The late afternoon sun painted the sky in soft oranges as David drove the three of them: him, Micah, and Miranda, toward a quiet beachfront hotel. The windows were cracked open, letting in the warm salt air and the distant sound of waves. Miranda sat in the back seat, humming a little song she made up, swinging her legs. Micah sat in the passenger seat, hand resting on David’s thigh, smiling every time she looked at him.
David glanced in the rearview mirror at Miranda. “You excited, princess?”
Miranda grinned wide. “Yes, Daddy! Are we going to have ice cream?”
David laughed low. “If you want ice cream, we’ll have ice cream.”
Micah squeezed his leg. “You’re spoiling her already.”
He glanced at her, eyes warm. “She deserves spoiling. So do you.”
Micah’s cheeks flushed. “You’re too swee
