Capitulation

Gordon sat by the twin palms, relaxed, looking out over the sea. It had been a good day. There had been a rescue call, from an ice breaker in the Arctic Circle. Several members of the crew had become desperately ill and the nearest help was 12 hours flight time away. Thunderbird 2 could make it in less than three. They airlifted the afflicted crewmembers to Juneau's main hospital, and just in time, the doctors said.

A soft breeze ruffled his auburn hair. He noticed that it also swept to one side the long, tiered skirt that Bekkah wore, as she walked down the beach from the villa. He was surprised. She never wore a skirt on the beach. She hardly wore skirts at all. Her feet were bare, and the peasant-style blouse she wore bared her shoulders, as well. Her hair, which had grown almost to her shoulders since her arrival, hung down in little ringlets over her forehead. It seemed that the longer it got, the more it curled. She carried a glass of wine for him, one of ginger ale for herself.

"Is this tree taken?" she asked, smiling. The greeting had become a silly ritual between them.

"Yes. By you." was the expected answer. She handed him both glasses and sat, sweeping her skirt under her, crossing her legs at the ankles, and leaning back against the tree. He handed her the ginger ale.

"Thanks for the wine." He held up his glass in a silent toast, and she did the same. They settled back.

"Wow. You look lovely. Did you dress up just for me?" he asked. She gave him a wry smile.

"I would say yes, but I'd be lying. Everything else is in the wash."

"I find that hard to believe."

"Believe it, Buster. I have been failing miserably in my household duties."

They sat in silence for a while, sipping their drinks. He watched her out of the corner of his eye. Most people would say she was plain, and he would probably agree. No beauty queen here. But there was something about her that drew him. Not just the things they had shared over the past months, but the ever bubbling joy always present in her. He remembered something Grandma Tracy had told him. "Beauty is as beauty does." That's her secret, he thought.

So far, he had let her call the shots in their relationship. He knew that she had made a promise to herself, not to get sexually involved with a man not her husband. But it was getting harder and harder for him to keep from stepping over the line she had drawn. Especially tonight. Her hair, her skin, everything about her made his body and spirit react with desire. But he would respect her wishes. To help keep himself in control, he changed the subject.

"So. How much longer on these dicetyline blasters of yours?"

"A couple of days. The tanks arrive tomorrow. I have to decide whether or not to increase the pressure on the pumps or go with a smaller gauge hose and increase the pressure that way. There needs to be a good, long stream of this stuff so Thunderbird 2 doesn't have to go too close to the fire."

"You have been so flat out busy it's a wonder you made it out here tonight."

"I know. I read to the kids tonight and almost fell asleep in the middle of Robin Hood. So I thought I'd clear my head out here in the breeze."

"When do you leave for the conference?"

"Saturday. We'll stop in New Mexico to drop my kids off with my in-laws, and then fly to Abidjan from there."

"Only five more days. Whew! Time has flown since the shakedown. Who's flying?"

"Virgil and Scott, who else? They'll spell each other so neither gets too tired. John still isn't up to it yet. His foot needs some more healing."

Gordon moved closer. He caressed Bekkah's face. "I'll miss you."

She smiled and drew him to her for a kiss. "I'll miss you, too."

He drew back, a sly look on his face. "As much as you'll miss your kids?"

She laughed. "At least as much. But not more."

He leaned in for another kiss, deep and long. He tried to control himself, and found his will wasn't enough. His hands began to rove across her back, under the blouse. He kissed her neck in back and around to her throat, then down one shoulder. He didn't want to stop.

Bekkah enjoyed the petting, and she responded to it in kind. Her body began to react to his caresses, as always. But as she moved to stop him from going too far, she found herself at war. With herself.

Her heart cried out, Stop him. You're not ready. You made a promise to yourself. Don't break it.

You are the most fortunate lady in the world to have attracted such a funny, caring, heroic man. Don't require the commitment of him, her mind answered.

But your children! What will their reaction be? her heart wondered. You love them more than life itself.

And you love him, too, the mind countered. You've experienced first hand what kind of life he leads. One where he might not be back tomorrow. Can you really let the promise stand in the way? How long will you make him wait? One day, he might be gone forever. And you will regret not having given him this.

Suddenly, her heart and mind were in agreement. In the flash of a thought, her choice was clear.

Carpe diem, Bekkah. Seize the day.

She found his mouth with her own, then as the kiss ended, she put two fingers up to his lips. There was such a look of hunger in his eyes, colored now by deep disappointment.

She drew a shaky breath and said, "Let's take this...elsewhere."

The hope and joy that blazed in his eyes sealed her decision.

"My room," he said with a strangled voice.

"No. Mine. It's closer." she breathed.

He drew back with something akin to alarm.

"But...your kids...."

She planted a soft kiss on his lips.

"They won't hear a thing."

He nodded, and pulled her to her feet and then to him. When their long kiss ended, she looked at him impishly.

"Besides, I have a bigger bed."

He grinned. Then she took his hand and led him away.