Summer Magic (19 page)

"Whatever it is, make it fast.
 
I'm tired."

"You weren't too tired to hang out with O'Banion," he reminded her, the edge in his voice still apparent.

"That's beside the point."
 
Truth was she didn't trust herself to be alone with Michael.
 
One certain smile, only a fleeting touch...that's all it would take for her to melt back into his arms.

"Let's go for a drive," he said impatiently, jangling the keys.
 
He glanced over his shoulder as two clowns, still clad in baggy polka-dot costumes, ambled by.

"Can't we talk right here?"

"No."

Michael didn't drive far before he turned off the main highway onto a side road and brought the truck to a stop beneath a grove of maple trees that hugged a meandering stream.

Rolling down his window, he released a slow, ragged breath.
 
"I'm sorry," he began.
 
"I'm sorry if I embarrassed you in front of O'Banion.
 
But there's something else too. We need to talk about what happened with Ebony."

She fixed her gaze on some indiscernible spot straight ahead.
 
"We already did."

"I know.
 
But I don't think you believed me the first time when I apologized.
 
And...and I guess I can't blame you. I mean, just saying you're sorry must sound pretty lame after she nearly died."

"Yes.
 
You're darned right it sounds lame."
 
She swallowed hard.
 
"But now since we've been told she's going to pull through, you don't have to beat yourself up anymore."

"Maybe.
 
Maybe not."

Streams of moonlight slanted inside the truck, pearly and translucent.
 
Crickets chirped, mingling with the soft sounds of the moving water.
 
How she longed to feel the magic of his embrace.
 
Feel his lips on hers.
 
Hear him whisper how much he loved her.
 
But here they were, their nerve endings raw and exposed, barely able to look at each other.

"I know how much you love Ebony," he continued.
 
"We all do.
 
I should've been watching her more closely.
 
It was wrong to have left that up to you.
 
After all, you're only one person too.
 
You can't be with her all the time anymore than I can."

"Have you told your father about what happened?" she asked.

"I talked to Pop late last night after Mom phoned him for their daily chat."
 
He pinned her with a meaningful look.
 
"And I gave you all the credit, Lisa.
 
Every bit of it."

"Well, you
should
have."

"Pop was devastated, of course," he went on, ignoring her last remark.
 
"He wanted to fly home on the spot, but I assured him that wouldn't be necessary."
 
Michael reached out to take her hand, but she pulled it away.

"Now it's my turn to talk," she said, mustering up the courage she wasn't feeling inside.
 
"There's something you need to know too, Michael, and I might as well get it over with right here and now."

"What?"
 
He arched an eyebrow.

"As soon as Ebony comes back and I can see her again, I'm flying home."

"But why?"

"Why not?"

"Because Doc Woodstock wants you to stay.
 
He's even told me so."
 
Michael's voice broke as he avoided her eyes. “And so do I, Lisa."

"No, I must go.
 
You were right from the start, Michael. I can never make a life for myself with Jessel and Stern.
 
I never should've accepted Dr. Woodstock's offer in the first place.
 
Next to getting involved with Charles, it was the worst mistake I've ever made."

"But that's not true!
 
I
was wrong.
 
So was everyone else who might've doubted you.
 
You've already proven that when you saved Ebony.
 
Don't go, Lisa.
 
I want you to stay." He scowled.
 
"Besides, it's high time you forget Charles."

"How can you say that?
 
How can you say that while you keep shutting me away?"

"Shut you away?"

"Yes.
 
We never see each other anymore.
 
All you ever do is practice, practice, practice.
 
And when I asked you about your promise to Claudette, you simply refuse to answer me."

"It's not just me.
 
Claudette's made us all swear not to tell.
 
Estelle and Uncle Rudy too."
 
The shadows from a swaying tree branch played across his face.
 
"Just hang in there a little while longer.
 
Will you, Lisa?"

"What for?" she asked.
 
"It's obvious you'd rather be with Rita than me.
 
Your practices are simply a convenient excuse."

"You're wrong!"

She shook her head in disbelief.
 
Her face grew warm as the blood pounded in her ears.
 
"I saw the way you were trying to comfort Rita that night at the street dance, the way she was hanging onto you as if you were the last male on earth.
 
I might be on the outside track, Michael, but I'm not blind."

"You don't understand."
 
He spread his hands wide and sighed again.
 
"Rita was scared.
 
Running scared.
 
Like I told you before, our plans to bring Rita into the troupe all started that night in Galveston."

"If Rita's so scared, then I don't understand why you're forcing her!"

"I'm not.
 
No one is.
 
Rita wants this as much as anyone else.
 
She just needs a lot of encouragement right now.
 
And for the sake of the entire troupe, it's up to me to see she gets it."

He moved closer.
 
He traced a finger down her cheek, never once taking his eyes off her.

"Michael, if you're so blasted concerned about Rita's confidence--"

"Shh!
 
You've said enough."

His mouth crushed down on hers, putting an abrupt end to their conversation.
 
His kiss was intense, hungry and searching.

Torn with desire, she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him back--at the same time silently chastising herself.
 
Why had she let down her guard?
 
Why was she responding to him this way?
 
Especially when she knew he was lying, filling her head with mere half-truths.
 
Just like Charles...

Heart pounding, she broke the contact.
 
"It's time to go, Michael.
 
Please take me back."

"All right.
 
Have it your way."

With a scowl, he turned the key in the ignition, then careened back onto the road.

Four days later--exactly one week and after Ebony had been shipped off to the surgical center--the veterinarians there determined she could be returned to Jessell and Stern. Meanwhile, the circus was set up near a city west of Chicago in an empty lot adjoining a neighborhood shopping mall.

As Lisa and Dr. Woodstock waited inside the stabling quarters for Ebony's return, her stomach knotted with anticipation.
 
Hoshi and the other stable boy who'd driven back to retrieve the mare were due to arrive soon.

The time without Ebony had seemed an eternity.
 
Every day, Lisa had questioned Doc Woodstock for further progress reports, praying the horse hadn't suffered any complications. When the good news of Ebony's anticipated release finally arrived, she'd been overjoyed beyond words.

"How soon will it be before Ebony can go back in the ring?" Lisa questioned the veterinarian now as she hosed fresh water into the wooden trough.
 
Ebony's stall had also been cleaned fastidiously.
 
The sweet smells of fresh hay wafted about them.

"I'm not sure yet, Lisa," he answered from the opposite stall where he was checking another horse's temperature. "We'll have to see about Ebony's degree of strength and endurance.
 
It shouldn’t take too long though."

“I certainly hope not,” Lisa said.
 
Her mind wandered back to Ed Figaro and the Circus Hall of Fame.
 
"The last thing Mr. Figaro needs is to come back and find his best horse unable to perform."

Only that morning, Estelle had informed her Mr. Figaro had finally finished his business in Australia and would be returning home soon.
 
At the thought, Lisa bit her lip.
 
She would miss seeing him again.
 
Back in the beginning before he was suddenly called away, when many of the circus folks had regarded her an outsider, he'd treated her with kindness and respect.

Yes, she would miss Michael's father greatly.
 
But she'd already made her flight reservations, and postponing them would only make her parting more difficult.
 
Tomorrow marked the fateful day.
 
O'Hare International Airport, Chicago. Eleven A.M.
 
She would leave the circus--and Michael--forever. The sound of a truck motor, the crunch of tires against gravel, sliced through her thoughts.

"That must be Hoshi now!" Doc Woodstock exclaimed as he quickly cleaned off the thermometer with an alcohol sponge.
 
He gave it a few hard shakes and placed it in a container of disinfectant soap solution at the back of the treatment cart.

Lisa was close on Doc Woodstock's heels as they hurried outside.

Hoshi gave a jubilant wave as he caught sight of them. "Here she is, everyone!
 
Practically bigger than life!
 
The picture of health."

The mare's sleek, black coat caught glimmers of sunlight as Hoshi led her down the ramp at the back of the trailer and towards the horses' tent.
 
Ebony held her head high.
 
Her gait was unfaltering.
 
Her liquid brown eyes were clear and pain free.

"Oh, Ebony!" Lisa cried, running up to her.
 
Her heart nearly burst with happiness.
 
"I can't believe I'm seeing you again.
 
Welcome back!"
 
Grinning hopelessly, laughing and crying at the same time, Lisa nuzzled her face against the mare's side and stroked her over and over.

"Looking good," Doc Woodstock declared with a nod of approval, then cleared his throat loudly to disguise the catch in his voice.
 
"Come on, ol' girl.
 
It'll only take me a few minutes to check you over and make sure you tolerated the trip.
 
Meanwhile, your stall's ready and waiting."

Every chance possible during the rest of that day, Lisa stole a few moments to slip back inside the horse's tent and visit Ebony, to reassure herself that this wasn't merely a fleeting dream.
 
Seeing her again was like finding a candle that flickered brightly in a dark, empty room.
 
Yet even the horse's successful recovery coupled with Dr. Woodstock's continued glowing assessment of her couldn't chase away the foreboding darkness deep inside.

"If I can't talk you into staying, then at least let me drive you to the airport tomorrow morning," Dr. Woodstock insisted as nightfall approached.
 
Once again his face melted into a kind squint, yet his solemn eyes were filled with regret.

"Thanks, but I'm afraid you're going to be busier than ever now," she replied.
 
"Taking off that much time could prove a hardship.
 
I'll make it simple and call a cab."
 
She forced a smile.
 
She intended to make her departure as inconspicuous as possible.
 
She'd informed no one other than the veterinarian of the exact date and time.