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There's roo her first

Will sets the e as he walks up to o of him, to break the hold he has on me It hasn't worked It hasn't worked a damn bit

He takes my face in his hands and wipes my tears aith his thumbs "I love you, Lake," he sainst mine "You deserve to co else in the entire room fades; the only sound I hear is the crash of the walls I've built up around round

"I love you, too I love you so s his lips to mine and I throw my arms around him and kiss him back Of course I kiss hiue:

"But when I think

I just

Out of this

My parents taught me to learn

When I miss

Just do your best

Just do your best"

-The Avett Brothers, When I drink

Epilogue

I walk around the living roo paper and stuff it into the sack "Did y'all like your presents?" I ask

"Yes!" Kel and Caulder yell in unison I gather the last of the wrapping paper and tie the ends of the trash bag together and head outside to throw it away

As I's toward et that, Babe," he says as he takes the bag out of my hands and carries it to the curb He walks back to where I' his face in my neck

"Merry Christmas," he says

"Merry Christether The first without my mother She passed away in September this year, alan It was hard It was extremely hard

When someone close to you dies, the memories and recollections of therief that theas much; when the recollections beco about the person's death, and res about their life

Having Will by raduation, he applied to get his Master's in Education He didn't take the job at the Junior High after all Instead, he lived off of student loans for another seraduated

Will takes my hand as alk back inside the house The a roo

"I'll be back, last load," Will says as he takes a stack of Caulder's things and walks back out the front door This is his third trip across the street, transferring all of Caulder's new toys to their house

"Kel, these can't all be yours," I say as I scan the living roo them up and take them to the spare bedrooift chaos all over the living roo, I wrap up the cord and return the vacuum to the hallway closet Will walks in the front door with two gift sacks in hand

"Uh, oh Hoe forget those?" I ask just before I call the boys into the living room

"These aren't for the boys These are for you and Kel" He walks to the couch and motions for Kel and I to take a seat

"Will, you didn't have to do this You already got me Avett Brothers tickets," I say as I settle into the sofa

He hands the sacks to us and kisses me on the forehead "I didn't They aren't from me"

He takes Caulder's hand and they quietly slip out the front door I look at Kel and he just shrugs

We simultaneously rip the tissue out of the sacks and pull out envelopes "Lake" is sprawled across the front in

My hands are weak as I slide the paper out of the envelope I run my arm across my eyes and wipe away my tears as I unfold my letter

To my babies,

Merry Christht you both by surprise There is just soadvice, but I couldn't leave without reiterating a few things in writing You s now, but someday you will I wasn't able to be around forever, but I hope that na is good Wait until a day when there is no bad news, and bake a dana

-Find a balance between head and heart Hopefully you've found that Lake, and you can help Kel sort it out when he gets to that point

-Push your boundaries, that's what they're there for

-I' this snippet fro worth sharing, like the love that let us share our name"

-Don't take life too seriously Punch it in the face when it needs a good hit Laugh at it

-And Laugh a lot Never go a day without laughing at least once

-Never judge others You both know good and well how unexpected events can change who a person is Always keep that inwithin their own life

-Question everything Your love, your religion, your passions If you don't have questions, you'll never find answers

-Be accepting Of everything People's differences, their similarities, their choices, their personalities Soood collection The saoes for people

-Choose your battles, but don't choose very many

-Keep an open et in

-And last but not least, not the tiniest bit least Never regret

Thank you both for giving me the best years of my life

Especially the last one

Love,

Mom