Westen climbed out of the car and the warm sand squished between his toes. Jacksten bounced in his carrier and clapped his chubby hands. "Beach!" Westen said.
Benjamin waved from the dunes and held up his starfish bucket. The three of them marched toward the water, Jacksten waving at every seagull.
Westen built a tall tower of sand. Jacksten plopped down and immediately started pulling it apart. Benjamin laughed.
Benjamin dumped his bucket and a crab scuttled out, pinching his toe. "Yowch!" He hopped on one foot.
Westen lifted Jacksten onto his shoulders so he could reach the wet sand near the water. Together they patted and stacked.
Jacksten giggled and slapped the wall. It wobbled but held. "We did it!" Westen said.
They carried sleepy Jacksten back to the porch as the sun painted the sky orange. He rested his head on Westen's shoulder.
Benjamin handed them each a spoon and a bowl of ice cream. The three of them sat together on the porch steps.
They licked their ice cream in rhythm, spoon by spoon, under the first stars of the evening.
The beach day settled into their bones, sweet and warm and perfect.