Summer Magic (12 page)

"Are you kidding?" Claudette exclaimed. "This tour is costing us a pretty penny, and Rita and I intend to get our money's worth."
 
She paused, wrinkling her elegant nose. "Besides, I'm done riding those horrible old buses. And my feet are killing me."

"Yeah, the last bus made Claudette car sick," Rita explained.

"I didn't realize you're prone to motion sickness," Michael said to Claudette. The anger in his voice turned to concern.

"Oh, it's nothing," Claudette insisted. "Nothing more, I'm sure, than those horrid exhaust fumes."
 
She juggled her packages, dropping a sheet of paper.

Michael reached down to retrieve it. "What's this?"

"A flyer. We got it at a tourist information center," Rita quickly supplied. "It tells about all the stuff going on in Galveston this summer."
 
She tossed her shoulder-length auburn hair and added,
 
"So what y'all been up to?"

"Sight-seeing," Michael answered, his voice level. He turned the flyer over, scanned it, then without comment, handed it back to Claudette.

"We've been hitting the antique shops and jewelry stores," Rita said. She turned to Michael and flashed him a resplendent smile. Rummaging through her shopping bags, she fished out a small white box, then popped it open. "Isn't this lovely, Michael?"

He peered inside the box and smiled back. "An emerald ring! Very nice."

All the while, Lisa sat back silently, taking in this animated exchange.
 
She wasn’t sure whether to be amused or not-so-amused.
 
    

The tram lunged forward and they were once again clopping along. They rounded the corner past an old stone church. A young couple with two whiney kids in tow stopped to gawk.

"Are you planning to see the fireworks display on the beach tonight?" Claudette asked. Her gaze flicked momentarily onto Lisa, then back to Michael. "Or are you two gonna make your own sparks fly?"

Lisa's face burned. She had all she could do to keep tossing back an insulting reply.

"Claudette!
 
That's entirely uncalled for," Michael said icily.

"Pardon me."
 
Claudette tipped her chin, apparently not rebuffed. "Well, whatever you do, Michael, I just hope you save some time for the Fourth of July street dance on the Strand tonight."

"Where's the Strand?" he asked.

"That's the National Historic Landmark District downtown," Rita answered for Claudette.

"Oh, yeah...now I remember."
 
Michael's eyes sought Lisa's as if silently asking whether she'd like to go.

"So meet us on the Strand about eight-thirty," Rita prompted. "It's going to be fabulous. The band's the best around. I'm even acquainted with the drummer, a guy by the name of Danny Holcomb."

"Rita, how do you know so much about Galveston?" Lisa asked, hoping to divert the conversation. Without a doubt, trouble was brewing. Try as she might, she couldn't blot out the memory of Rita lingering by Michael's dressing room that first night she'd arrived.

"I was born and raised not far from here," Rita replied. "My daddy's the manager of a big condo complex next to the beach. I thought Claudette already told y'all."
 
Her lips lifted in a pouty smile.

"No, she didn't," Michael answered cautiously. "She said you'd both be like lost sheep trying to find your way around--though of course she's visited this city as many times as I."

Claudette's face matched her ruby red lipstick. She averted her gaze to the landscape passing by, fanning herself with the flyer and saying nothing.

"Oh, that silly sister of yours," Rita said as if Claudette had somehow suddenly disappeared. "How could've she forgotten about my daddy?
 
We're such good friends now, I swear she knows everything about me."

Claudette looked pointedly at Michael. "Hold on, everyone. Somehow we seem to be getting off the subject. A couple of minutes ago, Michael, I asked if you and Lisa would like to meet us at the street dance. You still haven't answered me."

"Well..."
 
Michael shrugged. "Maybe. I can't remember the last time I got to go to a dance."
  
He looked expectantly at Lisa again, allowing his thoughts to take flight. He could imagine her in his arms, all soft and feminine, swaying to the beat of the music, her petite body pressed close to his. So why not?
 
Besides, the place would most likely be packed. He and Lisa would have little problem ditching Claudette and Rita.

"What do you say, Lisa?" he asked, his gaze still fixed on her.

She read the eagerness in his eyes. Clearly Michael wanted to go. How could she say no?
 
After all this was
his
 holiday too. She had to admit, dancing under the moon and stars did sound romantic. And Michael probably already had a plan in mind to keep his twin sister from trying to bamboozle him.

Lisa shrugged too. "Sounds okay to me."

Claudette beamed.

Rita also appeared pleased.

The sound of Rita's voice sliced through Lisa's reverie. "Be sure to bring light-weight jackets. It might get chilly. By the way, I just know you'll love the band. Cloudburst, they're called--a local group. Danny used to sit behind me in the fifth grade. Even then he liked to beat out a bongo rap on his desk."

She heaved a sigh before babbling on. "Anyway, here I am again in good old Galveston after such a long time. I must confess, though, I feel more like a tourist anymore than a native Texan. At least Claudette and I won't have to go back to the circus grounds tonight. We're staying at my daddy's."

"Tell me about the first circus you traveled with," Michael said to Rita with obvious interest. "Was it as good as Jessell and Stern?"

Lisa pushed back her annoyance and forced herself to smile at him. Was he simply being polite to Rita?
 
Or was he flirting again?

Unbidden, jealousy gnawed at her. Maybe she shouldn't have agreed so readily to go to the dance. Obviously Estelle believed Michael was a one-woman man, but how well did she really know her brother?

"Oh, yes, the first circus. Holman and Company, they called themselves." Rita smiled coyly at him through half-lidded eyes. "I'm not sure why I wasted so much time with that little dog and pony show. But at least I got to try my hand at flying. And I'd love nothing more than to have the chance to get back into it again."

"And that time may be coming sooner than we think," Claudette blurted out. Averting her gaze, she scrunched down in her seat.

"Oh, yeah?" Michael's interest was full blown. "What do you mean, Sis?"

Her eyes darted between Michael and Lisa. "I...I mean...someday, who knows?
 
One of us may decide to call it quits. Or expand our act."
 
She shrugged. "Use four flyers instead of three."

Lisa went rigid as the anger churned up inside of her. So Claudette still believed she was trying to snatch Michael away. Without a doubt, that hurriedly added comment about expanding their act was merely a cover.

Lisa bit down on her lower lip, her thoughts spinning as she averted her gaze. Yes, Claudette's hidden message had come through loud and clear. What was she scheming to do next?

Chapter Seven

As Lisa and Michael danced cheek-to-cheek to a country golden oldie, the music wove about them like lush, velvet ribbons.

The lead singer's rich tenor voice melded with electric guitar, honky-tonk piano, harmonica, and drums.
 
The notes swelled, full-throated, then ebbed again as the melody played on.

Lisa sighed, savoring Michael's nearness, his faint scent of cocoa butter sunscreen mingled with fresh air and sunshine.

That afternoon they'd strolled nearly two miles down the beach, then spread out a blanket to picnic and bask in the sun.
 
Lisa could almost still feel the blazing sand beneath her feet, hear the sharp cries of the sea birds swooping above them.

Where had the time gone?
 
Being alone with Michael had been like a fleeting glimpse of paradise, ill-advised and foolish though it be.

She leaned closer into him, linking both arms around his neck.
 
"Galveston, oh Galveston..."
 
Yes, Galveston.
 
What beautiful memories.
 
For as long as she lived, she'd never forget her day here with Michael.

Tomorrow she'd return to reality.
 
Tomorrow she'd deal with the difficulties of her new life.
 
But for now, she admittedly needed an escape.

She looked up at him.
 
Their gazes caught and held. "Like to dance, Lisa?" he asked huskily, brushing her ear with his lips.

"Mmm--love to."

"Good, because I intend to dance your socks off."
 
He chuckled.
 
"Right till the stroke of midnight."
 
He kissed the tip of her nose and smiled down at her.
 
His deep blue eyes sparkled, teasing and caressing her all at the same time.

"Oh, yes!"
 
She returned his banter.
 
"The proverbial Cinderella story.
 
Prince Charming whisks Cinderella away from the wicked stepmother--er, Dr. Woodstock in this case--and they live happily--."
 
She bit off her words.
 
No, Lisa! There's no such thing as fairy tales and happy endings.
 
At least not for you.

She thought she detected a shadow flicker across his handsome face, but it was soon blotted out by his returning smile.

he thought.
 
My sweet, disillusioned one.
 
So small and pretty.
 
If there were only some way I could get my hands on that jerk who broke your heart.
 
Every time I think about him, I have all I can do to keep from wanting to wring his arrogant neck.

"I wonder what happened to Claudette and Rita?" he asked, looking around.
 
The song ended.
 
"They asked us to meet them here before the dance started."
 
He glanced at his watch and pursed his lips.
 
"That was nearly an hour ago."

"Probably got sidelined by Danny, the drummer."
 
She scanned the sidewalks that were teeming with people.
 
There were no signs of Claudette and Rita anywhere.
 
"I bet he introduced them to a couple of his buddies who'd tagged along," she added
.
 
And if that was the case, then hats off to Danny.
 
Hopefully it would distract Rita from going after Michael.

"Well, help me keep an eye out for them, will you?
 
Even though Claudette's perfectly capable of taking care of herself, I'm still her brother.
 
Her
only
brother.
 
Dad would expect that of me."

"Of course.
 
Think we should walk down the street and start looking?" she asked.
 
As much as she wanted to put off meeting the two women again, she couldn't help sharing Michael's concern.

"Yeah, maybe for just a block or two."
 
A small frown puckered his brow.
 
"But it's still early.
 
No point getting worried yet."

As they threaded their way through the crowd, they passed by an antique store, an art gallery, a small antique and gift shop.
 
The rosy glow of the setting sun reflected off the store windows.
 
The cement beneath their feet still radiated with warmth.

"What do you suppose happened to them?" he asked tightly, pushing his sunglasses onto his forehead. "Claudette might have her faults, but big-time tardiness isn't one of them."

"You and my brother Ralph," she said, hoping to dilute his concern.
 
She disliked seeing him worry unnecessarily, yet at the same time his sense of responsibility to family warmed her.
 
Without a doubt, if this had been Estelle instead, he would have been equally solicitous.