Chapter Eleven-For the Love of the Robas......
"We should really call Espa...." Nora looked over at her old friend Carlton.
"He's got to be worried sick about his brother..." The two carnival managers were preparing for a long afternoon of customers and performances. "And who is that girl? She is definitely not his sister...."
"I think I heard him say she was his girlfriend...." Carlton smiled down at Nora now.
"What?"
"Nora, do you know the back story on Marcia and Julius Roba?" Carlton asked now, as he settled on top of his desk with a bag of cotton candy.
"Not that I remember if I did. It's been too long. "She looked up at him curiously, her lavender eyes round in curiosity as she twirled her raven hair around a finger. "I do remember that Espa was starting to like me....."
"Please. Espa didn't like you. He liked Helene. But that cheeky wench never even knew." Carlton smiled in amusement. "Espa thought you were a pretty good friend though." He shook his head. "Anyway......it's said that Marcia Roba met Julius right here at this very carnival when she was a little younger than Madison."
"Really? Awesome........" Nora pulled up a stool, and continued to sort tickets. "What happened?"
"Well, they fell in love a month later, and Marcia moved here. Father raised her, after her parents gave up the rights to her. Julius was the only person who could really get through to her. When Julius turned eighteen, he asked Marcia to marry him. Shortly after that, she had Espa."
"Wow.......That's so romantic. I'd leave my family for a guy any day." Nora smiled dreamily. "Do you think that's what Espa's brother and this girl are doing?"
"I don't think so. I think they're looking for answers. He has to be the middle brother, Christien though. Jonathan and Espa were about the same height."
"What answers?" Nora wanted to know. However, there was a knock on Carlton's door before he could reply.
"Come in." Carlton called. He smiled when Christien and his girlfriend walked. "Is everything alright?"
"Well, yeah....but we were wondering if we could work a little bit..."
"Oh! Of course you can,Tommy. Let's see what we've got available..." Carlton walked over to his booking notes. "Hmm.....Do either of you take gymnastics?"
"I used to......" Christien's girlfriend replied. "But it was a very long time ago."
"I'm pretty athletic,so I could probably learn something..." Christien spoke up.
"Alright then. How would you two like to be our aeral acrobats on the trapeze?
"Well......" Christien began, looking at Victoria worriedly. "She's got a bit of a....."
"Sure we'd love it!!" Victoria interrupted him. She smiled reassuringly. "Come on,Tommy. It'll be great!"
Christien gave her a warning look. He knew her well enough to know when a potential problem with her visions was inevitable. "Are you sure?" He asked her carefully.
"Yeah......." Victoria replied,determined to prove to herself that her fear of heights was self-induced.
"Well,then! Let's take you over to the tent for a couple of run throughs, alright?" Nora spoke up now. She'd sensed the tension between Christien and his girlfriend.
"Right." Christien muttered,as he took Tori's hand in his. What kind of game is she trying to play? She knows she's terrified of heights! "Can I have a moment alone with my sister, Carlton?"
"Of course...." Carlton walked on ahead out of the trailer,pulling Nora behind him.
"Are you mad?!" Christien asked the minute the door closed. "You know you're afraid of heights!"
"Look,"Tommy". I'm afraid of heights, but I trust you. More over,I trust myself to know what I can,and cannot overcome." Victoria spat back. "I'm doing this for you,Christien."
"You always say that to me......and to my brothers. "I'm doing this for you." Why don't you ever do anything for you? If you don't want to do this......" Christien was stopped short by a vision. "Oh my.........." His eyes widened, as he stepped back. "Victoria........t-they met here......"
"They?" Victoria took his hand. "You mean your parents, don't you?"
"Yeah......." Christien came back to the present. "They were like us,Tori. Their parents didn't approve of their devotion to each other so young. Doesn't that sound like Espa and Marik?"
She giggled now. "Oh yeah........" She let him pull her close to him. "I'd do anything to help you. The high trapese included."
"Oh Tori......." Christien smiled,holding her close. "You're the loyalist friend I've ever had....we...ever had. My brothers and me...." He rubbed her back. "I'm sorry I got you in the middle of this...."
"Don't be....I would've followed you anywhere. Now,let's go to work,Christien. Eventually, we'll tell Carlton the truth,right?"
"Right." Slowly, the couple left the trailer to begin their first lessons in acrobatics.