When Maxwell arrives at home, he parks his car in the garage, getting out as fast as he can. He locks the car door before he leaves the garage. Once Maxwell steps inside the house, he sees Zachary and Darryl running towards him. Happily screaming the word ‘daddy’ repeatedly as they both cling to his leg. Maxwell crouches down and picks them both up, Zachary wraps his arms around his father’s neck immediately, hugging Maxwell.

“Hey boys, I missed you two.” Maxwell gives a peck on their cheeks.

With both boys on his arm Maxwell starts to walk towards the kitchen – the smell of freshly made spaghetti lingers in the air and he smiles as he smells it. Once he is in the kitchen, he puts both boys down and they run off immediately, probably to play again.

“Hello mother,” Maxwell greets his mom. “Thanks for watching the boys again. I hope I’ll find someone else soon, that way you can stay at home and rest like you deserve.”

“Don’t worry about it my dear.” His mom Abigail replies, and she turns around to look at him. “They are sweethearts. It’s no problem at all.”

“I know mother, but you’re retired and yet you’re still sort of working for me. When I get a nanny, I’ll sure to give you a nice trip with dad.”

“Don’t you dare boy.” His mother says, swinging the spatula in her hand to show she’s meaning it. “They are my grandchildren; I don’t need anything in return for watching them.”

“Fine mother but at least let me repay you with a dinner night then.”

His mother just sighs before turning around, she knows Maxwell is stubborn and that he won’t let it rest until she accepts one of his offers at least. It’s an endless cycle they’ve entered once she started to babysit for him. Since the month she has started babysitting the boys again he keeps offering her to do something to repay her and she always says no but he won’t accept not anymore and will plan at least something for his parents.

Maxwell grabs something to drink and sits down at the dining table, watching his mother cook. He is glad his mother can help him around with babysitting and all other chores that must be done while he is still looking to find someone else to fill in for the position of nanny – or well more manny since he wants a male nanny.

“Son?” his mother’s voice gets him out of his thoughts. “How was your work today?” she continues as if he was listening from the moment, she has started talking to him.

“Huh,” Maxwell says sheepish. “Did you say anything mom?”

“No, I didn’t Maxwell, so how was work today?”

“It was okay, well that’s only for the therapy sessions other than that it was well interesting.” Maxwell says as he stands up.

“Why so?”

Maxwell walks to the cabinets and opens the one that holds the tableware in it. He grabs the plates to set the table.

“Oh well, you know.” He says casually. “Kate showed up today. Told me she is moving to Germany with Harry. One good thing is that I got the divorce papers this morning. I signed them and Luna made sure to get them send back. So, the divorce is finally going to be finalized.”

“Well, isn’t that a good thing dear. That the divorce is finally going to be finalized.” Abigail says as she stirs in the pot with sauce. “What do you mean she’s moving to Germany. She’s not taking Zachary and Darryl with her, is she now?” there is slight panic noticeable in Abigail her voice.

“She isn’t taking the boys with her mother, calm down. She does want to see them before she’s leaving this weekend though. She would call about it, but I don’t know if she did that while I was working.”

“I don’t recall any incoming calls dear. Also, we’re talking about Kate, she probably said it to make you think she cares just even a bit about the boys.” His mom says venomously. “Don’t worry too much about it dear, just make sure to focus on your kids”

“I will mother, thank you. I was just surprised she showed up at my work.”

Abigail doesn’t reply to him, knowing that they won’t stop talking about Kate if she does reply. Maxwell just finish setting up the table instead of continuing the conversation in any way because he knows of his mom’s distaste for Kate.

“Max don’t put down a plate for me. I’ll be going out with your father for dinner tonight. He asked me out last night.”

“Okay mom. Well you can go home already if you’d like. I’m sure I won’t be able to mess up the last few moments of cooking the dinner.” Maxwell laughs as he says it. Because he knows he can mess it up even if it’s nearly done.

Abigail laughs and turns down the flame of the stove. She puts down the cooking utensils and takes off her apron and grabs her stuff from the countertop and smiles at Maxwell.

“Thanks honey. Just make sure to let it simmer for another 5 minutes and then you can take it off the stove and eat dinner with the boys.” His mom instructs him, Maxwell just nods. “I’ll say goodbye to those two adorable grandsons of mine.”

Once his mother left the kitchen Maxwell finishes setting up the table and putting the tableware for his mother back into the kitchen cabinets.

When dinner is all done cooking Maxwell calls Zachary and Darryl, they both come running into the kitchen within a few seconds. Nearly crashing as they try to enter the door together.

“Are you boys that hungry?” Maxwell laughs while asking the question.

The boys both nods excitedly and Maxwell helps Zachary into his highchair, once he is sitting in it Maxwell takes his plate and scoops some of the spaghetti onto it. After cutting the spaghetti smaller for Zachary he puts down the plate in front of Zachary again. After that he does the same thing for Darryl and then Maxwell puts food on his own plate, sitting down between both of his boys.

“Eat well boys” He says before digging into his food.

Both boys start to dig right in their food, making quite a mess of it, Maxwell only chuckles at the sight letting his boys eat the dinner.

“What did you guys do with granny today?” Maxwell ask once they are done with dinner.

“We went to the park” Zachary says full of excitement.

“Really? Well Darryl what did you do today?”

A deep sigh leaves Darryl his lip and he looks up at his father, a slight pout forming onto his lips.

“Went to school.” Darryl murmurs. “Granny allowed me to watch TV though when I came home.” A small smile appears on Darryl his lips after saying that.

“Well, did you have fun at school today?”

Darryl slightly shakes his head; Maxwell is used to it by now that Darryl isn’t having much fun at school. He does understand it, because Darryl is also affected by the situation with his mother.

“So,” Maxwell says, “who wants some ice cream?”

Darryl and Zachary both nod and make excitement noises. Maxwell laughs and stands up, picking up the empty dishes so he can place them in the kitchen.

When he is in the kitchen to grab the ice cream the phone rings, a soft groan leaves Maxwell his lips walking towards the telephone. He grabs the telephone and doesn’t recognize the number on the screen, he still picks up the phone to see who is calling.

“Hello, this is Maxwell speaking.” He says once the phone is placed against his ear.

“Hello Maxwell,” The voice of Kate is echoing from the other side of the line. “I wonder if I can meet the boys tomorrow, to say goodbye to them.” She says.

Maxwell leans backwards a bit, looking at the table to see Zachary and Darryl waiting for their ice cream. He is in doubt whether she can see them or not but seeing that tomorrow is Thursday she will be leaving soon. He does want the boys to be able to say goodbye to their mom, so he has no other choice than to say yes.

“Yeah, you can. I’ll let my mother know, she’s watching them during the day for the time being. She will let you in so you can see the boys.” Maxwell says running his hand through his hair.

He knows the boys will be heartbroken, seeing their mother is leaving them again. This time it’s even different than the last time and Maxwell can’t do anything about it. They won’t be able to see their mother anymore if she leaves for another country.

Zachary won’t fully understand what will be happening because he’s still young, but he will have questions once he is older. Darryl will understand what’s going on, he’s a smart boy and Maxwell hated how much it affected Darryl for the first time when Kate left.

“Thank you, Maxwell, tell the boys I’ll be seeing them tomorrow.”

“Yeah, I will. Bye Kate.”

Without any reply, the phone call gets disconnected and Maxwell put down the telephone. He grabs three bowls for the ice cream and fills them up with ice cream and whipped cream before walking back towards the boys.

When Maxwell puts down the bowls in front of the boys they start digging in right away, Maxwell sits down an lets a soft sigh escape his lips, unnoticeable for the kids, before he speaks up.

“Boys, tomorrow your mother will come.” He leaves out the part that their mother must tell them something, he doesn’t want to answer the questions Darryl is going to ask him.

He doesn’t want to disappoint Darryl, so it seems best for him to just leave it out and let Kate tell them the news herself.

“Mom?” Maxwell gets out of his thoughts by Zachary his voice.

Maxwell looks up at Zachary and sees he has a big smile on his face.

“Yes, little tyke. Your mama will be here tomorrow.”

Both boys cheer happily and Maxwell sighs again, under his breath so the kids won’t notice it. He runs his fingers through his hair, pushing it back before he starts to eat his own ice cream. He hopes his mother will be able to calm the boys down once the bomb is dropped on them, if not he will cancel the rest of his appointments for that day and go home.

He knows his mother will be furious, but she will keep it in, for the sake of the boys.