FIVE YEARS LATER

“Daddy! Daddy! Watch me!”

Atlas, now five years old, was demonstrating his latest gymnastics move. All energy and confidence and fearlessness.

Just like Dashiell.

“Very impressive,” Dashiell called from the garden chair. “Now be careful. Your mom will kill me if you break something.”

“I won’t break anything! I’m strong!”

Liora emerged from the house, very pregnant with their second child.

“He’s going to break something,” she predicted, settling into the chair beside Dashiell.

“Probably. But he’ll learn.” Dashiell’s hand went to her belly. “How’s our girl?”

“Active. Takes after her brother.”

“Poor thing. Doomed to be a handful from day one.”

They watched Atlas play, joined...