Touch the Stars (26 page)

They had both forgotten Albert, who was standing in the background trying not to look as interested as he obviously was. But finally Albert cleared his throat.

"Stephen," he said tentatively, "the crew from the television station is here. They were going to film the last few minutes of preparation before we go on the wire." A man carrying a camera edged closer, but Julie and Stephen seemed not to notice. Stephen was gazing down at her, his eyes devouring the sight of her long dark hair tumbling loose around her shoulders, her eyes so dark and glowing, her slightly parted and trembling lips.

"Dearest—"

"Shh," she said. "I have come a long way to say it, and I want to be the one. Let's get married, Stephen. Right away."

The camera continued to roll, but Julie wasn't aware of the camera or the crew. All she was conscious of was Nonna's wedding ring in her pocket and Stephen in her arms—Stephen, whom she loved and whom she would always love.

Stephen laughed happily and swung her around, lifting her feet clear off the floor.

"I thought I would have to wait until Christmas to find out your answer," he said in wonder.

"I couldn't wait."

"Neither can I." And cupping her face between his hands, Stephen kissed her gently on the lips.

"Is this a marriage proposal I've just heard?" asked a perplexed reporter from the TV station, delighted but unwilling to believe that she had uncovered a human-interest scoop for the nightly news.

"Yes," Stephen said, refusing to look anywhere but into Julie's eyes.

"Is that right, Ms., um, Ms.?"

"Andrassy," Julie supplied, unable to pull her eyes away from Stephen's face.

"But—your name is Andrassy, and you're going to marry an Andrassy, so—" But no one seemed willing to explain this peculiarity, and then there was no time for anyone to say anything more. In the arena, the band galloped into a lively rendition of a Strauss waltz, and the swirl of music seemed to awaken Stephen.

"The performance," he said to Julie. "It is time. Will you be all right?" His eyes plumbed the depths of hers, and with confidence she nodded.

"Yes, Stephen. I'll always be all right."

He smiled down at her, and after one last brief kiss on her forehead, he became all business.

"Albert, my clipboard, please," he said. Albert handed it to him.

Stephen knocked on the closed doors to the dressing rooms. "Everyone out in the hall," he called.

They rushed out of the dressing rooms, and Eva and Gabrielle threw Julie long, curious looks. But when they saw the expression on her face, both cousins burst into smiles. Eva elbowed Gabrielle in the ribs as if to say, "I told you so."

Without further ado, the troupe lined up for inspection.

Stephen stepped forward and cleared his throat. As Grandfather Anton had done, he planned to speak encouragingly to them before every performance. Julie stayed in the background, trying to be as little distraction as possible at such a critical time.

Stephen said, "Many people have turned out to rejoice with us about our return to the wire. We have practiced long and hard. We have every reason to find strength in our own courage. Let us all give the best performance of our careers on this very special night."

"Is everyone ready?" Albert asked.

"Yes!" they replied in unison.

"A kiss for luck," Stephen said suddenly, and taking Julie's hand, he pulled her from her place in the shadows. His arms opened to surround her, and for one brief moment he held her so close that Julie heard his heart beating steadily in his chest. It was exactly the reassurance she needed.

Then he released her, but not before she whispered so that only he could hear, "Touch the stars, my darling." It was what she would say to him every time he took leave of her to walk the wire.

Stephen assumed his place at the head of the line. The five performing Andrassys straightened their shoulders and thrust out their chests.

The brass band finished playing the waltz, and then there was silence as an announcer's voice reverberated through the arena.

"And now, the moment you have all been waiting for, the return of the Amazing Andrassys!" The crowd cheered; then the announcer said in a more somber tone, "The Andrassy family would like you to know that they dedicate this return performance to the members of their family who died in a fall from the wire in this arena eight years ago."

The short silence following this announcement was respectful, and then the announcer said, "We bring to you the wonderful, the marvelous, the Amazing Andrassys!" The band struck up a lively march, and the Amazing Andrassys, gleaming in their white satin and silver sequins, began to stride smartly forward in time to the music.

Julie watched with pride as the members of the troupe moved as one into the arena, their motions beautifully synchronized. They were her family, and it was Stephen who had brought them back to the calling that was their tradition—Stephen, whom she had found it so difficult to trust, Stephen, whom she loved and would love forever, no matter what.

Heads held high, arms curved gracefully above their heads, the Amazing Andrassys went out to meet their destiny.

Epilogue

Three years later

Julie sat next to Nonna in a crowded courtroom in Atlanta, craning her head to get a better view. There he was, right in the front row. A flashbulb went off, but Stephen ignored it. Julie knew that her husband's mind was on the ceremony that was to follow.

It was September 17, Citizenship Day, and one of America's newest citizens was about to take the oath of allegiance to the United States. In a few moments, Stephen Martinovic-Andrassy would complete the process that would make him a naturalized citizen of his adopted country. Stephen had chosen to take his oath in Atlanta so that the whole family could attend.

"Can you see, Julie?" Nonna asked in a too-loud voice.

"Yes," Julie whispered back. "Can you?"

"No, I cannot see a thing." The two rather large spectators who were blocking Nonna's view turned and glared at her.

"Here, Nonna, let's change places," suggested Gabrielle, who was sitting behind someone short.

Julie shifted her knees aside so that Gabrielle and Nonna could trade places.

"Is Stephen a citizen yet?" asked Mickey, who sat fidgeting beside Lynda at the end of a benchful of Andrassys. All the Andrassys, even Uncle Bela, were present for this important ceremony.

"Not yet," Michael replied.

A hush fell over the courtroom as the newly naturalized citizens raised their hands to take the oath, and afterward, a judge spoke to them about the privileges and responsibilities of citizenship. Julie was uncommonly moved by the short but stirring ceremony. She couldn't help but think about the changes that had been wrought in her life during the past three years.

Julie had been practicing on the high wire with the performing troupe for the past six months. She had even begun to hope that someday she would feel enough confidence to perform with them. It had been a long struggle, but she was finally beginning to feel comfortable on the wire. Since her marriage to Stephen, and with his encouragement, she had lost much of her fear. This time, when she had gone on the wire, it had been of her own free will. It had been her choice and hers alone.

Marriage had mellowed her; her outlook was different these days. She saw the wire as part of her heritage and part of her future. She would perform with the others, she was sure of it. She already felt part of the act. Since their marriage in New Orleans after the Andrassys' triumphant return to the wire, Julie had functioned as Stephen's right hand, traveling with the troupe and helping him with the tasks involved with training, encouraging, and booking a top high-wire act.

Working together on behalf of the act had brought Stephen and Julie even closer. As husband and wife, their love grew stronger every day. Together they had found so much happiness that their contentment reached out to touch everyone in the family. Already they had known enough joy to last a lifetime, however long that lifetime happened to be. Julie would never regret marrying Stephen. Never.

"Julie, Stephen's looking for you," Eva said, leaning across Albert. With a start, Julie realized that the ceremony was over.

Julie fought the crowd surging up the narrow aisle toward the doors, pushing her way to the front of the room where Stephen, with his usual panache, fielded questions from the reporters who had descended upon him, eager to uncover his feelings about this, his latest accomplishment.

"Mr. Andrassy, how do you feel, now that you are a citizen of the United States?" Julie heard one reporter ask loudly as she grew near.

"Very, very happy," Stephen said. As usual, he was comfortable as the center of attention. Smiling, he turned toward a network reporter who thrust a microphone in his face. His eyes sought Julie over the heads of the crowd, and when he saw her, his face brightened as only Stephen's could.

"And now what? What's next for the Amazing Andrassys?"

"I hope my wife will join our act." He held out his hand, and the knot of people around Stephen shifted so that Julie could reach him to place her hand in his. He drew her close and slid an arm around her shoulders. "This is my wife, Juliana," he said with a proud grin.

"Mrs. Andrassy, is it true that you plan to take your place on the high wire with your husband and cousins?"

"Yes," Julie answered easily.

"When will that be?" the reporter urged, scribbling notes on a lined pad.

There was a long silence, and Stephen waited for her to answer. He did not know what she would say; they had never discussed an actual date for her to begin performing. For one awful moment, he was afraid to hear her answer. But then she spoke, and he was afraid no more.

"When I am ready to touch the stars," Julie said softly as she gazed deep into his eyes, and Stephen, wearing an expression that would be described in the resulting article in
People
as "adoring," dipped his head and kissed her lingeringly on the lips.

The End

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Touch the Stars
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