For Tonya

They stood arm in arm in the sand watching the sunset. He was now ninety, she seventeen years younger. The age difference had seemed insurmountable when she was 15 and had an intense crush on him. But 26 years later, when on that fateful day they had met on the beach, he had accepted her into his life with no questions asked. They had now been married for 32 years.

  He had slowed down, they only came to walk the beach a few times a year now. He would lean on her as they made their way through the loose sand until they got to where it was hard packed and easier for him to walk. He still had his infectious smile, sparkling blue eyes and quick wit. She had also slowed with age but never tired of helping the man she loved, they were always there for each other.

  They clung to each other as they looked out over the water, he kissed the top of her head, “I love you, you know.”

  She smiled up at him,”I know.”

  “I’m glad I found you that day on the beach.”

  “I thought I found you,” she laughed, “Or stalked you.”

  He laughed as he thought of the woman that had been following him down the beach, at a respectable distance mind you. But he still had sensed she was there to see him. He had been flattered, it had been years since the show had been on and he was at the height of his fame, along with his best friend, that was still after all this time his best friend.

  They would fly to England where his friend now lived for visits, and he would come stay with them, but the older they got the visits turned to phone calls and then video chats as time marched on.

  Now he painted and she would tend a small garden in the back of the small ranch house they now owned. In the evenings they would sit holding hands until it got dark and the bugs came out. Then they would go inside, he would start a fire in the fireplace and she would make mugs of hot tea. They would curl up on the couch, as they had always done, just enjoying each other’s company, sipping tea and laughing. They had the perfect life even though they had found each other in their later years.

  It was growing late and time to head back to the car, leaving always made her sad. She knew in the not too distant future their trips to the beach would be a thing of the past. Sensing her sadness he said, “We will be back soon.” She merely nodded, unable to speak, knowing one day it wouldn’t be true.

  He leaned more heavily on her as they made their trek back to the car. She knew their adventures to the beach tired him out but he refused to give them up.

  She helped him into the car, put the top down so they could enjoy the breeze on the way home. She glanced over as she pulled out onto the road, he was already asleep. She didn’t see an old man, but the dark curly headed man that had entertained her in her youth, driving fast in his red car with the white stripe, and busting criminals with his best friend. Tears sprang to her eyes as she tried to hold on to the moment, wishing time would stop. She wanted to remember them forever young.

Six months later-

   She stood on the beach, this time alone. She wrapped her arms around herself as she tried not to cry but the tears spilled down her face anyway. She had promised him that she would still come to the beach even after he was gone. It was the hardest thing she had ever done.

  Three months ago his best friend had preceded him in death. He had been broken-hearted that he had been unable to make the long trip to pay his respects. But his health had started to decline shortly after their trip to the beach. It had been their last. He had hung on as long as he could, she knew it was for her.

  Finally, on a particularly bad night as she sat at his bedside, she took his hand, “I’ll be alright love, go be with your best friend, he misses you.” A few hours later he was gone. She gently kissed his lips for the last time.

  “Grandma!” The sound of her name being called brought her out of her thoughts. His grandson, named for him, came running across the sand toward her. He looked so much like his grandfather it made her heart hurt and fill with joy at the same time. He was tall like his grandfather, had the same blue eyes, dark curly hair, wit and humor. He put his arm around her shoulders, “Come on, everyone is waiting.”

  “Daddy!” Called a little boy running full tilt toward them. Another carbon copy of her beloved husband. They weren’t her blood, but they were her family. The little boy grabbed her other hand, “Come on Great Grandma!”

  She smiled at them both, then turned around for one last look at the water, she could feel him smiling down on her. “Goodbye my love,” she mouthed silently. She slowly walked with them across the sand. She knew she would keep coming back as long as she could to honor him.

  The End