Arrival
Today was the day! I finally get to see everyone again! I could barely hold my excitement as I drove myself and Ronnie Anne to my old house. I couldn't stop myself from telling her as many stories from my childhood as I could remember, even though she's probably heard all of the before or was there to experience it with me.
As soon as I saw my old house, a tear escaped my eye as all the happiness hit me at once, Ronnie Anne wiped it away, laughing at me for me lameness. There seemed to be 3 cars there already, but I couldn't decipher whose they were, so I parked up and bolted towards the door.
It felt like time stopped for a moment when I opened the door to see everything the same as it was 8 years ago and for eighteenth time today nostalgia filled me to the brim.
"Lincoln!" Came the familiar voice of my mum, Rita Loud " Oh my baby! It's been too long! Where did all this beard come from?" I laughed, reciprocating her hug with one of equal force. " Mum, I was here only 3 weeks ago! But it's always lovely seeing you." I kissed her cheek as she smiled at me.
"Hey Linc, just leaving me outside to bring all the stuff in?" My fiance's voice came from behind me, holding the bag of cakes and delicious spanish cuisine we brought. "Oh, Ronnie Anne, how lovely to see you again!" My mum wrapped her hands around her before she could place the bags down so I took the bags from her and made my way inside.
In the kitchen, I spotted another familiar face, one with a balding head but the kindest of eyes. "Dad!" I put the bags down to hug him, which he gladly received. "Lincoln! My boy its great to see you! Oh this is the best day, all my babies together!".He burst out into tears at what I assume is the hundredth time today as I held him. " Oh Lynn." My mum came in and took him off me so he could lean on her. " This is the sixth time today, don't tell you're gonna do this every time a kid arrives." Oh, who's already here mum?" I asked, because we were only 15 minutes after 2 and the louds are not known for being on time. "Lily, of course, and Lori, Leni, Luan, Lucy, Lana and Lola. And all their extra parts as well. They're in the garden if you want to go see them." " I will, Love you mum."
With that, I left through the kitchen door, into the garden where everyone was.
"UNCLE!!!" Came the voice of my favourite niece, Lexi. I looked to see two little kids running towards me, and I only just crouched down quick enough for them to bombard me with a rib-crushing hug. "Uncle, Uncle! Guess what? I've got loads of aunties and uncles!!!" I laughed as my favourite kids told me all about their new discovery.
"Lincoln!" Came an older voice, one that belonged to Leni, who was followed by Lori. They both came up and greeted me with a hug as they removed their respective kids from me. Leni grabbed my hand and pulled me towards another group, one with Luan, Lola, Lana, Benny and Roy (Lola's boyfriend). "Guys, look who it is!" I was again greeted with a hug by Lana and a smile and wave from the rest of the group. Lola then continued to chat to Luan about who knows what considering she 'doesn't like her' and thinks she's 'lame and boring'. I turned my attention to Lana.
"Hey Lans! It's been awhile how's everything been?"
"It's been great! We got to go to Germany for a race and we won! I loved all the food, especially the chocolates. Anyway, how have you been, you know with your proposal and everything?"
"It's been great, we're talking things slow but the wedding should be in around 2 months now."
"You better invite me! "
"Don't worry, I'll invite you!" I laughed and then decided to this might be a good way to talk to a certain someone about their wedding, which I wasn't invited to. "Hey Luan, will you be free in 2 months, I wanted to invite you to my wedding. I would love for all my family to be there for such a big part of my life."
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"Yeah, I'm probably free."
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"You know, I am normally quite busy, but I made time for Lori and Leni's wedding " I know making drama as soon as I get here is a bad idea but I need to know why I wasn't invited because we're pretty close but she didn't invite me or anyone else to her wedding and it wouldn't surprise me if she had 5 kids and I would never know. "I think we both know what I'm asking you Luan." At this point everyone else was looking at her as well and if I wasn't as impatient and in need of an answer then I would've talked privately but everyone else also needed an answer.
"Ah I see what's happening here." Came the voice of Benny, Luan's husband. "You see, we weren't planning on having a full wedding, we were going to have one with just the two of us and Ethan but my family surprised us with a last minute ceremony and we didn't have time to invite anyone else. I am deeply sorry you weren't able to come." He bowed down at us to signify his apology. Luan still wasn't making eye contact and she seemed quite tense, especially at the mention of 'Ethan'. "I must ask you don't blame Luan for any of this as it truly wasn't her intention or fault." He wrapped his arms around Luan after this, which relaxed her as she leant back against him, closing her eyes. Lori and Leni awed at this cute scene and Lola told Roy that "he better be like Benny when they get married".
"I'm sorry Luan, I know that was a bit out of pocket for me to ask. I just wanted to know why because, even though I don't see you, we still talk a lot and you send some of the most high quality, expensive stuff and I just felt hurt." I explained because now Benny had told us what happened, I understood why I wasn't invited and any fears I had about a lack of trust were cleared for now. "It's alright Lincoln, I should've told you what happened, I knew it must've hurt but I still didn't so I'm sorry." Luan apologized and so I smiled in return, even though she was still avoiding eye contact and focusing on Benny.
"Mummmyyyy!!!" The voice of my lovely nephew removed the remaining tension as he ran over to Lori, who crouched down to his level. " Hector! Stop bothering your mother whilst she's talking!" Bobby ran over with my Ronnie Anne not far behind him , being chased by Lexi and Lily.
I could only laugh at the way too familiar scene playing out in front of me, I can't wait for the day I have a cute kid or two I can play with.
Then the door swung open, and everyone turned towards the noise. Out stepped a purple rocker and her wife, or Luna Loud and Sam Sharp.