Later on that day, Patrick and his sisters learned that their father was already gone.

"I don't want Dad to move out!" exclaimed Alicia who was getting upset again.

"We don't want him to go either," said Tricia and Patrick.

"Sorry, kids," said their mother.

"I don't care. I don't want you to get a divorce," said Patrick as he ran to his room.

"Will we see him again?" asked Alicia.

"Yes, you'll be visiting him every other weekend," replied Mrs. Gomes. "So, he already packed everything and left."

"Okay," said the girls.

"I agree," said Tricia.

"Let's go talk to him," said her twin.

They went to their brother who was still in his room.

"Mom said we'll able to see Dad every other weekend," said Tricia.

"We are?" asked Patrick.

"Yes," replied Alicia.

"Oh, I still don't want Dad to leave," said Patrick.

"Mom said Dad took everything with him," added Tricia. "He may need our help when he moves to a new house."

"I'm going to be with Stephanie again," said Patrick.

Two minutes later, Patrick told his mom and left the house.

Stephanie was having dinner when she heard a knock on the door. She got up to answer it.

"Hi, Patrick, is everything okay?" asked Stephanie.

"I'm just too hurt. Dad left while we were with you. I needed to clear my mind, so I figured I'd come here for now," said Patrick. "Mom knows I'm here."

"Oh, you can come in," said his friend. "It'll be alright."

"It's going to take me awhile to get used to the divorce," said Patrick.

"I know," agreed the nine-year-old.

"Tricia and Alicia informed me we'd be visiting Dad every other weekend," continued Patrick.

"That's good to hear," said Stephanie.

"But it's going to be tough to go back and forth," said Patrick.

"That's true, but I'm sure one day you'll get used to the idea," said Stephanie comforted him. "Just like I'll try to adjust my mom's death."

"I hope so," said Patrick.

"It'll just take some time," said Stephanie.

"I'm lucky to have you as my friend because you always find a way to make me feel better," said Patrick.

"That's what friends are for," smiled the nine-year-old.

At seven-thirty, Patrick left for home. His father was there saying good-bye to the kids.

"I'm going to miss you," said Patrick.

"I'm going to miss you, too, sport, all of you will start visiting me when I get a new house," said Mr. Gomes. "Plus you'll be seeing me every holiday as well, so you'll be seeing on Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, New Year's Day, etc."

"Oh, good," said Patrick.

"We're glad about that, too," said Tricia.

Mr. Gomes said good-bye to the kids for the final time.

"For now, I'm going to be with your grandparents when you visit me," said Mr. Gomes.

"Okay, Dad," said Alicia.

That was when Mr. Gomes got in the car and drove off.

"At least we'll be visiting him a lot," said Tricia.

"Yeah," said Alicia.

"I wish we'd be visiting him every weekend because every other weekend isn't enough," said Alicia.

"Stephanie said it'll take some time for us to get used to it," Patrick told his sisters.

"That's true," agreed Tricia.

The End