Vagabond Circus Series

by Sarah Noffke

  “But there’s a chance he’s not. That Knight is my father. That I killed my father,” Finley said, that same shame from before in his voice.

  Zuma turned to Finley and grabbed his hand. “It doesn’t matter to me who your father is. I love you no matter what.”

  He brought his tortured gaze up to meet her eyes. “But you’d probably love me more if I was Dave’s son.”

  She pulled his hand locked in hers to her chest and held it there like a prize. “That’s impossible, because I couldn’t conceivably love you any more than I do.”

  The door to Fanny’s trailer swung open, grabbing both the acrobats’ attention. They stood in unison. Finley looked down at Zuma and he read the question in her eyes. “Yes, I want you to stay. Hear the news with me,” he said.

  She grabbed his hand again and squeezed it once. Together the pair walked forward, meeting Fanny halfway. The trip seemed double the distance Finley remembered. And the whole time he studied Fanny’s face, trying to discern if she was holding onto good or bad news. For a woman with such a usually expressive face, her features were all neutral. No smile, nor frown. Eyes set in a clinical gaze. Jaw relaxed. Even Zuma, using her combat sense, had difficulty picking up any information by studying the woman.

  When Finley and Zuma halted in front of the healer there were a few seconds of silence. This was a moment full of weight. Fanny seemed to know it shouldn’t be rushed. That’s why she stalled, sucking in a steadying breath before meeting Finley’s eyes.

  “Tell me,” Finley said, his tone bordering on demanding.

  And just then Fanny’s eyes betrayed the cover-up she’d been attempting. She was so overwhelmed with emotions that it took everything she had to pretend to have the unaffected bedside manner. Even in the darkening grounds the sparkle of excitement radiated from her blue eyes.

  “I tested fifteen genetic markers and there was a one-hundred-percent match for your and Dave’s samples,” Fanny said, and then every wrinkle on her face punctuated the wide smile she adorned. “It is my great honor to inform you that Dr. Dave Raydon, the illustrious founder of this circus, was your father. And that means you are now the rightful owner of Vagabond Circus. Congratulations, Finley Raydon.”

  Chapter Seventy-Four

  Titus and Fanny stood side by side watching the crew working side by side to take down the big top. It would be loaded up and have to be repaired once they set up in Los Angeles. Ian called orders and each of his crew members responded with a quick attentiveness. They worked like a machine, everyone supporting each other. Some whistled or hummed as they disassembled the various parts of the big top. Knight’s body had already been removed and would join Gwendolyn’s and Sebastian’s ashes.

  “This circus has seen much the last few months,” Fanny said, her hands on her hips as she watched the crew.

  “We’ve lost much too,” Titus said.

  “But we have bonded together to overcome a great evil.”

  “True,” Titus said.

  “And I think we are better off for this.”

  “You do?” Titus said, raising his light-colored eyebrows at the woman.

  “I do,” she said with a proud smile. “Jack has healed and you know, Titus, he has a confidence that’s to impress. That look of shame is gone from his eyes. He’s the man that Dave thought he could become.”

  “And you think being paralyzed brought him all that?”

  She shook her head, a smile in her eyes. “No, I think getting rid of the pity so he could make himself walk again did. And I dare say I don’t think he’d have found love without being paralyzed.”

  Titus laughed easily. “Yes, we will definitely be getting rid of Rule Two.”

  “And Finley, he has a legacy to be proud of.”

  “Yes, his father’s,” Titus said, his eyes lighting up. “Finley Raydon, the new owner of Vagabond Circus.” Titus liked the idea of sharing his co-ownership with the acrobat. He loved the idea actually. “Poor Dave, he never knew,” Titus said. “His son was here. And he was so very proud of him, knowing he was his star performer. Imagine if he knew that star who saved Vagabond Circus financially was his son. And then he went on to save Vagabond Circus from Knight and his curses.”

  Fanny lifted her chin and looked at the sky that was just starting to wink with bright stars. “Oh, I don’t know, Titus, I feel Dave knows. I feel that he’s proud of his son. God would gift that man with that knowledge.”

  Titus smiled at Fanny. He’d always admired her faith. It amazed him actually. There were many things about the woman that amazed him.

  She caught him staring at her. “And then there’s Zuma,” she said.

  “Yes, she can finally be happy. The curse is lifted.”

  Fanny slid her hand into Titus’s and squeezed. It surprised him at first but then he relaxed. “You know, Titus, we can all be happy now.”

  He nodded, knowing exactly what she meant. Then the creative director raised her hand in his and brought the back of hers to his lips where he kissed it once. “Yes, I think it’s overdue,” he said and allowed his lips to linger on her hand for a long few seconds, a passionate smile on his face.

  Chapter Seventy-Five

  The big top was loaded in record speed the night Charles Knight died. Again the crew was intent on escaping a place where death had happened. Ian requested that they all rest and leave first thing the next morning. He saw all the trucks off. Then he continued to sit on the back of his teal Chevy pickup as the caravan took their lineup. Zuma’s trailer pulled out last, just after Finley’s. Sunshine was in the lead, Jack behind her. And as was usually the case, Titus and Fanny had the middle position. They were in essence the parents of Vagabond Circus. And the people of the circus were all their kids.

  They will do well now, Ian thought. Over the last few months he’d played a dangerous game, messing with the futures he saw. He didn’t just intervene, he instigated change. He stopped futures, prevented Finley’s death. Allowed Jasmine’s to happen. Created the likelihood of Padmal’s death. And he watched like a prisoner as the futures changed. He kept tweaking things until he saw this one. The future where everything was tied up in a beautiful oversized bow. And now he was living that reality. It was all he wanted.

  Ian’s eyes were glazed over. The visions were unrelenting now, but they were mostly good. Zuma would be happy. She’d go on to love the life she never even knew was a possibility. And so would Finley. He’d hold his soulmate every single night, only to be parted from Zuma on the three separate nights where she needed space after childbirth. Jack would not only walk until the day he died, but he would run, run after the girl who dared to leave the circus because she was afraid of the emotions in her own heart. Sunshine was afraid of love, of being loved. She’d read that emotion in other people, but never thought she could feel it. Jack would convince her not to run from him. And there would also be loss at Vagabond Circus. Titus wouldn’t live forever, and Fanny would feel extremely alone when she couldn’t save him. But they would have many decades of love and companionship before that.

  Ian saw these futures. He saw hundreds of futures. So many people affected Ian and therefore their futures were a part of his visions. The day before, due to the unrelenting flashes of the future, he could hardly help to take down the big top so he gave orders. Ian had gone blind. A doctor would say his eyes worked fine but his mind wouldn’t allow them to see. All that flashed in front of his retinas was the future. Ian couldn’t drive his truck. He knew that. And for too long he’d seen this future. It came at the end whether Vagabond Circus had a happy or sad ending. He’d known that and was grateful things had indeed ended happily. But he wasn’t an optimist and knew that not everything ends with a pretty little bow on it.

  Ian smiled, looking at nothing in his physical world. And still this was the perfect ending for him. He’d done what he set out to do. He’d saved Zuma from the curse, the girl who was the key to saving the circus.

  The clairvoyant felt around for the
pistol. His fingers finally knocked into it. He placed it in his hand and brought it into position. Ian’s fate was always to follow his mother’s. And he was grateful he left no offspring, cursed with the visions of the future. Ian’s wasn’t a happy life, but he had helped others achieve happiness. This was his last thought before he pulled back the hammer and released the trigger.

  A flock of birds sprung into the air, startled by the loud bang.

  Epilogue

  LA Times

  Summer Time, Circus Time

  Summer is here and that means that the Vagabond Circus is gearing up for another season. The circus is celebrating its 21st year and there’ve been many changes. For one, there are new owners, Finley Raydon and Titus Rogers. The two have really set the bar high, promising to bring the circus to more cities this year, and thereby spreading more magic. They’ve also hired a few new performers who will definitely bring more awe-inspiring moments to the show. And even though Dave Raydon has passed the circus on to his son, he won’t be absent from the venture he started twenty-one years ago. Last year he was replaced as ringmaster by Charles Knight, but Rogers stated in an interview that Knight wasn’t the right fit for the circus. The Vagabond Circus and Knight mutually agreed that his time with the circus should be short. They had tried something new to switch things up but have decided to return the circus to a dreamier feel. So if you’re like me and prefer the whimsical circus to the nightmarish one, then you’re in luck. Check out the show, which promises to have some new and old stars returning.

  ***

  “You’re going to do great,” Zuma said, placing a hand on the young boy’s shoulder. She leaned down and kissed Benjamin on the cheek, making him blush. “You were born for this role.”

  He smiled so wide at the acrobat that his eyes could hardly see. “Okay,” he agreed and turned for the curtain.

  Zuma felt the hand in hers and turned to find Finley behind her. “If you’re giving out kisses, I would take one.”

  She rose on her tiptoes to plant a kiss on his cheek but using his super speed he whipped his head forward so the kiss landed on his mouth. Zuma giggled against his lips, loving the free feeling happiness gave her. The lovers were so engrossed in each other that they didn’t realize that the show had started until the music boomed overhead. The lights dimmed as a single spotlight shone down in the middle of the ring.

  “Gadies and lentlemen,” the voice of Dave Raydon said and was immediately followed by deafening applause.

  “He’s back!” people in the crowd yelled.

  “Woohoo!” a boy screamed, jumping up and down in his seat.

  Not until that first show did the public know that Dave Raydon had returned as the ringmaster.

  Zuma turned to peek through the crack in the curtain, Finley’s arm around her shoulders, holding her into him. There in the middle of the ring stood a man who no one would ever suspect wasn’t Dr. Dave Raydon. He wore the same teal blue suit and top hat. The same broad grin, and the same easy manner. And most importantly, Benjamin had in his heart the purpose of bringing magic to life and that exuded from the performance. “Welcome to Vagabond Zoo,” he said and the crowd exploded with laughter.

  “Why are you laughing at me?” he said in the voice of Dr. Dave Raydon.

  “It’s not a zoo!” people shouted.

  “It isn’t?” he said, pulling his hat off his head and scratching his smooshed down hair.

  Zuma smiled and turned to Finley. “He’s doing a brilliant job.”

  Finley’s fond eyes were on the man in the center of the ring. The one who was his father and also wasn’t. “Yeah,” he said, attempting to swallow. Zuma placed her hands on his chest to borrow his attention.

  “Mr. Raydon, are you ready for our first act?” she said to him.

  He brought his eyes to hers. “Yes, Ms. Zanders,” Finley said and kissed her once on the cheek. His gaze was over her shoulder at the man he would never truly know, but would love with all his heart.

  ***

  Zuma and Finley stood on the platform for the flying trapeze. They wore their matching teal blue and neon green leotards. Hers was cut high like a one-piece swimsuit. His was a full suit covered in brilliant gems. The pair held onto the scaffolding with one hand, leaning out over the platform, waving out to the crowd.

  “There they are!” people yelled.

  “He’s back!” someone in the crowd said.

  “Woohoo!” the crowd chorused.

  Finley stepped up, taking the bar Zuma handed to him. With a “hup” the trick started. Finley jumped off the platform with an incredible height, swung forward and then back, clearing the platform and rising fifteen feet above it. That was the height he needed for the trick to be successful. He flew forward and at precisely the perfect moment he released off the bar and spun once, twice, three times and then when the crowd thought that was it, he soared in a tight ball at super speed a fourth time. Finley laid himself out and there was a bit of a distance from his catcher so he teleported a foot to ensure he was caught.

  Jack swung forward and clapped his hands around Finley’s outstretched arms completing the quadruple. The pair of acrobats swung back as the crowd stood with applause. Jack looked down from his upturned position into the eyes of his friend.

  “Nice catch,” Finley mouthed up to him. He couldn’t be heard over the applause.

  “Anytime,” Jack said and released Finley, who dropped down to the net. After he dismounted Jack pulled his legs off the bar and dropped to the net as well. And then he joined Finley on the ground where they both bowed to a crowd who had bright eyes and a renewed belief in magic.

  The End.

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  Acknowledgements:

  When I was a little girl I didn’t dream of being a writer. That was a preposterous idea. I grew up reading Kahlil Gibran, Emily Dickinson, and Judy Blume. I knew who good writers were, and that wasn’t me. I set my sights on something more realistic. I was going to be an Olympic gymnast. Makes sense, right? And as fate had it, my pride got the best of me and I quit gymnastic and became a super huge nerd…and later a writer. I still have callouses, but they’re from typing my books on my phone. Did I forget that this is the acknowledgement page and mistake this as a blog entry? No. I’m still coherent…mostly. Anyway, I became a writer because of awesome supporters. People who believed in me. Who pushed me. Nurse Fanny is named after a freshman English professor who did this for me. I remember Trudy Swedlund calling me a tiger on my first day of college. Then later on she praised me for my papers, again and again. And it’s because of people like her and many others that I have the confidence to write. So thank you to those who in the past and in the present gave me encouraging words. It made me start and keeps me going. Thank you to my readers. You’re my Trudy Swedlunds now.

  Thank you to my friends. You’re my first readers. My biggest supporters. Where would I be without you all? I’d be sad. A little lonely. And laugh a lot less. But also I wouldn’t have the encouragement I need to write. For some of you, I write just to keep you entertained.

  Thank you to Christine LePorte, my editor. I love that we have this long standing writer/editor relationship. And I love even more when you offer me praise, because I know you are one of the few objective people who read my books. That’s why you’re great at your job.

  Thank you to my cover designer, Andrei Bat. When we completed this cover, I actually held my breath. It only lasted a few seconds, because I can’t spare any brain cells, but it was really that good. Your designs take my breath away. There, I said it.

  Thank you to Dominic and Maja who run the Goodreads fan group. You amaze me with your support and encouragement. I feel so lucky that you picked up my books in the first place, and continue to do so. Thank you for the bookmarks, Dominic. They are simply marvelous.

  Thank you to BOD and all the supporters there. I could fil
l up another book listing all the people from that group who amaze me with their support. Best group ever, run by amazing ladies. Thank you.

  Thank you to my family for all the support and encouragement. To my Texas family, thank you for reading and the lovely praise. Thank you to my sister, Anne. You’ve always been my biggest supporter in everything. To my nieces and nephews, thank you for all your kind words. Thank you to my sister, Bea. I hope to make you proud. Thank you to my parents and in-laws.

  Thank you to my beta readers: Heidi, Colleen, and Melinda. Thank you to ARC readers. OMG, there’s so many of you now!!! Do you know how happy that makes me? I love you all. I might forget someone so forgive me in advance. Thank you to Katie, Katy, Kimberly, Dominic, Maja, Tamika, Anna, Christine, Elizabeth, Lesley, Heidi, Kelly, Kit, Kira, Tiffany, Nicole and Karen. Thank you to my devoted readers. Kathy, Stephanie, Christine, Cheree, Cheryl, Elizabeth, Katy, Vikki, Alicia, Shelah, Jennifer, Diane and April. I know no matter how crappy my post are you’ll Like and Share. You’re so good to me. Don’t stop. Seriously. Ever.

  I want to say a giant thank you to my author friends. I firmly believe that when we support each other that we all do better. And you all continue to inspire me with your stories, your journeys, and your relentless passion. I love that I can share my ideas with you and that you in turn give me great ideas. I’ve learned so much from other authors. I’m constantly humbled by the people I get to work with. Thank you!