Chapter Three-Emergency Exit

The next afternoon after rehearsal, Victoria offered to go and baby sit while Jon and Christien worked a little longer at the theater. She arrived just as Espa was leaving. "Sorry I'm running a little late. They held us over."

"It's all right...." The eldest Roba still looked frazzled from the night before. "If the phone rings, don't answer it. It might be her again."

"Yes, Espa." The young Ishtar nodded. "How are Andrew and EJ today?" "Andrew's got a little cold developing, so I'm trying to keep them apart as much as possible. If his temperature gets any higher than it is now, call me at work."

"I can take him to the doctor, Espa. I have all his records and everything, remember?"

"I know, but I'd rather you didn't have to go through all that. Anyway, I hope your day is a little better than it was yesterday." He smiled kindly at her now. "Listen.....don't let our problems worry you too much. I know how much you worry about us. It's not really a big deal."

"Espa, I don't worry because I have to, I worry because I care about you guys, you know? I may be going out with Christien, but I care for all of you Robas a lot. "

"So I heard..." He touched her shoulder now. "Just stay out of this one, okay? Promise me."

Victoria knew she couldn't promise, but she did it anyway. "I promise, Espa. I won't meddle." But I really wish you'd all tell me what's going on, and why she left to begin with!

"Alright then. I should be home around eight o'clock. Do you know when Christien and Jonathan are expected to be back?"

"Well, Jonathan's over at the Kaibas' for the night he said, but Christien's going to be home in a few hours. We were going to take them to the zoo, but if Andrew's sick..."

"Tell Christien to order in some pizzas on me."

"I will. You'd better go, or you'll miss your bus, Espa." Tori smiled gently at him. "I got everything under control here." Espa nodded, then left, heading for the bus stop. Victoria turned and went into the house. She locked the front door, and walked into the living room. "Hey, Ej."

"Towia!" Ej ran into her arms. "Andsy sicks again."

"I heard." She picked him up. "Have you had your snack yet?"

"I wants grahams..." Ej told her. "Pwease?"

"Sure." She carried him into the kitchen, and set him in his booster seat. After handing him his grahams, she went into Andy's room to check on the poor boy. "Hey,Andy..how are you feeling?"

"Where's my brothers?" Andy replied with a pout.

"I'm sorry, Andy. They all had to go to work. I'll stay with you though, okay?"

"I wants Espa!!" He threw a toy at her. Luckily, it was a plush cat.

"Andrew! That's not called for." Victoria reprimanded, only to get hit with another plush animal. "That's it. I'm calling Espa." She stalked out to the hall phone, and picked it up. She put the phone to her ear, and was greeted with Marcia Roba's voice.

"Hello? Who is this?"

"This is Victoria, who is this?"

"This is Marcia Roba. What are you doing in my son's house?"

"I'm...I'm his nanny.." Victoria felt her hair stand up on her neck. Something felt strange with this woman. "He's not home right now..."

"I see..." There was a long pause, then: "How long have you known my sons? Are they doing all right?"

"Of course they are. They'd be doing a hell of a lot better if their mother hadn't abandoned them!" Victoria found the strength to voice her thoughts.

"Watch it, Vicki. I had my reasons. And if he can afford a nanny, Espa's doing a hell o f a lot better than I thought."

"It's Victoria. And what do you mean by that?"

"None of your business, Child. I want to talk to Andrew."

"He's not feeling well, and I was told not to let them talk to you." Victoria replied, her hands shaking. Why was she talking to this woman? What would that help? "I have to go now." "I'm coming over." There was a click, and then the dial tone. Victoria slammed the receiver down.

"Andy, come here, quickl y!" The five-year-old did as he was told. "We have to leave."

"But I sick..." Andrew was sucking his thumb. This was a known sign that he was definitely sick. "What wrong, Tori?"

"We just have to leave the house." Victoria led him into his room again. "Go and put something warm on. Hurry." She ran out into the kitchen. Ej was making his usual mess. "Oh Ej....." She shook her head, and pulled him out of a pile of sugar. "Come on, Ej. We're going over to Rex's." It occurred to her that she definitely needed to call Marik and then Christien. Since Ej wasn't going to get any less messy over at Rex's, she left him in what he has on. "Let's go find your wagon, okay?" She let him loose in the backyard to do that, while she paged Christien, who was borrowing Espa's p ager for the day. "Come on, Chris..." She paced with the phone in her hands, jumping when it rang. "Robas' residence."

"Tori? What's the matter?" Christien asked. He sounded like he was at a party.

"We've a big problem. Meet me at Rex Raptor's house in thirty minutes. I'm calling a cab."

"Slow down. What happened?" Christien asked softly. He'd never heard Victoria so frazzled.

"Your mom called back. I didn't mean to answer the phone,but I picked up because Andy wante d to talk to Espa. And when I went to dial, she was on the line. Your ringer must've been turned off."

"Oh...well, Jon and I will meet you at Rex's. Don't forget to leave a note for Espa." He hung up, and looked around for his brother. "Jon!" He found him in the costume room, getting fitted. "You're going to have to do this later. Victoria's had an emergency, and we need to get to Rex's immediately."

"Uh oh." He climbed out of the leather pants, and nodded. "Let's go." The two Robas hopped on their bikes outside the theate r, and headed over to Rex's.

At the same time, Tori lifted Andy and Ej into their wagon, which she'd harnessed to the back of her moped. "Hold on guys."

"We wills!" Ej thought this was a great game they were playing. Andy was coughing horribly.

"Don't wanna go..." The five-year-old whined.

"We have to,Ands. Come on." Victoria kicked her moped on, and they took off, also heading for Rex's. I'll have to call Espa when we get there. There's no telling how much time we would've had before Marcia Roba got there.