THE morning after the storm, Harborview was a mess—streets littered with driftwood, shop signs torn off, and the pier half-sunken in the harbor. Though the waves had come dangerously close, the feared tsunami never hit. Locals moved through the damage, dragging away debris and checking on neighbors, relieved the worst had been avoided. Most tourists didn't wait around; they packed and gone by first light, leaving through the first available space flight.
But Jace stayed.
While most visitors fled, Jace stayed to help. He hauled debris from the docks, assisted fishermen with their battered boats, and even pitched in to clear fallen trees blocking the streets. No one questioned why he was still there, most likely because they were just grateful for the extra hands.
The sun was beginning to set when Jace finally spotted Abby sitting alone on the harbor's edge, her legs dangling over the damaged boardwalk. He approached slowly, his boots crunching on broken shells and wet sand.
