Chapter 17
Reagan woke to the low murmur of voices and the creak of wood. The air inside the big top smelled like damp canvas and mud. Portable heaters had been hooked up to generators and had taken some of the chill out of the air, but she was thankful for the blanket that was stretched across her and Indio.
Her stiff neck reminded her she’d fallen asleep sitting up, with Indio’s arm around her shoulders. They were tucked together on a wooden bench, with the others sprawled around them.
It wasn’t comfortable, but it was safe, and that’s all that mattered.
Indio stirred next to her, groaning softly.
She straightened and stretched, rolling her neck.
She’d gotten checked out by the memory healer, Deneeta, a sweet woman who made sure Reagan—and Indio—were both okay.
And they were, thankfully. Reagan was sore, but she hadn’t broken anything, and Indio’s back was healing.
“Morning,” she said.
“Morning, sweetheart. How did you sleep?”
“Terrible, but also good because I was with you.”
“Same.”
She stared at him, remembering how he’d come for her the night before.
“What?” he asked.
“I’ll never forget how you looked crashing through the woods toward me. Like nothing on earth was going to stop you from getting to me.”
He brushed the hair back from her face. “Nothing could.”
They made their way out of the tent, and it was shocking to see how much damage the storm had done. Many had worked overnight to clear debris, take down ruined tents, and right booths and trailers.
Many of the larger tents had withstood the storm because of the bigger poles and more rigging, and that included the food tent, which she was thankful to see full of people.
Work was being done around the fairgrounds, but according to his parents, the circus was done.
They weren’t going to be doing a final show that night, and instead, they would pack up, clean up, and head for their next destination the following day.
She was bummed she wasn’t going to get to see the last night’s show, but she was just thankful that no one in the memory had been badly hurt.
They’d lost things—two trailers were beyond repair and already had been towed to a salvage yard, and several tents and booths were destroyed—but they hadn’t lost anyone.
“Morning, you two!” Amara called from behind the large griddle. “Find a seat, I’ll bring over food for you.”
“Thank you,” Reagan said.
They found seats by his cousin Joe and his mate, Vivvie, their young son, Vince, putting ketchup on scrambled eggs.
“I heard your trailer was one of the ones that got trashed,” Indio said.
“Yeah,” Joe said, “but we weren’t there, so I’m thankful for that miracle. I saw the trailer you were staying in, you had a miracle yourself last night.”
“We sure did,” Indio said.
Amara brought over a tray and set it between her and Indio. “Sweet and savory, in case your cravings have changed. Let me know what else I can get for you.”
On the tray was a plate of scrambled eggs, toast, home fries, and sausage patties, and the rest seemed tailor-made for her: cornbread, honey butter, a bowl of fruit, bacon, sausage, and a bowl of sausage gravy with biscuits.
“Heck yeah,” Reagan said. “I’m going to eat every freaking thing on here.”
“Do you want anything off my plate?” Indio asked.
She peered at it, then shook her head. “I’m good. Oh, but I’d love some ham. Do you think there’s ham?”
“Ma?” Indio called.
“Yeah, baby?”
“Do you have any ham for my mate?”
“Absolutely. I’ll be right there.”
Reagan grinned at her mate. “I love your mom.”
“She loves you. And I do too, sweetheart.”
“Oh my gosh, did we sound like that when we were first mated?” Joe asked.
“We used to,” Vivvie said. “Then we got tired. I’m all for the romance, though. You two are so sweet.”
While they ate and Reagan devoured everything on the tray, including a double helping of ham, his cousins talked about the cleanup and where they’d be staying until they could secure another trailer.
His dad walked over to them. “You two okay? Did you sleep at all?”
“A couple hours,” Indio said. “How’s cleanup going?”
“Great. The town donated two dumpsters, which were just delivered to the parking lot for us to put our trash in. And they asked if we would like to do a parade through town this afternoon since we can’t do the show tonight.”
“Oh, that sounds fun,” Reagan said, smearing honey butter on a slice of crispy bacon. “I love a good parade.”
Rohan smiled at her. “Would you like to ride Indio? We can get you a costume.”
She gasped. “Could I? I’d love to.”
“You bet. We’ll have three elephants in the parade with riders, the acrobats and clowns, plus the rest of us tossing candy and prizes to the crowd. We’re going to leave from here at two-thirty, so you can report to our head costumer, Felicity, at one.”
“Great, thank you so much.”
He patted her shoulder and smiled. “Anytime.”
When their meal was finished, she and Indio helped his mom clean up the food tent, then headed out into the fairgrounds to help break down the circus and clean up the area, utilizing the dumpsters in the lot.
They’d been able to recover their personal things from the trailer before it was towed to the salvage yard.
When she saw where the trailer had crashed into another one and the fallen trees in the woods where she’d nearly lost everything, she shivered.
She was thankful they were safe and they were together, and she finally felt like she’d found not only the other half of her heart, but a family too.
Felicity and Amara put the final touches on Reagan’s costume. She was wearing fleece-lined black satin pants and soft-heeled boots, and a sequined purple long-sleeved top. She had on a matching headband of purple sequins, and black gloves to keep her hands warm.
“You look great,” Felicity said.
Amara nodded. “Lily did a great job putting the outfit together for you. We don’t normally do parades in the winter, but this will be fun.”
Amara was going to ride Rohan, and Vivvie was going to ride Joe.
“Thank you so much for this, I’m so excited.”
“We should get going to the animal tent so we can get on our elephants,” Amara said.
“I’m heading to the parking lot to jump on one of the trailers being pulled behind a truck. I don’t want to have to walk the whole time,” Felicity said.
“Have fun tossing candy canes,” Reagan said. “Can I have one?”
Felicity grinned. “Baby craving?” She handed a candy cane to Reagan, who unwrapped it from the long end and put it in her mouth.
“Yeah. You know what I love? The chocolate candy canes. Or the cherry ones?”
“I’ll send someone to get some for you,” Amara said.
“You’re the best mother-in-law ever.”
“I’m definitely trying,” Amara said.
“You’re doing a great job, I hope I’m a good daughter-in-law.”
Amara hooked her arm through Reagan’s and smiled. “Honey, you’re the best daughter a mom could hope for.”
Warmth spread through her chest. To be so loved and accepted by not only Indio but his family? Reagan was in heaven.
They said goodbye to Felicity and joined their mates in the animal tent, which was closed to the public and rigged to make it appear that elephants were milling around within it, utilizing shadows, lighting, and recordings of elephant noises.
It gave the appearance of real elephants when they weren’t in their shifts.
She found Indio with a matching purple harness, waiting for her.
“Ready?” Rob asked, standing next to the ladder propped against Indio.
“One hundred percent.”
She climbed up the ladder and settled on his back near his head, holding the harness with one hand. She patted him and said, “I love you, my big elephant soulmate. I’m so glad you’re mine.”
He lifted his head and let out a happy trumpet.
She knew that was his way of saying that he loved her too.
They left shortly after, the tent opening wide to let them out.
It took a half hour to get to the main street, and then they walked the route around town, waving to the people who lined the streets while others in the memory tossed candy and small prizes to the waiting kids.
Her cheeks were freezing and she’d lost feeling in her toes by the time they got back to the fairgrounds, but she’d had the best time.
When Indio shifted, along with the others in the tent, she said, “I love you. And I’m starving.”
“I love you too,” he said with a chuckle. “And let’s get dinner. I’m starving too.”
In the food tent, they sat with his family, including his mom who was urged away from the buffet to join them for the last dinner.
While they ate steak and potatoes, Rohan said, “You know, you two could join us full time if you’d like. And I’m not just suggesting that because we’d love to be around our grandbaby.”
She knew Indio’s heart was at the park in New Jersey and not on the road, but she also knew if she wanted to join the circus and travel, he’d be on board with it.
Taking Indio’s hand, she said, “It’s not the right time for us, but thank you so much for the offer.”
“You always have a home on the road with us,” Amara said.
“Maybe in a few years, when our kids are older, we’ll join up with you,” Indio said.
“Kids?” Reagan asked. “Just how many were you thinking?”
“As many as you want,” he said. “But I’ve always wanted a big family.”
“Me too,” she said. “Being an only child kind of sucks.”
“We’ll make a place for you and your family whenever you’re ready,” Amara said.
Indio leaned over and kissed her cheek, then whispered, “Wherever you are is home for me, Reagan. Here, New Jersey, wherever.”
Her heart swelled with love for her soulmate. “You’re home for me too.”