Summer Magic (3 page)

Through the speakers in his CD player, the silky strains of a saxophone played.
 
The windshield wipers moved back and forth with a steady drone.
 
The streets glistened with moisture.
 
Off the freeway, she caught an occasional glimpse of palm trees sandwiched in between sections of shopping malls and business parks.

"Your father said in his letter that my lodging would be provided," Lisa continued, "but I do intend to buy my own RV--maybe a small used trailer--just as soon as I can pay off some bills."
 
She bit her lip.
 
"That is,
if
I manage to stay."

"You mean if you don't pass your probation?"

"Uh-huh.
 
Dr. Woodstock told you what he'd written in my contract?"

"Sure.
 
Doc put the same requirements on the other two assistants."

"Oh."
 
She gulped again.
 
"So I'm
not
the first.
 
I wondered about that."

"There were two.
 
In less than a year."
 
He waved a hand through the air.
 
"Here today.
 
Gone tomorrow."

She wound a strand of hair around her finger as her uneasiness about the veterinarian skyrocketed.
 
"Last year when I was helping Dr. Woodstock, well...
 
How can I put it without sounding rude?
 
I got the impression he isn't exactly Mister Rogers."

"You're right."
 
Michael chuckled.
 
"But in all fairness, let me say this.
 
Doc's a top-notch professional. He's terrific with the animals, especially the larger critters.
 
If you can get along with him and pass your probation, you'll have it made."

"Have you worked with him a lot?"

"Some.
 
When Pop or one of the keepers is busy, I try to help out.
 
So does Mom, though most of the time she's busy training her poodles."

"Well, I'm not worried about anything at all," she said with false bravado.
 
"I enjoyed my job at the veterinary clinic back on Long Island, and I'm going to enjoy this one too."

"I hope so...but don't overlook the obvious, Lisa."
 
The doubt in his voice came through loud and clear.
 
"Lions and tigers aren't your everyday house cat, you know."
 
He swung into the next exit, merged with the traffic and came to a stop at a traffic light.

"Maybe you're right about that," Lisa conceded.
 
"But I'm sure my perseverance and love for animals will see me through.
 
I've been an animal lover since as far back as I can remember.
 
Only problem was, because I changed foster homes so often, I rarely got to have any pets I could call my own."

"Yeah, it was.
 
Though most of the time, I lived with loving families, I always knew my situation was temporary." She offered him a tentative smile.
 
"I can remember wishing and praying I could have a puppy or kitten for my own.
 
Just to have something to love that was all
mine
."

Her words were unraveling him.
 
He tried not to let his feelings show, but it was a tough call.
 
"Didn't you ever talk to your foster parents about that?"

"No.
 
Never.
 
I just figured it wasn't worth it.
 
I was lucky enough they'd agreed to give me a home, let alone a pet too."

As the light turned to green and they were off again, she detected a play of emotions on his face.
 
Sadness.
Concern.
 
Tenderness, perhaps?

He reached out and touched her hand.
 
"Cheer up, Lisa. You've finally hit the big time.
 
Now you've got a whole menagerie of pets to call your own."

She couldn't help smiling.
 
"You're certainly right about that," she answered him.
 
“I’ll have more animals than all the pet stores combined.”
 

"And time to spend with Ebony too," Michael reminded her.

"Oh yes! I've thought about her so often!"
 
The black Arabian was Edward Figaro's most prized show animal.
 
"How's she doing?" Lisa asked.
 
"Did she recover from the infection?"

"Ebony's great."
 
His brows knit together in a frown. "Hopefully she'll never get sick like that again.
 
She had us all plenty worried, especially my father."

"I remember.
 
Your dad was nearly beside himself."

"That's putting it mildly.
 
Pop's got a lot invested in that horse--in more ways than one."

"What do you mean?"

Michael swung into a narrow alley and slowed the truck to a crawl.
 
"Last week my father found out he's been inducted into the Circus Hall of Fame.
 
All because of the trick's he's taught Ebony."

"That's wonderful!"
 
She turned to face him squarely. "When can I see Ebony again?"

Michael parked behind a long string of trucks and trailers.
 
He reached out again to touch her hand.
 
"Lisa?"

"Yes, Michael?"

"After this, I may not be seeing much of you...I
mean,
we're both going to be busy."

Her heart turned over.
 
Michael's dark eyes, those deep pools of midnight blue, were driving her insane--and if he kept touching her like this, she might fall apart completely.

"I realize that," she said and swallowed hard.
 
"Just because you gave me the grand tour last year in Madison Square Garden, doesn't mean I expect you to do that this time too."

He hesitated, running his tongue over his lower lip.
 
"Good.
 
So now that we understand each other, there's one more thing...."

"What?"

"Just in case I don't get the chance to say it later...I...I want you to know I'm really glad you're here. It's great to see you again."
 
His expression remained closed.

"Thanks."
 
The words caught in her throat.
 
"It's great to see you too."

She averted her gaze, struggling against panic.
 
Maybe she should ask him to drive her back to the airport.
 
Maybe she should say she changed her mind.
 
But no...this was the opportunity of a lifetime.
 
She was here now, and that's where she would stay.

She had no choice but to face the consequences.

The coliseum and surrounding lot covered six city blocks.
 
Everywhere Lisa and Michael walked people rushed about getting ready for the next performance.

As they wandered behind the dome-shaped building, a shiver of excitement surged over Lisa: the pungent smells of sawdust and animals, the deep-throated roaring of a lion, the shrill trumpeting of an elephant.
 
She adored the kaleidoscope of exotic sights, sounds and smells that only a circus could offer.

In the back lot, they passed by the menagerie tent, animal cages and trailers.
 
Joey, a cage boy, was tossing the tigers raw chicken while a couple of animal keepers were refilling the watering trough with long hoses.
 
A white-whiskered tiger bared its teeth and stared back at them through the cage.
 
Though the huge cats were captivating, Lisa had to admit, it made her nervous just to think about getting close to them, much less attending to their medical needs.

Joey said to Michael, "Looking for your dad?
 
He's over there, hosing down the elephants."

"Thanks, Joey."
 
Michael flashed him an appreciative smile.

As they drew nearer, Lisa spotted Ed Figaro filling a bucket of water while three leathery elephants crowded in. A young woman was tossing carrots into a baby elephant's mouth, laughing at its antics.

“Hi!
 
We're finally here," Michael greeted them.

Mr. Figaro reached out to shake Lisa's hand, his dark eyes sparkling.
 
"Welcome, Miss Prentice."

"It's good to be here.
 
Please call me Lisa," she answered.

Michael turned to the young woman and proceeded with introductions, though Lisa had already guessed she was Estelle.

"Michael's told you about my trailer?" Estelle asked eagerly.
 
"He's let you know you're welcomed to stay with me?"
 
She dropped the bag of carrots and extended her hand.

"Oh, yes!
 
Thank you!" Lisa exclaimed.
 
"But...but, are you sure there's enough room?
 
Doesn't Claudette share the trailer too?"

"Heavens, no!
 
Not
my
sister," Estelle answered, wrinkling her nose, then giving a quick laugh.
 
She was the first to move out of our folks' motor home a few years ago." She laughed again, then added, "Though we all thought that was cool--and were a little green with envy--I still have to admit, Claudette can be weird at times."

"Now, Estelle," Ed Figaro put in gently.

"Oh, Papa!
 
I've heard you say it too...in so many words, at least."

"Well, I'm sure Lisa's tired from her travels and doesn't need to hear any of this," the older man said.
 
"And by the way, it's almost time for you kids to get to work. Why don't you take Lisa's bag for her and put it in your trailer?
 
Then you'd better get ready for tonight's show."

"All right, Papa."
 
She turned to Lisa and smiled.
 
"And later we've simply got to visit.
 
That is, if you're not too exhausted by then."

"I'll catch up with you in a few minutes, Sis," Michael said.
 
He gave her a playful punch in the shoulder.

"Did you have a good flight?" Ed Figaro asked after Estelle had disappeared out of sight.

"Oh yes, but it seemed to take forever to get here."

"And now you'll have a bit of jet lag too, I'm sure." Focusing his attention back to the elephants, the animal trainer adjusted the hose nozzle.
 
A sudden swoosh of water exploded.
 
"All right, Kiki ol' buddy, hoist up those feet. It's time for your shower."

As the huge animal rolled its eyes and raised his front feet, Lisa burst into laughter.
 
Still, she couldn't help thinking about how soon she'd have to start helping Dr. Woodstock with these massive creatures.
 
Tomorrow would be her first day on the job.

"Congratulations on getting inducted into the Circus Hall of Fame," Lisa told Ed.
 
"You and Ebony deserve it."

His white moustache twitched before he finally broke into a full grin.
 
"Thank you, my dear.
 
But I give most of the credit to Ebony.
 
She's the best liberty horse I've ever owned."

Lisa nodded.
 
Last year Michael had explained that liberty horses were trained to perform "at liberty"--without reins and sometimes without riders.

Michael's father reached for a scrub brush, speaking to them over his shoulder.
 
"My son is giving you a proper welcome, I trust?"

"Certainly."
 
She felt the warmth rise to her cheeks.

"I'm sure Lisa is eager to touch base with Dr. Woodstock," Michael interrupted quickly before his father succeeded in embarrassing both of them.