They cracked up. This is how drives were supposed to be — hyper and laughing about everything and absolutely nothing

The wind rushed through the open car window, grabbing Estee’s sheitel and tangling it.

“Close it, close it,” she yelped.

Yonah grinned and shut the window; quiet filled the spaces where the wind had been, the scent of summer lingering in the air.

“Sorry, couldn’t resist.”

Estee wrinkled her nose. “Why are you reminding me of a puppy with his head out the window right now?”

“Woof, woof!”

They cracked up. This is how drives were supposed to be — hyper and laughing about everything and absolutely nothing.

Estee pulled down the mirror and finger combed her sheitel back into place. “Tell me if you want me to take over.”

Yonah smiled at her sideways. “Nah, I want you to rest. I got this.”

And, Estee thought, closing her eyes, he had a point. She’d had a long week of work, and he’d… taken it easy. Even this, driving up Thursday night instead of Friday — she’d never have imagined that Yonah would agree to such a thing when they first got married.

She thought wryly back to all their wedding planning, how they could only meet after second seder or during bein hasedorim, how they drove florists and musicians crazy because Yonah was never available during the day. And now here he was, driving up to Boston at 7 p.m., not a care in the world for the seder he’d be missing the next day.

She adjusted her neck pillow. Maybe it was her. Maybe he didn’t feel that she’d been machshiv his Torah enough. Maybe she’d doused his flame. She turned her head, trying to get comfortable, but there’s no escaping intrusive thoughts.

The phone rang; Shmuel Kunda’s “And How Are You, Yehuda” jingling through the Subaru.

He clicked on the Bluetooth. “Yaaallow, Gita.”

“Yons? Heeey, you on the road yet?”

“We sure are. Say hello to my wife.”

“Hello, wife,” his older sister drawled. “Can’t wait to see you guys! Estee, we are sooo excited about our photo shoot tomorrow! Listen, small matter we need to discuss — rooms.”

Yonah groaned. “Gita! We literally got married yesterday. We are taking the guest suite.”