Free Summer Magic by Sydell Voeller

to set me up with Rita. Well, she'd better not try to interfere this time, because I won't let her. There's too much at stake. If Lisa's not careful, she's gonna stress out for sure.

    "Now don't get your hackles up," Claudette said. "I...I just thought it might be a cozy four-some, that's all."   She lowered her gaze, exposing a dark fringe of eyelashes against maddeningly flawless skin. "After all, Galveston's a great big city. Rita and I might need a little extra help finding our way around."

    "Oh, come off it, Claudette!   You expect me to believe that?"

    "Some brother you are!   You're impossible."   She threw up her hands in defeat and sighed. Then she turned on her heel and stepped back inside the motor home. "Sorry I asked, Michael. Goodnight all."

     

    *****

     

    The morning dawned bright and sunny with the promise of clear skies. What perfect weather for a holiday, Lisa thought as she hurried to get dress. She reached inside the closet for a red, white and blue T-shirt with a star in the middle and a sporty pair of red slacks.

    Back near Phoenix, Arizona, she and Estelle had managed a quick trip to a shopping mall off the interstate. Lisa had not only purchased several outfits, but two new pieces of luggage to store them in. Extra closet space was sorely limited in Estelle’s small trailer.

    Now they were breakfasting together, savoring golden-crusted waffles and fresh sliced strawberries, topped with whipped cream. Rags, having lapped up the remainder of the cream, was taking a snooze, nestled into Estelle's bean bag chair.

    "I love your dishes," Lisa said softly, running a finger around the rim of a white porcelain dinner plate decorated in delicate patterns of blue forget-me-nots. She swallowed against the lump in her throat, remembering her own set of blue-and-white dishes she'd donated to charity, plus and all the other treasures she'd left behind.

    She missed Doc Largent and her friends too--especially Melinda. Had uprooting herself to begin a new life here really been worth it?

    "I know it might seem silly using my good china for everyday, but sometimes I do it anyway," Estelle said. Lifting a matching coffee server, she filled first Lisa's cup, then her own. The aroma of the rich, strong brew wafted about them.

    "Have you heard anything from your father lately?" Lisa asked. "Is he going to come back soon?"

    A small frown line bridged Estelle's delicately arched eyebrows. "Mother phoned Papa yesterday just as he'd arrived back from another meeting with Uncle Peter's lawyer. He thinks more than ever now he'll be gone till the end of the summer. He kept reminding my mother to tell Michael to keep a close eye on Ebony."   She shook her head and smiled, a distant look shining in her eyes. "Papa's sure crazy about that horse."

    "I am, too," Lisa said.

    "Yes, I know. We all are."   Estelle paused. "So what’re you going to do today?"

    Lisa told her, purposefully avoiding the part about Claudette's plea to include Rita and herself. Though Lisa was tempted to let Estelle know everything about Claudette, she kept quiet. If circus families were as close-knit as Michael had confirmed, it wouldn't be a smart move on her part.

    "Mom and I talked about taking in a dog show later this morning at the fairgrounds up the road," Estelle said with a quick smile. "Then later tonight we might watch some of the fireworks that the younger kids and their parents will be setting off."

    "You don't mind?   Sticking around here?" Lisa asked. She was still thinking about Claudette.

    "Of course not. I've been to Galveston plenty of times before. So have Michael and Claudette."  

    Pursing her lips, Lisa nodded without comment. Estelle's remark had only confirmed her suspicions. Claudette didn't need Michael's help getting around Galveston anymore than the President needed help finding his way back to the White House.

    Estelle eyed Lisa thoughtfully before going on. "So you and my brother are starting to see