Age

Chapter 15

"I didn't want to spend Christmas alone." Drew Sr. said.

"What do you mean?" Casey asked. "Where's Monica?"

"She left me for her personal trainer three months ago, we're divorced."

"Why didn't you tell us dad?" Daniel asked.

"I didn't want to bum you guys out."

"What about Luke?" Drew Jr. asked.

"Monica has him." "I'm getting him in the summer like I do with you guys."

"So, who's the new one?" Daniel asked.

"There isn't one, I'm single." "Do you want to go to lunch boys?" They both said yes. "Get in the car." "I'll be right there." "I wanna talk to your mom." The boys went outside.

"So she left you huh?" Casey asked.

"Yeah."

"Hurts doesn't it?"

"Yeah." "If this is anywhere close to how you felt, I'm sorry." "Anyway, I want to buy the boys a car for their birthday." "I have an appointment was a dealership on the 26th so we can go check some cars out."

"Ok." "Don't make any promises to the boys you don't intend to keep Drew."

"I would never do that to them."

"No, just to me." He gave her an apologetic look and left.

Casey went upstairs to get her phone. She called Max.

"Hello?" He said.

"You're not going to believe this." "My ex is here, in town." She told him the whole story. "I just don't want him to hurt them Max." She said worried. "I don't want him to break their hearts."

"I know." "You know I'm here for you need me."

"I know." "This sucks Max I don't want him around, but I can't tell them they can't see their father."

The next day Casey was going out to do some last minute shopping. Drew had come over to spend more time with the boys.

"Boys, you got mail." Casey said. "It's here on the kitchen counter." "I'll be back in an hour." She left.

Daniel went in and got the envelopes. He opened them. They were Christmas cards. They each read.

Merry Christmas, spend it on whatever you want. - Max

Five hundred dollars was also in each of the cards.

"Who's it from?" Drew Sr. asked.

"Max." Daniel said.

"Max who?"

"MJF, dad." Drew Jr said.

"Is he mom's boyfriend?"

"They both say no, but they spend a lot of time together."

Drew Sr. came over the next day for Christmas. They were all cleaning up the wrapping paper.

"There's one more for you mom." Drew Jr. said.

Casey took it and opened it. It was a box of favorite chocolates. "I wonder who got me these."

"Probably someone who knows you pretty well." Drew Sr. said.

Later that night the boys were upstairs. Drew had gone back to the hotel. Casey's phone rang.

"Hello?" She said.

"Hi." Max said.

"Hi."

"How was your Christmas?"

"Good, but still weird with Drew being around." "I feel like I'm in The Twilight Zone." "Did the boys text you and thank you for the Christmas cards?"

"Yes they did."

"That was so sweet of you." "Especially considering you don't celebrate Christmas."

"No, but I care about them."

"I know."

"Your gift is gonna be late."

"You didn't have to do that."

"I wanted to." "I think you'll like it." "I miss you, hanging out with you I mean." "We need to hang when we get back to work."

"We will."