Teddy considered that.
Then he said, “I wished Mum could have a piece.”
Sebastian looked at the cake.
“Then let’s call her.”
For the first time that evening, Teddy smiled without checking whether someone approved.
Mara answered on the second ring.
“Birthday boy.”
Teddy leaned toward the screen.
“We’re doing candles.”
Her smile faltered.
“I thought they were at six.”
Sebastian looked at the clock again.
Nearly eight thirty now.
“We started late,” he said.
Mara looked at him over Teddy’s head.
She knew him well enough to hear what he was not saying.
Teddy held up his plate.
“It’s blue inside too.”
“I can see.”
“Can we save you some?”
“Absolutely.”
His son hesitated.
“Did you cancel because of work?”
Mara became very still.
“What?”
“The dinner.”
Sebastian’s hand tightened around the phone.
Mara looked from him to Teddy.
“Who told you I canceled?”
“Lavinia said you couldn’t come.”
There was a pause.
Then Mara answered carefully.
“I was told the dinner had changed to an adults’ event and that you wanted our celebration tomorrow instead.”
Teddy frowned.
“I wanted you today.”
“I know that now, sweetheart.”
Sebastian moved closer.
“That arrangement wasn’t explained properly. We’ll sort it out.”
Mara looked directly at him.
“Yes,” she said. “We will.”
She did not ask Teddy to repeat anything.
She asked about the cake.
The sailboat.
The book she gave him that morning.
After a few minutes, Teddy said, “Can you come anyway?”
Mara glanced at Sebastian.
He nodded.
“If you’d like to.”
“I’d like to,” she answered.
