Summer Magic (6 page)

"What was that?"

She flushed again.
 
"Nothing.
 
I...I didn't mean that the way it probably sounded.
 
I guess I'm more tired than I realized."

"Which means I'm doing the right thing by making sure you turn in now."
 
He grinned again.
 
"Not that I particularly want to, mind you."

She peered down the row of RVs.
 
They'd almost come to the end.
 
"Where are you staying?" she asked.

"Three doors down."
 
He nodded to a small nineties-vintage trailer.
 
His pickup was parked close by.
  
"It might not be the Taj Mahal, but it gets me by."

"And Claudette?
 
Where's her place?"

"We passed it already.
 
Back this side of the costume trailer."

Outside Estelle's RV, Michael dug into his hip pocket and pulled out a key.
 
"Here.
 
Take this.
 
It's a spare and Estelle said for you to hold onto it."
 
He pressed the key into her palm, prolonging the contact.

"Thanks, Michael."

"Uh...a couple of more things.
 
Estelle also said to tell you the bottom bunk is yours.
 
And don't mind her little poodle.
 
His name's Rags.
 
Used to be one of Mom's show poodles, but Estelle's let him get soft.
 
Anyway, he might just decide to give you an overly enthusiastic welcome.
 
He tends to get a little carried away at times."

"Thanks again.
 
I'll like that."
 
She locked her gaze with his.
 
"Sleep well, Michael."

"You too."
 
He gave no indication of leaving, but rather leaned closer and settled his hand on the back of her neck. A suggestive smile hovered on the corners of his mouth.
 
His lips were only a fraction away.

"Lisa?"

"Yes?"

"It's kind of weird, isn't it?
 
I mean...I never expected to see you again.
 
When I met you last year, I figured you were just another townie who wandered through."

"Well, I guess I was then.
 
But I'm not anymore.
 
I'm here to stay."

A shadow of doubt passed over his face.
 
"Just hang in there, okay?
 
Things are gonna be different here.
 
I guarantee it."

"I realize that, Michael."
 
She offered him a hesitant smile.
 
"Truth is, I never expected to sign on with Jessell and Stern either.
 
Serendipity, I guess.
 
You're right.
 
Life can be kind of weird sometimes."

"Uh-huh."
 
Weird and scary
, he thought.
 
His stomach knotted.
 
He felt as if some bozo had just kicked him in the gut.
 
Hold on, Figaro. Get a hold of yourself...
Yet being close to Lisa, touching her like this...

His voice was ragged as he dropped his hand.
 
"See ya...see you around."
 
He hesitated, then reached for her hand and gently pressed her knuckles against his lips. "You'd better get inside.
 
Now."

"I will."

He turned on his heel and without a backwards glance strode quickly away.

She couldn't go in.
 
She had to keep watching him. Slowly, gradually his retreating figure faded into the night.
Michael, come back!
she yearned to call to him.

! Her better judgment ruled.
 
You don't fit in.
 
You could never be his.
 
And even if you could, he'd only end up hurting you.
 
Let him be.

What was the matter with her? she wondered miserably as she turned the key in the lock.
 
Why had she allowed her heart to take this crazy roller-coaster ride?
 
And now, foolish woman that she was, she wanted him more than ever.

The minute she opened the trailer door, the sound of yipping jolted her, putting a stop to her reverie. Searching, she moved her hand against the wall edging the door frame, found a light switch, then flipped it on.

"Oh, my!
 
Aren't you a sweetheart?"

The barking continued as she dropped to her knees and scooped the small, white poodle into her arms.
 
Rags bathed her hand in warm, wet licks.
 
Despite herself, she had to laugh.
 
"Do you miss Estelle?
 
Think you can put up with another human for a while?"

Rag's smooth pink tongue moved from her hand to her chin.
 
"My goodness!
 
Michael was right!
 
You really know how to make a stranger feel welcome."
 
As she snuggled the dog close against her chest, trying to contain his squirms and wiggles, her memory skirted back to earlier that afternoon.
 
While she and Michael had cut through the back circus lot in search of Ed Figaro, she'd noticed that several of the circus families owned pets.

In many ways, she decided, the folks who performed with Jessell and Stern appeared like any typical family--as best as she could judge from her limited experience.
 
Here at the circus, children played kick ball and hide-and-seek alongside the motor homes and trailers.
 
When the adults weren't working, they cooked, did laundry, and talked about the weather.

Lisa set the dog back down.
 
In a flash, Rags scampered across the brown carpeted floor, curled upon a bean bag chair, and squeezed his eyes shut.

Shrugging out of her windbreaker, Lisa took in the compact hominess surrounding her.
 
Posters in thin brass frames--a smiling clown, trapeze artists, and circus memorabilia from an earlier era--graced the wall behind a simple leather couch.

At the far end of the couch lay Lisa's carry-on bag that Estelle had offered to take earlier.
 
The small kitchenette and dining booth occupied the center of the trailer, while the bunk bed and bathroom were situated on the far end.

A tangy aroma hinted of sautéed onions and green peppers.
 
As Lisa looked about further, she spotted a note from Estelle on the table.
Lisa
, it read,
I hope you like chicken fajitas.
 
There's plenty in the fridge.
 
Help yourself to all you want--soft drinks, too."

Later after Lisa had eaten, Estelle came inside and they climbed into their respective bunks.
 
Though it was late and they visited only briefly, they talked almost as if they'd known each other for years.
 
Lisa was grateful for Estelle's warm welcome.
 
What a contrast to the way Claudette had greeted her.

"I'm sorry I'm going to have to leave earlier than usual tomorrow morning."
 
Estelle's voice drifted from overhead. "I want to say good-bye to Papa before he has to leave.
 
Right after that, Mom has an appointment with a poodle breeder.
 
She wants both Claudette and me to meet him too.
 
Fix yourself some breakfast.
 
There's plenty of cold cereal in the cupboard above the sink."

"No problem," Lisa answered, stifling a yawn.
 
"I'm used to taking care of myself.
 
And thanks again for letting me stay with you," she added before saying good-night.
 
"You and me...we're going to make terrific roomies."

"I think so, too," Estelle answered sleepily.

*****

Lisa awoke the next morning to the melodic sound of her cell phone.
 
What?
 
Seven
 
already?
 
Bolting out of bed, she squinted at the slanting sunlight that streamed in through the trailer window.
 
Estelle had apparently taken Rags with her.
 
The dog was nowhere in sight.

Lisa rummaged hurriedly through her over-night bag till she'd found the T-shirt and denim jeans she'd rolled up inside.
 
Edward Figaro had told her to report to the veterinarian quarters--a roomy motor home that had been converted into a clinic--no later than eight.

As she was combing her hair just before pouring herself a bowl of cold cereal, a knock sounded at the door.

"Coming!" She tossed the comb down and hurried to answer it.
 
Opening the door, peering curiously outside, she spied a middle-aged man with sandy-colored hair and a deeply bronzed tan.
 
In his hand, he clutched a brown grocery bag.

"'Mornin!"

"Good morning to you!"

"You Lisa Prentice?" he asked, squinting up at her.

"Yes!"
 
She could hear the surprise in her voice.
 
How did he know her when was still a stranger to almost everyone here at Jessell and Stern?

"Pete Morehouse," he said.
 
"I'm a rigger."

"Hello, Pete.
 
How may I help you?"
 
She glanced discreetly at her watch, hoping he'd be brief, but at the same not wanting to appear rude.
 
Last thing she needed was to show up late for work, especially on her first day.

"Claudette asked me to give this to you," he said, shoving the bag into her hands.
 
"She said you'd be expectin' it."

"Why, yes!
 
Thanks!"
 
She was certain now her surprise showed even more.
 
So Claudette had come through with the extra clothing...Maybe Michael's twin was sincere in wanting to help her after all.
 

In a flash, the man had left.
 
Eagerly Lisa began emptying the contents of the bag onto the couch.
 
But as the last piece of clothing tumbled out into a heap, Lisa's optimism quickly soured.
 
She held up the first item.
 
Yard upon yard of fabric, its color a putrid green, emerged before her eyes.
 
She wasn't sure what it was supposed to be, but it looked like a blouse--at least ten sizes too big!
 
What was this? she wondered with growing disgust.
 
Did Claudette get this stuff from clown alley?
 
Was this some kind of a joke?

She yanked at the next article of clothing--a pair of jeans so badly grass-stained and smudged with
 
ground-in dirt, there was no hope of ever salvaging them.
 
Most insulting of all, they looked as if they would fit one of the elephants!

Her face burned with anger.
 
She wadded up the clothes and threw them onto the floor.
 
"I can't believe it!" she sputtered out loud.
 
"How can Claudette be related to Michael?
 
His
twin
, no less!"

Blinking back tears, she spun around and headed for the door.
 
She couldn't let anything interfere with her first assignment with Dr. Woodstock.
 
Not even a nightmare like this!

But as she hurried across the lot, her anger mounted. She felt as if Claudette had doused her with a bucket of icy water.
 
And a little voice deep inside of her warned that this was probably only the beginning...

Chapter Four

"Where’s Dr. Woodstock?" Lisa asked a young, dark-skinned teenager as she poked her head into the veterinarian clinic.
 
"I'm Lisa Prentice, his new assistant.
 
He's meeting me here at eight."
 
She still bristled in the wake of Claudette's cruel trick, but was determined to put her feelings aside--for the time being, at least.
 
She was embarking on a new job.
 
A new purpose.
 
She mustn't let anything distract her.