"Grandpa?"
Marcus's smile faded.
"Yes?"
"Why is Daddy crying?"
Marcus sat on the edge of the bed.
"Something bad happened at his birthday party."
Lily looked at the photograph.
"What happened?"
Marcus considered how much to explain.
Her father had already spoken to her about the incident in age-appropriate ways, but she had never seen the old image.
"A police officer got angry and destroyed his birthday cake."
Lily stared at him.
"On purpose?"
"Yes."
Her face tightened.
"That's horrible."
"It was."
"Did you stop him?"
"I couldn't stop him before the cake was destroyed."
Lily looked toward the photograph again.
"But you're holding Daddy."
Marcus nodded.
"Yes."
"Was he scared?"
"Very."
She studied the image.
Then she placed it carefully on the bed.
"Did the police officer say sorry?"
Marcus answered thoughtfully.
"He was held responsible through an investigation and a court case. I don't know that he ever gave your father the apology he needed."
Lily frowned.
"That's sad."
Marcus nodded.
"It is."
The girl looked at the cape hanging from her shoulders.
"Did Daddy stop liking Superman?"
"For a while."
"Why?"
"Because the costume reminded him of what happened."
Lily touched the fabric.
"Does it still?"
Marcus smiled gently.
"Not the same way."
She thought about that.
Then she asked, "Can we put this in a frame so it doesn't get ruined?"
Marcus looked surprised.
"You want to frame it?"
"Yes. And put a picture of Daddy smiling next to it."
He felt his eyes sting.
"That's a very good idea."
Lily smiled.
"Because this is his happy costume too."
Marcus nodded.
"Yes, sweetheart."
For the first time, he realized that the old Superman costume no longer belonged only to the worst memory of Caleb's childhood.
It had become something the next generation could understand without carrying the same fear.
The following Christmas, Lily gave Caleb a large framed display.
Inside was the old costume, carefully preserved behind protective glass.
Beside it was the photograph taken before the birthday confrontation.
Seven-year-old Caleb stood smiling beside the Superman cake.