Disclaimer: The Loud House and associated characters belong to Nickelodeon and Chris Savino.
Who Love Chooses
By Lola Presents
Chapter 8
Startled by Lori's odd advance, Lincoln began to sweat. His older sister had never shown such appreciation for him, and he began to wonder what she was thinking. Lincoln was already in a particular state of mind, having added Lana to his family. However, he could also relate her motives to his handling of Lorianne just as quickly.
"What are you doing?" he asked Lori timidly.
Lori peered up at him and shrugged, then traced a small circle on his upper chest, which lay visible within the opening in his polo. His skin was smooth but tough and covered in a layer of fine, white hair. Her heart fluttered as she felt him tremble beneath her touch.
"Oh, I don't know," Lori whispered, peering up at him and shrugging. "You know, Lorianne did have a point."
Lincoln narrowed his eyes. "About what…" he asked flatly, unsure how to read her statement.
"I mean, if you're willing to include Lana," Lincoln's sister said, "then why not me?"
"Lori…" Lincoln said quietly. "That was different. Even though we did have feelings for each other, we wouldn't act on them independently. It was Lola's idea to get us together. The thing is, even though I want to, I wouldn't do anything behind her back. That would be cheating."
Lori's heart skipped a beat, and she hopped off his lap, staring at him lovingly. Unknowingly, he'd just given away two critical pieces of information. The first is that he and Lola had included Lana in their love affair. The second is that he had feelings for Lori. He didn't say "even if I wanted to" but "even though I want to."
Lori leaned in a kissed him tenderly on the cheek. "You are, literally, the perfect man," she said, using a particular word from her past.
She then left Lincoln to work and returned to the house. Lori was confident that she could make this work but needed time to figure out how to make Lola aware without seeming obvious and get her on board.
Lori had made her mind up about one thing, though. There was no way she would leave Royal Woods now. Even if things didn't work out between her and Lincoln, she couldn't bring herself to separate Lorianne from him.
Bobby had mentally and emotionally scarred Lorianne with his abuse, and Lincoln seemed to be her rock. He'd already helped her through two crises in as little as two days. Lincoln was a good role model for her daughter, and she planned to keep him close.
"Hi. Mommy," said Lorianne as her mother came in through the back door. "Want. To. See. My. Picture?" she asked, tapping her fingers on the table.
"Of course, sweetie," Lori responded as she peered over her daughter's shoulder.
The picture displayed a female in a dress, a stethoscope around her neck, and holding a clipboard in one hand. There was also a person lying on a bed and another in a cage.
"This is very creative, honey," Lori praised her child. "Can you tell me about it?"
"Sure. That's. Me," Ree said, indicating the doctor. "I. Want. To. Be. A. Doctor."
"That's a wonderful ambition, honey," Lori said. "Why a doctor, though?"
"So. I. Can. Help. People. Like. Me. And. Put. Bad. Guys. In. Jail," was Lorianne's response.
"You're a sweetheart, baby," Lori praised her. "How about we put this on the fridge beside Nova's?"
"Yes. Please!" Lorianne chirped happily.
They had only put the picture on the door when Lola entered the kitchen, holding a new load of dirty laundry from the hamper. She watched as Lorianne held the drawing up against the door while Lori arranged some magnets on it.
"Moving in, are we?" Lola laughed, surprising them both.
"Oh, uh…" Lori stammered. "No, I was just… you know, for Lorianne?"
Lola smirked and went about her business, loading the washing machine with Lana's leftovers from the night before, adding some detergent and fabric softener, then setting the cycle and pressing the on button.
"You know," Lola said to Lori once Lorianne had run into the living room and turned on the television. "I couldn't help but notice how distracted you've become. You got displaced from your home, your marriage is over, and you're unsure about the future. You can always talk to me, Lori. Maybe I can help."
"What?" Lori said, taken aback and caught off-guard. "No. I guess. Maybe. I don't know. I just have something on my mind."
"Something?" Lola quipped. "Or someone?"
"I don't know what you..." Lori began to say but was interrupted when Lorianne started calling out.
"Lola!" Lorianne said in astonishment. "Are. You. Famous?"
Both Lola and Lori peered around the corner with interest.
"No," responded Lola. "Why do you ask?"
Lorianne merely pointed at the window.
Lana entered the living room as Lola and Lori peeked through the window to see a long, lavish limo pull up. Their eyes widened. Who could be visiting that would be significant enough to own a limo?
Once it rolled to a stop, the driver opened the back door. Another young man stepped from the car and began walking toward the house. The gentleman wore a military dress uniform, Navy from its looks, and he was bearing two boxes.
"Ooh!" cried Lana, jumping for the door. "I'll get it!"
As the man neared the stoop, his face became focused, and a sudden realization hit Lola.
"Nooo…" Lola said under her breath.
"What?" asked Lori. "Do you know him?"
"Know him?" Lola spat. "That's…"
Lana opened the door as the man stepped up.
"Greetings, ma'am," the man said. "My name is Winston, and I'm looking for Mr. Lincoln Loud?"
"Booboo?" asked Lorianne, peeking around Lana's torso. "I. Will. Get. Him."
The little girl ran out the back door as quickly as her short legs could carry her. Lola and Lori came around the corner and fully into view.
"Winston?" gasped Lola. "Why are you here?"
Before Winston could answer, Lincoln came rolling in the back door, a stern look on his face.
"Winston!" Lincoln barked. "You have a lot of nerve coming..."
But he stopped upon seeing the uniform, and Winston seized the opportunity to speak.
"Permission to enter, sir!" said Winston.
"Uh, well…" Lincoln stammered. "Alright, but only for a moment."
"Thank you, sir," Winston responded as he entered the home, taking off his cap as he passed through the threshold.
Lola shot Lincoln a look of query and concern but didn't intervene. Winston's sudden arrival unsettled her, and she decided to leave the decision-making up to Lincoln.
"So, why are you here?" Lincoln asked of him.
"Amends, sir," announced Winston, handing one box to Lola.
"Seriously?" posited Lola as she began to open the box, curious about its contents.
"I wouldn't open that in present company, ma'am," Winston said, resting his hand on the box lid.
"Why? What is it?" Lola asked, drawing her hand back.
"You're privacy, ma'am," responded the soldier. "Every picture I ever took of you. All of them, including the negatives. I have no right to them."
Lola stared at the young cadet intently. "Well, thank you. Sir," she replied, unsure of how to address him.
Winston then turned toward Lincoln and extended the other box.
"For you, sir," he stated.
Lincoln accepted the package and opened it. Inside was a hermetically sealed comic labeled "Ace Savvy #1 (Proof)."
"Winston…" murmured Lincoln beside himself. "I don't understand. This comic must have cost thousands!"
"Long ago, I took something precious from you," Winston explained, glancing toward Lola. "So, now, I'm giving you something precious of mine. I purchased it sealed, and it has remained that way. It is now for your eyes only, should you choose."
Lincoln rolled over to Winston and extended his arm, which Winston shook.
"Thank you, Winston," Lincoln said. "These gestures mean a lot."
"Then, I shall take my leave," Winston said, nodding curtly at them. "Sir, ma'am."
The group watched as Winston showed himself, got into his car, and drove away.
"Damn…" said Lana, extending the word for effect.
Once the vehicle disappeared from view, everyone went back to whatever they were doing. Lola returned to laundry, Lana resumed making the beds with fresh linen, and Lori sat on the couch thinking. As for Lorianne, she wandered out back to help Lincoln with his work.
Lorianne wasn't helping as she was increasing the time it took to complete his work, but Lincoln wouldn't have it any other way. She was a joy to have around. Despite everything the girl endured over the years, her attitude was always optimistic and bright. She was also quite pretty and reminded him of Lori.
Soon, Lana came down the hall in blue overalls and a ball cap, taking everyone's attention. Lana had dressed more casually for some time, and seeing her this way took them for a loop.
"What?" she declared. "I'm mowing the lawn!"
Lori and Lola chuckled as Lana stormed out the door. Once they heard the mower roar into action, Lola sat on the couch beside Lori and continued her prodding.
"So…" Lola began, folding her hands in her lap, turning toward Lori, and smiling knowingly.
"Huh?" asked Lori nervously, her right hand curled by her chin.
"Come on, you didn't think you'd get away that easily?" queried Lola insistently. "You said you had something on your mind."
Lori grimaced.
"Oh, that," she recalled. "Well... It's that I... er..."
"...have a thing for Lincoln?" finished Lori's sister, bumping Lori's shoulder.
"NO!" exclaimed Lori emphatically. "I just…"
"Now, Lori," Lola said slyly. "How long have I known you? I saw how you looked at Lincoln when he helped Ree talk yesterday and today when he had to let her down easily."
Lori smirked and blushed wildly but tried to hide it by turning away slightly.
"Then there's the matter of that little domestic intrusion on the fridge door," Lola accused. "It seems like you want to stay and get comfortable. Hm?"
Lori finally gave in, slumping against Lola's shoulder, and sighed heavily.
"I'm sorry, Lols," Lori apologized. "He's just so… perfect."
"Well, I don't know about perfect. Lincoln farts in bed like every other guy, but I know what you mean," Lola chuckled. "If you want, though, I can talk to him."
"Oh, I don't know," Lori said. "He's got his hands full with you and Lana, not to mention Nova. I'd just add to his stress. Wouldn't I? Besides, I'm unsure if he feels the same way."
"There's only one way to find out," she told Lori. "But, right now, I need to bake more cookies for the meeting. They seem to have all disappeared. Care to help?"
"Sure, sis," Lori said, ready to change the subject. "I'd like that."
Nova came bounding into the house around three o'clock with Calliope in tow. Tossing their bags on the living room floor, they bolted for the kitchen, having detected traces of sweets in the air.
"Cookies!" they squealed upon entering the kitchen, gathering around the two women.
"Oh, no," Lola scolded. "Not this time. This batch is for the meeting!"
Lola placed the cookies into a large Tupperware container, sealed the lid, and then placed it out of the girls' reach.
"However, there are a few cups of pudding in the fridge if you want them," Lola announced, only then noticing the new arrival. "And this is?"
"Oh, sorry, Mom," Nova apologized. "This is Calliope. My new friend. We're going to do our homework together, alright?"
"Sure thing," Lola affirmed. "But next time, ask before you bring a friend over."
"Alright," Nova responded as they grabbed puddings and spoons.
It didn't take long before the cups were empty, and the girls were licking their fingers. After they threw away their trash and fetched their bags from the other room, Lorianne waltzed in.
"Hi," she said to the new face. "My. Name. Is. Ree. What. Is. Yours?"
"Oh, hi there, I'm Calliope," the redhead responded. "It's nice to meet you."
Calliope couldn't help but notice her odd speech pattern but thought it prudent to ask about it privately. Instead, she smiled at the girl, thinking maybe she was mentally impaired.
"What. Are. You. Doing?" asked Lorianne.
"Homework," replied Nova. "Speaking of which, are you going back to school soon?"
Lorianne shrugged.
"Alright, well," Nova began. "You can sit with us, though it may be boring."
"No. Thanks," answered Lorianne before heading off to the living room.
Just as she was about to sit, there was another knock on the door. Sighing, she abandoned her pursuit and answered the door. It was a delivery man, and since she wasn't allowed to talk to strangers, she called out to Lola.
"Lola!" she called, "Someone. Is. Here."
Lola was already on her feet, having heard the knock as well. Replacing Lorianne by the door, she greeted the man, learning he was there to deliver the furniture Lincoln ordered the night before. Lola showed him which room the new furniture was going to and left him to his task.
"Ree?" called Lola as the man returned to his van and extended a ramp. "Would you go get Lincoln?" she asked. "Tell him the furniture is here."
Lorianne playfully saluted Lola and ran out the back door toward Lincoln's shed. Soon, she returned with Lincoln right behind her.
"Ah, yes," Lincoln said merrily as the delivery man carried a mattress into the house. "Right this way."
Lincoln led him to the guest room, despite Lola having already informed him, but also told him how to arrange things as they got set up. It took roughly thirty minutes to bring everything in and assemble them.
Soon, the guest room had two single beds along opposing walls, one dresser, and one chest of drawers. All that remained were linens. He told Lori and Lorianne they were free to raid the linen closet.
Another thirty minutes later, the mother and daughter looked upon their room gleefully. Lori's side was primarily decorated in shades of blue, while Lorianne's was orange. White accents made both sides stand out.
As the day progressed and the children finished their homework, Nova said farewell to Calliope, whose father had just arrived. Calliope wished she could stay longer but understood that it was a school night and parted peacefully.
Lincoln ordered pizza after a brief chat with Clyde, having escorted Calliope out to the car. Nothing of any real import was said, just the formalities. Lincoln and Clyde were still friends and talked occasionally but didn't see each other that often anymore.
Life has a way of doing that.
Forty-five minutes later, the pizza arrived, and everyone gathered in the living room to watch a new reality show about Alaskan homesteaders. It wasn't the most exciting thing to view, though. It was more about the company.
Soon, it was time to start turning in. Everyone pitched in and ensured everything was cleaned, rinsed, and put away, then headed off. Lincoln and Lola retreated to their bedroom. Lana claimed the couch, as Lola had it the night before.
Lori and Ree disappeared into their newly refreshed room and began preparing for bed. Lori still had not remembered to fetch their bags from her parent's house, so they had to make do another day.
Lori stripped off her shorts and plopped heavily into her new bed. It was the most comfortable thing she'd ever felt. Lorianne followed suit and lay there, sighing at how fluffy hers was.
"Goodnight, Ree," cooed Lori, snuggling into the plush blankets.
"Goodnight," said Lorianne before rolling over and pulling the covers over her.
Soon, they were both asleep, but it was not to last. Just as Lori began dreaming, she heard her daughter calling out for her from the edge of awareness. It pierced through the veil and grappled onto Lori, pulling her from her slumber.
"Huh?" Lori mumbled, rising slowly. "Ree?"
Lori blinked away her sleep and peered up at her daughter, and though only moonlight lit the room, Lori could tell her baby was crying. Lori pulled back her covers and patted the bed, inviting her in. Then, Lorianne rolled into bed and snuggled against her mother. Lori re-covered them and brushed her baby's hair back with her fingers.
"What's the matter, honey," Lori whispered. "Bad dream?"
"No. Mom," Ree said, shaking her head. "My. Heart. Hurts."
"You're heart hurts?" Lori asked. "Why?"
"I. Am. Still. In. Love. With. Booboo," the young girl admitted.
Lori felt bad for Lorianne. It was tough to love one so much only to have them reject you. But when one has already experienced trauma, it must hurt even more.
"I know, baby," Lori said softly. "But he already told you how he felt. If you love him, then you should respect him."
"But. He. Didn't," Ree whimpered, rolling to face her mother better. "He. Only. Gave. Reasons. He. Shouldn't."
Lorianne's statement rebounded inside Lori's head. What the child said was true. Lincoln could've explained that he didn't love her that way. But he didn't. Lori struggled with the idea, and her stomach churned at the thought.
It was no secret that Lorianne had undergone abuse, beginning at an early age. And though it pained Lori to consider it, she also remembered being Lorianne's age. Lori wasn't exactly the picture of innocence back then, either. The only difference was Lori acted on her own accord.
Maybe that's what Lorianne needed, though. To be in control rather than have it taken away. Lori shook her head. No, Lorianne wasn't ready. She couldn't be. Lori grimaced in the darkness and furrowed her brows.
Lori's thoughts then turned to herself. She had feelings for Lincoln, and from his slip earlier, she surmised that he returned them. The idea of her daughter longing for her Booboo, combined with Lori's growing desires, formed a powerful new emotion, one she couldn't name.
"I know, Ree," Lori whispered as she continued soothing her child. "I know how you feel. I'm in love with him too."
