Eva stayed quiet for a long moment. “It’s hard for me to trust people.”
“I know, but that doesn’t mean you don’t. You trust Zoe with your life. You trust your real father, and you trusted Tommy.”
“Yes.”
“Tommy has never told us what fully happened, and we have never asked him to. Tessa knew because of her visions, but Tommy never said much and I don’t expect him to do so. There are people you can trust.”
“I trust you and Tessa,” Eva admitted.
Stella smiled. “Even if I do bully you in taking your medication.” She grasped Eva’s hands. “Trusting family is not going to weaken you.”
“I know.”
“Good. Now I think we’ve sat here long enough and you know how I feel about you not moving about.” Stella got up from her seat. She took Eva’s hand, and they walked towards the party.
Eva saw Tessa standing near the alley.
“Do you know where Zoe is?” Eva scanned the sea of faces around them, her height helping to look over people’s heads.
“Yes, just over there.”
Eva put her head down and walked arm in arm with Stella as they made their way across the plaza.
Chapter Eighteen
Zoe’s heart skipped a beat when she saw Eva heading her way. Stella’s animated hand gestures were in stark contrast to Eva’s subdued responses. Stella had her arm looped around the crook of Eva’s elbow and was chatting and greeting people, obviously trying to get Eva to talk. She wasn’t having a lot of luck there, but Stella was trying.
“Something is wrong.” Zoe tilted her head, wondering what was different about Eva. She was slouching and it wasn’t because of her back.
“How can you tell?” Tessa asked.
Zoe glanced at her. “Do you know when Aunty Stella is upset?”
“Oh, yes, I can hear her clearly across the house.” Tessa put her arm around Zoe’s shoulders. “‘Theresa Rosa Lambros!’ is her usual battle cry. There is nothing subtle about your aunt when she’s angry or when she’s happy.”
Zoe couldn’t help but grin at the description of her mercurial aunt. She watched as Eva came closer. “Eva doesn’t yell. The angrier she gets, the quieter she becomes.”
“That must make for a very quiet argument.”
Zoe gave Tessa a lopsided grin. “Eva did scream at me once. She lost her temper with me in Egypt. She had told me not to go to the market on my own, but I didn’t listen. She was so angry with me she was shaking with rage when she found me. I think that shocked me more than anything else. It shocked her as well.”
“She was scared that she might have lost you. When someone like Eva loses control like that, then you know it’s fear.”
“That’s what she said,” Zoe replied, her attention still on Eva. “It terrified her that something would happen to me.”
“How do you know when she’s just being quiet?”
Zoe smiled. “Most people think Eva is this quiet mouse who doesn’t say much, but she’s not. She’s talkative, very affectionate, and playful. She has a wicked sense of humor, but only a few people see it.”
“Does she only let the people that she trusts see that side of her?”
“Yes, and it’s a shame, because people assume she’s a bitch. She likes it that they think that way because she doesn’t have to talk to them, but it’s not true. She’s so different when we are alone or when we’re with our friends Henry and Earl. I think they are very similar to the relationship she had with Willie.”
“Ah, yes, Willie.”
“You know Willie?”
“I know of him, yes,” Tessa replied. “Very few men have that kind rapport with Eva. Henry, Earl, Willie, and Thomas have it.” She smiled at Zoe. “I’m going to guess that Eva knows when you are upset.”
“I’m not subtle, but I never yell at her. Early on in our relationship I found out that yelling at Eva just had a horrible effect on her. We argue, what couple never argues, but we try and resolve things quickly. Eva hates to go to bed if she’s upset. It took me some time to figure that out.”
“That’s a good thing, isn’t it?”
“Yes. I learned if I wanted to sleep, I had better resolve our argument or else we would be up till the early hours of the morning.”
“Why do you think there is something wrong now?”
Zoe watched Eva for a moment, and then turned to Tessa. “Eva has developed a way to deal with people’s attention. She stands ramrod straight and appears distant. She uses her height when she doesn’t want people to approach her. That usually works because it can be intimidating.”
“Yes, I’ve used that technique.” Tessa nodded.
“Well, she isn’t doing it now. She’s slouching and it’s not because of her back. Eva will stand straight even if her back is hurting. Something else is going on…”
“You can see it, but you’re not seeing it,” Tessa said.
“She’s not wearing her cloak,” Zoe said quietly as Eva reached the alley. Eva looked up and met her gaze. Oh, she has been crying. Goddamn this place. “Hey.”
Stella and Tessa exchanged glances as Stella let go of Eva and took hold of Tessa. “The rain has stopped, and you need to stretch your legs.”
“Don’t you want me to sit down and take the weight off my knee?” Tessa joked.
“No, you can stand,” Stella replied.
Eva took a few steps towards Zoe and embraced her. Tessa and Stella left the alley and positioned themselves at the entrance. Somehow Theo and Tommy found themselves there as well and took up their place on the other side, completely blocking the tiny alley from the wedding guests.
“We have two very smart boys,” Tessa whispered. She met Tommy’s gaze and nodded her approval. “How did it go?” she asked Stella.
“Rough. Eva feels guilty for surviving. We made some significant progress though,” Stella whispered back. She beamed at Tessa with a wide grin. “She asked for my help, Tessa.” She jumped a little with glee.
Tessa laughed lightly at Stella’s obvious joy. “I wish I could take a photograph of your face. You look so ecstatically happy.”
“I am. She actually said, ‘Help me.’ She said the words, Tess. She reached out to me and that is such a huge step. I’m so proud of her. It usually takes soldiers longer to accept help. How was Zoe?”
“It was very emotional. She feels guilty that she didn’t obey Muller when he ordered everyone to look down. She didn’t listen and kept looking at Eva. You were right about the cloak—Zoe loathes it. I see you had success with that wretched thing.”
“It took a little bit of time but she figured it out. Once she did, she took it off and left it there.”
“Just like that?”
“She let go of the one thing that made her feel secure. Just like that. She didn’t even think about it—took it off and left it. That girl has got so much courage and she loves Zoe so much there was no question about it. I’m so proud they are our babies.”
Tessa smiled. “We are truly blessed, Angel.” She put her hand on Stella’s arm and stopped her from turning towards the alley. “Leave them alone. They just want a kiss and a cuddle.”
“I know, but they are so cute together.”
“Incurable romantic,” Tessa whispered. Stella blew her a kiss and Tessa chuckled as they leaned against the whitewashed walls.
Eva walked straight into Zoe’s open embrace and held on to her. Zoe felt Eva’s body tremble and wondered what had really happened.
“You’re wet.”
“I was standing in the rain,” Eva said, barely audible.
“I saw you. You were looking at that godforsaken field. I thought we agreed we weren’t going to do that.”
“I just found myself there,” Eva said hoarsely. “I couldn’t get that day out of my mind.”
“I don’t think anything can wipe that day out of our minds, Evy. Can I ask you a question?”
“Anything,” Eva replied.
“It was someth
ing Tessa said that got me thinking. Why did you only look at me?” Zoe asked. She had always wanted to ask Eva, but had a nagging feeling she didn’t want to know the answer. “You were unfocused for most of that horrible ordeal, but you focused on me.”
Eva swallowed. “You stared at me. You were the only one to really notice I was there. Everyone else was looking at Muller, but you were looking at me. Your eyes…I couldn’t take my eyes off you.”
“Until Mama was shot.”
“I…” Eva took a deep breath and slowly released it. “I was standing at the edge of that field and I might as well have been back then—I didn’t hear the party or anyone else. I just remembered how terrified you were and how terrified I was. I remember your screams, Zoe, and the look on your face.”
“We were both thinking the same thing,” Zoe replied, intertwining her fingers with Eva’s. “I still remember the sloshing noise Muller’s boots made as he walked past us. He was heavy, and the mud squished under his weight.”
“You remember that black cloak as well, don’t you?” Eva asked and looked into Zoe’s eyes. Zoe looked away, but Eva tenderly turned her face towards her. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
Zoe was unable to stop the tears from running down her cheeks. “I couldn’t.”
“Why?”
“It’s not fair on you. It’s not fair to take away something that makes you feel secure. It would be selfish of me to deny you that.”
“That wasn’t your call, love. It wasn’t. I didn’t know how you felt. If I had, I would have burnt that piece of rubbish.” Eva’s voice trembled with emotion. “I would never want to hurt you. We promised each other we were not going to have any secrets.”
“Yes, we did.”
“This wasn’t just a secret. This was something that was making you sick every time you looked at me with that thing on. I don’t ever want you to feel that way about me.”
“I don’t. I just thought that this is what makes you feel safe.”
“It did. It doesn’t anymore.”
“I thought I could just think of it as just another coat.”
“But it’s not. It would be like me wearing a miniature gun around my neck. How vile would that be?”
“Your cloak didn’t kill my mama.” Zoe looked into Eva’s eyes, which were glistening with unshed tears. “There’s something about that cloak that reminds me of that horrible day, but it’s not just that.”
“I’m not wearing it ever again.”
“I can’t let you do that.”
“Do you remember when I took off my shirt at the beach? I was so scared that people would look at my scars. I was terrified, but I told you I didn’t want to let my stepfather win. Isn’t that what I’ve been doing? I’m letting him win because I’m reopening your scars. I have worn that cloak for the last five years. I hate to think how many times I’ve caused you pain.”
“It’s not the same.”
“It is, Zo. It is. It’s an open wound. We have so many, but this one we can stop. All it takes is for me to stop wearing that cloak. It’s exactly like the beach.”
“Yes, I remember the beach.” Zoe smiled through her tears. “I was so proud of you. You didn’t let that bastard win.”
“I’m not going to let him win now either,” Eva said resolutely. “That son-of-a-bitch has tortured us enough.” She cupped Zoe’s cheek and brushed away a tear with her thumb. “No more.”
“Tessa says it’s going to take a while.”
“I want to heal. Up here.” Eva tapped the side of her head. “And here.” She placed her hand over her heart. “I can’t do it on my own. I asked Stella for her help.”
Zoe grinned in delight. “I love you so much.”
“I love you too. I don’t want to hurt like this. I don’t want you to hurt. We have just one more hurdle to jump through. We have Germany to look forward to, and dealing with my grandmother.”
“Yes, Germany is waiting for us, but you are not a teenager anymore, and I’m not some cowering fourteen year old. If she comes, she will not only have to contend with you, but with me as well. Where you go, I go. You are a strong woman.”
“Ha. You were never a cowering fourteen year old. You were and still are fearless and the bravest woman I’ve ever met. Me on the other hand, not so strong. I fall apart in the rain.” Eva sounded disgusted with herself. “I was so worried about you, worried that all this would bring up those terrible memories, and then I fell apart. When you needed me the most.”
Zoe stepped up onto the overturned box and cupped Eva’s face. She gazed into her eyes. “You weren’t only taking on your bad memories; you were taking on mine as well. That is far too many bad memories for one person.”
“I wanted to be there for you.”
“You are always here for me. I never doubted you would be by my side.”
“I want to get this over and done with. I want to go back home. I want to have our babies and start a new chapter in our lives that doesn’t involve lunatic murderers.”
“Is that all?” Zoe’s smile grew when Eva ran her hands down her back and squeezed her cloth-covered backside.
“No.” Eva kissed Zoe passionately as Zoe entangled her fingers in her hair.
They parted, gazed at each other, and smiled. Eva gently brushed her fingers across Zoe’s lips and then kissed her again. Zoe moaned into Eva’s mouth at the gentleness of the kiss.
“What else do you want?” Zoe breathlessly said.
“You. Just you. That’s all I’ve ever wanted.”
“Girls, we have company,” Tessa said.
Eva straightened her dress and quickly checked Zoe’s before stealing a very quick kiss. Eva picked up her cane and walked down the alley with Zoe to join Tessa and Stella.
“Isn’t it a good thing you stopped kissing me?” Zoe bumped Eva with her hip. “Here comes Father H.”
“Hello, girls.” Father Haralambos kissed Eva and Zoe on the cheek and embraced Stella and Tessa. “Eva, I have someone I would like you to meet.”
Father Haralambos brought forward a young man, a woman, and two children.
The young man stepped forward. “Vangelis Pavlidis,” he said and shook Eva's hand. “You don’t know me, do you?”
Eva shook her head.
“There isn't any reason you should. This is my wife, Anna, and these are my sons Erastus and Damos.”
Eva nodded, not quite knowing what to say.
“You are responsible for this.” Vangelis pointed to Eva and then to his family.
“I am?”
“Yes.” Vangelis smiled as he took a piece of paper out of his pocket and handed it to Eva.
Eva went from complete puzzlement to absolute astonishment. She handed the paper to Zoe, who had the biggest grin on her face when she read it. Zoe gave the paper back to Eva.
“I had to come back to Larissa for this property law and I went to the church to seek out Father Haralambos to thank him, to tell him I survived,” Vangelis said. “He told me you were coming back here and I just had to stay and meet you.”
Eva didn't know what to say. She looked down at the creased identity papers. Papers she had forged and handed to her father to distribute.
“Do you know what that little piece of paper did?”
Eva shook her head, still unable to speak.
Vangelis smiled and nodded. “I lived just outside of Larissa, in a nice little village where I thought I would grow old and die like my father and his father before him. The Germans came and my life changed, like it did for everyone. One night I prayed to God and asked him for a way out before they realized where I was. I was going to pack my life in a suitcase and leave, and then something happened.” He smiled. “I was walking down that dusty road and I met a priest. I must have looked like the whole world was crashing down around me because he asked me what was wrong and if he could do something to help me.”
“Father Haralambos?” Zoe grinned.
“Father Haralambos, yes. God truly brought th
at man to me that day. I didn't know if I could trust him because some priests sold out the Jews in other villages. I told Father Haralambos my story, and at the end of our walk he told me he had a way for me to escape. That very night I was hidden in a Christian church right under the Nazis' noses. About a week later he gave me new identity papers and I left thinking I would never return to the land of my fathers.” He looked down at the dirt under his feet and nodded. “I was met by Resistance members and secreted away. I found myself in England, where I met my Anna, and there we stayed until the war ended.”
“That's incredible,” Zoe said and glanced at Eva.
“Yes, it is very incredible. I don't believe in luck. It was God's direction that I met Father Haralambos that day, because if I hadn’t, I would have been killed. The rest of my family all perished when they were sent to the concentration camps. I was the oldest in a family of twelve children, and everyone has died except me.” He paused as if collecting his emotions. “I cherish this piece of paper, Miss Muller, because it saved me. You saved me. By your actions, I met my Anna and we have two beautiful sons.”
“Two and a half,” Anna said. “We have one on the way.”
“I'm happy for you,” Eva managed to say.
“Miss Muller, you don't understand. I wouldn't have had all of this if it weren’t for you. I came here today to thank you for my life, for my wife, and for my children.”
“I’m a little overwhelmed.”
“What you did was God’s work. You saved my life and many others. Oh behalf of those who can’t say thank you to you, thank you, my dear woman, thank you so much.” Vangelis took Eva into his arms, kissed her tenderly on the cheek, and held her.
They both broke down and wept in each other’s arms. They finally parted and smiled at each other.
“Before I go, there is something I want to do for you,” Vangelis said.
Awakenings (Intertwined Souls Series Book 4) Page 15