One Day at a Time - (Season One)

Chapter Six: Confrontation

Marty wanted to get everything downstairs in one trip.

Adrenaline was still coursing through her veins after that... concerning phone call from Nick. Sometimes, it really felt like paranoia was catching, but she'd been feeling it even before talking to Nick.

She unfolded her grocery utility cart from the hallway closet and threw the two heavier duffels in before balancing the box of canned and dried goods on top of it, she placed the toiletry bag on top of that before pulling on her saddle bag and throwing Lukas' duffle bag over her shoulder so that she would carry it out. Lukas himself was now sporting his school backpack stuffed with more of his toys, the portable DVD player and Marty's small laptop with its solar-powered charger, her kindle, and a handful of Lukas' favorite movies.

She had debated it, but Marty had decided to bring their wheelable cooler too. She was not a fan of wasting food, and there were a number of items in her fridge that could survive without refrigeration overnight. Of course, she had packed it with ice and cold compresses before carefully packing frozen food—mostly meat and some premade meals—and packing some vegetables on top. She used bungee cords to tie another box full of dry food, water, gatorade, and all of Lukas's boxed juice on top of the cooler.

"Lukas." she started seriously, the tone made her six-year-old brother look up at her with worry. After all, she usually only spoke that way when something unpleasant was going to happen.

"Yeah?"

"When we get to the car, I want you to go in right away and not come out. I'll put everything in the trunk. Understand?"

Lukas nodded hesitantly, "Okay, Marty."

Marty took a fortifying breath before unlocking the door and pushing the cart out into the hallway. In a quiet voice, she instructed her brother, "Hold onto the cart, Lukas." before pulling the cooler out into the hallway and locking the door behind her.

Nana Peyton smiled at them as she passed by towards her apartment, arms full of groceries, "Goin' camping?"

"Yup!" Lukas chirruped "We're goin' with Nicky!"

"Oh!" Nana Peyton's eyes lit up, "Your young man is taking you all out of the city! How wonderful." she gushed.

Marty sent her a tired smile, "Yeah, we- we're going to get out of city before the riots get worse."

The older woman paused, gently placing her bags on the floor in front of her apartment, "I see, you're taking off work Marty?"

"Closed." she explained, "They are all going to be closed tomorrow."

A worried look fluttered over Nana Peyton's face, "I see."

"You should call your nephews." Marty blurted out. Nana Peyton never had kids, not because she and her late husband hadn't wanted to, but because it had just never 'been in the cards' for them, but that didn't mean that she was alone in the world. She had practically raised her nephews, the three men adored the old woman. They needed to know, and they all needed to get out of L.A. "Nana, you should really call them and get out of the city."

Nana Peyton eyed her seriously, taking in Marty's tense form and the way she wouldn't let Lukas stray from her, "Is something- should I be worried, Marty?"

"I hope it's nothing." Marty replied nervously as Lukas leaned his body against her, "But, you know how it is, it's better to be safe than sorry."

The woman nodded, looking a little pale as she unlocked her apartment door, "You're right, dear, I'll start calling the boys now. You guys heading for the campgrounds we went to last summer?"