Epilogue
EPILOGUE
CALEB
Casen and Quinn’s High School Graduation
“ A re you crying?” Halle’s tone is almost accusatory.
“No,” I huff, even though that’s exactly what I’m doing.
Every time I think about the boys heading to college in just a few short months, I get choked up. It’s been a privilege to watch them grow and flourish over the past few years. I’m looking forward to seeing what they do in the future.
“You totally are,” Halle laughs.
I wipe beneath my eyes. “ Can’t help it. Look at them.” Both over six-foot now, they tower over most of their graduating class.
When Casen’s name is called, he crosses the stage to receive his diploma. Quinn is next.
It’s going to be quiet when they’re gone, but not for long.
On instinct, my hand finds the small swell of Halle’s stomach. It’s only just popped out, and it’s the cutest thing I’ve ever seen. I drive her insane talking to the baby every night, but she humors me. We don’t know yet if it’s a boy or girl, and we aren’t going to find out until delivery. Truthfully it doesn’t matter to either of us. We just want a healthy baby.
The decision to have a baby wasn’t an easy one. We’ve talked about it often over the past few years, discussing how perfect our family already was. The two of us, along with the twins and Seda. In the end, we decided one more just might make our family that much better.
“Daddy, you’re such a sap,” Seda says from my left.
The only reason she still calls me Daddy at this age is because she calls Thayer Dad, but I hope she never stops. It makes me feel like she’s still a little girl and not like she’s fourteen.
“I can’t help it.” I’ve probably always been a little too tender-hearted, but I’d rather care too much than too little.
“Are you going to cry at my graduation?” she asks.
Halle snorts. “He’s going to sob like a baby.”
Seda giggles, giving my knee a pat. “I’ll make sure you have tissues, Daddy. Don’t worry.”
“Thanks, sweetie.”
The ceremony comes to an end, and caps are tossed in the air. Then we head down the auditorium steps to meet with the boys.
Quinn is there first, scooping Seda up and spinning her around before setting her down and ruffling her hair. As a blush stains her cheeks, I count backward from ten to calm myself. I thought by now her crush on the twins would’ve faded, but if anything, it’s only gotten worse.
“Congratulations,” she says to him. “And to you too,” she adds when Casen joins us, his fingers tangled with his girlfriend’s.
Seda’s face contorts with annoyance every time the poor girl is around. God help me. The only good thing about this crush is that it has kept her from going after other boys. But once they’re gone for college, who knows what will happen.
Casen gives Halle a hug. “We wouldn’t have gotten here without you, sis.”
“What about us?” The question comes from Thelma. “Don’t forget about us now.”
Thelma and Cynthia sat in the bottom row so they didn’t have to climb the stairs.
“We could never forget about our other favorite women.” Quinn throws an arm around Thelma’s shoulders.
“Yeah.” Casen does the same with Cynthia. “We’re going to miss you.”
“Well, you’re not leaving yet,” Thelma gripes. “So stop trying to say goodbye. We have a few more months before we have to do that.”
“Don’t worry,” says Casen. “We’ll come back and see you as often as we can.”
“You better.” Cynthia pokes his side .
The boys’ unlikely friendship with our elderly neighbors has never wavered. In fact, sometimes I think they spend more time over at their house than ours.
It’s incredible to watch, and it’s been good for them all.
“We’re going to head out. We’ll see you later.” Cynthia hugs each of the boys and has to pry Thelma—who I swear is wiping away a tear—away.
“What are your plans?” Halle asks the twins. “Your party isn’t until seven.”
Quinn and Casen exchange a look. “We thought we could all get a late lunch together,” Quinn answers.
“Oh.” My wife’s face lights up in genuine surprise. “I thought you’d want to hang out with your friends.”
“We’ll see them later,” Casen says.
“I’ve gotta go.” His girlfriend stands on her tiptoes to kiss him. “See you later.”
Seda doesn’t even try to hide her eye roll at the display of affection.
“Lunch it is then.” Halle claps once. “We’ll meet you guys at the car?”
The twins melt into the crowd, though it’s still easy to pick them out with their heads sticking far above the rest, and with an eye on Seda and a hand on Halle’s waist, I guide my girls through the crowd.
Outside, the sun is shining, and the air is warm. Seda, too cool to be seen with us when there are so many teenagers around, hustles ahead.
Halle strolls easily beside me, taking in the row of bushes and flowers planted along the walkway.
“What are you thinking about?” I ask .
She gives me a soft smile. “You.”
“Me?” I laugh.
“I was thinking about how if you hadn’t been so persistent, then we wouldn’t be here right now. I wouldn’t be this happy. You never gave up on me. Thank you.”
“We never gave up on each other.”
She often forgets all she did for me back then too. When we met, I was a scarred man who was barely clinging to a hope that I could find my person. Then she showed up, the light I was waiting for all along.
I pull her closer and press a kiss to the side of her head.
Every day she shows me just how important I am to her.
With Halle, I never question if I’m second best.