“Can I change my mind?”
“Within reason.”
“What’s within reason?”
“We can change the pizza topping. We probably can’t build a roller coaster.”
Teddy considered that.
“Probably?”
Sebastian laughed.
“Definitely.”
They chose a small sailing afternoon at a supervised lake club, followed by food at home.
Nell came.
So did four school friends.
Mara brought the correct cereal as a joke.
Rose gave him a book and stayed for cake.
There were no formal guests Teddy barely knew.
No speeches about the responsibilities of inheritance.
Sebastian still believed his son should understand the advantages he had.
They discussed those things in ordinary ways throughout the year.
They donated.
Helped.
Thanked people properly.
Listened when someone described work they did.
But none of it was payment for being loved.
At the lake, Teddy’s boat drifted into the reeds.
He became furious.
A supervisor helped retrieve it.
Teddy thanked her, then complained that the wind was cheating.
Sebastian recognized himself in that accusation.
At home, the cake waited on the dining table.
Nine candles.
Another sugar sailboat.
This one leaned the opposite way.
“Like it’s turning,” Teddy explained.
Sebastian pulled out the chair beside him.
His son looked at it.
For a brief moment, the previous birthday stood between them.
Then Teddy put his present on the table and climbed into his seat.
No question.
No permission.
Just a boy sitting down where he belonged.
After the candles, Teddy insisted on helping serve the cake.
Sebastian felt himself hesitate.
His son noticed.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
Teddy narrowed his eyes.
“Dad.”
Sebastian smiled faintly.
“I was remembering last year.”
His son looked at the cake server.
