Stanley paused, then laughed like it was all no big deal.

"Babe, don't be like this. So I dropped Archie off first—what's the big deal? Why are you mad at a little kid? Look, Luca didn't eat his cake yesterday, right? I'll book a place and get a new one. We'll celebrate tonight, okay?"

That voice—sweet, like he was coaxing a toddler.

I wanted to shut it down.

But Luca looked up at me, hopeful.

"Mom, he still has two chances left. Please? I want him at my birthday."

I sighed. Long and slow.

"Okay."

***

Maybe it was Stanley's promise, but Luca was buzzing the whole ride home.

"Mom, what kind of cake do you think Dad'll get? Maybe a Transformers one? I didn't open my gift yesterday. After we blow out the candles, can we open Dad's? He promised me a Lego set this year."

He kept going like we were back before Hallie and her kid showed up in our lives.

I smiled, heart soft.

"For sure. You told him, like, a hundred times you love Transformers. He'll remember."

At 7 sharp, I brought Luca to the restaurant.

Stanley was already there, an eight-inch cake on the table.

Luca let go of my hand and ran.

"Da—"

"Daddy!"

A louder voice cut him off.

Archie shot out of the bathroom and launched into Stanley's arms.

"Daddy, the bathroom here's tiny. Not like Disneyland's. When are you taking me again? I wanna sit on your shoulders and watch fireworks!"

He looked up, soaking in all the attention.

Disneyland?

Luca's excitement vanished.

I didn't have to guess—he was already wondering when that trip happened, and why he wasn't there.

He bit his lip. Voice barely a whisper.

"Dad, I want to—"

"Stanley!"

Hallie popped up outta nowhere, all smiles like some perfect wife-mom combo.

"Archie ran ahead. I could barely keep up. Loretta, you're here too? Sit—Archie's about to cut the cake."

She said it like she was hosting and Luca and I were just tagging along.

"Archie's cutting the cake?"

Luca blinked up at Stanley, confused.

"Dad, didn't you say it was my birthday? I wanna blow out the candles..."

Stanley frowned, already annoyed. "Why are you being difficult? It's just a cake. Let Archie have this. Be good, okay?"

Here we go again.

I shut my eyes, drained.

Part of me wanted to grab Luca and leave.

But more than that—I needed him to see who his dad really was. So he could finally let go.

The box opened.

Not the cake Luca wanted.

Raspberry filling—his least favorite.

I watched, ice-cold, as Stanley shoved candles into it and popped a party hat on Archie.

Then he slid the cake in front of Archie and let him blow out the candles.

First slice? Archie handed it to Hallie.

"Mom, you eat it."

The boy, curled up in Stanley's lap, nudged the plate toward her.

Then kissed Stanley's cheek.

"Dad, you and Mom eat together."

Luca snapped.

Eyes glassy, voice cracking—"He's my dad!"

Hallie blinked, then instantly welled up.

"Stanley, I'm sorry—I didn't raise Archie right. Luca's just jealous... because of me. Archie just really wants a dad..."

Archie started bawling. "Daddy, you are my daddy! You're not gonna stop wanting me, right? I don't wanna be a kid without a dad!"

Stanley panicked, trying to hush him.

"Don't cry, don't cry. Luca didn't mean it. I'm your dad. Just yours."

"Stanley Gibson." My voice was ice. "Think hard. You've got two chances left. You really choosing him over Luca?"

***

Stanley froze.

He looked at me, panicked, like he wanted to explain—but Archie's sobs pulled him back.

After a beat, he glanced at us with that weak, sorry expression.

"I'm sorry," he whispered.

Then he turned, hugging Archie tight.

"Don't cry, Archie. You're my only child. I'm only your dad."

Drip.

Luca's tears hit the floor.

He slipped his hand into mine, voice raw.

"Mom, let's go. I don't want a birthday anymore. I just wanna go home."

"Okay." My voice cracked. I held him close and didn't look back.

"Wait," Stanley called after us.

He darted to the table, sliced the ruined cake, and held it out.

"Luca, happy birthday."

Luca bit his lip so hard I felt it in my bones. Then, quiet but sharp:

"Thank you, Mr. Gibson."

Stanley flinched.

Took a step forward—then Hallie tugged him back.

"Stanley, Archie's waiting to eat cake with you."

He lowered his head. Turned around.

Didn't look back.

I knew what he was telling himself—

'It's fine. There's still one more chance.'

***

That night, I changed the locks.

Tossed all Stanley's stuff onto the lawn.

Luca just stood there, silent.

Then the lawyer showed up, pulling the divorce papers from her bag.

"Ms. Lynn, here's the draft you asked for."

I skimmed it, double-checked everything, and grabbed the pen.

Just as I was about to sign, Luca ran over with a gift box clutched to his chest.

"Mom, wait. Can we open Dad's gift first? He still has one more chance. Please—just let me be done with it."

He smiled, but it hit harder than tears.

He wasn't ready. Not yet.

I ruffled his hair, stayed quiet, and handed him the scissors.

The box was way too light—no shot it had the Lego set he'd been waiting on.

But he was right. If we were ending this, it had to be all the way.

He snipped through the wrap. Underneath—Lego box.

His eyes lit up, fingers shaking as he popped it open.

Smile started, then stalled.

"Why... is it empty?"

He ripped through the whole thing. Nothing.

Just a ripped scrap of paper:

[Archie got bored of his toys, so I let him have yours first. I'll get you another one later.]

Drip.

Luca's tears hit the note.

That was it. Last chance—gone.

He dropped the paper, picked up the pen, and handed it to me.

"Mom, sign it."

Then Stanley's voice cut in.

"Sign what?"

He'd just finished calming Hallie and her kid, eased through the half-open door, still wearing that clueless smile.

"What are you two talking about?"