Chapter 40
Bobby speaks with Lori further about moving to Great Lakes with his sister and mother and Lincoln reveals everything to the red haired trio. Enjoy reading and review.
Sara and Gran Amy continued talking as Lucas snored softly while Sara sat on her side of the bed.
"After I visited them, I called Lynn yesterday to check on him. He told me he's now working the evening shift in the kitchen and that Rita is doing fine," Amy admitted as Sara removed a white post-it notepad and black pen from her nightstand.
"Amy, Lucas and I were thinking of visiting them soon, do you remember the visiting hours of the place they're at?" Sara asked.
While Amy relayed the information Sara jotted everything on the pad afterward Amy gave her the address and phone number.
"Have you heard from Shirley lately about when she and Ethan plan on taking Luan, Lisa, the twins and Junior to live with them?" was Sara's next question.
"Yes Shirley called and told me she's decided to take her usual one month vacation leave in August instead of July this year and stay with the kids for two weeks to help them get ready," Amy replied.
"It's getting late, speak with you another time Amy," Sara ended the call.
"Say hello to the kids, good night Sara," Amy replied before hanging up.
Lucas roused from his well-deserved shuteye as Sara departed from the master bedroom leaving the door slightly ajar. Peeking inside the youngest child's bedroom Sara saw the six year old boy sleeping contentedly then exited the room to get a blanket from a linen closet in the upstairs hallway to cover him.
After donning a pair of light blue pajamas amongst the items he left in his drawer Lucas crawled back into bed while Sara went downstairs to retrieve a nightgown from her suitcase.
"I have to remember to pick up the mail from Mrs. Ross tomorrow," she thought while rummaging through the suitcase.
Sunday
Maria Santiago had the day off from work today. Sitting around the kitchen table enjoying the pancakes and bacon breakfast she prepared, Maria asked Bobby and Ronnie Anne if they could accompany her to Arrow to purchase laundry detergent and some plastic containers when packing items such as Ronnie Anne's video games and skateboard, personal care items and everybody's shoes, etc. for their permanent move to Great Lakes City.
"Bobby, I also need a new suitcase, you and Ronnie Anne can use your old ones," Maria said.
Bobby suggested driving them in his minivan because they were buying large items and Maria said okay. Maria departed after saying what time she wanted to leave, soon Bobby finished eating his last pancake and headed upstairs to call Lori.
Currently the Loud kids and Albert were eating breakfast. Yesterday prior to dropping Luna at her babysitting job, Lori announced during dinner she received her paycheck covering the paid training with no taxes removed. Albert congratulated Lori then advised her to open a bank account and deposit the check to start with. Albert asked if her parents ever taught them money management to which Lori responded "No." Yesterday Lori managed to speak briefly with Stacey during the hour long lunch break about getting Friday off next week and Stacey consented.
"Next week, I'm getting Friday off," Lori announced next.
"All right, I will take you to the bank and help you set up an account on Friday," Albert said.
Lori finished her waffles and coffee then addressed Luna, "Luna could you help with me with laundry when I come back?"
Luna, her mouth full of food, responded by raising her right thumb to indicate yes.
In her bedroom, Lori started reading her texts and found the text Bobby wrote.
Babe, Mom asked me and Ronnie Anne to go shopping with her a few minutes. I don't know how long we'll be away so can you come over at four this afternoon? Love Bobby.
Lori fired off a text saying she'll arrive at four pm and if it was okay if Lincoln came along. Seeing no other recent texts Lori turned off her phone. Walking out of her bedroom to start the laundry she spotted Lincoln as he was entering his room. She attracted his attention by calling, "Lincoln Bobby texted me to say I should come over at four so be ready."
"Okay," Lincoln replied before disappearing inside his room, made his bed then then settled down to play a new Muscle Fish video game. Later Albert took the younger kids to the park after they spent two hours watching Sunday cartoons on TV.
Eventually, it was almost time for Lori and Lincoln's visit to Bobby and Ronnie Anne. Wearing a blue polo instead of her tank top with her khaki shorts Lori knocked on her brother's door as the boy brushed his white hair.
Lincoln automatically figured it was her so he responded by yelling, "I'm coming now," and placed the brush on the dresser.
While passing the others watching TV Lori said, "We'll be right back."
Eventually they arrived at the Santiago residence and noticed Ronnie sitting on the front porch.
When they reached the steps, Ronnie Anne emitted a pleasant, "Hey Linc," then addressed Lori in a nonchalant manner, "Hi Lori."
"Hi Ronnie Anne," they addressed her simultaneously.
"Bobby's on the couch waiting for you," the tomboy explained standing up.
Inside, true to form the Loud siblings noticed Bobby on the couch looking over his texts. Instinctively he glanced up from his device when Ronnie announced softly, "They're here."
Bobby who turned eighteen in February placed his phone on the coffee table, approached the Louds with a smile, first addressing Lincoln with the greeting he reserved for the 12 year old.
"Hey little Loud," he greeted cheerfully.
"Hey Bobby," Lincoln replied beaming and the two males fist bumped each other.
Lori embraced her boyfriend afterwards, then he gave her a peck on her right cheek causing Ronnie Anne standing behind the couple to roll her eyes.
"Mom's upstairs taking a snooze, she's taking me and Ronnie Anne to dinner at the Puerto Rican restaurant for dinner at five thirty," Roberto explained.
"That's nice," Lori replied in all honesty.
"Let's sit down and talk," Bobby said solemnly.
Lori sat on Bobby's right side on the couch while Lincoln plopped into the armchair opposite the couch with Ronnie Anne taking a seat on the ottoman beside the armchair.
'When Mami told us she applied for the position, I decided to wait for an interview then if she got hired, tell you but leave the matter alone if she didn't get the job," Bobby explained.
"Are you really looking forward to moving Bobby?" Lori asked somewhat meekly.
Bobby mulled over the question for a second before giving a reply.
"I am Lori, besides there's the opportunity for me to work in my grandfather's Mercado instead of having to work different jobs, I hope you understand what I mean," Bobby said.
"I guess that makes sense," Lori uttered then some moments of awkward pause passed between the couple.
'How is your job going at Smoothie Queen?" Bobby asked.
"I absolutely enjoy working there," Lori responded, "I'm not working Friday next week, we could go somewhere."
"That's great, how about we have dinner at Aloha Comrade next Friday at five pm?" Bobby asked with Lori saying okay.
"Well its soon dinnertime, see you Friday Bobby," Lori said.
The Santiago siblings followed their visitors to the door. Bobby closed the door behind them and he and Ronnie Anne went upstairs.
Lori and Lincoln remained silent as Lori drove towards home. After a while Lori turned Vanzilla in the opposite direction and explained she was buying a gallon of chocolate ice cream for dessert tonight since they haven't any dessert for six days.
In the supermarket parking lot, Lincoln told Lori he'd remain in Vanzilla. After dinner Albert tucked Lily into bed while the other siblings spent the remainder of the evening watching King of the Rings Two on DVD before going to bed.
Monday
Lori woke up at the time she usually does in the morning. Today was the official opening of the new Smoothie Queen with a DJ playing music as entertainment. Albert dropped Luan at the senior center. At home everyone else lazed around, Lincoln and his friends played a tournament on their laptops which lasted until an hour before their meeting at the park.
Lincoln sat quietly on a park bench at Ketcham Park listening to some birds chirping melodiously as his three friends Liam, Rusty and Zach arrived together. Lola was spending the day at her friend Roxanne and the other sisters were just idling the time away at home.
'We're here," Liam called out to alert his white haired friend. Lincoln turned in the direction of his voice.
"Thanks for meeting me here guys, there's something I've wanted to tell you for a long time,' Lincoln started once they stood before him.
The redheads looked intently at their friend, then a sudden thought entered Liam's mind which made him gasp.
'Your family is moving out of Royal Woods!" he asked wide eyed.
'No, remember when I stayed home from school for three days," he began.
Lincoln released a heavy sigh before continuing, "The reason was because my sisters and I had to attend the trial of my parents because they were arrested for child abuse and neglect."
Not surprisingly, the trio were taken aback, Rusty gasped while the other two boys eyes widened in shock.
"In a nutshell, some neighbors testified against us. One mentioned seeing Lily sitting on the driveway wearing only her diaper, some mentioned Lana eating from garbage bins and my parents sitting in Vanzilla when it broke down while me and my sisters pushed it down the road, and other things," Lincoln explained discreetly omitting the squirrel suit incident and Lynn threatening him with her bat.
"They lost custody of us except Lori, Leni, and Luna. Clyde's dads have taken legal guardianship of me and Lucy and my Aunt Shirley is taking my other sisters," Lincoln explained.
The friends continued listening to Lincoln speak in disbelief at the words coming from his mouth.
"I'm sorry pal," Liam uttered regretfully.
"Me too," Zach and Rusty said together
"How will you explain your parents not being there on parent teacher night or why you're not having birthday parties?" Rusty asked.
"That's easy, I'll explain they cannot afford to raise eleven kids anymore because of financial difficulties and Clyde's dads offered to take me and Lucy and my other sisters are living with an Aunt," Lincoln said.
An uneasy interlude passed until Lincoln spoke, "Well that's it, how about we hang at Gus tomorrow."
'Okay." Liam said in agreement while Zach and Rusty nodded.
The friends made their departure, leaving Lincoln all alone feeling relief over them finally knowing the truth about the family.
A/N: I'd like to thank everyone who has reviewed and favorited this story from the first chapter.