Austin stares out the window of the helicopter. His body numb as he watches the island get smaller and smaller.

"Excuse me." Austin says to get the co-pilot's attention.

"Yes, Sir?" The man asks, looking back at him.

"Uh, do you have the coordinance of that island?" Austin asks, speaking loudly enough for the co-pilot to hear him.

"Yes, Sir. We do. It 's uncharted so it was just by luck we stumbled across it." The man says.

"Lucky me." Austin mumbles. He raises his voice again. "Is there any way I could get the location of the island?"

"Sure." The man says with a shrug. "Don't really know why you would want it but I can write it down for you."

"Thank-you. I appreciate it." Austin says looking back out the window but the island was no longer in sight.

~~

The next couple of days went by like a blur. Interviews for newspapers and even appearing on the local television news. But he kept to the same story, not once was Tim mentioned. In fear of the man that had hidden Tim away. If the guy had thought for one minute that he had seen Tim and that he might know the secrets. He might also turn up missing and/or dead.

 Friends and family came by but nothing could get his mind off the lover he left behind on the island.

He had told his mother about Tim and how Tim had saved his life. She could tell by the way her son talk about this Tim, that he had fallen in love with him. She swore that his secret was safe with her.

The spotlight on Austin finally began to dim as other news took its place.

Austin was finally getting the alone time he needed. He needed to clear his mind and decide on what to do with his life.

But Austin had also made a promise. One he had made to Tim about contacting his mother. A promise that he intended in keeping.

~~

"You're awfully quiet." His mom says with a soft smile as the two of them sit around the dinner table.

"I was just thinking how much Tim would love this fried chicken." Austin says with a sad smile.

"Is that all?" His mom reading him like a book.

"Not exactly. I made a promise to him, Momma." Austin sighs and looks up at her loving eyes.

"What kind of promise?" She asks, giving her son her full attention.

"To contact his mom and to let her know that he is alive and well." Austin tells her. "His family thinks he's dead."

"Son, the lost of a child is a mother's worst fear. And pain." His mother gives him a comforting smile as she takes him by the hand. "If I were in Mrs. Foust's shoes, I would want to know that my son was alive. Even if I wasn't able to see or talk to him."

"He even wrote her a letter. I've got it with me." Austin says with a sniff. "She lives in Nederland, TX."

"Well, might I suggest , you make a trip to Nederland, TX., and let that poor lady know that her son is still alive." His mom smiles.

Austin smiles as he looks down at their hands.

"God, Momma. You wouldn't believe how gorgeous that man is." Austin chuckles as he quickly wipes a tear.

"Would it be safe to say that you left your heart on that deserted island?" She smiles as she lifts his face to look into his eyes.

He slowly nods as a tear rolls down his cheek.

"Well, you do know that your cousin Chance is a pilot and owns his own small airfield, right?" His mom smiles as Austin's face lights up.

"Oh my, God. I didn't think of that." Austin smiles.

"Sweetheart, whatever you decide to do, I will back you 100%." She grins. "Whether you decide to stay here and continue your life or go back to where you left your heart. As long as I know that you're alive and happy, well then, I'm happy."

"I love you so much, Momma." Austin says as he leans over the table and hugs her tightly.

"I love you too, Baby." Mrs. Brown smiles, rubbing her son on the back. "But there's a lady in Texas that only you can bring the light back into her life."

~~~

"You sure you don't mind doing this?" Austin asks as he fastens the seatbelt around him.

"Not at all." Chance smiles as he slips on his shades and puts on his headphones. "I'm just glad that you're still among the living. You gave us quite a scare."

"That boating accident was probably the best thing that ever happened to me, Chance." Austin smiles.

"Well, we have a few hours to kill before we reach Texas and I'm sure there is more to this story than what you're telling me." Chance smiles as he flips the switches to start up the helicopter.

"So much more." Austin chuckles.

"I'm all ears." Chance laughs.

Austin and Chance had always been more like brothers than cousins. They knew each other's secrets. So Austin felt relaxed telling Chance everything. Even the more juicy parts that he left out telling his mom. 

"Wow, that was really romantic writing 'I love you' in the sand. Sounds like something from a movie." Chance says, smiling over at his cousin. "You're thinking about going back, aren't you?"

"I really don't know what to do, Chance." Austin says looking out at the patchwork ground below him.

"You want my advice? Follow your heart." Chance smirks, raising a brow. "Cause you love him and he loves you and you're both probably miserable as hell."

"Mom said that as long as she knows that I'm alive and happy that she would be happy." Austin says.

"Well, there ya go. What more could you asks for?" Chance says with a shrug.

"A ride." Austin chuckles. "If I decide to go back."

"Do you have the location of the island?" Chance asks.

"Yep, I had the Coast Guard guy print it off for me." Austin smiles.

"Then you have a ride." Chance says giving his cousin a high-five.

~~

Austin walks up to the mailbox and runs his fingers over the name: FOUST. He slowly starts up the sidewalk that led to the beautiful brick home.

He takes a deep breath before ringing the doorbell.

The door slowly opens. There in the doorway stood a short lady, probably in her 60s. A friendly smile adorning a sweet face. 

Austin couldn't help but stare at her brown eyes behind the glasses that she wore.

"Could I help you?" She asks with a sweet voice.

"Oh, I'm sorry." Austin chuckles lightly shaking his head. "Dena Foust?

"Mhmm." She answers with a nod.

"Mrs Foust, you don't know me." Austin says not really knowing how to break the news to this lady. "My name is Austin Brown. I'm from Tipton, Georgia."

"Oh, you're the young man they rescued from that island." She smiles.

"Yes, Mam." Austin smiles.

"Mom? Who was at the door?" A lady asks walking up beside her mother.

"Emily, this is that Austin Brown from the news." Dena says then turns back to Austin. "What can we do for you?"

Austin remembered Tim telling him that he had a sister named Emily.

"I have some news for you Mrs. Foust, that you might want to sit down to hear." Austin says.

"News? What kind of news?" Emily asks.

"It's about..." Austin stops and takes a deep breath. He's about to tell a mother and a sister that has mourned Tim for the past 5 years, that he is still alive. "It's about your son, Mrs. Foust.

"My Tim?" She gasps raising a shaky hand to her daughter's arm. "Maybe I had better go sit down."

*************

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