Hidden Truths (Intertwined Souls Series Book 3) Read online

  “Oh, sure. What do you want from me, Mrs. Muldoon?” Zoe asked, having reached the end of her very limited patience. She didn't care if Mrs. Muldoon was the queen herself.

  “You are a very direct young woman.” Mrs. Muldoon grinned. “I like that in my assistant.”

  “Pardon?” Zoe looked around the cabin.

  “I want you to work for me.”

  “Why?”

  “I want someone who knows their art, I want someone who is honest, and I like your feistiness.”

  “Uh...what?” Zoe just couldn't make any sense of what Mrs. Muldoon was talking about. “You know famous artists, and honest ones at that.”

  “Yes, I do know a lot of artists.”

  “And some of them are different like me, if that's what you were after,” Zoe said before once again wishing she would shut up and not say another word.

  Mrs. Muldoon laughed.

  Zoe scratched her head in total befuddlement.

  “Zoe, as much as I think you are an attractive young woman, that's not what I am looking for.”

  “Oh, good, Eva wouldn't be at all pleased,” Zoe said.

  Mrs. Muldoon smiled. “I want an assistant for my art collection back home. I visited the Art's Council recently.”

  “Yes, I know. I was there.”

  “Indeed. I saw your work on some restored art that the Arts Council had on display, and I wanted to meet the artist.”

  “Do you always do background checks on the artists you like?”

  “No, just those I want to hire.”

  “I have a job.”

  “Indeed, but I have a better job for you. Don't you want a better job with more money than what you are getting now?”

  Zoe was intrigued. “But I have the job I wanted. What can you give me that this job doesn't other than more money, which in itself is great, but there is more to a job that money, isn't there?”

  “It's not every day you get the offer of working and meeting talented artists, learning from them, and helping me set up a scholarship for young artists to excel. What Australia needs is culture. Every society needs art and literature and for the young to embrace these as well as cricket and football.”

  “Uh huh.”

  “Is that all you can say?”

  “I don't know why you want me.”

  “I like you,” Mrs. Muldoon replied with a sincere smile that reached her blue eyes. “I need an assistant that has the same passion for art that I do. You're an artist and a passionate one. You are also not very diplomatic, and I like that as well.”

  “How do you know that?”

  “Your diplomacy is non-existent, but I've seen your art, and your passion runs through it. You know, you are making this a very tough sell. I didn't think it would be this hard to convince you.”

  “Did you think I would just come in here and you would magically say the right words and I would fall into line?” Zoe asked and got up. She wasn't sure where she wanted to go but she stood up and circled the chair. “You have totally confused me.”

  “Actually I thought you would say yes right away. I underestimated you,” Mrs. Muldoon replied with a little wave of her hand. “I need someone like you. Of course I didn't know what you were like before. It was only when I read Eva's application and did some checking that I realized who you were.”

  “Uh huh.”

  “So what do you say? Would you like to work for me?”

  Zoe took a deep breath and remembered what she had said to her mother eight years previously. I want to draw, to be a great artist...I want to see what's over there. I want to know what's out there beyond Mount Ossa.

  She bowed her head in thought. “I want to speak to Eva before I say yes.”

  Mrs. Muldoon cocked her head and smiled. “Why?”

  “Don't you speak to Mr. Muldoon about the decisions you make?”

  “Yes.”

  “Why should I be any different? I share my life with her.”

  “I understand. I am aware of the nature of your relationship.”

  “When do you need to know my answer?”

  “Yesterday,” Mrs. Muldoon replied with a smile. She got up and extended her hand to Zoe. “I hope we can work together, Zoe.”

  Zoe took the offered hand and watched as Mrs. Muldoon put on her gloves and hat and walked out, leaving Zoe alone in the cabin.

  “Well, that was interesting,” Zoe said before she got up and walked out of the cabin.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Zoe walked slowly to her cabin. Her thoughts swirled around the extraordinary meeting with Mrs. Muldoon. She let herself into the cabin. Eva was not inside, since she had gone to acquaint herself with her new darkroom and her new camera, and to meet with the returning refugee coordinator.

  Zoe sat down on the chair and pursed her lips.

  “Something...something.”

  Zoe got up, picked up her sketchbook, and left the cabin. She went outside on the deck. She scanned the area and found a nice spot in the sunshine.

  She sat in a vacant lounge chair. She brought her knees up and used them to rest her sketchbook. She smiled when she caught sight of Eva talking with the refugee coordinator.

  “Don’t slouch,” Zoe muttered. Eva was indeed slouching to avoid making herself appear taller. “It doesn’t work. You still look tall because you are tall.”

  “Hello, Miss Lambros.”

  Zoe quickly turned her head and mentally rolled her eyes. Alice. “Hello.” Zoe turned back to watching Eva. “How can I help you, Alice?”

  “Mrs. Muldoon wanted to give you this.” Alice handed Zoe a folder. “It’s just some of her ideas about what you discussed. She forgot to give this to you at your meeting.”

  “Hmm.” Zoe took it, gave a brief look inside, and put it aside. “Thank you.”

  “Um, is there anything I need to pass on for Mrs. Muldoon?”

  Zoe paused then turned to Alice. “How long has Mrs. Muldoon been an artist?”

  “Mrs. Muldoon isn’t an artist.” Alice chuckled. “She loves art but she’s not an artist. She just appreciates great art and has a sizeable collection.”

  “Oh.” Zoe pursed her lips. “Are you sure?”

  “Oh, yes.”

  “Hm.” Zoe nodded. “Thank you for the folder. There isn’t anything you need to tell her from me.”

  Alice smiled and walked off.

  Zoe started to draw Eva standing near the railing; her hair was being whipped up by the breeze, and she had a camera around her neck and a concentrated look on her face. “You are just too gorgeous,” Zoe mumbled as her hand flew across the page.

  ***

  Eva looked up at the sound of children yelling and laughing at a clown on deck. She wondered what kind of person smiled and joked for a living. She knew she wouldn't be able to do the job. Photography afforded her the perfect way to let her creativity shine, and she was very proud of her work. It also allowed her to be at peace with herself.

  Eva leaned against the railing. She spotted Zoe sitting on the lounge chair and, while her head was down, she took a photo. I bet she’s drawing another one of me. Well, I’m going to take a few more of her. She chuckled to herself and fired off a few more shots before Zoe lifted her head, and their eyes met. Zoe turned her sketchbook around and laughed. She gestured to Eva to take photographs of other people instead.

  Eva reluctantly took off her sunglasses and trained her camera on the clown. Decked out in blue trousers, with yellow hair and a big red nose, she was enough to set the children all giggling.

  Eva was busy taking photographs of the children with the clown but spied Dr. Salvatore as he made his way to Zoe. He talked to Zoe, gave her a smile, and then took her hand and kissed it.

  Eva grunted and turned away. She trusted Zoe would tell the doctor about their relationship as they had discussed. She turned her attention to her camera equipment on the deck.

  She was feeling more than a little jealous as she packed her equipment. She was startled when
someone touched her. She turned around quickly to find Zoe staring down at her.

  “I’m sorry, Evy, for startling you. I called you several times.” Zoe knelt down. “Can you pack that up pretty quickly?”

  “Huh?” Eva was puzzled. “Why?

  “I need you,” Zoe replied.

  “Um, Zoe, I'm working.”

  “I know that.” Zoe packed the camera in the bag. “This is important.”

  Eva scratched her head and got up. Zoe hefted the camera bag, took Eva's hand, and led her off deck.

  “Zoe, I don't think...”

  “Trust me,” Zoe simply said.

  Eva shrugged and followed Zoe. She realized they were headed in the direction of Dr. Salvatore’s room. “What are you up to?”

  “Me? Nothing.” Zoe giggled.

  They arrived at the cabin and walked in.

  Eva looked around the cabin, which was laid out the same as theirs. A single examination table covered with a white sheet stood in the back, a desk and chair nearby. Nothing remarkable about the place.

  “Zoe, is that you?” Dr. Salvatore’s voice drifted out from another room.

  “Yep,” Zoe replied.

  “Okay, if you could get your shirt off and lie on the examination table, I'll be out shortly. Just sing out when you're ready.”

  Zoe smiled up at Eva. “Sure thing.” She began to unbutton Eva's shirt.

  “Zoe!” Eva hissed.

  “Yes?” Zoe continued to unbutton the shirt while Eva buttoned it up.

  “I don't think...”

  Zoe sighed. “I'm not about to go through a charade with this man so I can learn this technique. I'm not going to do it and that's that.”

  “But...”

  “Dr. Salvatore needs to know that I’m not interested in him but for what he can teach me,” Zoe said. “It aggravates you to the point where you sneer every time the man is near me.”

  “I don't sneer.”

  Zoe snorted. “You sneered when he spoke to me up on deck.”

  “How do you know that?”

  Zoe raised her eyebrow and resumed unbuttoning Eva's shirt.

  Eva chuckled and removed her shirt and bra.

  “I'm going to learn how to do this and you're going to benefit from a good massage,” Zoe said. “That makes sense to me.”

  “Yes, dear,” Eva replied.

  Zoe gave her a playful pat on the backside as Eva walked past and chuckled.

  Eva stretched out on the table. Zoe unfurled the folded sheet and placed it over Eva's backside.

  “I'm ready, Doctor!” Zoe said, and gave Eva a quick kiss.

  “Oh, good.” Dr. Salvatore entered and stopped short when he saw Zoe standing near his desk. “I thought...” He looked at the table.

  “I owe you an explanation,” Zoe said, and leaned against his desk.

  “Yes, that would be good.” Dr. Salvatore crossed his arms and waited.

  “I want to learn this technique.”

  “That's good.” Dr. Salvatore nodded.

  Zoe glanced at Eva, who rested her head on her arms. “This is Eva.”

  “Yes, I know that.”

  “She's my lover.” Zoe said.

  Dr. Salvatore closed his eyes for a moment. “You are lesbians?”

  “Yes,” Zoe replied.

  “Mamma Mia.” Dr. Salvatore smacked himself on the side of the head. “Had you told me you were lovers I would not have been so forward. Apologies, but I am not a mind reader. I thought since you wanted lessons, it's not the usual response I get when I tell people my profession, yes?”

  Eva sighed. “We don't tell people, Dr. Salvatore.”

  “Yes, yes, I understand.”

  “It can be difficult,” Eva said quietly.

  “Do you really have a back problem?”

  “Yes.” Eva nodded. “Yes, I do.”

  “At least that was the truth,” he said. “And you really wanted to learn about my technique?”

  “Yes,” Zoe replied.

  Dr. Salvatore again smacked his hand against his head. “I am sorry. I misunderstood and I thought you were interested...you are so friendly.”

  “I'm friendly with people, Dr. Salvatore,” Zoe said. “I didn't think you would take my friendliness to mean...I mean...Not that I wouldn't find you an interesting man. You are but I'm...umm...”

  Eva hid her face and chortled.

  “If I had known you were...ah lovers...I wouldn't have been so forward. Forgive me.” Dr. Salvatore bowed. He reached out to take Zoe's hand and stopped himself. “Okay now.” He went over to Eva. “Does your back hurt now?”

  “No.” Eva shook her head.

  “I figured that if you showed me the technique on Eva, then I would learn how to do it,” Zoe explained.

  “Yes, that is a very good idea,” Dr. Salvatore said as he lowered the sheet down to Eva’s waist. “How long have you had the scarring?”

  “A bomb blast in Paris during the war did the major damage.”

  “Hmm,” Dr. Salvatore said, and scratched his ear. “Was it a long time before you saw anyone for your back?”

  Eva twisted around a little to face the doctor and covered her chest with the sheet. “A few weeks.”

  “I'm not surprised you have a bad back,” Dr. Salvatore muttered. “Who did this to you?”

  “The French Resistance bombed the house my father was in, and I was in the room where the bomb went off.”

  “Ah. No, there is more damage here than just a bomb going off. You were in a concentration camp, yes?”Eva shook her head. “No...”

  “Yes,” Zoe said from where she sat on a stool.

  Dr. Salvatore looked at Zoe and then at Eva. “Yes or no?”

  “Not like Auschwitz,” Eva mumbled, and settled back down. “It was…”

  “Some place equally as bad,” Dr. Salvatore said. “I've seen survivors, Miss Haralambos…”

  “Call me Eva,” Eva said.

  “Thank you, Eva. People carry many scars both here.” He gently touched her back. “And here.” He touched the side of Eva's head. He washed his hands at the nearby basin. “Zoe, are you ready to learn?”

  Zoe nodded. Eva was relaxed enough, which was most unusual. Her relationships with chiropractors were always short lived.

  The doctor touched Eva's lower back and began his instruction for his new pupil.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Zoe opened her eyes and smiled. Eva’s dark head was resting on her shoulder. She usually used Eva as a pillow. She tenderly stroked Eva's head and knew the reason she was curled up against her. The morning’s massage so relaxed her that she fell asleep on the examination table, much to Zoe's amusement. She ran her hand through the dark locks hoping Eva would wake up.

  “What have we got here,” Zoe mumbled as she poked at a white hair. She plucked the offending hair.

  “Ow,” Eva mumbled, and rubbed her head. She gazed up at Zoe. “That hurt.”

  “Oh, you poor baby,” Zoe cooed, and kissed the top of Eva's head. “That white hair was all lonely so I plucked it.”

  “It's like a hydra,” Eva mumbled as she pulled the blanket up to her shoulders.

  “Really?”

  “Yeah, you pluck one and two grow back,” Eva replied.

  Zoe laughed.

  “Why'd you wake me?”

  “It's a big day tonight,” Zoe said.

  “Tonight wouldn’t be day.”

  Zoe made a face and then smiled. “Your jokes are really, really terrible.”

  “No, they’re not. Made you smile.” Eva chuckled.

  “Tonight is special.”

  “Really?” Eva yawned as she played with Zoe's buttons. “I have to photograph tonight’s group meeting and a scramble game. Yep, that's special.”

  “You've forgotten, haven't you?”

  “What? I'm getting old. Remind me,” Eva said.

  “Oh yeah. You're old all right.” Zoe giggled.

  Eva reversed their positions and Zoe was stari
ng up into light blue eyes that reminded her of a summer day.

  “Very old,” Zoe said.

  “Uh huh.” Eva traced a finger down Zoe's cheek. “How do I love thee? Let me count the ways. I love thee to the depth and breadth and height my soul can reach, when feeling out of sight For the ends of Being and ideal Grace.”

  Eva recited her favorite poem each anniversary of their special day, when she had proposed, and some days just because she felt like it. She was a true romantic in every sense of the word.

  “I love thee to the level of every day's most quiet need, by sun and candlelight. I love thee freely, as men strive for Right; I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise.” Zoe smiled at the beautiful woman who loved her more than life itself.

  “I love thee with the passion put to use In my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith. I love thee with a love I seemed to lose With my lost saints I love thee with the breath, Smiles, tears, of all my life! and, if God choose, I shall but love thee better after death.” Eva kissed Zoe. “I love you, Zoe.”

  Zoe sighed. “I love you so much. Happy anniversary.”

  “I can't promise you the mountains today,” Eva said.

  Zoe grinned devilishly and very slowly unbuttoned Eva's sleep shirt. “Oh, I don't know.” She traced the tip of her finger over Eva's exposed breast. “I can guarantee you that I'll be doing some climbing.” She giggled.

  Eva laughed and shook her head.

  A knock on the door startled them.

  Zoe glanced at the clock. “Are you expecting anyone?” She rolled over Eva.

  “That was nice,” Eva mumbled as Zoe rose from the bed. “Want to try it again?”

  “Hold that thought.” Zoe tweaked Eva's chin. She put on a robe and went to the door. Eva got out of bed and messed up the other bed. She indicated to Zoe to go ahead and open the door. Very casually, Eva leaned against the doorjamb.

  Zoe opened the door. No one. She looked down and found a dozen roses resting against the doorjamb with a note. “Oh, I thought we cleared that up already,” she muttered as she brought the roses inside.

  “Obviously not,” Eva mumbled and scowled.

  “Well, I'm going to take them back.” Zoe removed her robe to change.

  “Shouldn't you read the card first to make sure it's from Dr. Salvatore?”