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Shelley had always followed her own path through life, letting gut instincts and her heart lead the way So, having thrown societal noro, she threw caution to the wind yet again, stopped waiting for Mr Right, and booked a solo honeymoon

Over the years Taryn had supported all of Shelley’s whi the coffee shop, and refusing any monetary help from her parents In fact, Taryn had made the beautiful, strapless, lacy dress that Shelley had on tonight, and she was glad she was getting to share so on Rockwell Island with her cousin

“Coot a spectacular view of the whole island It’s like paradise I sao hthouse, and lots of little ponds”

“Kettle ponds probably,” Taryn said excitedly “They’re common around the Cape”

“The Cape,” Shelley repeated “I’ve always loved the sound of that” She couldn’t stop s “There are also miles of beaches and several pools at the resort The Rockwell Island Resort is big and fancy, but the staff is so warm and friendly that it isn’t snooty, like all those over-the-top resortsup”

“I can’t picture your parents ever vacationing anywhere near Cape Cod,” Taryn agreed

“Only Aunt Marla would,” Shelley said

Shelley’s best memories from childhood were of her weeks spent in Eastham, on the Cape with her aunt—the perfect break fro jet-set life her parents lived One that truly had no place in it for raising or nurturing a daughter Especially not a free spirit like Shelley But with Aunt Marla, Shelley had spent wonderfully lazy hours looking for sea glass and h the sone fishing at the spur-of-the-moment Aunt Marla had been the polar opposite of her sister, Shelley’s id—and Shelley missed her aunt every day since she’d passed away five years earlier

“Sometimes,” Shelley admitted in a low voice, “I used to pretend that I was actually her daughter”

“Anyone would have,” Taryn said, as supportive as ever “Marla was such a wonderful person”

Saltwater spraying fro Shelley back to the beach she was sitting on It should have been easy to push the uncoiven that she’d been doing it forever She’d had to in order to break free frorasp and live her own life And yet she couldn’t deny that it still hurt to realize she’d never fit in with the two people on earth who should have loved her most of all