Lives of the Circus Animals Read Online Free Page A

family, but Yankee, not southern. Jessie’s love of theater was matched by her smarts, but she’d not yet found a vocation there. She tried different things—acting, writing, managing—a jill-of-all-trades. Right now she was personal assistant to Henry Lewse, the British actor, during his stay in New York.
    â€œI don’t care if Caleb sees this,” said Frank. “I’m thrilled you came. Look, there’s a cast party for the kids and I have to hang out. But then we can go grab something to eat and, uh, talk.”
    She made a face, an overdone look of sorrow and guilt. “I’m sorry, Frank. I know I said we could get together tonight. But I can’t. I need to take care of something for Henry.”
    â€œIt’s almost nine o’clock. You on call twenty-four hours?”
    â€œIt’s an emergency. I’m sorry. He’s my job.”
    Frank was surprised at how angry he felt, angry and hurt.
    â€œI’m meeting him uptown after his show,” she explained. “I don’t know how long it’ll take. But it can’t take too long. Hey. We could meet at Mona Lisa later. About eleven?”
    â€œI remember the last time we did that. You never showed.”
    â€œThat wasn’t my fault. Henry needed to talk. I couldn’t abandon him. Come on, Frank. I apologized for that already. Oh, all right,” she conceded. “What if I come out to Hoboken when I finish with Henry?”
    Which meant spending the night, which was what Frank had wanted all along. Except he hated the idea of making love to Jessie when her head was full of Henry Lewse.
    â€œNo,” he said. “It’ll be too late. We better not. I have an early rehearsal of Dwight and Allegra’s play tomorrow anyway.”
    She studied him, timidly, skeptically. “You weren’t going to ask me to spend the night?”
    â€œI don’t know. Maybe. If it wasn’t too late.” Of course he’d planned to ask her, but he couldn’t now.
    She frowned. “Jesus, Frank. Don’t be this way. You don’t have to be jealous about Henry. He’s strictly business.”
    â€œI’m not jealous. Why should I be jealous?”
    â€œHe’s gay,” said Jessie.
    â€œI know that.” He also knew that Lewse was fifty-plus, but this was more complicated than sex or bodies. “I’m not jealous,” he repeated. “I assume he barely ever notices you.”
    Jessie glared at him. “Oh no. He notices me. Believe me. He’s helpless without me. He can do art, but he can’t do life.”
    They said nothing for a moment, neither wanting to admit how angry they were.
    â€œHow about tomorrow afternoon?” she said.
    â€œI told you. We’re rehearsing this other show tomorrow. It opens next week.” He feared he was being silly now and decided not to punish her further. “What about Sunday?”
    â€œSorry. Caleb and I are going to see our mom on Sunday.” She curled her upper lip and rolled her eyes.
    He rolled his eyes in sympathy. Mothers, they seemed to tell each other, and made their peace.
    â€œBut see ?” she said. “It’s not just my life that’s full. Yours is too. We’ll talk during the week. You’re coming with me to Caleb’s birthday on Friday, right?”
    â€œI guess.” He’d agreed to go but dreaded it. The party would be full of successful actors.
    â€œBut we’ll talk before then,” said Jessie. “Good night.” She kissed his cheek again. “It was great, Frank. Really. You should direct more.”
    â€œI’m directing Dwight and Allegra’s show.”
    â€œNo, I mean big-time. For real.”
    â€œIt’s not like I’m turning down offers.”
    â€œBut you’re not pursuing them either.”
    He took a deep breath. He did not want to get into this discussion tonight.
    Just then a tall man like a stooping