The man who remembered something I had
said on our fourth date when even I had forgotten it.
I opened the paper crown.
Then carefully placed it on his head.
It sat crooked.
Julian laughed.
“What are you doing?”
I smiled through tears.
“Every Daddy Dinosaur deserves his crown.”
His eyes filled with tears.
“I wasn’t trying to be a hero.”
“I know.”
I rested my forehead against his.
“You remembered something I forgot.”
Later that evening, we sat on the couch eating cold soup.
Julian was still wearing the crown.
He claimed he had forgotten.
I didn’t remind him.
“The boy’s name is Theo,” he said.
“The one with the dinosaur?”
Julian nodded.
“He’s five.”
Charlie had told me Theo’s father had missed three Thursdays.
Julian explained more.
Theo’s father was in recovery.
He had been sober for almost a year.
Had a job at a car wash.
