Atlas drives Josh three hours to Tim’s Vermont address, knowing Josh hopes his father might take him in but believing Josh will likely return to Boston with him. Josh tries to hide his nervousness behind a manga book, then delays getting out of the car once they arrive at Tim’s run-down house.

As Josh stalls, Atlas reflects on why he has not tried to talk Josh out of the visit: Josh needs to confront the truth about his father rather than keep living inside a fantasy. When Josh notices the old scars on Atlas’s arm and asks whether Tim caused them, Atlas confirms that Tim did, while trying not to force Josh’s decision.

Tim comes outside, drinking beer and going to his truck, which makes the reality of him harder for Josh to avoid. Josh asks Atlas what to do, and Atlas finally gives him honest guidance. Atlas explains his own longing for an absent father and says that capable grown men who truly care make an effort; Tim knew enough to find Josh but never tried.

Atlas tells Josh that Josh is a privilege and that Atlas would have searched relentlessly if he had known Josh existed. Josh breaks down, and Atlas adds that Sutton and Tim took twelve years from them, but he will support Josh whether Josh wants to forgive Tim or not.

Josh realizes that Tim has a truck and therefore no longer fits the excuses Josh imagined for Tim’s absence. Josh decides Tim and Sutton do not deserve him, fastens his seat belt, and chooses to leave with Atlas. He jokes that his family-tree homework can show a seedling with only two branches: him and Atlas, starting a new family tree.

Relieved and moved, Atlas agrees that their new family tree starts with them. As they drive away, Josh asks to flip Tim off; Atlas allows it, honks, and Josh curses at Tim before laughing. Atlas corrects Josh’s pronunciation of “asshole,” then reminds him to stop saying it because he is twelve.