“You are allowed to eat while someone else is disappointed.”
Teddy looked at his plate.
After a moment, he picked up another potato.
It was such a small movement.
Sebastian would remember it longer than anything said by the adults that night.
When the last guest left, Lavinia stayed by the window.
Rose sat nearby because Teddy asked her to.
For several minutes, the room became almost ordinary.
Forks touched plates.
The kitchen door opened and closed.
Rain began against the terrace windows.
Then Teddy looked at the cake.
“Can we still?”
Sebastian followed his gaze.
“Of course.”
“Even with eleven?”
“Yes.”
Teddy pressed his thumb into the edge of the table.
“She said if I didn’t get twenty, it would go to the staff.”
Sebastian felt anger rise so quickly he had to place both hands flat against his knees.
He looked at Rose.
She understood.
She asked Teddy whether he wanted the candles lit now or after another drink.
While his son considered the question, Sebastian turned toward Lavinia.
“Please wait in the study.”
“I’m not a member of your staff.”
“No,” he said. “And they deserve more respect than you’ve shown them tonight too.”
She stared at him.
Then she left.
Teddy immediately looked worried.
“Was that because I told?”
Sebastian faced him again.
“She needs to speak with me about her decisions. You haven’t done anything wrong by telling me what happened.”
His son nodded without looking convinced.
The chef brought matches.
Teddy counted the candles himself.
Eight.
One for each year he had already lived without needing to earn a single one.
Rose asked whether he wanted singing.
Teddy shook his head.
“Just us.”
“Just us,” Sebastian agreed.
They sang quietly.
Teddy closed his eyes before blowing out the candles.
He took longer than usual.
When he opened them, he looked at the doorway.
“Do wishes still count if you tell?”
Sebastian smiled gently.
“I don’t know. What do you think?”
