Chapter 3 - THE BIRTHDAY HE FORGOT
Three months after Daniel left, Owen turned ten.
Joanna organized a small birthday party.
Six friends.
Pizza.
Chocolate cake.
A backyard soccer game.
Owen insisted he didn't want anything expensive.
But Joanna knew what he really wanted.
His father.
Two weeks earlier, Daniel had promised to come.
“I'll be there, buddy.”
Owen had smiled for the first time in days.
On the morning of the party, he put on the blue shirt Daniel had bought him the previous Christmas.
At noon, he checked the driveway.
At one, he checked again.
At two, the guests arrived.
At three, Joanna called Daniel.
No answer.
At four, Owen stopped checking.
At five, Joanna brought out the cake.
Everyone sang.
Owen blew out ten candles.
Then he asked:
“Can we save Dad a piece?”
Joanna swallowed.
“Of course.”
That evening, after the guests left, Daniel finally called.
“Hey, champ!”
Owen sat on the couch.
“Hi.”
“Happy birthday!”
“Thanks.”
“Sorry I couldn't make it. Something came up at work.”
Owen stared at the floor.
“Okay.”
“I'll make it up to you.”
“Okay.”
“How was the party?”
“Good.”
“Did you get anything cool?”
“Yeah.”
Daniel hesitated.
“You sound upset.”
Owen looked toward the kitchen, where Joanna was washing dishes.
Then he asked:
“Dad?”
“Yeah, buddy?”
“Did you forget?”
Daniel went silent.
Owen continued.
“Because if you forgot, you can just say that.”
Daniel rubbed his forehead.
“I didn't forget.”
“Then why didn't you come?”
He had no answer.
Owen waited.
Finally, Daniel said:
“Work is complicated right now.”
Owen nodded.
“Okay.”
Then he handed the phone to Joanna.
And went upstairs.
That night, Joanna found the piece of birthday cake in the refrigerator.
Owen had written a note on the container.
FOR DAD — IF HE COMES.
May you like
She stood in the kitchen holding the container.
And cried.
