“No. As long as we understand each other.”
“Yes, we do. I’ll mind my own business.” He didn’t believe that for a minute, but when she came around the desk to give him a hug, he hugged her back. “It’s only because I love you.”
“I know.”
She walked toward the door, and Carolina followed. “We’ll see you next week in Rio,” Beatrisa said in a breezy tone with a wave of her hand.
After his sisters left, Renaldo stared out of the window. He thought about how he’d left Sabrina that morning, exhausted in their bed with the sheet around her waist. He hadn’t been able to resist giving parting kisses to her exposed breasts.
He unlocked a drawer in his desk and retrieved a photo. He’d kept one of the incriminating photos of Sabrina and the other man here at the office. Every time he had thought to call her, he’d looked at it to remind himself of her betrayal and his folly.
Without stopping to think about what he was doing, he took a pair of scissors and neatly cut out the image of the man in bed with Sabrina. When he was finished, he stared down at the man’s face.
Younger. Good looking. Sleeping with his wife.
He picked up the phone and dialed Paulo. “Come by my office. I have a job for you.”
Paulo arrived minutes later and Renaldo dropped the image onto the desk.
“I want you to find this man. As soon as possible.”
“Who is he?”
“That’s what I want you to find out. He’s the one Sabrina was with.”
Sabrina’s affair had been a blow to his pride. Paulo was the only person who knew the reason for their pending divorce. Not even Leonardo, with whom he was very close, or his sisters knew the full story.
“Just a photo and no name?” Paulo tucked it into the breast pocket of his jacket. “It may not be easy to find him.”
“I’m sure you can do it. I want every bit of information you can get on him. Right down to his shoe size.”
Paulo lifted an inquisitive brow. “Is that all you want?”
Actually, no. Renaldo wanted to rip the man limb from limb. Wanted to make him hurt the same way he had hurt.
“For now.”
Sabrina’s words replayed in his head. I…I think I was drugged.
He had no idea what Paulo would discover. But he knew it was time he found out exactly what happened that night.
Chapter Twelve
Days passed, and an unspoken truce had developed between Sabrina and Renaldo. One in which they silently agreed to live in the moment and enjoy, rather than deny, the passion that was ever-present between them.
It made Sabrina look forward to the trip to Rio. Now she didn’t have to worry about sharing a room with Renaldo and faking the entire weekend while she spent time with his family.
Sabrina had never been to Renaldo’s birthplace before, though he’d talked about it many times. His father had moved the family to Sao Paulo when he was very young, but most of their family lived in Rio.
Leonardo sent a car to pick them up from the airport. On the ride to the house, she watched the passing scenery, noting the differences between Rio and Sao Paulo. Although Rio was a large city, it didn’t have the same overwhelming cityscape as Sao Paulo did.
Cariocas, as the residents of Rio were called, lived a different lifestyle than paulistanos. She could already feel the slower pace and knew they conducted business differently. In Rio, you were more likely to get to know your associates on a more personal level, and business lunches lasted twice as long.
Then, of course, there was the Atlantic Ocean, which stretched for miles and lapped at the shores of some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. The water twinkled an invitation, bright as a sapphire in the sun, and had her looking forward to their visit to the beach the next day.
The car pulled into a gated community three blocks from Copacabana Beach and the driver parked under the carport of a white, two-level house resting in a cul-de-sac between two other houses. The driver toted their bags down the short walkway, which bisected a verdant lawn with bushes filled with tropical flowers.
They walked up three stone steps and the driver opened the door. Alexa, Leonardo’s wife, immediately appeared.
Her face lit up when she saw them, and she cried out excitedly. “You’re here!” She and Sabrina fell into each other’s arms and hugged warmly.
Alexa was Sabrina’s only true friend in Brazil. An immediate bond had formed between them because they were both African-Americans. Everyone else she had met in work-related settings or were mere acquaintances.
She was reminded of Renaldo’s words: “There must be a balance. You cannot work all day, all the time.” Had she really spent so much time concentrating on work and success? It appeared so since she’d neglected to establish a social circle.
“How are you?” Alexa asked, ushering them into the house.
Always stylish, she wore a cute empire-waisted maternity dress that sat loosely on her pregnant belly. Her hair had been straightened and cut into a short bob.
The driver sidled past them to take the luggage upstairs to the bedroom prepared for her and Renaldo.
“Not as well as you,” Sabrina replied. “You look amazing. I can’t believe this is your third baby in three years.”
Alexa’s tawny skin glowed, and she laughed the contented laugh of a happy pregnant woman. “You’re flattering me, and I unashamedly accept it. But I have no choice but to keep popping babies out. I had to cram them in during our three-year stay because Leo insists all his children have to be born on Brazilian soil.”
“That’s the way it should be,” Renaldo interjected.
Alexa rolled her eyes.
He laughed, which was such a good look on him, so relaxed and approachable.
“I knew you’d agree with him,” Alexa said. “You Brazilians are a proud bunch.”
Renaldo kissed her cheeks. “Where is my cousin?”
“He’s off making sure we have what we need for the party tomorrow night. You know Leo, he has to take control. It’s his birthday, but he’s busy making sure everything runs smoothly instead of letting us handle it.”
“How old is he now? Fifty-six?”
“Thirty-six.” Alexa wagged a finger at him. “Don’t you dare talk about my husband’s age.”
“Where are the kids?” Sabrina looked around as if they would suddenly appear. They must have grown so much since the last time she saw them. Lucélia was just over two years old, and Alessandro was eleven months old.
“They’re taking their afternoon nap,” Alexa said. “We can have some grown up time before they wake up and start screaming for my attention.”
No sooner had the words left her mouth, than the pitter-patter of little feet could be heard across the terra cotta-tiled floor. Her daughter came running out, clutching a blue-and-white stuffed rabbit. Sabrina remembered how much the little girl loved the toy. She’d brought it when they visited her and Renaldo in Sao Paulo. Senhor Bunny, he was called.
Lucélia paused when she saw Renaldo and Sabrina. She was a miniature version of her mother, but had her father’s dark, wavy hair. She watched them curiously for a moment.
“Olá, boa tarde, Lucélia,” Sabrina greeted her. She doubted Lucélia would remember her. It had been months since they’d last seen each other.
The toddler’s face crumbled and she started to cry.
“Oh, no, what’s wrong?” Sabrina asked, amazed so much noise could come from such a tiny mouth.
“Nothing.” Alexa sighed. “She’s in a bad mood because she’s supposed to be asleep, but she hates taking an afternoon nap. But if she doesn’t have a nap, she’s miserable and cranky. Come here, sweetie.”
Lucélia ran pell-mell into her mother’s leg and buried her face in the folds of her dress.
“Mamãe,” the little girl wailed, lifting her face toward her mother and stretching her arms upward.
“Okay, that’s enough.” Alexa picked her up and settled her on her
hip. Lucélia buried her face in her chest, still holding Senhor Bunny. “You need to take your nap.”
“Não.” Lucélia shook her head, the word muffled.
“Sim, Lucélia.”
“Não, mamãe. Não sono.”
“Yes, you are sleepy. Você está muito sonolenta.” Alexa spoke to the children in both languages to make the transition easier for them when they moved back to the States. “As you can see, she’s changed a lot since you last saw her. She’s not sweet and quiet anymore. I have my hands full. Notice how she’s making all that noise, but there are no tears. My daughter is quite the actress. I’m convinced she has a career in show business.”
She stroked her daughter’s hair. “You want to stay with me?” When Lucélia nodded she patted her back. “Okay, but you have to calm down. Acalme-se.”
After several moments of talking quietly to the toddler, Lucélia’s whining quieted and her eyes drooped as she settled against her mother’s breast.
“I don’t know how she slipped past her grandmother, but it looks like she’ll be fast asleep by the time I get finished showing you around. I’ll put her down when we’re done. Come on and I’ll give you the grand tour.”
Renaldo had been there before, but since Sabrina hadn’t, Alexa showed them around the downstairs and took them out to the back yard. On the second floor, she showed them to their room and explained Leonardo had insisted his favorite cousin get the best room in the house. It overlooked a flower garden. A few steps outside the bedroom door and they were at a staircase that took them to the rooftop terrace and pool.
“Sabrina, I’m sure you know we’re all one big happy family, so don’t be shy—make yourself at home. We’ll have a full house when Beatrisa, Carolina, and the other cousins get to town. Then of course, all the family in Rio will be here tomorrow night for the party. If you all need anything, just holler for me, Mamãe Silva—who’s around here somewhere—or the housekeeper.”
After she left, Sabrina threw open the French doors and stepped out to view the garden below. “This is so nice.”
Renaldo stepped up beside her. “Do you think you could live in a place like this? Away from the city?”
“I do.”
The house felt so homey, lived in. Each room was decorated with heavy, traditional furniture in rust, brown, and green patterns and tall potted plants sat in the corners of the rooms. She would love to have a home like this with Renaldo. A place where children ran through the house and family members stopped by for parties or just to say hello.
“Could you?”
He looked off into the distance. “I grew up in a house like this.” He went back into the room. “We better go downstairs to see if Alexa needs help. We may be guests, but we’re family. I’m sure she’ll want to put us to work.”
We’re family.
He’d included her. A good sign, surely.
They spent the rest of the day getting ready for the party by putting up decorations and clustering furniture together to create pockets for conversation. When the little ones woke up, Sabrina helped Mamãe Silva, their grandmother, keep them out of the way.
By late afternoon, family started coming by—cousins, in-laws, Carolina, Beatrisa and her children. When Leonardo came home, a loud cheer went up from the back yard where everyone had congregated. Sabrina greeted him and received a big bear hug and kiss. He had the same broad, muscular build as Renaldo, but unlike Renaldo, he allowed his hair to grow out, exposing the wavy pattern to curl around his collar.
A few trays of food set aside for the big event the next day were brought out, and someone turned on the radio to a station that played only local music. In typical Brazilian fashion, an impromptu party broke out.
Renaldo’s family—no, they were her family, too, for at least a little bit longer—was a loud, happy bunch that hugged and kissed each time a new person arrived.
When he’d asked her to marry him, he’d told her, “In my country, family is very important. When we marry, your family becomes mine, and my family becomes yours.”
She hadn’t truly appreciated those words until now—now that she was about to lose it all. She sat back and watched all the revelry. A few people sat at a table arguing about a soccer match. One of the cousins’ new baby was being passed around from person to person. They fawned over the little girl, but that didn’t slow down Lucélia, who thrived on being the center of attention. While her little brother drank from a bottle in the arms of one of his cousins, she ran around with a yucca fry in her hand, offering a bite to each person. It was a game to her, and whenever anyone pretended they wanted to take a bite, the little imp yanked it back, giggled, and ran off.
Sabrina wanted to hold onto this. All the noise, the energy, the chaos. She had to make Renaldo listen to her, because if she was forced to leave, she would not only be giving him up, she would be giving up her family, too.
Later in the evening, they all had full bellies, and the boisterous conversations had lowered to quiet discussions. A bossa nova melody played on the radio while one couple and Renaldo and Mamãe Silva danced. The guitarist strummed a haunting tune and the men slowly guided their partners around the outdoor patio. Renaldo looked relaxed in a pair of jeans and a T-shirt, his handsome face all smiles. He hadn’t looked so happy in a long time. These moments were important to him, when he cast off the stress of work and simply enjoyed the time he spent with those close to him.
Beatrisa dragged a chair over to sit beside her. “Are you having a good time?”
“Yes. I love being around your family.”
They watched the activity in silence for a few moments.
“You hurt my brother,” Beatrisa said, keeping her eyes trained on Renaldo. “I don’t know the details because he won’t tell me, but I only have one question for you. Do you love him?”
Sabrina looked at her sister-in-law’s profile. “Yes.”
“Good.” Beatrisa faced her. “Because if you ever hurt him again, you will have to deal with me.”
She’d always known Beatrisa was protective of her siblings. Sabrina felt the same way about Jewel, who was the closest thing she had to a sister.
“You don’t have to worry about that, Beatrisa.”
“I am sorry I have not been friendlier to you. I must be honest, I was worried when my brother chose a woman from the United States, but…you are his choice…you are family. I will do better.” Her eyes brightened. “Maybe lunch one day…you, me, and Carolina?”
“That would be nice.”
“Good. I better go find my children. There’s no telling what trouble those two are getting into.” Beatrisa squeezed her hand and went in search of them.
How ironic that Beatrisa was reaching out to her now that her future with Renaldo was unsure. She didn’t know if she should laugh or cry.
Every night she and Renaldo slept in the same bed and made love as if they could never get enough of each other. She didn’t like getting her hopes up because he hadn’t made her any promises. He hadn’t told her he loved her, and he hadn’t told her he wanted to stay married.
She hated the thought that it was all about sex, but the only thing she could count on was at the end of the probation period, she’d receive four million dollars.
Then he expected her to go.
Chapter Thirteen
The trip to Copacabana Beach required an impressive amount of coordination and supplies. They had to take so much gear, Sabrina didn’t think Leonardo and Alexa came to the beach often even though it was only a few blocks away. It was simply too much work.
They took umbrellas, chairs, towels, and toys for the children to play with. Ziploc bags were filled with snacks, and a cooler contained water, juice, and fruit. Each of the adults—Leonardo, Renaldo, Carolina, Sabrina, Alexa—had something in their hands as they trekked across the beach to find the perfect spot.
Families and singles had already staked their claim on the soft sand. A group of young people danced to samba music from a portabl
e radio, and a game of volleyball occupied another group nearby. Hotels and condominiums stretched behind the beach. Juice bars and restaurants lined the pavement of the two and a half mile promenade, and vendors walked back and forth selling food and all sorts of items to the locals and tourists.
They settled in the south corner, where the calmer surf made the children less afraid of the water.
Alexa dug for sunscreen in her beach bag. While she rubbed the lotion on Lucélia, Sabrina rubbed it on Alessandro. The little boy wiggled nonstop, making Sabrina’s task more difficult and causing it to take longer than it should have. Then the two children went to play with a bucket, shovel, and the other colorful toys their mother brought to keep them occupied.
Carolina invited Sabrina to follow her down the beach to join the volleyball game. When she declined, the younger woman ran off in her white thong bikini. It had to be the smallest bathing suit Sabrina had ever seen.
“I guess she won’t have any problem getting accepted into the game.” Sabrina removed her beach cover up to reveal a bikini with a white bandeau top and black bottom. She sat under the large umbrella in a chair near to Alexa.
“No, Carolina never has that kind of trouble,” Alexa agreed in an amused tone.
“I would kill for her body.”
“What for? The two of you are about the same height, and you have a great body. You’re just thicker than she is. I’m the one who should be ready to kill. Next to you two Amazons, I look like a toy top.”
They shared a laugh, and Lucélia joined in the laughter where she played in the sand.
“What are you laughing about?” Alexa asked.
The little girl continued giggling and then jumped up to run over to her mother. “Kiss-kiss.”
Alexa leaned close so her daughter could kiss her cheek and then planted one on her cheek, too. “How about one for Cousin Sabrina?”
Lucélia smiled bashfully and hid her face in her mother’s arm.
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