Chapter 46
The remaining sisters watched Albert's station wagon travelling down the street until it became a tiny speck in the distance. Reluctantly the sisters turned around to go back inside with Lori ahead of everyone but as they walked it seemed every step was laborious. They entered the house with Lana trailing behind them and the older twin glumly closed the front door. Everyone just flopped themselves onto the couch unable to say a word then suddenly…
'Who's up for a mini marathon of Dream Boat," Lori asked cheerfully in an attempt to lift everyone's spirits but nobody felt like watching any television.
Suddenly the heavy atmosphere that filled the living room was lifted by the ringing of the telephone near the staircase which Leni rushed over to answer.
"Aunt Sara," the teenage girl thought with curiosity as she peeked at the name on the caller ID then turned to the others, "Guys its Aunt Sara," before Leni grabbed the receiver and immediately a throng of siblings crowded around her.
'Hello Auntie Sara," Leni greeted with the cheeriest tone she could gather.
'Hello Leni could I speak with Albert," Aunt Sara greeted in response causing everyone's dejected mood to deepen a little.
"Pop-Pop just left with Lincoln and Lucy to drop them off at the McBride's," Leni replied.
"I just wanted to tell him Aunt Shirley called me this afternoon and said she received a call from the lady who's taking Lily and asked if Shirley could take Lily instead because her husband's job is being relocated to Great Lakes," Sara continued.
'Yes when Mrs. Ventura called Pop-Pop today we heard everything,' Leni replied.
Leni had taken the opportunity to text Lori during the older sister's lunch break about the news Albert received from Melody.
"Shirley replied she wasn't sure about taking Lily because she and Ethan only have two bedrooms for the girls and that would mean squeezing four girls into one bedroom and Lily sharing with Luan and Lynn isn't an option. Shirley told me she'd have to consult Ethan about it," Sara continued followed by a pause filled with anticipation about what she was going to reveal next.
"Your uncle and I actually discussed taking Lily before returning from Seattle so we decided to take her," Sara said causing the twins to exchange puzzled glances.
'That means Lily can visit the twins, Lisa, Lynn and Luan," Leni responded gleefully.
"Not exactly, your uncle and I decided on moving to Royal Woods months ago so we drove over to look at houses and purchased one in the Royal Springs area," Aunt Sara announced excitedly.
The sisters glanced at each other in wide eyed astonishment then Luna whispered, "WHAT."
"That's totes wonderful," Leni squealed enthusiastically.
Then Lori gently took the receiver from Leni's hand and asked curiously, "So what made you and Uncle Lucas decide to take Lily?"
'We thought since Lauren is leaving in September to attend college out of state it would be nice to have another child running around," Sara explained, 'It has been nice speaking with you and Leni, tell your sisters to take care of themselves and keep your chins up," Sara continued.
"I will Aunt Sara, tell Uncle Lucas, Lauren and the rest of our cousins' hello," Lori replied.
"I will goodbye dear," Sara ended the conversation.
Everyone just stayed rooted to the spot until Lori felt herself getting a bit famished.
"Who wants some hot cocoa and cookies," she announced, this time everyone present perked up a bit since they began feeling a bit hungry.
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As the station wagon continued en route to the McBride residence, Lucy sat behind her brother wearing a gloomy expression on her face and clutching her bust of Edwin the Vampire in her arms.
"Look for a house with a blue roof with a triangular shape Pop-Pop," Lincoln instructed as he sat in the front passenger seat.
The McBride's one story home eventually came into view a minute later but as the station wagon drove closer to the house Lucy started feeling quite nervous. At a reasonable distance Lincoln noticed Clyde sitting on a lawn chair in front of the house waiting for their arrival.
Albert drove up the pathway and stopped the station wagon near the large red van belonging to the McBride husbands. Once Albert stepped out of the vehicle and closed the door, he took three seconds to observe around him before his eyes landed on the immaculately kept front lawn.
"These fellas really keep a well-manicured lawn," Albert wondered aloud before he opened the trunk of the station wagon.
Albert retrieved Lucy's suitcase while Lincoln grabbed his own from the trunk. As they walked towards the house Lucy who remained her taciturn self trailed a little behind Lincoln.
Unable to contain his excitement over Lincoln arriving Clyde high tailed it over to his best friend, Lucy and Albert causing Lincoln to stop in his tracks and before he could speak, Clyde fastened his arms around the white haired boy's shoulders and enveloped him in a tight embrace.
"I'm so glad you're finally here Link, we're gonna be like brothers," Clyde gushed enthusiastically before releasing his hold on Lincoln.
Suddenly becoming aware of Lucy's presence Clyde turned in her direction and greeted her, "Hi Lucy," and smiled at her kindly with the eight year old giving a halfhearted smile in return.
With Clyde leading the way, Albert, Lincoln and Lucy entered the one story home where they noticed Howard and Harold sitting on the smooth couch watching some news report. Albert gave a fleeting glance around the living room area before addressing Clyde's dads.
"Good evening Mr. and Mr. McBride," Albert greeted in a genial tone as the husbands came closer.
"Good evening everyone, you arrived just in time," Harold stated then smiled genially.
'Welcome to our home Albert," Howard asked cordially.
'We'd like to discuss a few things about Lincoln and Lucy living here," Harold said once the man sat on the couch and Lincoln and Lucy who situated themselves on the smaller armchair then Clyde sat on the ottoman near the coffee table.
'Did Lincoln tell you Howie and I are somewhat overprotective parents? We've decided to stop being that way but rest assured Lincoln and Lucy will feel welcome and safe in our home. We're placing them on our cell phone plan and we'll be registering Lincoln in Royal Wood Middle school in August,' Harold stated.
'Have you any special house rules?' Albert inquired curiously.
'Lucy Lincoln told us you like to dig holes around the house to bury dead animals, that won't be allowed. We've established a new rule that Sundays are screen free meaning no computers, phones et cetera until 12 a.m. Bedtime is eight thirty sharp on school nights and that's about it," Harold continued then some moments of silence elapsed.
"And if we need copies of their birth certificates, medical history we'll call you," Howard added.
Albert rose from his spot on the couch and declared, "I better get a move on. Goodbye Lincoln and Lucy. Listen to what the McBrides tell you."
"We will Pop-Pop," Lincoln and Lucy responded in unison before enveloping their grandfather in an embrace lasting five seconds.
While Harold escorted the grandfather to the door Howard turned to the siblings.
"We celebrated Clyde's birthday yesterday would you like some birthday cake," he asked kindly to which they responded yes please."
"Clyde show Lincoln and Lucy to their bedrooms, then take them to the kitchen to have some of the cake," Howard requested. As she followed the two boys down the hallway leading to the bedrooms Lucy maintained her gloomy demeanor and still clasping the Edwin bust in her right hand.
Clyde stopped right at the first guest door on the right and addressed the Goth girl.
"Lucy this is your room," he pointed out then Lincoln followed him into the one besides Lucy where the plastic bins containing his toys and other non-clothing items stood near the window.
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The next day found Lucy waking up looking around her new bedroom in confusion before suddenly remembering where she was. Back at the Loud residence, Lori fortunately had today off from work and promised Albert to assist him to buy a few groceries while Leni and Luna stayed home to look after Lisa, Lily and the twins.
"I wonder if Lincoln is awake?" Lucy thought to herself, slowly rising out of bed and putting on her slippers. Just three minutes ago Lincoln had awakened from a restful night's sleep and was just exiting Clyde's bathroom when Lucy appeared in the hallway.
"Hi Luce, did you sleep well," Lincoln asked kindly.
"Yea," she replied in a nonchalant manner then suddenly the unmistakable aroma of bacon came wafting into the hallway.
"Come on Luce let's eat," Lincoln urged and with no further hesitation both children went in for breakfast.
"Morning Lincoln, Lucy I hope you had a good night sleep," Howard said cheerily.
"Yes, Mr. McBride," Lincoln responded as they joined Clyde at the banquet table and served themselves from the plate in the center of the table.
Meanwhile at the juvenile facility where their sister Lynn Jr. had been sentenced to, the kitchen was a beehive of activity. The food served at the facility was nothing to complain about since the management took care that the inmates enjoyed what was put before them.
Right now Lynn who had been assigned kitchen duties stood beside her roommate Wendy and another girl washing up the many plates and pots used for breakfast. Yesterday Wendy had received a call from her mother that prompted Lynn to wonder when any of her family members were going to pick up a phone and contact her.
Last night for some reason the athletic girl's thoughts fell on her close friends. She'd invented a story about being invited to spend the summer with a cousin who was sports minded like herself but when prodded by Margo if her siblings were going, Lynn merely responded with,' No they made other plans for the summer."
Suddenly a thought came to the thirteen year old," I wonder if Lincoln and Lucy have gone yet."