[Intertwined Souls 05.0] No Good Deed Read online

  She lay down on the sofa and turned her head to watch Zoe through the porch railing. She chuckled when Zoe accidentally wet herself with the hose. Zoe turned and gave her a broad smile. A few more minutes of watering the garden and Zoe coiled the hose and put it on its stand before coming up the steps.

  “Got a little wet,” Eva said with a slight giggle before making room on the sofa for Zoe. Zoe rested her head on Eva’s shoulder and put her arm around her waist. “Oh, I like this. I think a little gardening later will be good.”

  “You want to garden?”

  “It will be relaxing,” Eva said and kissed Zoe’s cheek. “I really like this.”

  “Me too. How’s your headache?”

  “Better. I think it was the heat and that the silly taxi driver was talking nonstop.”

  “Isn’t that what drivers do?” Zoe asked jokingly. “It’s always worse when you’re not feeling well. Imagine being on a bus and feeling sick.”

  “I hate buses so that is a good thing I don’t have to ride them. I’m still getting used to not worrying about money. Has Earl said anything about Aresti?”

  “He said he was going to look at her over the weekend with Tommy.”

  “What does Tommy know about cars?”

  “Enough that Earl needs his help,” Zoe replied, sounding equally as amused as Eva. “Earl said he and Tommy were going to be working on her.”

  “I think Tommy wants Earl to be working on him,” Eva replied and laughed lightly. She looked at Zoe, who was giving her a wide-eyed look. “What? They have been dancing around each other. I’m tired just watching them flirt without either of them doing anything about it.”

  “It’s not as if you were any quicker,” Zoe reminded Eva.

  “We were in a war!”

  “It took you forever to kiss me!”

  “We were in a war!” Eva said again. “Not only that, but my girl kissing was just not working properly. Earl and Tommy have no such hindrance.”

  “Even with your girl kissing not working properly, you really were a good kisser,” Zoe said. Eva leaned over and tenderly kissed her. “Hm, like that.”

  “I don’t think their girl kissing is working either,” Eva quipped, making Zoe laugh. “Heh. I said a funny. If those two had been in Larissa, they would have never gotten to even kiss. I think we need—”

  “Whoa, wait!” Zoe put her fingers against Eva’s lips. “Aren’t you the same Eva Lambros who told me not to interfere?”

  “Yes but I think they are good for each other and they should do something about it.”

  “Uh huh, so getting them together is a priority?”

  “Yes, before I die of old age and they are still flirting with each other. I would like to see them get on with it. It’s been months and they haven’t kissed yet.”

  “Evy, how much time have you spent thinking about the boys kissing?”

  “Far too much time. It’s annoying me.”

  “They will kiss. Give them some time. They are both smitten with each other and I was telling El that it’s going to happen. Now, as much as I want to talk about my husband’s love life.” Zoe giggled. “What happened today that was so strange?”

  “I had a visitor. It seems Mrs. Muldoon wasn’t just blowing a lot of hot air.”

  “Did she come to see you?”

  “No; her sister did. Jana Hester showed up. She’s married to the External Affairs Minister, Percy Hester. ”

  “Wow. I was reading about her husband in today’s paper. What did she want?”

  Eva gazed down at Zoe. “She made me her assistant.”

  “She made you her assistant? Just like that?”

  “Just like that. Apparently civil servants get transferred all the time and now it’s my turn on the whim of a Minister’s wife.” Eva closed her eyes and grimaced when her stomach rebelled. “I think my nerves with this job, coupled with my cold, are playing havoc with my stomach.”

  “We’ve got some lemonade in the refrigerator…”

  “Tried that earlier. Didn’t work. Mrs. Hester somehow arranged to have me seconded to the External Affairs Department.”

  “Isn’t the Interpreter Service part of that?”

  “It is but this is totally different. She told me my transfer was a fait accompli and I had no say in it.” Eva reached for her cigarette case which was lying on the coffee table next to the sofa and took out a cigarette. She lit it and was about put the cigarette to her mouth only to find Zoe had reached up and took it off her and take a drag. “You do know we can afford more than one cigarette between us?”

  “Yes, I know that, but I love that it’s yours,” Zoe replied before she put it to Eva’s lips. “I don’t smoke as much as you do, but now I’m enjoying it when you’re with me. Do you want to work for Mrs. Hester?”

  “Not really, but unless I leave the civil service, I have to go to the new job. I won’t be there for long. As soon as we are ready at the Estate, I’ll quit.”

  “Why did she choose you? Not that I don’t think you shouldn’t be but why you?”

  Eva sighed. “Jana Hester is an old friend of my mother’s. She was my grandmother’s assistant for a short while. She feels a sense of duty to offer me this job.”

  “Why?”

  “My mother saved her life during Kristallnacht. I’m not sure if I believe that. It sounds too contrived and just doesn’t feel right.”

  “It might be true and she wants to repay the debt she thinks she owes you.”

  “She doesn’t owe me anything, nor do I want anything from her. She’s not as strange as her husband. I was summoned to Mr. Farmer’s office thinking I was going to be speaking to Farmer, but turns out the interview was with the great man. I got the impression he was more interested in if I was a communist than about the new job.” Eva flicked the ashes from her cigarette into the ashtray. She looked down to see Zoe’s incredulous look.

  “YOU? A communist?!” Zoe started to laugh at the absurdity. “The man’s an idiot.”

  “He asked me how long I have been married. I said a few months, and then he asked how long I have been with you.”

  Zoe looked up in amazement. “Why would he ask that?”

  “Apparently because he’s interested in my relationship with you. That’s another strange twist. They know I’m a lesbian. I’m married to a man and yet it doesn’t raise any objections from them. They both seemed so blasé about it.”

  “Hm. That is odd. Maybe it’s because you are rich, and as you said, the rich can get away with being eccentric.”

  “No, I didn’t get that impression from them. It was as if they were willing to jump over any objection or roadblock I would present them. Nothing is too much of a problem. That’s not normal, Zo.”

  “Another mystery and you just love mysteries,” Zoe replied with a slight smile. “You could have chosen not to tell them about us just to see what they would do.”

  “What’s the point of lying? Jana knew, and this was her husband, so what’s the point? I threw caution out the window and followed their lead.”

  Zoe looked up at Eva with a puzzled expression on her face. “Evy, that’s what I would do. Not you. You’re more cautious than that even if they did know about us.”

  Eva shrugged. “I don’t care. I told him you were my lover. They both warned me not to act inappropriately.”

  “What do they think you are going to do? Go racing after the typing pool?”

  “God only knows, Zo. Didn’t you know typists are my weakness!”

  “Only redheaded typists,” Zoe responded getting Eva to smile. “What did he want to know about me?”

  “I don’t think there are any redheads, not that I went to have a look at the typing pool,” Eva replied and shared a laugh with Zoe. “He wanted to know if you were a communist.”

  Zoe laughed. “He’s got a one track mind...or maybe no mind. Are you sure we voted for him?”

  “Yep, we voted for him.”

  “Remind me next time to vote f
or the Vegemite Only Party.”

  Eva grimaced. “Do you have to mention Vegemite?”

  “I know, I know, the smell of it makes you ill.”

  “Yuck.” Eva shook her head. “I don’t know how you can eat that axel grease. We are not voting for a Vegemite Only Party. Hester was going through the motions, and as long as I wasn’t a Nazi or a communist…”

  “That’s a really odd thing to say.”

  “I think that he really didn’t have anything planned to say, so he was asking anything he could think of. Debbie is getting a promotion.”

  “Is she? How?”

  “Mrs. Hester approved her promotion to being my assistant.”

  “Just like that you have an assistant.” Zoe grinned up at Eva. “Debbie must be happy.”

  “She is. So I start next week by going to his office to do some paperwork, and then Personnel.”

  “Do you think you will enjoy it?”

  “I hope so, but as I said, it’s going to be short-lived. If the Hesters popping up wasn’t enough, Henry detoured over and we had a long chat about Alexandra.”

  “She’s nice. I like her. Henry picked a great girl.”

  “Hm, apparently she likes us as well, which is good. She’s also pregnant,” Eva revealed and laughed when Zoe jumped up from her comfortable position. “You like that news?”

  “Yes! It seems two of our friends are now pregnant! It’s going to be a busy time with Elena and Alexandra giving birth at the same time.” Zoe revealed happily. “Is Henry happy?”

  “He’s overjoyed, and we’ve got a wedding to plan as well, although I think it’s going to be low-key. He asked me to be his best man.”

  Zoe snuggled back against Eva and sighed. “I like that. You would look great in a black tuxedo.”

  “I don’t think so.”

  “I think you would, even if it won’t happen. I’m going to draw it just to satisfy my own daydream.”

  Eva laughed and kissed the top of Zoe’s head. “You do that. Whatever makes you happy.”

  “Our boy is growing up and getting married, and he will be a father soon, and Elena’s having her second. It’s all great news.”

  Eva nodded. “A brother or sister for little Rebecca. I was hoping we would have a little one too. Aren’t you due soon?”

  “I’m late,” Zoe said quietly and looked up. “My monthlies are just not consistent. You know how I am.”

  “I know, but what if you are, Zo?” Eva put her hand on Zoe’s belly. “You, Elena, and Alexandra might give birth at the same time.”

  “Don’t get excited. You got excited on the ship and we found out I was just late.”

  “It’s going to happen. It’s just a matter of when,” Eva mused, causing Zoe to shake her head.

  “If I hadn’t seen your eyes change color and know that you saw a vision, then I would have said you were dreaming.”

  “I wasn’t dreaming,” Eva said in a sing-a-long voice. “I saw two babies. One gorgeous little redhead with attitude and a very sweet dark haired boy.”

  “Just what I need—a redheaded little girl with attitude.”

  “Yes! I’m getting two redheads with attitude.” Eva balled up her fist and pumped it in the air in triumph. “I’m so lucky.”

  “Speaking of visions, have you had any since we got back? I haven’t noticed your eyes change color…”

  “At all?” Eva gave Zoe a lopsided grin which made Zoe giggle.

  “Other than when we make love, no, your eyes haven’t changed color.”

  “Maybe it only works in Larissa, Berlin, and in the middle of the ocean.”

  “That is one very strange gift if it does that.”

  “I don’t know. I don’t feel any different, so who knows.” Eva shrugged. She put her arms around Zoe and brought her close. “I do love the way you smell.”

  Zoe looked up quizzically. “I’m still not wearing any perfume.”

  “Doesn’t matter to me. You smell wonderful.”

  “If you say so. I’m getting hungry and I want you to eat something, even if it is just toast.”

  “Ugh. Don’t want to.”

  “Evy, you have to eat something.”

  Zoe got out of her comfortable spot and held out her hand for Eva to take. Eva stood and put her arm around Zoe’s waist as they walked back inside.

  CHAPTER 6

  Zoe struggled to open her eyes when a noise invaded her sleep. She grimaced over Eva’s bare shoulder at the clock. It was an ungodly hour to be woken on a Saturday. Another knock, this time more insistent, made her growl with frustration. Eva had been feeling quite ill during the night and somehow managed to fall asleep after a few hours of tossing and turning.

  She cuddled up against Eva’s back, noting the touch of sunburn on her shoulders from the previous afternoon’s gardening they had done together. She had warned her partner she was going to get burned, but Eva wanted to get the gardening done even though it was still hot and she wasn’t feeling well. Zoe made a mental note to mix some baking soda and water to dab onto Eva’s shoulders when they got rid of whoever was outside that door. She rested her cheek on the warm skin, giving the shoulder a kiss and putting her arm around Eva’s waist. She debated with herself about letting whoever it was stand outside and wait until they realized no one was going to get out of bed to come and answer the blasted door.

  “Zo, someone’s knockin’,” Eva mumbled, turning slightly.

  “I know. I’m ignoring them.”

  “What day is it?”

  “It’s Saturday. Go back to sleep.”

  “Okay.” Eva closed her eyes, only to open them again when the knocking resumed. “I think I got sunburned.”

  “Your shoulders are a quite angry pink,” Zoe informed her. “Are you warm?”

  “Yeah, feels like I’ve got a hot water bottle back there.”

  “Nah, just sunburn. I’ll get the baking soda on later to cool it down.”

  “Thanks, love,” Eva murmured and curled up again. She groaned when the knocking resumed. “I don’t think they are going to leave.”

  “Yes, I know,” Zoe muttered. She gave Eva’s shoulder a kiss before getting out of bed. “I hope it’s not a salesman, or he is going to wish he hadn’t gotten out of bed himself.”

  “I’ll pray for him.”

  Zoe padded out of the bedroom and closed the door. She belted her robe and walked slowly to the door. She opened it and found Earl standing there in his overalls with a toolbox under his arm.

  “Morning, sunshine.” Earl ruffled Zoe’s hair as she ushered him inside the living room.

  “It’s not that I’m not glad to see you, but IT’S SATURDAY!” Zoe said and covered her mouth as she yawned.

  Earl grinned. “Sorry, mate, but Eva asked me to see if I can resurrect Aresti.”

  “You’re going to try and resurrect Aresti? I think Aresti is due to be retired to the junk heap. Eva just doesn’t want to part with the old junk heap so you will just have to resurrect her.” Zoe yawned again as she ran her hands through her hair.

  “I keep telling her to just get a new car but she won’t listen,” Earl replied. He put the toolbox down. “Eva said, ‘Wiggy, Aresti is dead; bring her back to life.’” He tried to imitate Eva’s accent, which only got Zoe giggling. “So I will bring her back to life. Eva’s not in bed, is she?”

  “Yes.”

  Earl grimaced. “I’m sorry, mate, I really am, but she did ask me to come ‘round.”

  Zoe yawned and nodded. She started to walk away and stopped. She turned around to look at Earl. “Are those new overalls?”

  Earl looked down at his new overalls and nodded. “The old ones were getting...um...ratty.”

  “The old ones were getting ratty? Isn’t that why you wear overalls?”

  “Eh?”

  “You bought new overalls to get them dirty and ratty?”

  “Um…well...”

  Zoe decided to sit down on the sofa and looked up at Earl trying not to l
augh at him. It was obvious why he had bought new overalls.

  “What?”

  “Are you going to get Theo to help you with the car? He’s very good with cars.”

  “Um. No, I didn’t know that.”

  “I’m sure he will be up and willing to help you. Do you want me to go over and ask him?”

  “Um. No…uh...Tommy said he was going to help,” Earl said in a rush, causing Zoe to smirk. “You know, he, um, said he was good with cars and, um…”

  “Ah.” Zoe got up from the sofa with a quiet chuckle. “I’ll go and get Eva,” she said and walked back into the bedroom.

  As expected, Eva had gone back to sleep. Zoe watched her for a moment, wishing she could join her. Going to Eva’s side, she sat on the bed and leaned over. “Evy, Earl is here.”

  “Okay,” Eva mumbled.

  Zoe grinned and let her finger trace Eva’s sun-kissed cheek. Her face had a pink color to it that matched the shade on her shoulders. “He’s here to resurrect the car.”

  Eva opened one sleepy blue eye and gazed at Zoe. “The car?”

  “Yes, you know—Aresti, our beloved car that goes vroom vroom. It’s dead.”

  Zoe got a lopsided grin from Eva at the description of their car, which had clearly seen better days.

  “Ugh…uh oh.”

  “Well, he’s here.”

  “Hmm,” Eva mumbled.

  Zoe blew into Eva’s ear. “Evy, get up.”

  “It’s Saturday,” Eva whined and gave Zoe a pout that made her giggle. Eva tossed the sheet off her body and slowly got up. Her long legs swung off of the bed, and her feet hit the floor.

  “I should never do gardening when it’s hot,” she said as she scrunched up her face.

  “Yep, I’ll cool you down when Earl leaves.”

  “Cool me down or heat me up?” Eva looked up at Zoe with a smirk.

  “Depends on whether you behave yourself,” Zoe replied, hauling Eva to her feet.

  “Promises, promises. Misbehaving sounds a lot nicer,” Eva whispered into Zoe’s ear.

  Zoe cupped Eva’s face and kissed her. “Promise to heat you up whether you are a good girl or a bad girl.” She gently slapped Eva’s bare bottom when Eva passed by to put on some clothes. Zoe admired her body for a moment while Eva took out a pair of khaki colored pants and a matching shirt from the wardrobe.