EPILOGUE
Atlas
June - Five Years Later
My son is a high school graduate.
It doesn't feel real. The little boy I watched come into this world leaves for college in a month.
Liam and Birdie are heading to the University of North Carolina, where he'll play basketball for the Tar Heels.
Last year, when college applications were sent out, Liam and Birdie firmly told us that their staying together wasnon-negotiable.
"You're preaching to the choir, baby," Wendy had told our son, and we watched the tension unwind from his and Birdie's shoulders.
Birdie is incredibly smart and wants to become a dentist, while Liam had shyly confessed that he has been interested in psychology ever since we started attending therapy.
That narrowed the school choices down to only those with good dentistry and psychology programs.
It just so happens that UNC has both, and they want Liam to play basketball for them. Another positive is that North Carolina is just an hour away, so we'll be able to attend many home games.
Once they both received the thick envelopes containing their acceptance letters, it was a done deal.
It still warms my heart when I remember how Liam had picked Birdie up and spun her in a circle, kissing her in celebration.
Trace had grumbled at that, since he's engaged to Bonnie,and my former bachelor-for-life best friend stepped in as a father-figure to Birdie. He's rather protective of both his ladies and is happier than a pig in shit to be wrapped around their fingers.
I remind him that he cannot threaten his godson, who's no doubt going to be his son-in-law one day.
It's funny how life works out.
Loud laughter followed by a big splash sounds behind me, and I turn to see Liam's friends launching themselves in the newly installed pool in our backyard—my latest surprise for my family.
While my parents have a pool, I wanted to do something special for my wife and kids last year, especially after officially taking over for my dad at Durant Auto, so we put in an inground pool... and a hot tub that Wendy and I use veryfrequently.
"Be careful!" I call out to them.
Liam's best friend Will, who's also UNC-bound, gives me a salute before he back flips into the pool. Rolling my eyes, I'm just happy that they're all enjoying Liam and Birdie's joint graduation party.
They've become like Wendy and I—a package deal, so when we asked Liam if he wanted a graduation party, he said yes but wanted it to be his and Birdie's.
Birdie seemed tentative around the pool at first, but Liam always understood what she needed. He keeps between her and the deep end, or lets her hold onto his back as he swims.
I suspect there's a story there, but that's for them to tell me if and when they're ready.
Noah would be here, but two days ago, we dropped him off at art camp for a month. It's our baby boy's first sleepaway camp. My Wendy had cried while dropping him off, despite Noah promising her that he would be fine, that he would make so many friends, and that he would have so much fun.
And from the phone calls we get from him, we'll be lucky if he wants to come home from the fun he's having.
I've modeled myself after my wife by making sure I understand what my kids are interested in.
When Noah talks about a new artist, I look him up and familiarize myself with their work. Or when Liam talks about basketball or a new video game, I do the same thing.
It's the bare minimum as a parent, but I was severely lacking in that regard before.
I've made it my mission these last five years to be the best parent I can be to my children, and it helps a lot that my wife truly is Super Mom.
If I stumble, she's there to catch me, and vice versa. When Wendy needs a break, I send her to relax and take over.
