~Chapter 1~
The South Carolina coastline in the summer of 1998 smelled of salt and suffocating heat, even at midnight. Eleven-year-old Devin sat buried to his ankles in the cool dune grass, staring out at the black expanse of the Atlantic. The ocean was too vast, the sky too choked with stars, and somewhere in all that crushing infinity, Devin wondered if God even existed.
"I wish they'd come back," Devin whispered to his young uncle standing beside him.
Ben shifted in the sand, the stiff fabric of his tailored trousers rustling. At thirty-two, Ben Austin was a man built for boardrooms, wrapping his solemn, solitary life in the armor of expensive nineties power suits. He was a young billionaire who commanded empires, yet here he was, sitting cross-legged in the dirt, the knees of his Italian slacks ruined, just trying to be a father to a broken boy.
"I also do hope, but... they're in heaven now, Devin, in a better place," Ben told his grieving nephew.
Devin met his uncle's eyes, then looked away. He had nothing to give him.
Days later, the beach was bright and loud. Ben found Devin retreating down the shoreline, putting distance between himself and a group of kids playing.
"Hey," Ben called him out. "Don't you want to play with them?"
Devin didn't stop walking nor listen to his uncle. "Nah. I just want to be alone. Just this once."
Ben released a heavy breath, swallowed by the coastal wind. He offered a defeated nod and stepped back. He'd learned not to push.
Devin kept walking until the noise of the crowd faded into nothing but the rhythmic crash of the waves. Finally, quiet. Then, a streak of crimson slashed across the blue sky.
Devin stopped. A kite was tumbling violently toward the earth, its tail spinning out of control. Beneath it, a girl—maybe ten years old—ran frantically, struggling with the string. She was losing. The kite hit the sand with a sad thump.
Devin walked over and picked it up. But as he straightened, the girl came into focus—strands of her hair scattered by the wind—and something in his chest shifted. She had long blonde hair caught in the sea breeze, tangled with sand and salt. Her skin was sun-kissed, her eyes a striking blue-green that seemed to contain entire oceans. She was small-framed and fierce, moving with the kind of unselfconscious grace that belonged to children who didn't yet know how to apologize for taking up space.
When she glared at him, hands on her hips, breathing hard—something about her lit him up in a way he couldn't explain.
"Hello? Are you gonna give me my kite or just stand there holding it?"
Devin blinked, momentarily speechless.
"Are you mute or deaf?" she demanded.
"I'm not—here's your kite."
"Thanks. I'm Allison, by the way. My name came from my ancestors."
"Your... ancestors?"
"Yeah. My nanny told me. What did your ancestors give you?"
Devin laughed. "You're way too young to be talking about ancestors."
"I'm ten," she said indignantly. "I'm not a toddler. I live in a mansion full of books and some tutors."
"Ten? You talk like my uncle!" Devin chuckled at his own joke. "Right. I get it, Miss Allison. Born with a silver spoon. Well, me too, but I don't care." He grinned. "I'm Devin. I can help you with that kite if you want."
"But you're a stranger, Mr. Devin." It made Devin laugh in his stomach. "Can I be your friend then?" And somehow, with no second thought, he offered her his friendship.
Allison couldn't say no. She asked him to teach her how to harness the wind.
"Bossy, aren't you?"
"Look over there—that's my nanny, and she's also kind of my bodyguard. Everyone would say yes to whatever I asked."
Devin shook his head, amused. He took the kite and showed her how to feel the wind, letting the breeze carry it instead of going against it. Then, it was soaring.
"Cool! It's the first time I've seen it soar so high. Do you have superpowers?" Allison asked.
"Superpowers?" He laughed. "What are you talking about?"
"You heard me." And for the first time in two years, Devin smiled again.
When the sun began to sink, a woman's voice called out: "Ali!"
"Oh! Maria is calling me." Allison handed him the string. "I have to go. See you tomorrow?"
"Yeah. See you tomorrow."
From a distance, Ben had been moved by their smiles. But that smile from Allison reminded him of someone familiar.
From that day on, the beach became their sanctuary. They built sandcastles, but then the seawater washed them away.
"Let's build a fort," Devin told his new friend.
"A fort?"
"Yes. A strong one that water couldn't ruin."
"Cool idea, Devin."
So they dragged driftwood and abandoned crates to the dunes. By sunset, they had a tiny, lopsided house. Allison crawled inside and sprawled on the sand.
"Now I can live here!" Devin laughed.
"Just you. I'm going home."
"That's okay. My nanny's right there." She pointed to Maria, who was sitting on a towel, glancing over at them occasionally. Allison leaned in and whispered, "Did you know she has three boyfriends? She's always laughing on the phone."
Devin roared with laughter. "Does she really? At first, I thought she was your mom. Your mom's not around much?"
"She's at work. Always. Even though we're really rich." Allison picked at the sand. "She kisses me before she leaves, though." Her voice sounded small. Lonely. Devin knew that sound. "Devin?" Allison said quietly. "Where are your mom and dad? Can I meet them?"
Devin looked at the ocean. He didn't want to lie. "They're in heaven," he said simply.
Allison's eyes were full of wonder. "What are they doing in heaven?" she said.
He couldn't help it. "They went shopping."
"Really?" She sat up, dead serious. "My parents have never been to heaven. I'm gonna ask if we can go there, too."
Devin laughed until his sides hurt. "No, no—heaven isn't a mall. You can't just visit."
"Then what is it?"
He told her. He described the peace, the beauty, and the idea of them watching from above. Allison listened, her face thoughtful.
When he finished, she grabbed his hand. "Give me your pinky."
"What?" "Your pinky. Come on."
Even though it felt strange, Devin hooked his pinky with hers without hesitation.
"Let's make a promise," she said solemnly. "When you grow up—as old as my dad—you have to marry me. Like my dad married my mom."
Devin stared at her. "Seriously?"
"Yes!"
"Okay." And so they sealed the promise, not knowing what was coming ahead of them.
That evening, Devin came home filled with joy, his eyes gleaming with hope.
"What's with the grin?" asked his uncle, who was standing at the door waiting for him.
Devin went inside and sat at the dining table where his food had already been prepared.
"She's becoming pretty special, huh? What's her family name?"
"Ainsley." Devin answered excitedly.
Ben paused, the juice bottle hovering mid-air. "Ainsley?"
"Why? You seem surprised, Uncle."
"Nothing."
That's when Ben recollected the image of someone from his memories: Lauren.
Meanwhile, Devin was already counting the hours until he could see her again tomorrow.