A/N: I'd like to give a shout out and well wishes to my faithful reviewers Joanne Frances Tiano Cajilig, Engineer 1869, DreadedCandiru2, mike 204, JannaKalderash, and Vallalkozo.
Lola doesn't have a reading problem in this fic. As previously mentioned, some episodes from the first season aren't going to exist. Read Aloud is taking place instead of Dance Dance Resolution.
Bobby and Ronnie Anne stopped eating their burgers then respectfully turned towards Maria to give their undivided attention to whatever she had to say.
"Mija," she began speaking in a serious tone, "I've been thinking for a while now about finding a position at Great Lakes Hospital so we can move closer to my parents. That's why after you left for school on Tuesday I searched for a nursing position on the Great Lakes City website. I found one that pays a little more than what I'm earning now and completed the application then emailed it along with my resume."
Her children were astonished upon hearing her statement
"Are you serious?" Ronnie Anne exclaimed in a low voice while Bobby remained speechless.
"I understand Mami," Bobby responded rather flatly.
"So if I'm called for an interview and they hire me we'll move in with your Abeula and Abuelo," the mother of two continued.
Ronnie Anne frowned in complete disbelief about the sudden news.
"Mami I really don't want to leave Royal Woods," Ronnie Anne protested.
"Ronalda at least you won't be coming into an empty house after school since Abuela will be home to supervise you," Maria pointed out.
Bobby glanced at his almost empty plate deep in thought, "I just made up with Lori, how am I going to manage a long distance relationship."
"Bobby moving to Great Lakes would also be beneficial for you. Your Abuelo could get you a position at the Mercado, you'll at least have a steady job," Maria continued.
A few seconds passed while the Santiago's finished their meal without saying another word.
"Thanks for the burger mami," Bobby said, rising then laid his plate in the kitchen sink before rushing upstairs to dress for his shift at the pizza place, his longest job as of to date.
Maria sat in her bedroom while Ronnie Anne did her evening chore of washing the dishes and turned on her laptop then looked for her email account and clicked on the second email on the first page.
Hello Ms. Santiago
I have reviewed your resume in response for the position as Registered Nurse at Great Lakes City Hospital. Are you available for an interview either by telephone or in person next week at your convenience?
Thank you for applying and I look forward to hearing from you.
(the person's name, title, address, email address and telephone number)
Maria eagerly responded back, scheduling a phone interview at eleven a.m. Monday since her schedule that week was seven pm to seven am. She was taking Wednesday off to attend Bobby's graduation and would attend Ronnie Anne's at three pm on Friday.
Later Ronnie Anne dragged herself into bed after watching some Luche Libra wrestling on TV intending to take a shower tomorrow morning. Laying in bed listening to music on her i-phone Ronnie suddenly smirked a little.
"If Mami gets the job maybe Bobby wouldn't be able to manage to keep a long distance relationship with that clingy blonde," she thought.
That night before going to bed Albert realized there wasn't anything suitable for him to wear at Lori and Lincoln's graduations and thought, "I'll just find something at the mall tomorrow and take Lincoln so he can use his gift card."
Saturday
Lincoln, Lucy, Lola, Lisa and Albert were having a pancake breakfast. In the backyard Lynn was exercising before tackling her chores and Lana just finished feeding her remaining pets and at the moment was cleaning up after Charles, Walt and Geo.
"Kiddos I'm going to the mall to buy a new shirt. Lincoln do you want to come along so you can spend that gift card?" he asked.
A smile flashed across Lincoln's face and he replied, "Sure Pop Pop."
"Lola and Lisa would you like me to drop you at the library?" Lisa asked.
"Sure kiddo," was his response.
Sometime later Lincoln finished his usual chore then washed his hands afterwards. He removed his sweaty polo and donned a cleaner one then placed the gift card inside his wallet.
"See you later Pop-Pop," Lisa and Lola chimed when they arrived at the library.
"I'll drop Lincoln home first after the mall then come and pick you up," Albert said before the girls climbed out of the car.
At the mall Lincoln eagerly made a beeline to the Boys Are Us store with Albert. Lincoln picked out a new pair of jeans for eight dollars, two new shirts, an orange polo, four briefs in the discount bin for a dollar each and some new sneakers. Lincoln spent $45 dollars, exceeding the forty dollar limit on the gift card so he gave the cashier five dollars along with the gift card. Afterwards they walked into Horvath's where Albert bought a new dress shirt and a new pair of dress pants in the clearance aisle of the men's section. They had some hot dogs with relish at the food court before leaving.
When they reached home Lincoln grabbed the bags inside the trunk of the station wagon, slinging them over his left arm then Albert closed the hood and drove off. In the distance, he noticed Lucy sitting on the front porch bench with her nose buried in one of her storybooks. Lincoln pushed open the slightly open door and stepped inside. Stacks of neatly folded clothes laid on the coffee while Luna and Luan were folding clean clothes with an empty laundry basket standing beside the table. Lana was finishing up work on Vanzilla in the garage.
"Hi guys," Lincoln greeted walking towards the master bedroom.
Lunas eyes lit up upon seeing Lincoln holding the shopping bags and commented, "Looks like you made out like a bandit dude."
Lincoln smiled at the rocker girl, "Yeah Pop-Pop also bought a new outfit," he replied.
"Nice," Luan droned.
In the master bedroom, Lincoln put his grandfather's bag on the dresser then left to go upstairs to watch videos on his laptop.
Eventually Albert pulled into a parking spot near the library entrance. He located Lola and Lisa in the children's section sitting together reading and softly tapped Lola then Lisa on their shoulders. Without a word the girls placed their books down and followed their grandfather.
Back home the younger girls except Lucy settled on watching cartoons after Albert made PJB sandwiches for their snack. Later Albert didn't have the inclination to cook dinner so he ordered two pizzas instead. Everyone just relaxed in their bedrooms after dinner. Sunday was a peaceful day for the children with everyone just lazing about. Lincoln and Clyde hung out reading comics in the linen closet turned bedroom.
Albert made a pot roast and boiled rice for dinner with Lori steaming carrots and broccoli.
After dinner suddenly Albert's cell phone rang as he watch another movie with his grandchildren
and became surprised at who the caller was, his daughter Rita.
"Hey dad," Rita almost shrieked into the phone
"Rita," he exclaimed eyes widening, "How are you?"
Instantly his grandkids eagerly surrounded him with them straining to listen to the conversation.
"I'm perfectly fine dad listen I spoke with the superintendent to ask about the possibility of Lynn and I attending Lori and Lincolns graduations and she said they can allow it," his daughter announced.
Rita and Lynn already found the graduation dates by looking on the websites for Royal Woods elementary and high schools.
"But how," Albert wondered and the children exchanged excited glances.
"They'll arrange for a plainclothes officer to accompany us but unfortunately we aren't allowed to speak with Lincoln since we lost custody," Rita said.
"That's a shame, would you like to speak with Lori," Albert responded.
"I'm sorry we have to wait until Wednesday," Rita said regretfully.
"Okay dear I'll see you this week," Albert replied before hanging up.
"Oh my gosh," Leni exclaimed, "I can't believe were going to see mom and dad."
After the movie ended the children prepared their bags for school as usual before bedtime.
Monday June 12 went normally with Albert visiting the senior center with Lily for a couple of hours then afterwards he mailed the photos of Lori and Bobby to Rita and Lynn Sr. The next day Tuesday 13 was the final day of classes for all seniors at Royal Woods High. Currently while other students had to wait until 3:00 pm for the dismissal bell before getting released from the confines of their classrooms, the senior students were sitting quietly in their classrooms either doing a final assignment which wouldn't be graded or the students with a free period during this time were either texting, reading or perusing the Internet on their cell phones. Lori sat in her free period class with her friends Whitney and Dana texting to Bobby.
I can't believe it's almost 12:00 pm Boo Boo Bear. Going with Dana, Carol, and Whitney for a celebratory lunch after clearing my locker. Lori
Three minutes later the bell rang signaling freedom for all the seniors. Happily rushing from their seats and through the door, the seniors unloaded their lockers to be cleaned out by the custodian for the next wave of freshman students coming in September. Whitney who cleared most of her belongings since yesterday helped Lori after removing the rest of her belongings from her locker.
Later at the Royal Woods Mall Lori, Dana, Whitney and Carol sat eating in one of the restaurants not located in the food court.
"Everyone looking forward to graduation?" Dana asked her friends before taking a bite of her grilled chicken sandwich.
"Definitely," Whitney replied with enthusiasm.
"So Carol have you finished your graduation speech," Lori asked.
"Yes I also have most of it memorized," Carol replied.
Upon the completion of their meal the friends headed for the malls entrance and passed a store that was previously a coffee shop that closed six months ago. At the moment new construction for a new Smoothie Queen was completed on the inside and Lori saw a 'hiring now' sign displayed on the glass and suddenly realized she needed another job to help with the household expenses.
Lori slowed her pace then addressed her friends, "Could you go on without me I have some business to attend to."
"Okay sure," Carol replied casually
"Okay see you tomorrow at school," Whitney said.
"See you tomorrow," Lori replied.
Once Lori's friends departed, she walked back to the new store and entered and noticed a guy in his early twenties leaving his completed application form on the counter. Finding a table with application forms Lori grabbed one then situated herself at one of the tables. She fished inside her backpack and found a blue pen and began filling out the form then placed the completed form on the counter. Afterwards she merely lingered inside the mall browsing through the racks in Reiningers and a couple of other stores.
On a whim Lori thought, "I could buy Lincoln a graduation gift." She eventually settled on buying a wallet then bought him a birthday card.
