Page 18 of Outback Reunion

She looked up from the top of Luna’s head to see her father-in-law’s face ashen pale, reminding her of the colour he’d turned late last year when he’d had a minor heart attack in the middle of a show. Despite terrible chest pains and shortness of breath, he’d wanted to continue performing but Eve had insisted on taking him to the hospital to be checked out and Gabi had stepped in as ringmaster for the rest of the night.

‘I’m fine.’ She tried to give him a reassuring smile, not wanting to cause any extra stress on him.

Lorenzo had spent three days in hospital having tests—the longest he’d ever been away from his beloved circus—and then been given medication and all kinds of advice for things to do to make sure it didn’t happen again. At the top of the list were giving up smoking, which he’d done reluctantly, and reducing stress levels.

He closed the distance between them and wrapped his arms around her and Luna. ‘Are you sure? What happened out there?’

‘Um...’ Gabi searched her mind for a good excuse for her blunder. Often performers pretended they’d lost their balance on the highwire or Wheel of Steel, but it was usually part of the act.

Lorenzo could tell that tonight she almosthadfallen. He just didn’t know it was because of Mark.

Her father-in-law raised his bushy grey eyebrows, waiting for an explanation.

Her heart pounded—she couldn’t think straight so soon after a near fall when her mind was full of Mark.

When they’d met in the supermarket, she’d told him he should come, so she shouldn’t have been surprised to see him in the audience. She hadn’t noticed him when she’d cartwheeled in during their opening song because it was hard to see the crowd from the ground where the lights blinded you. But from the top of the tent, you not only got a view of the whole audience, you could also see their faces much better.

And when her eyes had met Mark’s, everyone else—the people sitting around him and her colleagues, even Luna—had ceased to exist and the connection she’d felt all those years ago came flooding back.

The memories had been like a physical blow, and she’d almost slipped.

The audience had gasped. Anyone who hadn’t been doing this almost all their life would likely have plunged to their death—or at least suffered a terrible injury—yet somehow Gabi managed to correct herself and get safely back to the platform.

But she’d never felt so shaken after an act. All she could think about as she fled backstage was what if she’d seen him while she’d been riding with Luna on the handlebars? The results could have been catastrophic.

Luna was her whole life. Nothing and no one mattered as much as she did. Gabi would never forgive herself if she harmed her daughter. Life would no longer be worth living.

‘Gabi dear, are you unwell?’ Lorenzo’s tone was still concerned but also a little impatient. He needed to get out into the pre-tent to schmooze with the audience during the interval.

Before she could answer him, Luna’s voice wobbled between them.

‘Are you sick again, Mummy? You don’t look so good.’

Gabi’s heart sank, swamped with guilt that she was making her dear father-in-law and Luna anxious. They were both still coming to terms with the loss of Dante; the last thing they needed to do was worry about her.

‘I’m fine,’ she rushed to reassure them. ‘Just lost my balance for a moment. Everyone makes mistakes occasionally.’

‘Fine. Fine. Fine,’ echoed Loud Mouth.

Neither her daughter, her father-in-law, nor the tent boys looked convinced, but there wasn’t time for further interrogation. They could hear the clatter and chatter of the audience spilling out of the Big Top for intermission. They were all needed elsewhere.

‘Well, please be careful. Can’t have anything happening to my right-hand girl.’ Lorenzo squeezed her arm before hurrying back out.

‘You better go get the dogs ready,’ Gabi said, all but shooing Luna after her grandfather. She and her performing dogs were a crowd favourite.

As the tent boys disappeared to take their places selling balloons and other circus merch, Gabi shoved Loud Mouth into his backstage cage. As usual, he squawked in disgust. He hated intermission when he was locked up like a mere prisoner, much preferring the post-show action where he got to perch on Gabi’s shoulder getting selfies with excited guests.

‘Be good,’ she told him, but then took a moment to slow her breathing and prepare for the very likely possibility of seeing Mark again.

Would he try to speak to her? Did she want him to?

She didn’t know the answers to the myriad questions whirling through her head, but she couldn’t take any more time to ponder. Kids, overhyped from fairy floss and sugary soft drinks, would already be lining up next to the teacup ride.

‘Gabriela!’

A husky voice sounded behind her as she left the tent to go in the front way, and she almost lost her balance again when she spun around to see the man himself standing right behind her.

‘I didn’t mean to scare you,’ he said, reaching out and steadying her.

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