Life for the Louds continued with few problems, true to her words about a week after she left. Rita sent over divorce papers, and Lynn read through them with Lisa, acting as his legal representation.
He felt slightly guilty having his five year old walk him through the process, Lynn acknowledged that as a genius Lisa had a far better grasp of legal mumbo-jumbo than he did.
Lisa poured through the document throughly before she began her explanation, "thish ish what ish know as an uncontested divorce, it sheems that our maternal unit already sought legal representation and this is their offer"...
Lynn nodded solomly and Lisa continued speaking, " she ish declining the shplit of the house, and the Vehicle...However"...
Lisa's voice cracked and Lynn took the papers, and soon he found out the reason why Lisa was so upset. Rita wanted to dissolve her rights to the children as a parent and declined paying child support because she didn't split the assets outside of what she had already taken.
Rita was more of a heartless bitch than Lynn could of guessed, it was disturbing to realize that he had spent close to twenty years with her and she held no love for their children...
Lisa cleared her throat and hastily wiped a few tears. "I suggest you take the deal; it offers a clean separation that would benefit us."
Lynn hugged Lisa closely, wiping away her tears. They sat together for what seemed like an eternity, and that day Lynn signed the papers and they dropped them off at the courthouse as a family. It was amazing how supportive the kids were.
Lori, Leni, Luan and Luna became Lynn's cheerleaders so to say. Giving him their love and support during this difficult time.
Lori patted him on the shoulder as they walked out of the courthouse, "You're doing great, Dad"!
Lori started working a second job, on the weekends in an attempt to recover the money Rita had stole from the college fund.
Lynn was proud of how mature Lori was. She was determined to make her dreams come true and the teen wasn't afraid to work hard.
Leni spoke up, "You're totally better off without her." Dad.
Leni was also working more at her part-time jobs in an attempt to help out with the family. Luna had become more of a homebody, along with Luan. Both girls spent more time in the house, helping with the younger kids...
Lynn's eyes wandered to Lincoln, Jr., Lucy, Lana, Lola, Lisa, and Lilly. While they handled their mother's leaving well, it was easy to see that it affected them.
Lincoln was almost always gone, when he wasn't at school. Lynn would see him in the morning and then at dinner time.
Lynn Jr dropped out of most of her sports out of the blue, when asked why Jr snapped and refused to say why. Lucy was acting as Lynn Jr's shadow, quietly following her older sister around the house and keeping her company.
Lana and Lola were being extra clingy, Lynn often had one or both twins following him around the house after work and school.
Lisa and Lilly were the least visually affected however Lynn knew how hurt Lisa was after reading the letter Rita left. Lilly was thankfully young enough that she didn't seem to notice Rita's absence at the moment.
Pulling a smile that he didn't quite feel, Lynn addressed her kids, "How about we go to Gus's to celebrate?"
Meanwhile, several hours away Rita scrunched her nose up at her current living conditions. She was stuck living in a dilapidated two story, with peeling paint and rusty plumbing...
It was Rodney's grandmother's house, and he said it was only temporary until he could sell his store in Royal Woods. Money was going to be tight.
Rita pushed through dusty boxes of nicknacks and other garbage. The house was still filled with crap left over from Rodney's grandmother.
Rita stalked into the kitchen and scowled at Rodney, the man in question was sitting at the worn kitchen table surrounded by boxes of old dishware and cutlery.
The redhead looked up at her with a smile, "Hey baby! Did you sleep well?"
Rita had to bite back her temper, " I slept fine"...
Rodney invited her to sit at the table while he made Rita a cup of coffee because most of the appliances were out of date. They were stuck using a hot pot and a dollar store coffee maker.
It was almost demeaning, but Rita kept telling herself that this was better than being at the house with Lynn and the kids, atleast here she didn't have to work and there was no crying toddler needing constant attention...
Rusty and Rocky entered the kitchen, and hesitantly took a seat at the kitchen table. Rita didn't let them eat at the table when Rodney was gone.
Usually she sends them off to play while she enjoys herself; they aren't really her kids, so Rita doesn't feel particularly responsible for them. However, when Rodney is around, she has to play the doting mother.
"Good morning, boys". Rita beamed.
Rocky looked almost hopeful while Rusty stayed quiet, "Good morning Mrs...Rita".
Rodney sat at the table next to his eldest, placing Rita's coffee in front of her. "Now boys...you know I want you to get used to calling Rita 'mom', but you're going to hurt her feelings, and she's already going through a tough time.
Rita patted Rodney on the arm and smiled, "Give them time, dear. It's a big adjustment for everyone, and I want the boys to be comfortable with me."
She could feel Rusty staring at her, the ugly little bastard who stayed silent but Rita could feel his malcontent. If he didn't watch his shit, Rita would start looking into military school, so she could do as she wished.
However Rodney was likely to take the boy's side, so Rita would need to play her hand carefully...
Once Rodney was at work, Rita banished Rusty and Rocky. She started them on all the neglected yard chores and went back inside the house.
Finally relaxed, Rita went back upstairs and pulled out her laptop. She started online shopping. While Rita had torn through almost everything she had taken from Lynn, she still had Rodney's credit cards to treat herself.
The redhead had no clue Rita had slipped his card out of his wallet, and Rita wasn't going to tell him...