“Is that how I got the dirty rose water on me? Did you throw it on me?”
“Um, no. I saw a man standing over you, and I grabbed the first thing I could find.”
“You grabbed the vase?”
“Yes.”
“Your aim was a little off.”
“I was aiming for his head, but I hit his shoulder and the side of the cupboard, which shattered the vase,” Zoe said, a little disgusted with herself.
“Ah, so that’s why I got nicked,” Eva said as she looked down to her chest.
“Yes. Sorry.”
“It’s alright, love.” Eva gently squeezed Zoe’s hand. “What happened after that?”
“Aunty Stella and Tessa came out, and Theo too. It was quite a ruckus. Cousin Stupid was on the floor and you were out cold.”
“Oh, dear.”
“I was so mad. Lucky for Cousin Stupid that Theo wouldn’t let me go.”
“Cousin Stupid owes Theo his life.”
“I know.” Zoe sniffed.
“Does this cousin have a name or do I call him Cousin Stupid?”
Zoe laughed. “His name is Thomas. I prefer Cousin Stupid.”
“Hmm, nicer name than Cousin Stupid.” Eva chuckled. She stroked Zoe’s tear-stained cheek. “Why were you crying?”
Zoe closed her eyes and swallowed. “I was speaking to Tessa, and it just got a little emotional.”
“She has that way about her.”
“I like her.”
“Me too. What made you cry?”
“We were talking about you and how it is for you here.”
“It hasn’t been easy, but I’m used to it being a little hard.”
“I know, but it shouldn’t be like that. We’re hurting too much.”
“I know it’s hard for you too to be here,” Eva said. “You have to deal with your memories and have me falling apart—it�
�s just overwhelming.”
“I would have fallen apart if I had been shown that picture too. Aunty Stella wasn’t thinking.”
“What did Aunty Tessa say?” Eva asked.
“She said we both need help in dealing with everything from our past.”
“Isn’t that what I’m doing with Dr. Hannah?” Eva asked. “Hannah has helped me. I’m not going to some other doctor for him to tell me what I already know. I’m not going to talk to some stranger.”
“Shh,” Zoe said. “I know Hannah has worked miracles, and I know you hate doctors, and I know you don’t trust them. We still have Doctor Hannah, but Stella and Tessa are the ones that will also be helping us.”
“What? How?”
“They’re moving to Australia.”
“Really?” Eva asked in a childlike voice that Zoe found endearing.
“Yes, really.”
“Oh.” Eva’s smile widened. “Wow.”
“You like that?”
Eva nodded. “We will have family with us.”
“We also talked about Aiden.”
“Ugh.” Eva made a face and covered her eyes with her hand. “Does she think I’m a complete lunatic?”
“No, she doesn’t think you’re a lunatic,” Zoe gently chastised. “Aiden is so much a part of you.”
“It’s forever in my head.”
“Were there any good things to happen there?” Zoe asked.
“Good? Other than I got out alive?”
“Other than that. Was anyone kind to you in there? Were the nurses kind?”
“Why are we talking about Aiden?”
“Because I want to know,” Zoe said.
“No, most of the nurses were women and they were banshees from hell. They were truly horrible people. When I was in the main hospital and out of the research facility, one was nice.”
“She was?”
“Not a she.” Eva shook her head and winced. “Ow.”
“Don’t shake your head,” Zoe said as Eva gave her a mock glare. “You had a male nurse?”
“Hm.” Eva closed her eyes. “Um…Karl.” She turned her head to Zoe. “He was my day nurse, and I had another man who was my night nurse. I was in my own room and away from the other patients.”
“Why did they have two men instead of women?”
Awakenings (Intertwined Souls Series Book 4) Page 5