The next morning, he placed it on the birthday table beneath the park pavilion.
Caleb saw it for the first time shortly before noon.
He stopped walking.
His mouth fell open.
Then he grabbed his father's hand.
"Daddy."
Marcus looked down.
"Yeah?"
"That's my cake?"
"Unless another Superman is having a birthday here."
Caleb ran toward the table.
He examined the frosting, the decorations, and the seven tiny candles.
He moved around the cake to see the emblem from every angle.
Then he turned toward Marcus.
"You got me the best cake in the whole world."
Marcus crouched.
"Well, you happen to be the best kid in the whole world."
Caleb threw his arms around him.
"Thank you, Daddy."
Marcus hugged him.
In that moment, the cake was worth every dollar.
Not because it was expensive.
Because his son's happiness made the world feel gentle again.
Riverside Community Park was especially beautiful that afternoon.
Tall oak trees shaded the walking paths.
A children's playground stood near a wide green lawn.
Beyond the picnic area, a wooden pavilion overlooked a small pond where ducks moved lazily through the water.
The sky was clear.
The temperature hovered in the upper seventies.
A warm breeze occasionally stirred the leaves and sent the balloons dancing above the picnic tables.
Marcus had arrived early with two friends to set everything up.
His neighbor, Anthony Lewis, helped carry coolers.
Anthony's wife, Rachel, arranged paper plates and decorated the tables.
A family friend named Denise organized the children's games.
By eleven-thirty, the pavilion looked like something from a birthday magazine.
Red, yellow, and blue balloons formed an arch.
A handmade banner read HAPPY BIRTHDAY, CALEB!
The tablecloth was covered with colorful balloon illustrations.
Wrapped presents stood beneath the gift table.
A portable speaker played cheerful music.
And the birthday cake occupied the center of the main table, where everyone could see it.
Marcus wore a simple fitted gray T-shirt, dark-blue jeans, and sneakers.
Caleb refused to change out of his Superman costume.
Not even when Marcus warned him that the red cape might get caught on playground equipment.
"I need the cape," Caleb insisted.
"Why?"
"Because Superman has one."
Marcus nodded solemnly.
"Excellent point."
The first guests began arriving shortly after noon.
Children ran across the grass.
Parents carried gift bags.
Someone brought an enormous bowl of fruit salad.
A little girl wearing a pink dress handed Caleb a homemade birthday card.
He thanked her and carefully placed it beside the gifts.
Within half an hour, the children were playing superhero rescue.
Caleb had appointed himself Superman.
Another boy was Batman.
Two girls decided they were astronauts who could fly.
A younger child insisted on being a dinosaur.
No one objected.