The Ringmaster's Heir by Trudi Jaye

Author:Trudi Jaye [Jaye, Trudi]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780994104809
Publisher: Star Media Ltd
Published: 2014-05-22T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter 33

“A deal?” Jack’s voice was soft. He was fascinated by the play of emotions across Rilla’s face.

“That Mom could run away, go wherever she wanted, and not be forced into joint custody for Zeph. Dad agreed he would support them both as long as she let me stay with him.”

Jack took in a quick breath. “He didn’t tell you this as a child, did he?”

“No, not until later,” said Rilla, shaking her head. “We still pay some money to Mom. Although, not so much at the moment.”

Jack ignored the comment about the state of their finances, and focused on what interested him more right this moment. “How old were you when they left?”

“I was about seven or eight. I really don’t remember. Zeph was about five or six.” Rilla took a sip of her tea, looking like she wanted to be talking about anything else.

But Jack couldn’t help himself. He honestly couldn’t imagine growing up without his mother. “And you truly have no contact?”

“None at all. Mom was pretty adamant about keeping Zeph away from the Carnival. I guess I was part of that.”

Jack wanted to bundle Rilla up in his arms, to tell her that her mother was obviously insane for leaving her like that. “She wasn’t from the Carnival?”

“She was from a circus family, but not this one. A distant cousin of Tami’s. Came to stay with them one summer and caught Abba’s eye. Or so the story goes.” Rilla shrugged as if to say she didn’t care, even though the story was about her parents.

“Do you have those photos?” Jack leaned forward. He wanted to see what it was like, back in the old days when his father was part of the Carnival. He wanted a glimpse of the bright and sparkling days gone past that Viktor had told him about. Plus he wanted to see cute pics of Rilla when she was a kid.

Rilla hesitated. “Do you really want to see them?” she said, her eyes searching his, uncertainty filling her gaze.

“Sure. Do you have any of my father?” said Jack, trying to seem nonchalant. He didn’t want to freak her out, but he was curious about Rilla’s world, as well as his father’s.

Rilla nodded, and seemed a little relieved that he’d mentioned his father. “I might have some of him. I don’t go through them that often these days, not the older ones.”

“Then, yes, I’d definitely like to see your father and mine when they were young and in the Carnival. Maybe I’ll get something I can use as blackmail on my father.” Jack gave her a lopsided grin and Rilla smiled back hesitantly.

His heart started beating faster and warmth spread through his body. Rilla’s smile lit up her face, and turned her from attractive to stunning. He tried to quash his unexpected thoughts about her. It was the last thing he should be thinking about right now.

She stood up and went to the wardrobe at the end of the long room. She climbed on her bed and reached into the storage bin at the top, pulling out a small, battered suitcase.

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