Zoe rested her head against Eva’s chest and placed her hand on Eva’s stomach. For a long moment she didn’t say a word. “The thought of being with a man makes me sick, but it’s Tommy. He is the man who made your life easier in Aiden.”
“Yes but—”
“Shh.” Zoe placed her fingers against Eva’s lips. “I don’t want to do it because he saved your life, but because I can give you something you can’t do yourself.”
“There’s a lot of things I can’t do myself, love. It’s just life.”
“Yes, but I want this for us. I want to have a baby as well. It will make us both happy. The ‘making the baby’ part is going to be icky.”
“You have no idea how icky,” Eva replied as she gazed down at Zoe.
“What’s it like?”
“It’s not the same as making love to me. It’s very different.”
“Do you want to have children?”
Eva sighed and closed her eyes. “My heart says yes and no. Yes, I want children, but no, I don’t want to think about you having sex with Tommy.”
“If I do have sex with Tommy, will you still love me the same way?” Zoe asked quietly. Eva looked down and blinked. She wasn’t expecting that question.
“Of course! Of course I would love you the same way.” Eva kissed the top of Zoe’s head. “You know I will always love you.”
“If I have sex with Tommy, you—”
“Please, don’t ask me to be in the same room because I think that would just make me want to throw up.”
Zoe giggled. “No, I don’t think I can handle you being in the room, but I want you to be with me afterwards.”
“I don’t think you would be able to keep me out.”
“So we are doing this?”
Eva reluctantly nodded. “I sure hope you are one of those women that have sex and get pregnant after the first try.”
“It didn’t happen to you after you had sex with Wilhelm.”
“No, but then you might get lucky.”
Zoe grinned. “Let’s hope I get lucky,” she said and snuggled against Eva’s chest.
Chapter Twenty
GERMANY
Zoe closed her eyes and tried to stay calm. She had tried not to take any notice of the two young German soldiers who were sitting in the dining car near them. The harder she tried to ignore them, the more she found herself staring at them.
“Zoe, you’re staring.” Eva leaned forward and touched Zoe’s hand. “They’re going to think you are interested in them.”
Zoe tore her eyes off the soldiers and looked at Eva, who was smiling at her. “I’m not interested in German boys.”
“No,” Eva said as she brought the teacup to her lips and sipped. “You’re just interested in German girls.”
“No, not girls.”
“My mistake—one German girl.” Eva leaned back in her seat and smiled. “How are you feeling?”
“I’m a little anxious, although reading that letter Dion left for me has made me angry. I don’t believe he and my papa are related. He’s a jackass and a coward.”
“You have to forget about Dion. That letter has achieved what it set out to do. You can’t let Dion upset you,” Eva reasoned.
“He called Aunt Stella a deviant whore!”
“It’s just names, love. He resents Stella for what she has accomplished, and he can’t let go of that resentment,” Eva said. “He also can’t let go of the fact she is smarter than him and has a better looking wife.”
Zoe giggled and nodded vigorously. “Aunt Tessa is gorgeous. I love her eyes.”
“I thought you loved my eyes?” Eva grinned when Zoe stuck her tongue out.
Zoe sighed. She surreptitiously glanced around her. No one was paying them any attention. She turned back to Eva, took her hand, which was resting on the table, and kissed it. “I love all of you, including your eyes.”
They looked at each other for a long moment and then smiled. That was the extent of the contact and it frustrated Zoe. She tried not to think about what she wanted to do to Eva, and turned her attention back to her uncle instead. “So Stella has to act dumb because Jackass Dion doesn’t have enough brains?” She shook her head in disgust. “Oh, sorry, I forgot he’s a man and therefore knows better than a woman.”
“Zoe—”
“I know; the more I think about it, the angrier I get, but the hurtful things he said to them were just unacceptable.”
“Dion is a right proper bastard,” Eva whispered. “Theo was right to throw him out of the house.”
“Should have kicked him in the behind on the way out. The way he treated Aunt Tessa was just disgusting. I thought Theo was going to punch him,” Zoe muttered darkly. “Uncle Dion should worry about his daughter getting married and leave me alone. Where was he during the war? Hypocrite.”
“Well, we won’t have to worry about him. He’s gone to Volos. You’re getting married and his burden is off his shoulders.”
“It’s not that, Evy, but the way he spoke to Aunty Stella. You wouldn’t speak to a dog that way.”
“He was very surprised when you told him about your wedding to Tommy.” Eva chuckled. “He looked very relieved he didn’t have to worry about you anymore.”
The conductor was making his way through the train and alerting the passengers of the next stop.
Eva squeezed Zoe’s hand and they touched heads.
“I know you're scared,” Eva whispered.
“In the valley of death we ride…”
“That’s a bit melodramatic.”
Zoe smiled. “I’m Greek, and we do melodrama really well. I wish I had Dorothy’s red shoes right now.”
Eva looked down at Zoe’s feet as Zoe tapped them together. “We need to get red shoes for this kind of trips.”
They looked at each for a moment before they started to laugh. Zoe leaned over and whispered, “I want to make love to you.”
“Here?”
“No, but when we get to where we are going.”
“Hm. Most definitely. Are you sure you are alright with our family nearby?”
“I’m not going without touching you for the next few weeks. That would drive me crazy.” Zoe laughed lightly. She wanted to kiss Eva passionately, but kissed her chastely on the cheek instead.
“You need to rehearse how to kiss.” Eva giggled.
“You are just too funny. How are you feeling?”
“I was trying not to think about it, but the closer we get, the more butterflies I have. This was my home. A part of me wants to be here, but the other part of me knows it’s going to be hell.”
“We’ve going to face this together.”
“Even if—”
“Shh.” Zoe put her fingers on Eva’s lips. “We will talk about this later, but I want you to enjoy coming home. You’ve waited twelve years to come back. I'm going to be fine.”
“I love you.” Eva’s voice wavered as Zoe rubbed her thumb against her hand.
“I love you too.” Zoe smiled, and very deliberately took Eva’s hand and kissed it. She didn’t care if anyone was watching.
Eva glanced around the bustling train station. There was something so familiar, something so right. She was home. No matter how she wanted to believe that Sydney was her home—it was not the same. This was home. Even the loudspeaker announcements made her feel welcome, something she found very strange. She couldn't help the grin on her face while they waited for Theo and Tommy to collect their bags.
Tessa put her arm around Eva and smiled. “You're happy to be back home, darling?”
“Yes. I thought I wouldn't be, tried to tell myself that Sydney was home, but it's not.”
“Yes, I felt the same way when I went back to Larissa,” Tessa admitted. “I had been in Thessalonica since I was seventeen years old. It’s a long time to be away.”
“Things are never the same, are they?”
“No, they’re not. You change, people you left behind change. It’s just the way it is.”
“Do you think my grandmother still cares?” Eva asked.
“Do you still care what she thinks?”
Eva turned to Tessa with a sad smile. “Unfortunately, yes.”
“It’s alright to still care, Eva.”
“Do we know where we are going?”
“Yes, we do.” Tessa held up a slip of paper. “I have the address.” She glanced at Stella, and they quickly made their way out of the station into a murky afternoon.
A man approached them with cap in hand. “Good afternoon. I’m Louis, are you Theresa Lambros?”
“Yes,” Tessa replied.
“This way please. We have two cars waiting to take you to the villa.” Louis directed them to the waiting cars. Theo and Tommy loaded the cars with the luggage and they got in and away from the train station.
Zoe took Eva’s hand and as the car made its way through streets lined with army personnel and littered with partially destroyed buildings. Eva stared out of the car window. The war had ravaged the city. Many of the buildings had been reduced to rubble.
“It looks so…bad,” Zoe said quietly.
“It was once a very beautiful city, very green and with so much history,” Eva replied. She put her hand on Zoe's knee and squeezed it gently, conveying the message loud and clear that she appreciated her restraint in commenting about the war. Zoe caught Eva's reflection in the window looking at her and smiled.
The car made its way through the city, and Eva smiled at the very familiar landmarks. She leaned her head against the window as they crossed into Dahlem.
“Hey.” Zoe tapped Eva’s shoulder. “Home?”
“No. Dahlem, next borough from home.”
The car slowed and turned into a driveway that led to twin properties. Huge trees afforded privacy from the road and obscured the road from the villas.
“Welcome to my former life,” Eva whispered.
Zoe’s eyes widened, and Eva smiled at her shocked reaction. They got out of the car and waited for the luggage to be offloaded.
Zoe did a one-eighty turn. “Wow, I think I just fell down the rabbit hole.”
One of the doors to the villa closest to them opened and a short, older woman came out. Her white hair was in contrast to the black tunic she was wearing. As she came closer Eva could see her more clearly.
“Hello, hello!”
Tessa ran towards the woman and engulfed her in a hug, much to Eva’s surprise.
“Well, look who is here. Theresa Rosa, you are looking as beautiful as the last time I saw you. Where is that woman of yours?”
“Right here.” Stella approached the old woman and hugged her.
“Did you have a good trip? Where is my boy?”
“Right here.” Tommy approached and picked up the woman in a bear hug. “I’m so glad to see you, Aunty Irene.”
“Ah, you sweet boy, what is with this facial hair? Need to shave that off.” Irene patted Tommy’s cheek. She looked at Theo. “Who is this?”
“This is my friend Theodore.”
“What a strong name.”
Theo offered his hand, but Irene ignored it and brought him down for a hug. “We don’t shake hands here, young man. We hug,” she said in Greek.
Irene then approached Eva and Zoe, who were standing near the car.
“Hello there, shy girls, come here.” Irene tilted her head a little and regarded Eva. “You must be Zoe?” Eva couldn’t help but smile. “Oh silly me, oh, yes, the blue-eyed girl is Eva.” She nodded. “And the redhead with the beautiful green eyes is Zoe.”
Irene, much shorter than Eva, looked up at her.
Eva stood to her full height and looked down.
“I can’t reach you all the way up there.” Irene pulled on Eva’s shirt until she leaned down for an awkward hug. “You’re not a hugger, are you?”
Eva didn’t know how to deal with Irene. Despite the woman’s short stature, she felt intimidated.
“My, you are very tall.” Irene patted Eva on the cheek. “Come down here for a moment.” Eva bent her knees and lowered herself down. Irene looked into her eyes. “Welcome home, sweet child.”
Eva’s eyes welled up. She smiled and hugged Irene. “Thank you.” Tears ran down her face.
“You’re Sister Irene.” Zoe said.
“I am.”
Zoe kept staring at Irene with an amazed look. Irene stared back. Eva watched them both, intrigued.
Irene smiled as she waited for Zoe to say something. Eva wasn’t sure why but Irene patiently waited.
“I know you,” Zoe said.
“You do?” Eva asked, and looked at Irene and then at Zoe. “How?”
“She does,” Irene replied.
“In 1942, Mama’s funeral. An old lady came up to me and comforted me. She said, ‘You will find your everything,’ and walked away. You were in Larissa for the funeral.”
“I was passing on my way to Thessalonica.” Irene gazed affectionately at Zoe. “You found your everything, didn’t you, little one?” She cupped Zoe’s face and her eyes crinkled in delight. She kissed Zoe on one side and then on the other cheek.
“Now, I’m sure you are hungry from your long trip. Let’s have something to eat and then we can talk.”
Irene put her arms around Eva and Zoe and led them to the main villa. Eva looked back at the car and the surrounding gardens and slowly shook her head in amazement.
Chapter Twenty-One
The Registry office was small, much too small for Eva’s liking. She stood in the back and waited for the clerk to arrive with their marriage certificates. Tommy and Theo were both dressed in dark suits with a small flower in their lapels, which she found amusing. Zoe had thought it would appear quite normal for grooms to have flowers.
“Hey, are you alright?” Zoe asked.
“I am. This is my third wedding.”
“My second.”
Eva smiled at Zoe, who smiled back at her. “And our last.”
“What is taking that man so long?”
“Patience, Zoe.” Stella put her arm around her shoulders. “He will be back with the paperwork soon and everything will be done.”
“He did look at us a little oddly.”
The door opened and the Registry clerk entered. He pushed up his glasses and glanced around the room. “Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Lambros and Mr. and Mrs. Theodore Lambros, congratulations.”
Zoe rolled her eyes. “Do I introduce myself now as Mrs. Thomas Lambros?” she whispered.
“Yes,” Stella replied.
Eva chuckled at Zoe’s objections at being now only known by her husband’s name. She watched Tommy put his arm around Zoe’s waist.
Theo put his arm around her, and she scowled. All for show or not, she still found it rather unsettling to see Tommy with Zoe.
Tommy and Theo let go of their new wives and accepted the marriage certificates from the clerk along with the congratulatory handshakes while Eva and Zoe stayed silent.
They left the Registry office and walked out into brilliant sunshine.
Zoe turned to Eva, who was quietly walking beside her. “Are you alright?”
Eva glanced at Tommy and Theo, who were talking. Stella and Tessa were walking ahead of them. “I am fantasizing about making love to you,” she whispered.
“Oh.” Zoe fanned herself. “Let’s celebrate our wedding back at the house. You need all the practice you can get in baby making,” she said with a slight chuckle as Eva gave her a lopsided grin.
“Oh God, Zo…e,” Eva stammered when Zoe captured her lips one last time. She groaned into Zoe’s mouth as her climax took control of her long-limbed figure, her muscles jumping and quivering in irrepressible spasms of delight.
Zoe planted a soft kiss on Eva’s sweat-soaked brow.
“Open your eyes,” Zoe said breathlessly. “I love you.”
“Oh, you are going to kill me.” Eva panted.
After a few moments, Zoe gently rolled to her side and hitched herself up on her elbow. She lightly traced
Eva’s nipple, which hardened at her touch. She kissed it and then kissed Eva again.
“Oh, dear god.” Eva put her hand over her eyes and laughed weakly.
“Sex in Berlin.” Zoe giggled and gazed into Eva’s eyes. “Elena collects postcards and I keep score of how many times—”
“You’re keeping score of how many places we make love?” Eva turned her head to look at Zoe.
Zoe gave her another deep and passionate kiss.
“We have to celebrate our weddings,” Zoe said with a chuckle.
“I’m quite sure the boys are not celebrating this way.”
“Well, one of them isn’t.” Zoe giggled. She scrunched her face up. “If only it was possible to create our babies by magic.”
Eva brushed Zoe’s tresses out of her eyes. “Unfortunately, you need a man and a woman to do that. It’s the first time in my life I wished I was a man.”
“I’m glad you’re not a man,” Zoe replied, which earned her a kiss. “You heard Aunt Stella say that twins run in the family. Maybe, if we get lucky, I’ll only have to have sex once.”
Eva sighed. “That would be great, but somehow I don’t think so.”
“It’s going to be really difficult, but I want us to have children, Evy.”
Eva glanced at Zoe and nodded. “I know. You have to promise me that if at any time you change your mind, you will stop. You won’t continue just for me. I don’t believe I’m saying this to you, but you have to promise me.”
“I promise,” Zoe replied solemnly. After a beat she said. “What does it feel like?”
“Do you want to try and see how it will feel?”
“You have a penis handy?” Zoe quipped, making Eva laugh.
“No, but I have one of your father’s syringes that I found in the barn. It’s almost as big…er…as a penis.”
“Why do you have that?”
Eva sighed. “I found it when I went looking for Theo and was looking around the barn. I thought maybe we could use it if Stella thought it would work.”
“Ah…since you have it and there isn’t a penis to practice with…” Zoe fell back on the bed, chuckling as Eva closed her eyes and laughed.
Awakenings (Intertwined Souls Series Book 4) Page 17