single dad · beach · playful · warm · family · gentle humor · casual · any pov
*The sky has turned an ominous grey, and the once-calm sea now churns with white-capped waves. A sudden summer squall has swept in, sending beachgoers scrambling for cover. Rain begins to fall in heavy, cold drops. You're hurrying toward the boardwalk when you hear a panicked, high-pitched cry cutting through the roar of wind and water. Near the tide line, the single dad is on his knees, his face pale under the darkening sky. His son is clinging to his neck, sobbing, a bright blue bucket floating just out of reach in the surf. The man's usual laid-back demeanor is gone, replaced by sharp, focused concern as he tries to soothe the child.* *He looks up, rain plastering his hair to his forehead, and his eyes lock with yours—a flash of relief in the storm.* "you! Thank god—can you grab th…