Laurel and I arrive back at our apartment building, still dressed in our Prince Charming and Cinderella get up. She is laughing, and she keeps laughing the whole way back up to the apartment. She can’t stop talking about the silly little party we had just been to. “I honestly cannot believe you guys did all of that,” she says as she starts pulling bobby-pins out of her hair. “That little girls face when we walked in there was just priceless! You guys are just so sweet.”

I smile. “I’m glad you think so, Laurel. Mary is a sweet kid, and it’s been a rough year for her.”

“It sounds like it. I had a chance to talk to her dad at the party; it sounds like Gabe and she had been really close,” Laurel finishes pulling pins out her hair and shakes her head out to check for any she missed. Is it weird that I’m really digging the princess dress on her? Probably. I swear, I get turned on by anything.

“Yeah, they were. He was a good kid; he really cared about Mary,” I say.

“You miss him, don’t you?” she asks.

I nod. “Yeah, I do. Boxing hasn’t really been the same without him. He always had my back. And I’ve told you before that I feel like what happened was my fault. I was just supposed to come pick him up from the bar; he was celebrating his birthday. All the times he drove my drunk ass home… I couldn’t even manage to get him out of the bar without having some drinks myself. I mean, I’m not the one who pulled the trigger and killed him, but I can’t help but wonder if I hadn’t been drinking if he’s still be here.”

Laurel shakes her head. “You can’t think like that, Jonathan. You can’t keep beating yourself up about it. There’s only one persona at fault, and sooner or later the police are going to catch the son of a bitch.”

“Yeah, well, my life kind of went down the drain after that night. I can’t help but wonder if it’s been karma getting me back for-”

She stops me, cutting me off before I can continue accusing myself. “It wasn’t karma or God punishing you or whatever you want to call it. You made some mistakes, Jonathan. You were in a dark place, and you made mistakes. A lot of shit got thrown your way all at once. But the guy I saw tonight, that’s who you are. You’re a regular old Prince Charming. You’re the kind of guy who tricks a bunch of women into dressing up as Disney princesses just to make a little girls birthday special. You’re a good guy, Jonathan. And sooner or later, that bitchy ex of yours is going to realize that. You’re going to make an amazing father; I definitely saw that tonight at that party with the way you were with Mary.”

I sit down on one of the barstools, and I pull her in tight for a hug. Her big, fluffy Cinderella dress circles around my legs. I kiss her chest. “Thank you for that. I hope so. I’ve been talking to Bobby about possibly fighting a custody battle, but I hope it doesn’t come to that. I think Brandi and I have already hurt each other enough. And Bobby was being real with me the other night; he’s pretty sure it’s going to be rough getting joint custody with my drinking record and with that video of me knocking Brandi in the face and fighting with Donte in the locker room. He says the goal is joint custody, but he’s pretty sure I’ll just get visitation for a while.”

“Fuck, really?”

“Really,” I say, “So I’m hoping Brandi will lighten up before the baby gets here. I just don’t want it to come to some crazy custody battle.” My phone vibrates; I pull it out of my pocket to see I have a text message from Brandi. “Speak of the devil,” I groan and open up my phone.

“What did she say?” Laurel asks.

I’m a bit shaky. I show Laurel the text that plainly reads: It’s a girl. Thought you should know…

“Oh my God!” Laurel shrieks. “I can’t believe it! You are going to have to dress up as Prince Charming again for this little girls birthday one year.”

I laugh. It just suddenly feels so real now. “I’m having a daughter,” I say, and vocalizing it just makes it even realer. I text Brandi a sincere thank you for letting me know and ask her if she needs anything. She respond: I’m good… let me know if you have any good names in mind…

I show Laurel the text. “That’s a good sign, right? If she’s asking for my help in picking out a name, right?”

“I’d say so,” Laurel smiles and then gives me a kiss on the lips. “I’m so happy for you.”

“Laurel, this isn’t weird, is it? For you, I mean?” I ask.

“What? My boyfriend’s about to have a baby with his ex-wife? Nah,” she laughs.

“Oh, I was talking about us kissing while wearing costumes?”

“Oh,” she blushes.

“I’m joking,” I say, “But seriously. You’re really okay with all of this?”

She kisses me again. “Of course. I love you, Jonathan, and I couldn’t be happier for you. You’re going to be a dad, and I’ll be there for you every step of the way.”

“You’re amazing,” I say and kiss her again. “All right, Cinderella, you’re driving me crazy –Prince Charming wants to see what you look like out of that dress.”

She laughs. “All right, easy there, Charming.” She kisses me again, and we hurry off to the bedroom.