The car climbed toward Dubrovnik. Karlo pressed his nose to the window. Stone walls and red roofs slid past one by one.
At the party, everyone cheered. A paper crown sat crooked on Karlo's head. Juraj blew out the candles.
Karlo peeked into the crib. Borna was so small his eyelashes made little shadows on his cheeks. One finger, and Borna's tiny hand closed around it.
Karlo rocked the baby gently, humming a soft lullaby. The baby's fingers squeezed and unsqueezed his finger. Karlo whispered, "I'm your big brother."
Back at the campsite, the sky opened up into a million stars. Karlo lay on his back and watched them all.
Karlo slept under the stars. His tent was small under the big sky.
In his dream, a tiny hand wrapped around Karlo's finger. He smiled in his sleep.
The stars kept watching over the campsite. And Karlo kept dreaming.