Hidden Truths (Intertwined Souls Series Book 3)

by Mary D. Brooks

  “Ow.” Zoe grimaced.

  “It’s not too deep. Mrs. Muldoon has gone to find a doctor.” Eva washed the knee and applied a makeshift bandage using a towel.

  Eva smiled at Zoe and then looked at Theo, who was sitting comfortably in the seat watching them. She put the jug and the bloodstained towel aside and sat down next to Zoe.

  Theo stood, took Eva’s hand, and brought her back up. “My mama did not raise a rude boy.” He hugged Eva. “Welcome to the family, sister, what’s left of it,” he said quietly as they pulled apart from each other.

  “Ow,” Zoe said, causing Theo and Eva to look back at her with matching puzzled expressions. “It’s not my leg. I just pinched myself to see if I was having a dream. I can’t believe you’re alive, and why didn’t you contact me, why didn’t you come back to Larissa, why-”

  Theo put his hand over Zoe’s mouth. “Stop. You’re going to run out of questions and then what will we do? Let’s wait for the doctor to get here and fix your leg, and then we’ll talk. All right?”

  Zoe rolled her eyes and nodded. “Yes, but can I ask one question?”

  “Yes, just one.”

  “How did you get to the train?”

  “I rode a motorcycle.” Theo grinned. “I wasn’t going to wait for this bucket to start moving. We got word that it was delayed and I just couldn’t wait another hour to see my sister.” He chuckled.

  A knock on the door heralded Mrs. Muldoon and a gentleman who identified himself as a doctor. He quickly and efficiently assessed Zoe’s knee and bandaged the wound.

  “I’m going to give you something for the pain because that will hurt for a while, and it will make you a little sleepy,” the doctor said. He took out a needle, and Zoe winced when he injected it into her arm.

  Just as quickly, Mrs. Muldoon and the doctor left.

  “Right, let me look at you.” Theo took Zoe’s hand and she stood. “My God, you look so much like Mama. A little skinny, but just as beautiful.”

  “You’re looking good for a dead man.” Zoe gently slapped his bicep as she sat down again. “Explain yourself.”

  “I will.” Theo ruffled Zoe’s hair. He turned to Eva.

  “Theodore!”

  “Alright.” Theo sat down next to Zoe. “We were at the Albanian border and we were fighting together.”

  “Are Michael and Thieri still alive?” Zoe asked expectantly. “Are they waiting in Larissa for us?”

  Theo put his hand on Zoe’s knee. “Michael and Thieri are not there. Our brothers are gone.”

  “How do you know? They may have survived just like you did.”

  “I know.”

  “How do you know?”

  “Zoe, trust me when I say this—they are gone.”

  “Tell me, how do you know?”

  Theo took a deep breath. He glanced at Eva for a moment before he turned his attention back to Zoe. “I watched Michael die in my arms. He was shot in the chest and he died on the first day of fighting.” He reached out and tenderly wiped the tears from Zoe’s cheek. “Thieri died the next day.”

  “Oh. Did you bury them? Did you say a prayer for them?”

  “I did. They are buried on the Albanian border with their other brothers who died defending our country. They died heroes.”

  Zoe leaned against her brother and sat in silence for a moment. “Where have you been all this time?”

  “We won the battle with the Italians, but I was captured and got sent to a POW camp. I don’t know what happened, but Papa must have got word that we had all died.”

  “That was a horrible day, Theo. I had never seen Papa cry before, but when the news came through, he did.”

  Theo put his arm around Zoe and kissed the top of her head. “I know. I heard Papa died a hero as well.”

  “Papa was a true hero and he died fighting the pigs. Imagine our gentle papa fighting those barbarians.”

  “He was a gentle man, but he loved his country. He died defending her and defending you and Mama.” Theo lovingly cupped Zoe’s cheek. “So was it only you and Mama to fight against the Germans?”

  “No. We had Stavros as well. Then Mama was murdered. I lost Stavros soon after.”

  “Father Haralambos told me. He also told me how you bravely fought with the Resistance.”

  “I did what I had to do.”

  “You also helped save people with forged identity papers.” Theo smiled. “Did you forget that little thing?”

  “The person most responsible for that is Eva. She was the one that forged the signatures,” Zoe proudly said as she put her hand on Eva’s thigh. “Eva is the one that allowed Father Haralambos and me to make that happen.”

  “Yes, I’ve heard a lot about Eva, but for the moment I want to talk about you.”

  “I did what Papa always told us to do. He said we had to stand and fight for what we believed in, and I did. He did it, Mama did it, Stavros did it, and you all did it. When it was my turn, I did it. It’s the Lambros way.”

  “It is the Lambros way,” Theo said as he hugged Zoe tightly. “I also heard about-”

  “No, I don’t want to discuss that traitor. He ceased to be family when he collaborated with the pigs.”

  “He is-”

  “No, Theo. I took care of him myself and I’m not sorry I did.”

  “I know you did, but you should not have been the one to do it. You should have left it to the men to execute the bastard.”

  Zoe gazed up at Theo and shook her head. “No. It was my job. Can we not discuss that traitor? I want to know how you survived. We can talk about me later.” She waggled her finger at Theo. “So, talk.”

  “My war ended on the Albanian border in 1941. I was taken as a POW and spent the next four years in a camp. When we were released, I met up with some boys from Larissa and they told me that no one had survived. It was just me. A civil war had broken out and I went to fight.”

  Zoe knew there was more to that story than the very cut and dried way her brother stated. “More death and destruction.”

  “Ah yes, but this time we did it the Greek way,” Theo said bitterly. “I was fighting with some boys from Larissa and Thessalonica.”

  “How did you find out that I was still alive?”

  Theo grinned, his smile splitting his handsome bearded face. “Ah, that is an interesting story. I got wounded and was sent to a field hospital, and guess who I found there.”

  “I have no idea.”

  “Aunty Stella!”

  “Crazy Aunty Stella?”

  “The one and only Aunty Stella! Yes, it was zany Aunty Stella, who isn’t crazy, as Papa used to call her.”

  “Is Stella a nurse?” Eva asked.

  “No, she’s a doctor,” Theo replied. “I think we were both shocked to see each other, and after she got over that, she told me off for not being dead.” Theo chuckled. “I have been staying with her since then.”

  “But how did you find out?”

  “Zoe, my darling sister, you have the patience of a flea.”

  Eva chuckled. “Oh goodness, Theodore…”

  Theo smiled at Eva. “I see you already know about my sister’s legendary patience.” He kissed Zoe’s head and chuckled. “Now back to my story. I was living in Thessalonica with Aunt Stella and I bumped into Dimitri. We went to the taverna and we were just talking about a mutual friend and then he mentioned you. He told me all about your exploits in the war. That boy has always been sweet on you. He was talking about you like you were alive.”

  “Good ol’ loudmouth Dimitri, bless him.”

  “He told me to go to Larissa and talk to Father Haralambos. So I went home, I told Aunty Stella that you weren’t dead and I was going to find you. I took the train down the next day. I went to the church and there was Father Haralambos. He was very surprised to see me and once we got over hugging each other, he told me.”

  “I’m sure he was very surprised since he performed a service for you and you were supposed to be dead.”

 
“Yes, I heard that.” Theo laughed. “I asked him where you were. He said it was a long story and we should have dinner-you know how he gets with those long stories. All I wanted was to find out where you were, but he wanted to draw it out. So later that night I went to his little apartment and I heard the most extraordinary story.”

  “How much did he tell you?”

  “Everything,” Theo said quietly. “He told me about your courage when Mama died, how you became the woman that you are. My chest was puffed out with pride because you are a Lambros and we never ever give up. I was proud of you.”

  “No, we don’t.”

  “We never give up and we never cower. You have the heart of a lioness, Zoe, and I was so proud of you I wanted to shout it from the rooftops. I asked him where you were and he said Australia.”

  “When was this?”

  “About five weeks ago. He gave me your address and I sent a telegram, but I didn’t hear anything back.”

  “We were on a ship sailing to Greece.”

  “That would explain why I didn’t hear from you.” Theo scratched his bearded chin.

  “Is that all?”

  “Isn’t that enough?”

  Zoe sighed. “Did Father Haralambos tell you anything else about me other than what I did in the war?”

  Theo gazed at Zoe for a long moment. “Father Haralambos told me about you and your friend Eva.” He looked squarely at Eva, who returned his gaze. “He told me that he put the two of you to work together in getting the identity papers even though you hated each other.”

  “Is that all he told you?”

  Theo put his arm around Zoe’s shoulders and stared into her eyes. “He told me your hatred for her turned to friendship.”

  “And?”

  “And what? That’s what he said.”

  “Theodore, is that all Father H said to you about my relationship with Eva?”

  “No. That’s not all.”

  “What do you think?”

  “She’s pretty, doesn’t look German with that dark hair, nice blue eyes and—” Zoe slapped his shoulder in frustration.

  “Ow. She’s not pretty with nice blue eyes?” Theo ducked when Zoe looked about ready to repeat the dose.

  “You are such a shit.”

  “You missed me being a shit.” Theo planted a kiss on Zoe’s cheek. “What do you want me to say?”

  “Is that all Father Haralambos told you about me and Eva?”

  “Zoe, maybe now is not…” Eva gently admonished and stopped when Zoe shook her head.

  “Now is the perfect time, Evy.”

  “Father Haralambos told me you and Eva were very close friends.”

  “You mean he told you I was a lesbian and I was in love with Eva?” Zoe persisted with her questioning. She noted Theo’s eyes never left hers.

  “He told me you were a lesbian, yes.”

  “How do you feel about me being a lesbian?”

  “I don’t know, Zo. I want to talk about it later, not now.”

  “I want to talk about it now.”

  Theo sighed deeply. “This isn’t the time to discuss something like this. Not now.”

  “Theo, I love you, but I also love Eva, and this is important to me.”

  “You love her just like Mama loved Papa?”

  “Yes.” Zoe quickly looked at Eva, who had her head down and was looking at the floor intently.

  “Are you sure this isn’t-”

  “Theodore, what did Father H tell you?”

  “He told me you loved Eva and that this is what you wanted. I don’t know what you want me to say or ask you. Is she looking after you?”

  “Is she looking after me?”

  “Does she work? Is she afraid of a little hard work?” Theo explained. “It’s what I would have asked if you were going to marry a boy. So is she all of that?”

  “We both work, so we provide for each other. We have a good life in Australia.”

  “You work?” Theo scowled at Eva. “What do you do?”

  “I’m an artist like Mama. Before we left I worked at the Art Council restoring art. I went to university, Theo. Do you believe that!”

  “You did? How?”

  “Eva worked in a factory so I could go to university. I would say that’s a good provider.”

  “I know you are an artist-I saw some of your art and that didn’t surprise me. You were always good at drawing.”

  “When? How?”

  Theo felt the back of his pants pocket and pulled out a creased piece of paper. “I was going through the cupboards in my house and I came across this.” He smoothed out the paper. “I was wondering who drew it until I saw your mark.”

  Zoe leaned over to look. When she saw the artwork she gasped. “Oh, my god.” She tried to grab the paper, but Theo pulled it out of her reach. “Theo!”

  “Ah!” Theo chuckled and gave the artwork to Eva.

  Eva took it and her eyes widened in surprise. “Ah…when was this?”

  Zoe sighed. “Just before Father Haralambos got me to go work for you.”

  Eva gazed at a younger version of herself, which was quite good, with the exception that she had horns sticking out of her head and fangs. “You drew horns and fangs on me, love,” she said, surprising Zoe by not censoring herself.

  “I thought you were evil at the time.” Zoe defended her artwork. “I wasn’t accurate, but it looks great without the horns and fangs.”

  “It’s a beautiful picture,” Theo added.

  “Theo, you’re not answering my question on how you feel about me being a lesbian.”

  “Do you have to use that word?”

  “Yes, that’s what I am. So how do you feel about it?”

  “You are my sister and I love you dearly. It should probably concern me that you are a lesbian, but I don’t care. You are my only sister and to hell with the church and what everyone else thinks.” Theo got up from his seat and grabbed the pillow and blanket. “Why don’t you just rest a little so I can go find out when this stupid train is leaving?”

  “You really don’t—”

  “When have I ever lied to you? I never have. I love you.” Theo kissed Zoe on the forehead.

  “Thank you, Theodore,” Eva said.

  “Theodore? Only my mother called me Theodore, and only when she was angry with me. My sister calls me Theo, or malarka when she’s truly angry with me. Since you are now my sister, you are not allowed to call me Theodore.”

  “Alright, Theo.”

  “What does my zany sister call you?”

  Eva glanced at Zoe and smiled. “Well, she calls me Evy, and Eva Theresa Haralambos when she’s annoyed with me.”

  “Do you mind if I call you Evy?”

  “I don’t mind.” Eva shook her head.

  “Good, well, let's leave my rampaging sister here to have a bit of a sleep and we can go and find out about this train,” Theo said, and walked out leaving Eva and Zoe alone.

  Eva knelt down in front of Zoe. “I love you,” she said, and kissed her tenderly.

  “Evy?”

  “Yes?”

  “This isn’t a dream, is it?”

  “No, love.” Eva shook her head. “This is very real.”

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  Theo and Eva walked silently until they got to the train doors. He hopped down and offered his hand to Eva, who took it and effortlessly got off the train. Eva pulled her black cloak around her and lifted the hood against the early morning wind.

  “Skevos!” Theo yelled out as he approached the train engineer.

  “Oh no, not you again. Did you find your Zoe Lambros?” Skevos asked. “Are you Zoe?” he asked Eva, who shook her head.

  “No, that’s not Zoe, but I did find her.”

  “Bravo. Now, what do you want?

  “How long will this take? I want to get back to Larissa.”

  Skevos put his hand on Theo’s shoulder. “Son, you are not a paying passenger on this train.”

  “I can be.” Th
eo took out his wallet. “I’ll get a ticket. I’m not riding back on a motorcycle with two women and their luggage.”

  “I think it’s going to take another two hours.”

  Theo lightly slapped the man’s back. “Thank you, Skevos, I’ll go pay my fare to the conductor and bring my motorcycle on the train.”

  “Yes, yes, now leave me alone so I can fix my train.”

  Theo chuckled and he and Eva walked around the train to the other side, where he had left his motorcycle.

  “Zoe is going to go absolutely crazy with joy when she sees this motorcycle,” Eva said.

  “This is Hera.” Theo laughed and patted the seat.

  “Let me guess. Zoe named her?”

  “Yes, how did you know?” Theo mounted the motorcycle to move her into the train.

  “Zoe names everything.” Eva chuckled when she found the name emblazoned on the gas tank.

  “She still does that? She used to name the cows, the goats, and the chickens. I wasn’t sure how she remembered each name for the chickens, but she did.”

  “Zoe has a motorcycle, or had one.”

  “What kind?”

  “I think it was an Ural but I don’t know much about motorcycles,” Eva replied as she watched Theo get off the bike and maneuver it towards the train. “It had a sidecar.”

  “Did Zoe paint it red?”

  Eva smiled. “No, it was yellow and pink.”

  “I’m surprised it wasn’t red. Everything had to be red.” Theo took the motorcycle and lifted it inside the train and secured it with the help of the conductor. He took out several drachmas and paid for his ticket.

  “Alright now, Zoe is going to be asleep for a bit. Why don’t we go for some coffee?” he suggested.

  Theo held the door open and Eva walked through into the now very busy dining car. They found an empty table and sat down opposite each other. The waiter appeared, took their order, and left just as quickly. Theo took out a cigarette pack from his pocket and offered it to Eva, who took one. He lit her cigarette and did the same for his own.

  “I’ve heard a lot about you.” Theo leaned back on his chair. “Father Haralambos couldn’t stop talking about you once he told me about you and my sister.”

  “Fathers tend to do that.”

  “It was a surprise to find out our Father Haralambos had been a wild boy in his youth.” Theo watched Eva intently. “I would have never guessed.”