446. Cool Summer Breezes

"Nothing is set in stone," Carson shrugged about the Britney matter. She was, after all, his ex. "She's going to live in Des Moines with her aunt. She'll visit the kids, like once a month."

"How's that going to work?" Gage was afraid to ask as he watched his brother turn the steaks on the grill. He'd invited Gage and his family over for dinner.

"I guess she'll stay here."

"Really?" Gage winced hard, wondering if Carson wanted to get back together with Britney.

"Well, she'll be here to see the kids, not me, and I'll probably be working, so it'll be fine."

Carson looked really calm, but Gage doubted that. He knew Carson was always thinking ahead.

"Are you really OK?" Gage wondered what he could do.

"We've got mom's place and the kids love it, and on weekends mom comes over and they do this Saturday crafting thing. So, she's actually helping me out, more than she even knows."

Gage smiled with a nod. Somehow, he never had that with their mother, but then he didn't know her as well as Carson did.

"I guess I need to see her more." Gage nodded. Usually, holidays were the only times they got together, and usually that meant Christmas. Besides, his mother was still a little aloof, like maybe she didn't think Gage wanted her around. Still, he wanted her to know his kids, too. "Maybe we can drop in to see her on a Saturday or something."

"Oh, I know the kids would love that," Carson smiled.

About then, the kids sped out to the back yard to chase each other, or maybe it was some kind of ball game with their own rules. It felt like a hive of bees following each other. Soon enough, they were chasing each other back into the house. 

"Well, at least I know Alec won't keep me up tonight," Gage yawned. He was having a devil of a time getting Alec back on schedule to be ready for school in a week or so.