Kevin began to question the wisdom of inviting Chelsea to join them for their first Christmas since he and Deb had split up. Maybe it was too soon to expect his sons to welcome his girlfriend, or whatever she was, into their home away from home for a holiday.

Since it was far too late to turn back, he decided to make the most of it. “Everything’s ready.” He gestured to the table he’d set earlier.

“It looks really nice,” Chelsea said, taking in the table and the tree he’d put up to try to make the holiday festive.

His sons weren’t feeling the Christmas spirit, but Kevin was determined to get through the day as best they could. They sat down to dinner, and the boys dove into the food, eating like they hadn’t been fed in a month. Chelsea picked at the food on her plate, pushing the turkey around in the gravy.

“Did you get a chance to talk to your family today?” he asked her.

“I talked to my mom and stepfather this morning and my brother this afternoon. My niece and nephew told me every present Santa brought them.”

Kevin was ashamed to realize he hadn’t known she had a brother, niece or nephew. He wanted to know if her father was still alive, but he couldn’t ask that now. “How old are the kids?”

“Three and five.”

“I remember those days,” he said, glancing at Riley and Finn.

“Mom called,” Finn said.

“Oh. Good. How’s she doing?”

“Fine. She’s home by herself today.”

Kevin had to bite his tongue to keep from saying that was what she’d wanted when she ended their marriage. “So she’s at the house?”

“Uh-huh.”

That was news to Kevin, who’d been told on her way out the door that he could have the house she never wanted to see again.

Riley polished off a second plate and stood. “I’ll do the dishes.”

“I don’t mind doing them, son. Take the day off.” They’d been working long hours to help Mac finish the addition at Seamus and Carolina’s house in time for the holidays.

“Are you sure?”

“Yep.”

“Okay. I’m going to go meet some friends for a beer.”

“I’ll come with you.” Finn rose, plate in hand, to follow his brother.

“I’ll see you at Uncle Mac’s later?” Kevin asked.

“Yeah, I’ll be there,” Riley said.

“Me, too,” Finn added.

The front door closed behind them, and silence fell upon the house. Kevin released a deep breath that he’d been holding and noted Chelsea watching him from across the table, wineglass dangling between her fingers. “Sorry about that.”

“Nothing to apologize for.”

“They’re not usually so… quiet.”

“Doesn’t matter how old you are when your parents split up. It’s always hard.”

Kevin topped off her glass with more wine. “How old were you?”

“Seventeen.”