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.
No ! 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
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.
No ! 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
Similar Books
Kiwi Tracks
Lonely Planet
The Pool of Two Moons
Kate Forsyth
You Buy Bones
Marcia Wilson
Zombie Spaceship Wasteland
Patton Oswalt
Nekomah Creek
Linda Crew
Elizabeth Is Missing
Emma Healey
Dead Romantic
C. J. Skuse
Dying on Principle
Judith Cutler
The Death Ship of Dartmouth: (Knights Templar 21)
Michael Jecks