***
With three young children, my husband and I hadn’t been on a vacation in a long time.
Finally, this summer, Martin came home early. He was smiling in a way I hadn’t seen in a long time.
“Pack a bag, Em. We’re going to the ocean!”
I blinked at him. “The ocean?!”
I tried to keep the peace.
“Yes. Flights, hotel, the whole thing! Two weeks. Just us and the kids! I booked it last week.”
I don’t cry easily, but I put my hand over my mouth. I’d grown up in Ohio. I’d seen the ocean in movies and on other people’s Instagram accounts, but never with my own eyes and my own feet in the sand.
“Martin, I’ve never actually seen it!”
“I know. That’s the point!”
Dorah started jumping. Noah asked if there would be sharks. Ben repeated the word “ocean” as if it were a spell.
