Summer Magic by Sydell Voeller Page A

matched her ruby red lipstick. She averted her gaze to the landscape passing by, fanning herself with the flyer and saying nothing.

    "Oh, that silly sister of yours," Rita said as if Claudette had somehow suddenly disappeared. "How could've she forgotten about my daddy?   We're such good friends now, I swear she knows everything about me."

    Claudette looked pointedly at Michael. "Hold on, everyone. Somehow we seem to be getting off the subject. A couple of minutes ago, Michael, I asked if you and Lisa would like to meet us at the street dance. You still haven't answered me."

    "Well..."   Michael shrugged. "Maybe. I can't remember the last time I got to go to a dance."    He looked expectantly at Lisa again, allowing his thoughts to take flight. He could imagine her in his arms, all soft and feminine, swaying to the beat of the music, her petite body pressed close to his. So why not?   Besides, the place would most likely be packed. He and Lisa would have little problem ditching Claudette and Rita.

    "What do you say, Lisa?" he asked, his gaze still fixed on her.

    She read the eagerness in his eyes. Clearly Michael wanted to go. How could she say no?   After all this was his  holiday too. She had to admit, dancing under the moon and stars did sound romantic. And Michael probably already had a plan in mind to keep his twin sister from trying to bamboozle him.

    Lisa shrugged too. "Sounds okay to me."

    Claudette beamed.

    Rita also appeared pleased.

    The sound of Rita's voice sliced through Lisa's reverie. "Be sure to bring light-weight jackets. It might get chilly. By the way, I just know you'll love the band. Cloudburst, they're called--a local group. Danny used to sit behind me in the fifth grade. Even then he liked to beat out a bongo rap on his desk."

    She heaved a sigh before babbling on. "Anyway, here I am again in good old Galveston after such a long time. I must confess, though, I feel more like a tourist anymore than a native Texan. At least Claudette and I won't have to go back to the circus grounds tonight. We're staying at my daddy's."

    "Tell me about the first circus you traveled with," Michael said to Rita with obvious interest. "Was it as good as Jessell and Stern?"

    Lisa pushed back her annoyance and forced herself to smile at him. Was he simply being polite to Rita?   Or was he flirting again?

    Unbidden, jealousy gnawed at her. Maybe she shouldn't have agreed so readily to go to the dance. Obviously Estelle believed Michael was a one-woman man, but how well did she really know her brother?

    "Oh, yes, the first circus. Holman and Company, they called themselves." Rita smiled coyly at him through half-lidded eyes. "I'm not sure why I wasted so much time with that little dog and pony show. But at least I got to try my hand at flying. And I'd love nothing more than to have the chance to get back into it again."

    "And that time may be coming sooner than we think," Claudette blurted out. Averting her gaze, she scrunched down in her seat.

    "Oh, yeah?" Michael's interest was full blown. "What do you mean, Sis?"

    Her eyes darted between Michael and Lisa. "I...I mean...someday, who knows?   One of us may decide to call it quits. Or expand our act."   She shrugged. "Use four flyers instead of three."

    One of us may call it quits. Lisa went rigid as the anger churned up inside of her. So Claudette still believed she was trying to snatch Michael away. Without a doubt, that hurriedly added comment about expanding their act was merely a cover.

    Lisa bit down on her lower lip, her thoughts spinning as she averted her gaze. Yes, Claudette's hidden message had come through loud and clear. What was she scheming to do next?
 

    Chapter Seven

     

     

    As Lisa and Michael danced cheek-to-cheek to a country golden oldie, the music wove about them like lush, velvet ribbons.

    The lead singer's rich tenor voice melded with electric guitar, honky-tonk piano, harmonica, and drums.   The notes swelled,