Her Hard to Resist Husband

by Tina Beckett

  He’d mouthed the words, “You’ll go?”

  Another slow nod.

  There’d been no emotion on her face other than a mixture of grief and determination, and he’d wondered if he’d done the right thing in asking her to come. But he couldn’t take on two kids by himself and do them justice. Daniel was a strong young man, a few years from adulthood, and Cleo a young girl whose body was still battling to adapt to diabetes, while her mind buckled under a load of grief and loss.

  Right now, Tracy and the kids were going through Daniel and Cleo’s house and collecting an assortment of sentimental items, and if he knew Tracy, she was making the case for each and every object with the soldier General Gutierrez had left in charge. His friend wasn’t an unreasonable man, but he took his job seriously. He was not going to let this pathogen out of the city, if he could help it.

  All clothing and linens had to be boiled before they were packed into crates and given a stamp of approval. The hours had run into days as people waited in line for their turn to sanitize their belongings.

  A movement caught his eye and he frowned as he spotted Tracy’s assistant heading over to the house. He hadn’t realized the man was still here, although in the confusion of the last few hours he couldn’t remember seeing him leave. Obviously, he wouldn’t have without saying goodbye to his boss.

  He turned, ready to follow, when Tracy came out of the house and met him. Pedro said something to her and she shrugged. But when the man laid his hands on her shoulders, a slow tide began to rise in Ben’s head and he pushed off to see what was going on.

  The first voice to reach his ears was Pedro’s. “You can’t be serious. Projeto Vida is your life. You can’t just abandon it. What about the medical ship?”

  Tracy shook her head and said something, but he couldn’t quite make out her words. Ben moved a little faster.

  “Why can’t someone else deal with them?”

  “Because there is no one else, Pedro. It’s something I have to do. You and the rest of the crew can hold the fort until I get back.”

  Until she got back. Why did those four words make his gut churn?

  Pedro evidently saw him coming and took his hands from her shoulders. It didn’t stop him from continuing his tirade, though. “How long do you think that will that be?”

  “Six months. Maybe a year.” She glanced back at the door to the house. “Please, keep your voice down. We haven’t talked to the kids about time frames.”

  “Why don’t you just bring the kids down to Sao Paulo?”

  “You know I can’t do that. It wouldn’t be fair to them or to you all. Our hours are all over the place and we’re rarely in the office a week before we’re off again.”

  The turning and shifting in Ben’s gut increased in intensity. He hoped that didn’t mean she was planning on keeping the same schedule once she got to Teresina. He expected her to be an active partner in Cleo’s care, not an absentee parent.

  He forced a smile as he addressed Tracy. “Is there a problem?”

  She shook her head. “No, we’re just working out some details about the office.”

  That’s not what it sounded like to him.

  Moistening her lips, she leaned forward to give Pedro a quick hug. “It’s going to be all right. Give me a call when you get in. I should have cellphone service once I get on the road.”

  “Speaking of roads,” Ben said, his eyes locked on Pedro, “we should all be heading in that direction. Do you need a ride anywhere?”

  “Nope. I offered to help with the clean-up then I’ll catch a ride to the airport.”

  Tracy smiled. “I thought you said the soldiers were ‘scary dudes.’”

  “They’re not so bad once you get to know them. Other people…not so much.”

  Yeah, Ben could guess who that little jab was meant for. Luckily, his skin had grown pretty thick over the last several years. Not much got through.

  Except maybe one hot-tub episode.

  And a few hot tears that had splashed on his shoulder as Tracy had confessed her deepest, darkest secret. Oh, yeah, that had gotten through more than he cared to admit.

  “I have a crate of embroidered linens that need to be boiled and then we can go.”

  Pedro, as if finally realizing she was serious about going to Teresina, spun on his heel and walked away.

  Maybe he should give Tracy one more chance to walk away as well. But as much as he tried to summon up the strength, he couldn’t. Not just yet.

  He had two kids to worry about.

  And maybe someday he could convince himself that was the real reason.

  * * *

  “Where are the beds?”

  Ben found Daniel standing in the middle of his new room, the backpack with all his clothes still slung over one of his thin shoulders. At least the boy’s cheeks had some color back in them. “It’s right there against the wall.”

  And then he realized why the kid had asked that question. He’d probably never slept on a spring mattress in his life. The military had used canvas cots for sickbeds, while most of the houses in Sao Joao dos Rios contained redes…hammocks. Ben had nothing against sleeping in them. The things were pretty comfortable, in fact. And making love in one…

  Yeah, better not to think about the times he and Tracy had shared one on various trips in their past.

  Ben moved past Daniel and sat on the double-sized bed. “This is what we normally sleep on.”

  “But it’s not hanging up. Doesn’t it get hot?”

  The kid had a point.

  “That’s why we have fans.” He nodded at the ceiling fan that was slowly spinning above them. “It goes at different speeds.”

  “I don’t know…” Daniel looked dubious.

  Ben smiled. “Tell you what. Try it for a week or so and if you absolutely hate it, we’ll go buy you a rede.”

  “My mom made mine herself. And Cleo’s.”

  His throat tightening, Ben nodded. By now the military would have burned everything. Houses, most material possessions that could carry bacteria out of the city. That included Daniel and Cleo’s hammocks. “I know. I wish we could have brought them, but there was no way to boil them.”

  They’d been able to sterilize a few of Maria Eugenia’s aprons and embroidered towels, but hammocks had been too unwieldy. They’d been forced to leave so much behind.

  “I understand.” He looked around again. “Why is there only one bed, then?”

  That was another thing. The siblings had shared a bedroom in their old house, but there were enough rooms here that they wouldn’t need to any more. But how to explain that to a boy who’d never had a room of his own. “Cleo will have her own bed, in the room next door to this one.”

  Tracy was currently in there with the girl, making up the couch with sheets and pillows. He tried to look at his home through their eyes. He wasn’t a wealthy man by American standards, but it would certainly seem that way to Cleo and Daniel. There was even an air-conditioner in each of the rooms for when things got unbearably hot. But he didn’t mention that right now. He wanted to give them some time to adjust to their new surroundings before springing too much on them.

  The local government had been overwhelmed, dealing with the aftermath of the outbreak, so when Ben had asked permission to take the kids with them, they’d made copies of Ben’s and Tracy’s identity papers, called in a quick background check, then promised a formal interview in the coming weeks. He knew it would only be a formality. And maybe some long-lost relative would come forward in the meantime and claim the children.

  He wasn’t sure how he felt about that. In just two weeks Ben had grown fond of the kids. Too fond, in fact.

  What had he been thinking, agreeing to this? And what had Tracy been thinking, saying yes?

  A question that made something in his chest shimmy to life.

  As if she knew he’d been thinking about her, Tracy showed up at the doorway with Cleo in tow. “We’re all set up. How are you doing in here?”


  Daniel looked up at the sign Rosa had hung on the bedroom wall when Ben had called to tell her the news.

  Bem Vindo, Daniel!

  There was a matching “welcome home” sign in Cleo’s room, with her name on it.

  Giving the first tentative smile Ben had witnessed since he’d known the boy, Daniel nodded. “I think we will do very well here.”

  “So do I.”

  The soft words came from Tracy, who also had a ghost of a smile on her face. She walked over and took one of his hands, giving it a quick squeeze before releasing it. Then she whispered the two most beautiful words he’d ever heard. “Thank you.”

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  “I HAVE A surprise for you outside.”

  Ben had rounded them all up in the living room.

  A surprise—anything, in fact—was better than Tracy trying to avoid looking into the bedroom she’d once shared with Ben. The one that seemed to call to her, no matter where she was in the house.

  Tracy glanced at Rosa to see if she knew anything, but she just shrugged.

  If the housekeeper was surprised to see Tracy back in Teresina, she didn’t show it. She’d just engulfed her in a hug so tight it had squeezed the air from her lungs. She’d then dabbed the corners of her eyes with her apron before embracing each of the children.

  “A surprise?” asked Cleo. “What is it?”

  Giving Ben a puzzled look, Tracy wondered what kind of surprise he could possibly have. They’d only arrived a few hours ago. The kids hadn’t even had a chance to explore properly yet.

  “I bought a water tank,” he said in English. “I thought we could convert it into a makeshift pool for the kids. Maybe even sink it partway into the ground to make it easier to climb into. I had it delivered when you agreed to come to Teresina.”

  Heat suffused her face as she processed this, ignoring the kids who were asking to know what he’d said. “Is it the one from Sao Joao dos Rios?” Lord, she hoped not. Those memories were even fresher than the ones from the bedroom down the hall.

  “No. Bigger.”

  “We could have bought an inflatable pool.”

  “I figured this would be more permanent and less likely to rupture. I can’t afford to have a built-in pool put in, but I figured the kids could help with the upkeep. It’ll also give them a place to entertain any new friends they might make.”

  “That was nice, Ben.” She refused to wonder what would happen to it once everyone went their separate ways. “I think they’ll love it.”

  Tracy switched back to Portuguese and twitched her index finger back and forth at the kids’ expectant glances. “I can’t tell you what we said without spoiling the surprise.”

  Standing aside as Ben pushed the door open, she watched the kids lope into the back yard. A large oval water tank sat in a sandy area. Daniel’s eyes touched it then skipped past, still looking for whatever the surprise was.

  Ben was right, it was huge. The thing must hold a couple of thousand gallons. Why had they never thought of using one as a pool before? Perched on rooftops everywhere in Brazil, the blue fiberglass tanks came in various shapes and sizes. This one must have been meant for a commercial building.

  Cleo seemed just as lost as Daniel was. “Where’s the surprise?”

  To them, evidently, a caixa de agua was just that: a holding tank for water. They couldn’t see the possibilities.

  Ben walked over to it and put his hand on the curved rim. “This is it.”

  The way both kids’ faces fell brought a laugh up from Tracy’s chest. “What? You don’t think this is a good surprise?”

  Cleo shook her head, and Daniel said, “It’s fine. I’m sure you needed a new one.”

  “Oh, it’s not for our roof.” Ben motioned them round to the other side of the tank. They followed him, Tracy wondering what he’d hidden over there.

  Taped to the outside edge was a glossy magazine ad showing a family playing in an above-ground pool, an inflatable raft bouncing on happy waves.

  “This…” Ben patted the side of the tank “…is going to be a pool once we’re done with it.”

  “A piscina?” Cleo’s voice held a note of awe. “We’re going to have a pool?”

  “We’re going to use the tank as a pool.” He ran a hand over the top edge. “You’re going to have to help me get it ready. And you’ll have to help take care of it once it’s set up. But, yes, we’re going to have a pool.”

  “Beleza!” The happy shout came from Daniel, who now walked around the tank with a completely different mindset. “The water will be almost up to my neck.”

  “Yes, and you’ll have to be careful with your sister,” Ben said, “because it’ll be over her head. I don’t want you guys using this without supervision. In fact, I’m going to have a cover installed when it’s not in use.”

  Cleo’s fingers trailed over the image of the raft on top of the water.

  Catching Ben’s grin, Tracy could guess what was coming. “There’s a bag on the far side of the tank, Cleo. Why don’t you go and look inside?”

  The little girl raced around to the other side. They soon heard a squeal. “A float. Just like in the picture. And there are two!”

  “One for each of them,” Tracy murmured to Ben. “You thought of everything, didn’t you?”

  “No. Not everything.” Something in the words had her gaze swiveling back to him.

  “I don’t understand.”

  “I don’t imagine you do, but it doesn’t matter.” He moved away from her before she could really look at him. She heard him talking to the kids then they all came around and walked across the yard behind the house, trying to decide on the best place for the pool. They finally came up with a spot near the acerola tree, where they’d at least get some shade during the heat of the day.

  * * *

  As soon as the kids had uncovered all the secrets of the soon-to-be pool, they went off to explore the rest of the backyard, leaving Ben and Tracy alone together.

  When her eyes met his, the look was soft and fluid, reminding him of days gone by when he’d brought her flowers unexpectedly or had taken her on a long walk in the park.

  Hell, he’d missed that look. Placing his hand out, palm up, he held his breath and waited to see if she’d take it. She did, her cool skin sliding across his. He closed his fingers, his gaze holding hers. “Are you okay with all this?”

  “I am.”

  He’d felt the stab of guilt more than once since she’d agreed to come back with him. Especially after the way they’d parted four years ago.

  With a sigh he opened his hand and released her. He’d never really known what she’d been thinking during those last dark days of their marriage. And he wasn’t sure he wanted to. Maybe it would just make the rift between them that much deeper.

  “I guess I’d better go help Rosa with dinner.” She stepped up on tiptoe and gave him a soft kiss. “The kids love their surprise, I can tell. Thank you.”

  Tracy stood back with a smile, the corners of her eyes crinkling. Oh, how he loved seeing that. The urge to kiss her came and went without incident. After screwing up so badly in the past, he didn’t want to do anything that would send them spinning back to uglier times just when he was beginning to feel he’d made up some ground with her. Maybe with time they’d be able to move past those days and become friends again.

  At least that was his hope.

  * * *

  Dr. Crista Morena gently palpated Cleo’s abdomen, her brow furrowed in concern. “You know that type-one diabetes can occur at any age.” She glanced up at them, and Ben could see the curiosity in her eyes. “You know nothing of her background, her medical history?”

  “Just what we observed during the plague outbreak,” he said. “Could her pancreas have been affected by the illness?”

  She stood and straightened the stethoscope around her neck. “Some cases may be triggered by a viral infection—something in the enterovirus family—that causes an autoimmune response.” She hel
ped Cleo sit up. “I want to get some bloodwork done on her, but the finger prick we did when you first came in is right around two-twenty. We’ll need to do another with her fasting. I’ll send some testers home with you.”

  Tracy nodded. “Her glucose levels seem to fluctuate for no apparent reason, just like they did while she was sick, so her pancreas must be producing some insulin.”

  “If it’s type one, she could be in the honeymoon phase. You administered insulin to bring her levels back down, right?”

  “Yes.”

  “Doing that can sometimes give the organ a rest, stimulating those last remaining beta cells, which then pump out small quantities of the hormone.” She looked at each of them. “If it’s type one, the honeymoon phase is only a temporary reprieve. Those cells will eventually stop producing all together.”

  Ben swallowed. If that was true, Cleo would need constant monitoring for the rest of her life. Temporary would become permanent. He glanced at Tracy to see if she’d come to the same conclusion he had.

  Yep. Her hands were clasped tightly in her lap, fingers twisting around each other. Well, taking the kids had been her idea in the first place.

  But you agreed.

  Besides, it had done him a world of good to hear Cleo’s happy laugh when she’d realized what the water tank in the backyard meant. How her eyes had widened when she’d discovered she was getting a room of her own with a new pink bedspread—once the bed they’d ordered for her arrived. He wouldn’t trade those moments for anything.

  Ben helped Cleo hop off the exam table and motioned to the chair he’d occupied moments earlier. She chose to go to Tracy instead, who opened her arms and hauled the child onto her lap, hugging her close.

  His throat tightened further. Tracy looked so right holding a child. Would she have cut back on her traveling if their baby had been born?

  If the evidence he’d seen was any indication, the answer to that was no. She’d rushed to Sao Joao dos Rios during the outbreak, and Pedro had indicated they’d made quite a few trips during the year.