Chapter Five-The Meeting

Marcia Roba wasn't a particularly pretty woman. She had long, sea foam colored hair, and the same brown eyes as her sons. She wore gypsy style clothing, and lots of necklaces. When she'd finally gotten a hold of her eldest son Espa, she felt relieved to know that all five of her sons were alive and well, and that they'd made lives for themselves without their parents. However, she hadn't counted on the cold reception Espa had given her. When she finally convinced him to let her come and talk to him, he informed her it would not be for more than thirty minutes and that only her three eldest sons would be present. He'd also warned her to tread cautiously with her words, and intentions. He wasn't willing to let them get hurt again.

Now she stood outside the address he had provided, gaping. The house was simply huge. This isn 't the house I was at yesterday.....whoa! It seemed to her she was standing outside a mansion! Had Espa somehow won the lottery? She glanced at her watch, and saw that it was nine o'clock on the dot. She got out, and locked her door, before heading up the walk to knock on the door.

Christien was pacing with Victoria at his side. At his request, Espa had agreed to let the girl be present when the woman that was his mother came over. "What if she hates us?"

"I doubt it. No mother could ever hate their child." Victoria told him. "Sit down. You're driving me crazy!"

"Sorry." Chris sat. "I don't know how this is going to go....I asked Espa he'd had any foresight, and he said no. But I think he's hiding something. Jon too."

"Why didn't you just try reading them then?" Victoria wanted to know. To her, their use of their psychic gifts on a regular basis was old news, and she figured this would've been one of those times when Christien would break the set Roba rules about using them on each other.

"Because it's against the rules." Christien informed her, as he often did. "Anyway...I've got my own sensors on high alert."

Victoria smiled, and hugged him. "I'm sure everything will be fine." She told him, as a knock came on the door.

"Well, we're about to find out." Christien said softly. There was a pit in his stomach. He was only a little comforted when Victoria took his hand in hers. "Let's go..." He led the way into the living room, and the young couple sat down on the couch beside Jonathan.

"You okay, Little Brother?" Jonathan asked softly. He looked a little shaken himself. He was actually a little jealous that his own girlfriend,Nikki, hadn't been able to come over to support him like Victoria did.

"I'll be all right." Christien replied just as softly. Espa came into the room now with whom he gathered was his mother. He squeezed Victoria's hand tightly now,his eyes bright with curiosity.

Marcia sat down in the chair across from the couch, while Espa kept standing. "Hi guys..." She watched her two younger son's faces change from awe to disbelief, then anger.

"What are you doing here?" Jonathan demanded after a minute. "You left us alone for five years and expect to be allowed to come back without hesitation?! Is that it?"

"Jon....." Christien shifted a little. He was a little upset too, of course, but he thought his elder brothers at least owed it to her to explain her actions.

"I came back so I could see you...." Marcia replied softly. "I.....was sick, Jon. Mentally, you know? If I hadn't left, they would've taken all of you away, and then you would've never been together again."

"That's the lousiest excuse I ever heard!! Plenty of parents have raised their children when they were mentally sick! It's called getting help! Where have you been all these years?!" Jonathan about screamed. "Do you have any idea how you've hurt us?!"

"I'm sure it was lot more than I intended..." Marcia began, but then she stopped. "I'm really sorry...."

"Where were you all this time, "Mom"?" Espa asked now. He spoke with a quiet anger that reminded the woman of her late husband the day Lyle had thrown them out of the carnival.

"I was living in LA with some friends. See, here,I wouldn't have been able to afford the help, so I went to visit your great uncle Benjamin. He's psychiatrist. It was only after I was completely better that I remembered you. Then......." She stopped, sighing. "I got married."

"Married?!" Christien, Jon and Espa exclaimed in unison.

"What do you mean, married?!" Espa demanded. "You had five children on their own, one of which had to quit school to raise the other four, and you went off and got married?! How can you even dare to be in this house!! Get out!"

"Espa, wait! It's not what you think!" Marcia stood up now, moving to put a hand on her son's shoulder, but he slapped it away.

"Get out of my house, right now!"

Christien was shaking. "Espa, no! Let her explain, please!!"

Victoria held him comfortingly, tears in her own eyes as well.

Marcia looked from Espa, who'd gotten really quiet, to her middle son,Christien. "It's all right, Christien. I'll call later when everything's calmed down. I can see this was a mistake to come here." She gave Espa a glare, before walking herself out.

"How could you not let her explain?!" Christien jumped up now, glaring at Espa. "Maybe this guy she married was going to help us!!"

"Christien, please." Espa replied even quieter. "Just....leave me for a time, all righ t?"

"Oh I'll leave all righ t !" Christien huffed running upstairs.

Victoria watched him go, then stood up. "I think I'll go home now...."

"That's probably a good idea..." Jon replied in a subdued voice.

"Let Christien know he can call me any time he wants. I'll just let the Ishtars know the phone might ring at any time tonight." Victoria sighed, shaking her head. "Do you need me tomorrow, Espa?"

"Possibly. I have one of them call you." The eldest Roba was pacing in the dining room area. "Thanks for everything you're doing, Victoria. It's been a tremendous help."

"Anything for the Robas." Victoria replied, and left without another word.

Up in his room, Christien was packing his Egypt bag with supplies. He would show Espa. He'd run away to his and Victoria's favorite spot. Espa didn't know where the Egpyt Lot was. That was a secret he wasn't willing to give up. After a minute, he climbed down his hand-made rope ladder, and ran off into the night.