The War of the Roses: The Children by Warren Adler Page B

you.”
    â€œI don’t understand, Angela,” he cried, raising his voice.
    â€œHe’ll take my children. You don’t know him. He will.”
    Josh was dumbfounded. He searched his mind for some appropriate answer.
    â€œWe seem to have competing agendas, Angela,” he whispered, hanging up. It seemed a stern and officious statement. He felt trapped, unable to think straight. Again he lay down on his couch. The hours slid by. He felt enervated. There were fewer telephone calls. Still he could not find the energy to answer them.
    After agonizing away most of the day, he called the one person in the world that would never be judgmental, the one person who loved him without reservation.
    â€œI’m in trouble, baby,” he said.
    There was a sudden gasp.
    â€œAn accident, Josh? Are the kids okay? Victoria?”
    â€œNothing like that, Evie. It’s me.”
    â€œI’m here, darling.”
    â€œI need you, Evie.”
    â€œCome to supper. I’ll make you a wonderful meal.”
    â€œDon’t bother, Evie. Please.”
    â€œFor my dearest most wonderful brother, why not?”
    Then he called Victoria’s cell phone. It didn’t answer, which was strange. He called the house and left a message on the answering machine that he was having dinner at his sister’s home.

Chapter 5
    Mr. Tatum called and informed Victoria that the dispute was over, that the Crespos had surrendered their position. The news should have been received with joy and relief. Instead, she felt uncomfortable, the perpetrator of a deception.
    The call roused her to action. She knew what she had to do. Most people would think it foolhardy. And if it resulted in bad consequences for Michael, Josh would be furious. But her instincts told her that Mr. Tatum would welcome honesty and understand her motives. He might be a bit stiff and priggish about some things, but she felt certain that he knew the psychology of students of that age and would be fully aware of the principles she was trying to instill in the rearing of her son.
    She called Mr. Tatum’s office for an appointment and he had quickly obliged. As she drove, she turned off her cell phone. She did not want to tell Josh what she had in mind or where she was going. She would tell him only after the fact.
    When she arrived, Mr. Tatum stood up to greet her, then sat down at his desk. He moved quickly through the small talk of welcome, made his trademark finger cathedral, fixed his eyes on her face, and waited for her explanation.
    â€œI’m sorry to disturb you today, Mr. Tatum, but there is something you must know about the….” She had decided not to mention the Milky Ways. Mention of the objects was too trivializing. Besides, the issue was truth and candor here. The confection itself, in this context, was an absurdity. Instead, she said, “the incident with the Crespos.”
    â€œI thought I made that clear. It’s a thing of the past.” Mr. Tatum smiled. Victoria had the sensation that she was being studied with an intensity she had not sensed before.
    â€œNot to me,” Victoria said. “I would like to call Michael in here and let him speak his piece.”
    â€œReally, Mrs. Rose, that is not necessary.”
    â€œIt is to me. And please don’t tell him that the matter has been closed.”
    â€œVery well,” Mr. Tatum said. He pressed a button on the console on his desk and asked that Michael Rose be brought to his office. Then he swiveled back on his chair and continued to study Victoria with penetrating eye contact.
    â€œIf it means that much to you, Mrs. Rose, then I certainly would like to oblige,” Mr. Tatum said. “We educators must work in tandem with parents. Nothing happens in isolation.”
    Michael arrived, flushed and nervous. Victoria brushed his hair back and kissed him on the cheek.
    â€œNo problem, sweetheart,” Victoria said. “I just thought it would