Chapter 47
Last night as Albert's travelled home from dropping off Lincoln and Lucy at the McBride's he noticed the gas tank running low on gasoline so he stopped at Flips, Food and Fuel to fill up the tank and purchase an eight pack of paper towels. By the time Albert reached home he found Lori sitting downstairs watching Dream Boat but her heart wasn't really in it to be honest. The other sisters still feeling despondent due to Lincoln and Lucy leaving went upstairs immediately after having the hot cocoa Lori prepared and some cookies. Albert inquired if anyone called while he was out and Lori explained. "Yes Aunt Sara called about receiving a call from Aunt Shirley about Mrs. Ventura asking her and Uncle Ethan to take Lily. You won't believe this, she and Uncle Lucas have decided to take Lily instead," to which Albert was quite pleased to hear.
A few minutes after Albert and Lori's departure Leni started applying some of her favorite lotion and discovered the bottle was almost empty making her frown a little in frustration.
"I have to wait until Pop-Pop gets back then go to the mall to buy some," she muttered out loud to herself.
Sometime later Lori and Albert finished the grocery shopping and right now they stood in the parking lot of the supermarket loading Vanzilla with the nine bags of groceries being assisted by Luna who decided to come along. Getting into the passenger seat behind the wheel after unloading the cart Luna placed her headphones on to relax and listen to some music.
Meanwhile back home Lisa sat near the fireplace reading one of her science journals as the twins played checkers and Lily watched cartoons. Leni was sitting nearby in the armchair keeping an watchful eye on her little sisters reading one of her fashion magazines when she became alerted to her phones ringtone and instantly perked up at seeing Albert name on the caller ID.
"Oh hi Pop-Pop, Leni greeted cheerily only to hear…
'Hi Leni we're back, would you unlock the door,' he requested of his second oldest grandchild which she responded with an, "Okay."
Keeping the front door ajar Leni hurried upstairs to get her handbag. Albert Lori and Luna stepped inside the house carrying three bags apiece. Lori closed the door using her right foot then hurriedly placed her bags on the coffee table since she really needed to use the bathroom.
"I'll be back to help put away the groceries. "she informed Albert.
At the top of the stairs Lori met with Leni coming out of their bedroom in a hurry.
"Where are you off to?" Lori inquired upon seeing Leni's handbag slung over her right shoulder.
"To the mall I ran out of my fave lotion," Leni explained," But don't worry I promise to not buy any clothes and shoes because of what Pop-Pop said about saving money," she reassured Lori.
'Okay then stay safe, I hope you have your bus pass," Lori replied.
Being eternally grateful she could finally leave for the mall, Leni said in a rushed voice, "See you later Lori."
When Lori finished her business she helped Luna stow the groceries in their rightful places before retreating upstairs to their respective bedrooms. Luna decided to check for new messages on her cell phone, something she hadn't paid attention to since Independence Day. Taking her phone from her nightstand drawer then sitting on Luan's bed Luna found only one message from her friend Sam Sharp which made Luna's blue eyes widened in astonishment.
"Lunes my dad told me yesterday he sold a house to a couple called the Louds in the Royal Springs area of town, are they your Aunt and Uncle you mentioned one time?"
"I have to call Sam," she uttered out loud
Meanwhile at the McBride residence, Howard who worked at home during the summer holidays so that Clyde wouldn't be entirely left all by himself during the day sat in his home office making a few important calls to his clients. At this moment Lincoln and Clyde were parked in the living room with their controllers playing some video game while Lucy remained in her bedroom laying on her stomach on the bed reading one of her Gothic novels. When breakfast ended Lucy then Lincoln showered and brushed their teeth then afterwards placed their clothes on hangers the siblings packed in their suitcases. Compared to their older sisters Lori, Leni and Lynn Jr to an extent with her variety of sports jerseys Lincoln and Lucy possessed a few items of clothing so they only spent less than five minutes doing that.
A few hours passed by and Leni arrived home with some exciting news to share with her family. The teenager could barely contain her enthusiasm about what happened to her while stopping at another store to buy Jackie a birthday present. A proud smile adorned her face as she unlocked the front door and stepped inside.
Everybody was in the living room relaxing when she stepped inside the house, Albert sitting in the armchair reading the newspaper, Lori sprawled on the couch pouring through a teen magazine and Luna, Luan watching a rerun of Operation Desert Storm. Lily and Lisa were napping in their bedroom.
"Hey everyone guess what," Leni suddenly squealed but not in a way that frightened everyone. She rushed over towards them her heart beating a little fast with anticipation.
"Hey Leni what's the excitement," Albert asked curiously.
"I was leaving the store when I remembered next Friday is Jackie's birthday so I popped into Reiningers to buy a pair of eyeglasses for a birthday present. After I picked an attractive one with a red frame I was going to the checkout line," Leni continued.
"Leni please give us the short version," Lori demanded getting a bit impatient.
"I noticed some cute tank tops laying on a table looking all disorganized then I found myself refolding them I was waiting in the check-out lane when a lady wearing a badge with the word Manager approached me and said her name was Mrs. Carmichael. She said she noticed me refold the tops and was impressed with my folding skills so I said thank you. She then asked if I was working, I said No, then she said," Leni paused for dramatic effect then continued.
"How would you like a job working here and I said YES," she continued, squealing the last word.
Lori started beaming from ear to ear and jumped up to embrace her younger sister.
'Eee congratulations," Lori squealed with excitement, the others in the room muttering 'Congratulations Leni," in tandem.
After Lori released Leni, she turned around to the others and asked, "To celebrate this good news how about if I order pizza for dinner," which her sisters unanimously agreed by hollering, "Yay."
Later that evening Albert got dressed in his striped pajamas, hung the clothes he wore for the entire day over the folding chair he brought from his room at the senior center. Getting under the covers he snatched his cell phone lying on the nightstand to read some text messages but before Albert could begin his ringtone sounded.
"Hi Sara nice to hear from you," he greeted.
"Hello Albert, I just wanted to tell you Lucas and I'm going to visit Rita and Lynn Sr. tomorrow and you're welcome to come, that's if you don't have other plans?"
Albert made plans to wait until July 31 to visit his daughter and son in law so he decided to accept the offer.
"Sure I'll come with you," Albert said.
Saturday morning found the remaining sisters except Lori who already departed for work eating pancakes with blueberries. As the girls enjoyed their meal Albert addressed everyone.
'Kiddos your Aunt Sara called me last night and invited me to visit your parents along with her and your uncle Lucas so Leni you're in charge until I return," he instructed to which Leni nodded in agreement.
The elderly man showered quickly then sat on the front porch to wait for Sara and Lucas arrival.
Eventually Albert saw a champagne colored minivan stopping in front of the house and he could make out Sara's face from the passenger side.
Upon entering Kingsley's doors Albert, Lucas and Sara had their wallets and purse scanned through an x-ray machine then the trio walked through a scanner with sensors by a male guard standing by. They gathered their purse and wallets afterwards then a female officer this time escorted them towards the visiting area. They only waited for six minutes before Rita and Lynn Sr. made their appearance in the waiting area. Rita was absolutely elated her father came but then a quizzical look crossed her face upon seeing Lucas and Sara. The last time Rita and Lynn Sr. visited the couple was when they received an invitation to celebrate their first son Zachary a child genius getting accepted into college at fourteen years old. Because of his age, Lucas and Sara arranged for Zachary to attend online instead of physically all the way in Tampa.
Lynn Sr looked apprehensively at his brother sitting directly in front of him, as Rita silently sat on his right side. A certain amount of awkwardness passed between the two married couples which got broken by Sara.
'First I never thought this could happen to any of us," Sara commented with a regretful voice.
"I just can't believe you made your kids push Vanzilla down the street while you two sat inside it, isn't it time you admit that old heap has outlived its purpose and buy another one?" Lucas asked with utter bewilderment.
Upon that statement, however Lynn Sr. became quite peeved then glared daggers at his brother.
"Says the one whom dad preferred over me," the younger man snapped.
"But brother who was the person who took you to Camp Mastodon every year for the summer," Lucas replied calmly before Lynn Srs. countenance changed completely.
"Actually you did me a favor saving all that money from your summer job when you were fifteen and your weekend job working at McDougal's to buy your own car, that's the only reason dad handed Vanzilla over to me," Lynn Sr. said then paused momentarily.
"Albert how are the other girls," he inquired next
"They're holding up well," was Albert's response.
Sara smiled before saying, "You'll be glad to know that we've decided to take Lily."
The incarcerated couple kept silent for a while to digest that bit of information. Sara and Lucas thought it wasn't necessary to mention the Ventura's involvement in the matter of taking Lily.
Rita and Lynn Sr. eternally grateful for the fact Lily was going to be in capable hands beamed with gratitude at the couple.
"Thank you for taking Lily, Sara I had been worrying about her." Rita added.
"Dad, have you spoken to LJ, we'd really like to know how she's coping," Lynn Sr asked.
"Not yet by the way Lincoln and Lucy are now living with the McBrides, I dropped them off two days ago," Albert continued.
"Oh I didn't know they would move in that quickly," Lynn Sr exclaimed followed by Rita saying, "I'm glad to hear that."
To be continued