December 20th-

Jessica was constantly working and getting ready for the holidays. Olivia and Sean where finished with school for Christmas break. The three of them didn't have a lot of time to all be together.

Jessica decided to go out to dinner with Danny to discuss a schedule. Jessica was thankful that Danny wasn't giving her a hard time in the divorce and it would be over. All she had to do was sign the papers and it was over.

*

"Mom, when will you actually be home for a full day?" Olivia whines as Jessica packs up for work.

"Today's my last day for the year, I promise. I'm sorry I just need to get my checking account filled again." Jessica chuckles kissing Olivia's head.

"Don't worry about it mom. We understand, stop giving mom a hard time, Liv!" Sean says

"Sorry that I miss mom."

Jessica sighs and sets down her bags.

"Listen, this year is almost over. Starting January first we start fresh. We put the past behind us and move forward. We all become better people and accomplish goals for ourselves and others."

"That's a good idea, mom. So we come up with our own goals then come up with goals for others? Like others as in us three?"

Jessica nods and sits down. "Kinda. So for example my goal for next year is to get a new car."

"And a goal that we have for you is meet someone." Olivia interrupts Jessica.

"Huh?" Jessica drops her jaw

"Yea! You deserve to find someone who loves you. Like a boyfriend!" Olivia smiles

"I don't think so, I don't have time for a boyfriend."

"You'll come around." Sean says patting Jessica's back.

**

After work Jessica grabbed her things and headed to a cafe not to far away from work to meet with Danny. Jessica was a bit nervous to face him. She signed the papers and prepared to give them to Danny.

When she walked in Danny already had a table and waited for her.

He stood up and waved his hand. Jessica walked over.

"Hi." Danny says

Jessica gives him a soft smile and sits down.

"So, do you... uh do you have the." Danny stutters

"The papers, yes. Sighed and sealed." Jessica pulls out the divorce papers and hands it to him.

"I'm sorry..."

"Save it, please."

"What kind of schedule where you thinking about?" Danny changes the subject quickly and pulls out a calendar.

"The first question is where do you live? I mean I would like to know."

"Oh yea, I live closer to my office. It's a nice condo in cherry hills."

"That's like twenty minutes away from where the kids go to school. Obviously I will have them during the week." Jessica starts marking the week days on her calendar.

"Wait! Why? That means I only get weekends."

"Daniel, you live too far from their school."

"They can wake up a bit earlier."

Jessica grunts and rolls her eyes." How about you have Thursday's to Monday nights?"

"I guess that could work."

"You guess?" Jessica says in an irritable tone.

"I mean yea, that works."

"Good. I would like to have them on some weekends. Maybe every other weekend I could have them for the weekend?"

"Sure. We have to make a deal that our doors are always open for them to come and go. Let's say one of them wants to stay longer or leave earlier, we will let them."

"That sounds fair. I'm glad we could do this without the courts. It makes my life a whole lot easier."

"There is just one thing that won't make this easy, holidays."

Jessica sighs and covers her face. She starts to laugh.

"What?" Danny gets confused

"Isn't it funny, this could have all been avoided. Look at us, fifteen years of marriage and now we are sitting at a table talking about when we get to see our kids and signing divorce papers. I just wish I knew what happened."

"Jess, do we have to do this."

"You owe it to me. You left me dry, literally. You took off with our savings, my credit cards, cancelled everything, you left me dry. And I never got an explanation."

"I still ask myself what went wrong. I wonder every single day, but I can't give myself an explanation. I can assure you it was me. When I was at that seminar last May for work she was there, I was drunk, it happened, and it never stopped. I hated how things ended and how I became such an ass. But now that we are apart, we can be happy apart instead of together and unhappy."

Jessica starts to tear up and she takes a deep breath. "I guess so. Things happen I guess."

"I loved you, I beat myself up for it. But I love Justine."

"Let's just discuss our holiday schedules. I don't think I actually can talk about this." Jessica fights the tears

"You are a great women, I'm sorry."

"Sorry is beginning to lose it's meaning. I can't forgive you for what you did to not only me but our family."

**

When Jessica got home the kids had surprised her with dinner. She didn't really eat when she was with Danny. Jessica had cried the whole way home. Hearing Danny say he loved another women was heart breaking. She thought she could handle the reason why, but it turned out she couldn't. They had set up a schedule that would start next year. Everything was figured out and the court papers were put in the mail.

"Hey mom, we made pasta!" Sean smiles

Jessica rubs her eyes and smiles.

"Thank you." She says softly sitting down.

"Have you been crying?" Sean says

Jessica shakes her head and pulls out two calendars.

"No, my contacts are just bothering me." She tries to shake it off and not show her emotions.

"What are these?" Olivia says looking at the calendars.

"Your schedules for when you go to your dads and when you stay here."

They kids open them and immediately turn the pages.

"We have to go to dads on the weekends?" Olivia exclaims

"He has Thanksgiving and half the summer?" Sean says

"What the heck!" Olivia groans

Jessica covers her head and lays it on the table. She couldn't help but cry.

The kids stop complaining and look at Jessica.

"Mom, we're sorry." Sean says

"I am trying here! You know! I try so hard! I never meant for you two to have to go back and fourth from one home to another. But here we are! If you could just stop complaining, please!"

"We know you are trying. I'm sorry for making this even harder on you." Sean says

"It's just weird. This is our first Christmas as us spilt as a family. It's a lot to take in." Olivia says softly

"I know... It's hard one me too. But your dad and I agreed that you guys can wake up here on Christmas then he can pick you up at lunch time. Around dinner time I'll come get you to go to grandmas. The next day you guys will ride up with him to see your grandma and grandpa
Huston.

I'm sorry for breaking down like this, it's just been a long day. It was hard for me to see your dad today."

"Did you have to sign the divorce papers?"

Jessica nods and bites her lip as she feels more tears building up.

"Yes." She says

"I'm so sorry, mom." Olivia hugs her tightly

"You know what, it's going to be a New Year. New Year means new chances and new beginnings."

"That's the sprit mom, we love you."
Sean smiles

**

Sorry for not being very active. Schools been crazy with projects and test. I've also had lots of swim meets. And tbh I've been catching up on The Fosters.!

Any thoughts on the next story you want me to update and what your thoughts are on this... I always love hearing your feedback👇🏼👇🏼👇🏼👇🏼