Luna remained quiet for a couple of seconds when Lincoln's inquiry regarding the sweet spot debacle caught her by surprise because she'd rather forget about the incident happening in the first place. However curiosity got the better of her so Luna inquired, "Why are you asking bro?'
"On our way home from visiting Bobby yesterday Lori apologized to me for times she treated me badly. She apologized for threatening to throw the small table at me when I refused to go on the double date with her, Bobby and Ronnie Anne, for mocking me over the coffee mugs I made for mom and dad's anniversary and regarding the sweet spot Lori mentioned telling Leni and Lucy I was selfish for wanting the best seat because brothers are supposed to act like gentlemen and put their sisters first."
'Yes I remember Lori saying that," Luna recalled, furrowing her brow.
"To answer your question I wanted to grab the sweet spot away from you," Luna admitted truthfully, "When Lori said you were being inconsiderate of us by claiming it for yourself I became more upset with you more so after she told Leni and Lucy you should think about your sisters first."
Lincoln released a long sigh, "Well thanks for telling me the truth Luna, I appreciate it."
A long pause followed afterwards before Lincoln spoke again.
'She mentioned the way Gino ended their relationship affected her so badly that her hostile behavior towards me was a result of that. At first I wasn't angry with Lori over everything she admitted but last night I became annoyed with her and realized she wasn't being the responsible older sister mom and dad expected of her because she was taking out her frustration over Gino out on me and obsessed with being on her phone instead of watching over us," Lincoln admitted.
"I understand little bro," Luna commiserated in understanding followed by a tense silence.
"Has anyone spoken to Lynn?" Lincoln suddenly asked.
"Well Pop-Pop visited her last week," Luna began, "She told him about the pool incident last summer at the Royal Woods community swimming pool. He was really annoyed at us and chastised Lori for not making sure we followed the rules while having fun and that the lady who dislocated her hip could have sued mom and pops."
Lincoln processed the information in his mind for a moment before commenting, "I hope everyone else is doing fine."
"Yeah they are, so what's going on at casa McBride?" Luna inquired.
'Eh things are just blah now you know its screen day Sunday, Lucy and coming back tonight after spending Friday and the weekend at her friend Haiku," he commented causing Luna to look surprised.
"Lil sis is sure living it up, this is her first sleepover or stay over, Luna remarked.
"Anyway," Lincoln said gotta go bye Luna.
'Allright bro you and Lucy can visit sometime, Luna said to which he replied," Okay."
The remainder of the month passed by without incident, Leni continued excelling at her job at Reiningers and Lori and her fellow coworkers were granted a raise of an extra dollar. Unfortunately Luans boss Mr. Hamilton regretfully had to end her employment as the travelling entertainer on the day bus on Friday the last week of July because of budget cuts then August first Albert received a phone call from Aunt Shirley after stripping the sheets from Rita and Lynn Sr. mattress to be washed.
Today would be a somewhat busy day for Albert, first he'd drop the younger girls at the library whilst taking Lily along for the ride then leave the toddler with Luna and Luan then drive to the senior center to retrieve his other personal belongings he left behind in his living quarters.
Looking at the caller ID on his cell phone resting on Lynn Sr. nightstand he snatched the phone and answered the call.
"Hello Shirley," he greeted quite cordially.
"Hello Albert," Shirley responded back in greeting, "I'm calling to let you know I applied for my one month vacation three weeks ago and Ethan and I have made some decisions about LJ, Luan, the twins and Lisa moving in with us? Could we meet sometime this week to have a discussion about the girls? "
Albert knitted his brow in contemplation for a second, before giving a response.
"How about Friday afternoon at one pm," Albert replying.
"Okay I'll see you then, make sure the girls are present," Shirley agreed before hanging up.
Friday August 4
It was now one p.m. in the afternoon and while Luna and Leni worked, Lori who had today off departed in her new car just an hour ago to Aloha Comrade to have lunch with her friend Whitney at Aloha Comrade before treating themselves to manicures at a nail salon in the mall. At present Luan, the twins and Lisa were parked on the couch watching cartoons with Albert on the couch reading a newspaper. Right now a red car stopped in front of the house and Aunt Shirley stepped out. Briskly walking down the driveway leading to the house Shirley glanced around the front yard a little. Upon hearing the doorbell ringing, Albert rose to his feet.
'That must be Shirley, Luan could you turn off the TV,' he requested to which the girl reluctantly obliged. Opening the door Albert gave a friendly smile to her and greeted her, "Hello Shirley, won't you come in."
"Afternoon Albert," Shirley greeted back in return with a smile of her own.
Stepping inside the house Shirley glanced around a little noticing the place looked practically the same from the year Rita and Lynn Sr. moved in but with different curtains now.
"Hi Aunt Shirley," the girls chanted in unison.
"Good afternoon girls, hope you're enjoying your summer," she responded back.
Placing her handbag on the coffee table Shirley then sat in the armchair while Albert situated himself on the couch near the armchair.
"Girls your uncle Ethan is enrolling you in his school next Monday but Albert he also needs copies of their medical and dental records to see if they received all their vaccinations,' she began, "We've also decided the girls should be ready to move into our home on August twenty six. Ethan also called Judge Callahan yesterday and got her permission to move Lynn Juniors release date from August thirty first to August twenty eight so she can enjoy one last week in Royal Woods before moving in with us. I'm coming to pick her up on September third. Now I'd like to look inside the bedrooms."
The first stop was Lisa and Lily's shared bedroom where Shirley, Albert and Lisa stealthily walked inside to prevent waking up Lily who was napping peacefully, the other sisters remaining in the hallway.
Shirley stood silent for a while pondering over some decision in her mind until coming to a decision.
'Lisa we'll take your bed and place it in Cassandra's room since you're sharing a room with the twins," she declared making Lisa suppress their annoyance.
Albert spoke next, "Shirley there's one thing, since I'm in loco parentis until the girls leave I made arrangements with the Institute Lisa works for that she isn't allowed to do experiments involving working with chemicals until she's sixteen so you'll want to consider that."
"No worries Albert Ill keep to that rule," Shirley replied before saying, "Next the twins room."
With Albert in front, everybody except Lisa and Luan stepped through the open door whereupon the first thing Shirley's eyes fell upon was the terrarium Lana's remaining three pets resided then a look of concern crossed her face.
Lana noticing her aunt's gaze directed at her beloved pets asked somewhat worriedly, "Am I allowed to bring my pets with me.'
Glancing in her niece direction Shirley replied, "Of course you can," before opening the twin's closet.
Seeing an assortment of pageant gowns either sewn by Leni or that Lola and Rita bought with winnings from previous pageants and a few ordinary dresses Rita had bought Lola to wear for school and inside the house that the child refused since she prefers wearing her pink gown everyday Shirley frowned a bit.
Turning around to face the pageant girl Shirley said, "Lola you seem to have a limited amount of everyday clothes to wear, I'll have to buy more for you to wear at home and you can only wear your gown when you're playing dress up."
"Now I'll take you to LJ and Luans rooms," Albert inquired.
Not thinking it was necessary to look inside Luan and Lynns rooms," she replied, "No that's it."
"I'll have to make some changes though, we'll have to turn the study into a playroom and put Lola's stove and tea party set there and LJ will have to share Taylor's room with Luan," Shirley continued while everyone walked back downstairs.
Back in the living room, the girls headed towards the couch to resume watching cartoons but Albert stopped them.
"Luan, why don't you take your sisters to the park, it's a sunny day outside,' he said gently.
'Come on guys, this will be like a walk in the park,' Luan replied, "Bye Aunt Shirley."
"Bye Auntie," the others chanted in unison.
Once Luan closed the door behind them Albert asked, "Shirley, would you like some lemonade?"
'Probably another time Albert, I should freshen up before I leave," Shirley declared to which Albert nodded he departed for the kitchen to find ingredients for tonight's dinner.
Walking towards the steps Aunt Shirley suddenly felt the gold earring in her right ear fall out and onto the living room carpet. When she bent down to retrieve the fallen jewelry, she took notice of the worn out condition of the green carpet caused throughout the years by the rowdier sisters like Lola and Lynn driving her princess jeep and playing outdoor sports inside the house respectively and the occasional explosions during the rare moments Lisa would do an experiment in the living room and thirteen pairs of feet trotting up and down. Underneath the circular orange and yellow rug in the lobby remained a nasty chemical spill caused by a mini explosion Lisa created when she was almost four years old that Rita couldn't repair. Quickly picking up the earring she popped it into her handbag.
"The carpet has seen better days, the whole thing needs replacing, I wonder if the one upstairs is in a better condition," Aunt Shirley thought while walking up the staircase.
Upstairs she noted the red runner in the hallway was in no better condition than the green carpet when she knelt down and peered closely at the runner.
"Hmm one day I'll get Lynn and Rita's permission and do some renovations," Shirley mused.
After answering the call of nature, Shirley washed her hands then removed the other earring and placed it inside her bag before returning downstairs and saw Albert coming from the dining room. Shirley grabbed her handbag on the coffee table, however a sudden realization came across Albert's mind.
"I just realized something Shirley, Lisa sometimes lectures at the local community college. Is that something you will continue to allow her to do?" Albert inquired a bit worriedly,
"Regretfully that's something Lisa will have to resume if Lynn and Rita regain custody of the girls later on,
Good-bye Albert, "Shirley replied slinging her bag over her right shoulder.
After escorting her towards the front door Albert said, "Goodbye Shirley see you soon," then locked it once she stepped outside and started preparing dinner.