Summer Magic (21 page)

"Yes.
 
It was a tremendous relief to realize I could still take charge of my life."
 
Her eyes sparkled with a look of new resolve.
 
"And Michael helped me understand I also had no business trying to run anyone else's life--especially his. He told me that there'd never be any other woman for him but you.
 
My brother's absolutely wild about you, Lisa.
 
I've never seen him so love-struck."

The news hit Lisa like a bolt of lightning.
 
Out of all the women Michael could have, he wanted her?
 
No, it couldn't be true.
 
It was simply all too confusing.
 
She gave her head a quick shake, realizing Claudette was still talking.

"I'm sorry, Lisa.
 
I'm truly sorry I treated you so despicably."

Lisa's thoughts reeled.
 
"But...but what about Rita?" she finally managed.
 
"You're saying Michael's not interested in her romantically?"

"No, not at all.
 
Though in the beginning, Rita may have come on to Michael a bit, her interest was one-sided and short-lived.
 
That night at the street dance when she and Danny met up again, they fell madly in love.
 
I should say, re-fell madly in love.
 
Rita didn't tell you they'd once been engaged."

"So they're engaged again?"

"Uh-huh.
 
They'll be married at the end of the summer and Danny will sign on with Jessell and Stern as a drummer in our circus band.
 
I can assure you, from now on, there'll be no one for her but Danny."
 
She reached across the table to touch Lisa's hand.
 
"Forgive me, Lisa?
 
Please say you understand?"

"Oh, yes, Claudette.
 
And I'm sorry too.
 
Sorry I was so quick to misjudge you."

"How could you've done anything else?
 
Especially when I treated you so badly."

"It's all in the past," Lisa assured her, meeting Claudette's contrite gaze.
 
She put her fingertips to her temples in an effort to quiet the pounding that was growing stronger by the moment.
 
"But what am I going to do, Claudette?
 
I jumped to wrong conclusions about Michael too...accused him of some awful things."
 
She twisted the strap of her shoulder bag and added shakily, "How can I expect Michael to forgive me?"

"Come back with me," Claudette answered simply.
 
"Come back and tell that to Michael."

*****

His heart in his throat, Michael quickly elbowed his way through a sea of people.
 
Lisa, where are you?
 
He gazed down the seemingly never-ending corridor
.
 
How will I ever find you in this humongous airport?

Lucky thing Estelle had given him Lisa's flight number and airlines.
 
At least that was one advantage.
 
But what good was that if he couldn't manage to stop her?

 
His thoughts raced on.
 
I love you. I need to tell you so.
 
I need to take you in my arms, hold you tight, and never let you go.

He rounded a corner, dashed past two flight attendants who'd paused to talk, then picked up his pace once again. This might prove a hopeless cause.
 
So far, he hadn't even run into Claudette.
 
If only she hadn't waited ‘til the last possible moment to set the record straight--though after he'd thought about it later, he'd realized he really couldn't blame her.
 
Never before had he seen his twin sister so scared.

He dashed past an ice cream concession, a trendy gift shop with expensive clothing in the display window then slowed to glance down at his watch.
 
10:47.
 
He muttered under his breath.
 
According to the reader board, Lisa's flight back to New York was scheduled for eleven sharp.
 
What if she'd already gone through the Security check-point and boarded? What if it was too late?

*****

It seemed that Claudette was driving in slow motion.
 
It seemed they'd never get back. But when they finally did, and Claudette nosed her truck in alongside her trailer at the south end of the circus grounds, Lisa's stomach was tied in knots.

Where should she start looking for Michael first she wondered desperately.
 
His trailer?
 
Inside the arena?
 
The stabling quarters, perhaps?
 
And when she did find him, how could she make him understand?
 
How could she ever take back the hurtful accusations she'd hurled at him?

Quickly she wove her way down the long row of RVs and at last came to Michael's.
 
She knocked at the door.
 
No answer.
 
She knocked louder and called his name, then strained her ears.

More silence.

The sun shone hot against her shoulders.
 
Beads of perspiration dotted her forehead.
 
A few trailers away, people mingled outside.
 
She heard a woman's laughter.
 
There were the normal sounds of circus children playing.
 
Yet no signs of Michael anywhere.

Turning on her heel, she started back for the center of the circus grounds.
 
As Lisa drew nearer, she spied Estelle emerging from the menagerie tent.
 
She was wearing a blue and white floral tank top and cutoff jeans.

"Lisa!"
 
Estelle's mouth dropped open at the sight of her.
 
"When did you get back?
 
Did Claudette manage to catch up with you?
 
Did Michael, too?"

"
Michael?
 
What are you talking about?"

"Michael took off for the airport about an hour ago to find you.
 
He thought there was still time.
 
He assumed you wouldn't be leaving for couple of days yet...just like I did. Anyway, this morning after I came back and found your note, I rushed over to his trailer to tell him.
 
He...he's trying to stop you from leaving."

"Oh, no," Lisa puffed, pausing to catch her breath. "He's got to be crazy.
 
How does he ever expect to find me in a place like that?"

"I gave him your flight information," Estelle confessed. "He's hoping against all hope he'll track down both you and Claudette there."
 
Estelle's eyes grew round.
 
"My brother was nearly going crazy, worrying about Claudette's condition, longing to be with you, wanting to finally tell you the whole, miserable story.
 
But Claudette insisted she tell you first."

"I've got go find him!" Lisa exclaimed.
 
"Will you drive me back to the airport?
 
Please Estelle?"

"Don't you think it'd make more sense to wait right here?
 
When Michael doesn't find you, he'll undoubtedly head straight back."

"Maybe so.
 
But what if, instead, he tries to catch a flight in hopes of following me?"
 
Lisa shook her head. "We can't wait!
 
This could turn out to be the fiasco of the century!"

"All right.
 
My van's unlocked.
 
I'll meet you there in five minutes."

In no time, Estelle had disappeared from view, and Lisa, her knees still trembling in the wake of the morning's revelation, turned and hurried towards the van.

"Lisa!"

She whirled around, her gaze locking with Michael's. Instant relief swept across his handsome face.
 
"Lisa!" he called again.
 
Arms flung wide, he broke into a run, closing the space between them.

"Oh, Michael," she cried, running to meet him.
 
"I thought I'd never see you again...I thought it was good-bye forever."

"Thank goodness Claudette managed to stop you," he murmured huskily, enveloping her in his eager embrace.
 
"I just talked to her.
 
She told me all about it."
 
Tenderly he twined her hair through his hands.
 
She could feel his solid warmth and strength, hear his heart beating against her ear.

"Yes, thank goodness," she said through tears of joy.
 
She pulled back slightly to meet his gaze.
 
The breeze ruffled his hair, tossing a stray lock across his tanned forehead. Now more than ever, he looked so wonderfully vibrant and alive.

She swallowed hard.
 
"I'm sorry, Michael.
 
Dreadfully sorry.
 
I was wrong to have said all those terrible things. About your promise to your father, about Ebony, and you...especially about you."

"It's all right, darling."

"But I should've realized that things aren't always as they may appear.
 
It wasn't fair of me to jump to those conclusions."

"Doesn't matter anymore," he ground out fiercely.
 
"All that matters is that you know and understand...and now you've come back."
 
Eyes brimming with love, he pulled her to him again, crushed her against his broad chest and kissed her long and hard.

Shimmers of pleasure coursed through her as she twined her arms around his neck and answered his kiss.
 
She lost all track of place and time.
 
Michael was really here.
 
Here in her arms.
 
Never in a million years could she have envisioned such happiness.

His voice was ragged when he finally released her.
 
"I can't believe this is really happening.
 
I...I was afraid I'd never see you again too.
 
Darling, I'm so sorry.
 
So sorry I couldn't tell you the truth before now.
 
I...I was torn. Miserable and torn.
 
Torn between my love for you and my concern for my twin sister."

She ran both her hands through his thick head of blond hair, reveling in his closeness.
 
"And how could I blame you, Michael?
 
What a predicament.
 
And poor Claudette.
 
If only I'd had an inkling of what she must've been going through.
 
I can't believe how brave she's been."

"Yes, Claudette has been brave, but I admit at times she had a strange way of showing it.
 
I promise you, Lisa, from now on, there'll be no more secrets in the Figaro family--no matter how noble the reasons.
 
It's not worth the possible misunderstandings.
 
It's not worth what could've happened between you and me."
 
As he cupped her face in his hands, kept his eyes fixed on hers, his expression suddenly darkened.
 
"You
are
staying, aren't you?"

Her answer came in scarcely a breath.
 
"Yes, Michael. That is, if you want me to."

"If I
want
you to?"
 
He tipped back his head and chuckled, then traced a finger down her cheek, bringing it to rest tenderly on her lips.
 
"Oh, yes, I want you to all right. I love you, Lisa.
 
I want you with me always.
 
Please say you'll join my family and become my wife.
 
And maybe someday, if you want it, too, we could start making plans to have our own little family.”

Her heart was overflowing with happiness.
 
"Oh, Michael! I love you too.
 
I think I always have, from the very first day we met."

"So you're saying yes?
 
You'll marry me?"

Fresh tears of joy sprang to her eyes.
 
"Of course, Michael!
 
Oh, yes...yes!"

There, right in front of Doc Woodstock, the cage boys, the riggers, the animal trainers and others who'd quickly congregated to watch, Michael swept Lisa up in his arms, whirled her around, then kissed her again.