Sunday morning consisted of shopping and getting the things I needed for the desserts for the Christmas dinner. I picked up the ingredients for pumpkin pie, a red velvet cake, and sugar cookies. I also got frosting and sprinkles so Cam could decorate the cookies. I got myself a new outfit, a Red one shoulder tunic and black leggings. I also got the kids something to wear - a red plaid shirt for Cam, and a pretty red dress for Madelyn. When we were driving home I decided to call Brian. “Hey babe” he said when he answered. “What are you up to” I asked “Oh not much, helping you look for a dog for Cam, Pinkly is helping me out. I’ve found a few, I could come over later and show you.” “Oh thanks Bri! That’d be great!” “What are you doing B?” “Driving home,” I sighed, “we went shopping for clothes and groceries. I’ve gotten my desserts planned out, now I’m just praying that I don’t ruin them” I said, hearing a laugh on the other end “I’m sure they’ll be fine.” We continued talking until I got to my house, and noticed a figure sitting on my porch. “Oh fuck.” I gasped. “Brook? Babe what’s wrong?” “Bri, my ex is here. I gotta call you back.” I disconnected and got out of the car. “What do you want Drew? Who gave you my address?” “Well, your mom told my mom. I got it out of her.” he said “Why? Are you not happy to see me?” “Um, no I’m not happy to see you. What the fuck do you want?” I asked angrily. “I wanted to see my kids, what else would I want? I didn’t come here to see you.” he argued. “How did you even get the money to come out here? You don’t even pay child support.” “You know what, that’s none of your fuckin business, now let me see my kids.” he started getting angry. By now he was halfway to my car, and Cam spotted him. “DADDY!” He yelled and opened the door. He ran right to him and hugged him. “Okay, look. You can spend a few hours with them but that’s it. I’m not doing this shit Andrew. If you come out here you HAVE to let me know.” I said to him “I mean I don’t care if you come to see the kids, but you can’t do it on such short notice.” “Okay” he said “Thanks. I brought them some Christmas gifts, do they have to wait to open them?” “No, go ahead. I gotta bake some cookies so you can come inside. You’re not leaving with them, I don’t trust you.” I said as I got back in my car to pull it into the garage.

Once we were all inside I checked my phone, I had a text from Brian. “Is everything okay? Do I need to come over?” I had another, this one was from Zack “Brook are you ok? If you don’t answer in the next ten minutes I’m picking up Bri and we’re coming over.” Shit. I thought. I replied and told them everything was okay, and that I’d be fine. I mixed the sugar cookie dough and cut out the shapes, by the time they were finished baking and on the cooling rack it was time for Cameron’s nap. “Okay Drew, it’s time for his nap.” I told him. “Okay, I was about to have to leave anyway, I have to catch a flight back tonight.” He kissed the kids, and told Cam he would be back later. I got Cam down for his nap and walked back into the living room. “Seriously, you cannot do this again. You scared the shit out of me, sitting on the porch like that.” I told him when suddenly there was a knock on the front door. “Hang on a sec” I told him as I opened the door, which revealed Brian on the other side. “Hey, Bri, what are you doing here?” I asked him “I came by to show you those dogs I found for you, there’s one that I’m pretty sure you’re gonna fall in love with” he said with a grin. “Oh shit sorry, I forgot, come on in” I said as he walked in and kissed me on my cheek. “Brian, this is the kids’ dad, Andrew. Andrew, this is my boyfriend Brian.” “Boyfriend? You’ve barely been out here three weeks and you already have a boyfriend? Are you fucking kidding me?” Andrew asked angrily. “Last time I checked my personal life is no longer any of your business. I don’t ask you about you girlfriend, don’t ask me about my boyfriend. You can leave now.” I said as I pointed to the door. “Fine, you don’t have to be such a bitch. I’ll let you know the next time I come to see my kids.” He said as he walked out the door, slamming it in his wake. “Wow.” Brian said. “That guy’s a dick. So, boyfriend hmm?” he said with a smirk. “Well, it was the first thing that popped into my head. It makes sense to me though.” I said as he wrapped his arms around me “it makes sense to me too babe” he said as he gave me a kiss. “Let’s look at those dogs.”

After about an hour of looking at different dogs I found one that I fell in love with. “Oh Brian, he’s perfect. There’s Bruce.” He was a blue pit. Slate gray with white markings, and the most beautiful blue eyes I had ever seen on a dog. As soon as I saw the picture I knew I had to have him. “I need to call the seller ASAP” I said, getting up to find my phone. “I already called them. We can pick him up tomorrow” he said with a grin. “Oh my god, thank you thank you thank you!” I said, peppering his face with kisses “best boyfriend ever!” I exclaimed as he chuckled, “Did they say how much?” “Don’t worry about that, I want to buy it for you guys. Consider it a gift from me.” Brian said with a smile. “Gifts. Shit. Holy shit. I gotta buy everyone a gift. Brian I totally forgot! Will you help me, please?” I asked. “Sure babe, we can go as soon as Cam wakes up from his nap.” “Okay, I’m gonna put the cookies in a container really quick so they don’t go stale and I’ll help Cameron decorate them tomorrow.” As soon as I put the lid on the container, I heard little feet running down the hall. “Mama! Where are you?” he said crying “Cam I’m right here baby” I said, meeting him in front of the hallway, “What’s wrong babe? You okay?” “Mama I thought you left. I thought I was all by myself.” He cried. I pulled him into a hug, “Ssh baby, I didn’t go anywhere. I would never leave you all by yourself. I promise.” I said as I dried his tears. “Hey babe, Brian is here, do you want to go shopping with him?” He instantly perked up “Brian!” He shouted as he jumped in his lap “let’s go Brian” “Buddy, I think you need to change out of your pjs first” he laughed “and we have to wait for your mom and sister too.” “Oh, right. I go find my clothes Bri!” he got up and ran back to his bedroom. I sat back down on the couch. “That’s the third time he’s done that since we’ve moved here” I sighed “I don’t know why he thinks I would leave him.” “Babe he’s in a new place. He’ll be ok.” He said as he kissed my head. Madelyn woke up in her swing and started whining. “I got her” he said as he got up and walked over to the baby “hey pretty baby, I missed you.” he said as he got her out and kissed her head. “Want mama to feed you? I bet you’re hungry” he cooed to her as she smiled back at him. Where the hell has he been all my life? I thought, my kids adore him. Hell I adore him. I fed Madi and put her in her car seat. “We ready to go boys?” I asked Brian and Cam, who were reading a book in the floor. “Yeah! Come on Bri!” Cam cheered. We got in the car and were off to the mall.

We finished shopping for everyone and were totally exhausted. We decided to order some take out and pick it up on the way home. Cameron was dozing off in the back seat, and I’m pretty sure I was too. “Tired babe?” Brian asked with a smile “Hmm? Yeah. I didn’t sleep good last night. Hopefully I’ll sleep better tonight.” I replied. I had been up all night trying to figure out what to buy Brian for Christmas. I decided that I’d call Jimmy tomorrow and have him help me. After dinner I changed Cameron into his pajamas and got him ready for bed, then went and changed into sweats and a t-shirt. I walked back out into the living room and Brian smirked and said “nice shirt” I looked down and blushed, it was one of my Avenged Sevenfold shirts. “Thanks. It was the first shirt I grabbed” I said with a smile. I sat down next to him on the couch, and picked up Madelyn so she could sleep in my arms. A few minutes into the movie we were watching I was sound asleep, curled up next to Brian with Madelyn on my chest.