She was always Dolly, and he was always Kenny. He tried for the high notes but failed miserably. 

Brian turned to his wife as they sang Islands in the Stream. He couldn’t help but grin. She was looking out the opened window. The sunlight glinted off her long caramel hair as it flowed in the wind.

The seagulls were squawking at each other, and the salty breeze made him excited to reach the hotel. They had been driving for over four hours, and it had been longer than a year since they had been on holiday.

Julie put her hand out the window, making it swim up and down with the wind. 

The traffic came quickly, and he braked hard. He expected the familiar quickening of his breath and tight shoulders, but they didn’t come. His breath was calm.

Julie let out a bark of laughter. Brian jumped and looked in her direction. Dogs were chasing each other on the sand, and their poor owners were running after them and falling over. 

Brian joined in the laughter, and he shared a smile with his wife.

Children were eating ice cream on a bench in the heat, not caring that most of it melted on the ground or on their faces. Brian and Julie reached the hotel and lugged their heavy bags up to their room.

She approached the balcony and leaned over it. Brian hugged her from behind. They looked out to calm waves crashing on the beach ahead.

The sun was setting, turning the sky, clouds, and water into a mix of blue, peaches, and cream. Brian couldn’t remember the last time he felt this at peace.