The standing passengers lurched forward and back when the tram stopped at a red signal. It was a hot afternoon, and nobody wanted to spend it crowded on a tram with dozens of other people. Eva closed her eyes as she wrapped her arm around the metal rod, the cool metal brushing against her cheek.
"Excuse me, love."
Eva cleared the way for passengers to exit the tram before returning to her original position against the pole. She disliked taking the tram, especially on hot days, but their car, dubbed 'Aresti' by Zoe, had refused to start that morning. Eva didn't want to go to work, especially after a sleepless night debating Zoe's wish to have children. Zoe had set her mind on doing something and was determined to follow through. Eva was against the idea of Zoe with a man-made her sick. Zoe didn't want to have sex with a man, but she was confident she would fall pregnant if they used her father's method to impregnate his cows on the family farm.
When the tram jerked to a halt, Eva saw that it had arrived at her stop. She went to the rear door and stepped outside onto the sidewalk. Eva sighed and gazed up into the clear sky above. As she walked down the street and into the cul-de-sac, she was relieved to be wearing her practical shoes. As she got closer to her house, Earl pulled into the driveway.
"Ah, my adorable Evy, the love of my life." Earl smiled broadly and blew her a kiss. He took a couple of strides toward the end of the driveway and waited for Eva to catch up. Eva was about to give him a peck on the cheek.
"Mrs. Walkins is watching us. Kiss me," Earl leaned in and whispered.
Eva smiled, took one step into his arms, and kissed him on the lips. They parted and looked at each other. "Is she still looking?"
"Yep," Earl said and leaned in for another kiss. "Your kissing is improving."
"Ha." Eva cupped his face and looked into his eyes. "Your beard is annoying. Shave it off. Still looking?"
"Nope, gone." Earl chuckled. "I'm keeping my beard. It makes me look professorial."
"Makes you look like someone who doesn't want to shave," Eva teased.
"Leave my beard alone. So, love of my life, what's wrong with Aresti?"
"She wouldn't start this morning." Eva gazed into her driveway at the vehicle. "I don't know what's wrong with it."
"You should have told me, and I could have driven you to work. Do you want me to have a look?"
"She's all yours. I'm hot and tired. My gorgeous girl is home without me."
"Are we still coming over for dinner? I want you to meet Patrick."
"Did you hit your head on something today?" Eva playfully tapped him on the head. "We've already met Patrick."
"Yes, but it's getting serious, and I want him to get to know you both."
"Oh. All right. Come by around eight for dinner. I don't know what Zoe has planned, but I'm sure she won't mind."
They parted ways, and Eva made her way up the paved walkway to the stairs. She entered to find the house unusually quiet. Eva made her way down the hallway and into the living room. Her eye caught the telegram on the table. She picked it up and frowned. Come on, Zoe. How many more of these are you going to ignore?
Need to you to come to Greece. Urgent matter to clear up, Zoe, or else the state will own everything.
The strict new laws enacted by the Greek government after the end of the Greek Civil War slammed with Zoe's intransigence. No matter where they went or what they did during the civil war, all Greek property owners were given a certain amount of time to return and regain their property. Since Zoe was set on never returning, she would forfeit her inheritance. Eva couldn't stand for that, so she decided to convince Zoe otherwise.
When Eva entered their home, she was surprised to find that Zoe wasn't listening to music, as she always did as soon as she walked through the door. Eva put the letter down and went to find Zoe, but the kitchen was deserted. Eva spotted Zoe in the backyard garden when she looked out the open back door.
Ever since Zoe started working at the Art Gallery, Eva had been a little concerned about her mental well-being. When questioned about her mood, she claimed she was still getting her bearings. Something was going on, and Eva was going to find out why.
Zoe took off her cap and wiped her hands and forehead clean of sweat and filth. The garden was essentially just a pile of dirt and some dead weeds that needed to be cleaned up. Even more surprising to Eva was that Zoe had begun the project. Since Zoe found gardening boring, she left Eva to take care of it. Zoe was wearing one of Eva's shirts tucked into her white shorts. Her hair was fixed in a ponytail, and she was wearing Eva's boots, which were several sizes too big and made her look comical.
After washing her hands, Eva grabbed a watermelon from the fridge, cut it into slices, arranged it into a bowl, and went outside.
"Zoe!"
Zoe immediately stopped what she was doing and came over when she spotted Eva. "Right on time." She kissed Eva hello when she saw her. " the watermelon more right now!"
"I see you have been hard at work."
"I had to get some fresh air and get my hands dirty."
Eva grinned and playfully checked Zoe's temperature by placing her hand on her forehead.
"Excuse me, but who are you?
Zoe grinned and munched on the watermelon; the juices flowed down her chin and onto her shirt.
"What aren't you telling me, love?"
Zoe wiped her mouth with the back of her hand and sighed. "Everyone has to start from the bottom for their first job, right?"
"I don't know, I've never had a first job. The factory is the first job I've ever had, and you shouldn't judge my first job experience."
Zoe picked up another slice of watermelon and smiled. "Your first job is the worst job in the world."
"It's not what I would have chosen, but we all have to make do," Eva chuckled. She reached out and took Zoe's hand. "What's the matter, love. You're not yourself. Is it the job or the letters about Greece?"
"I don't care about Greece." Zoe plucked a couple of grass clippings and played with them. "Evy, I hate my job."
"Is Alice making it difficult for you?"
"No, she's a sweetie. It's just... I call our office 'the abyss". The last time I felt this useless was when Stavros was killed. It's a horrible place to work." When Stavros died was the last time I felt so useless. It's terrible to work there." Zoe's voice cracked with emotion. "I feel like I'm working in a dungeon. It's dark and dreary."
Zoe was feeling miserable, so Eva put her arm around her shoulders and kissed her head. "I'm sorry that's how you feel. Do you want to quit?"
"Yes, but no."
"Yes, you want to quit, but no, you don't want to quit because you never do." Eva finished what she called Zoe's "verbal shorthand," which were sentences that were only half completed.
"I have to pay my dues because I'm an artist."
"Love, it's making you unhappy. You're so sad that you resorted to gardening."
Zoe groaned. "I hate gardening as much as I hate my job," he said. Zoe looked back up and gave a shrug. "In other news, I met Sebastian Fletcher."
"You did? How amazing! Did you tell him you love his art?"
Zoe laughed sarcastically. "He's a jackass."
"Oh, Zoe, I'm so sorry."
"My butt hurts." Zoe quietly admitted. Eva was a little perplexed by Zoe's abrupt change.
"I don't understand."
"It's embarrassing," Zoe responded and gazed at Eva before she shook her head. "I was in a lift with him, and he got too handsy."
"What?" Eva sat up straighter and noticed Zoe looking down, which wasn't like her. "What did he do to you?"
"Instead of dropping the frame and kicking his balls," Zoe replied, "I told him he was rude." Eva's eyes widened in response
"Was that before or after you kicked him in the balls?"
"There was no kicking involved. Remind me if I'm the same woman who went against trained soldiers because I don't recognize myself. I have killed for less."
"You are the same woman, but he caught you off-guard. That won't happen again. You know he's a snake, and you will be prepared next time."
"I told you I should always have my knives with me."
"That's not the answer, for now. I'm sorry, love," she said and put her arm around Zoe.
"He is an ass, and to think I desperately wanted to meet him." Zoe glanced at Eva.
"Don't be alone with him again, and always have something between you and him."
"Or use my knives," Zoe added. "That would make me happy."
"It will also get you arrested for attempted murder. Let's try to stay out of prison." Eva got up from the grass and held out her hand for Zoe.
"Get up; I want to see what he's done. You wouldn't admit you were hurting if it wasn't serious."
Zoe reluctantly got up and turned around. Eva pulled her closer and pulled down the elastic of the shorts. She gently pushed the purplish bruises on Zoe's backside. "Does this hurt?"
"Yes."
"Let's get some ice on it..."
"A bit late for that," Zoe mumbled. "I'm a fool."
"No, you are not. You were cornered in a lift, and Fletcher took advantage of it. You won't make that mistake again. Is it a bad time to tell you that Earl is coming to dinner with Patrick? It looks to be serious."
Zoe sighed. "Let's hope Earl's Patrick isn't an ass."