Twenty minutes later, her habitual jeans, T-shirt, and sneakers were tucked into a shopping bag. What was left of her cash was stuffed into a palm-size purse that she wore cross-body and at the hip of her new slacks, which flapped softly around her legs in the frisky breeze.

“How do you feel?”

“Guilty. Great.” Unable to resist, Nell wiggled her toes in her new sandals.

“That’ll do. Now, let’s buy some earrings to go with it.”

Nell abandoned all resistance. Independence Day, she reminded herself. She fell for the rose quartz drops the minute she saw them.

“What is it about earrings that makes you feel so confident?”

“Body adornments show that we’re aware of our bodies and expect others to be aware as well. Now, let’s take a walk on the beach and get some reaction.”

Nell fingered the pale pink stones swinging from her ears. “Can I ask you a question?”

“Go ahead.”

“I’ve been here a month now, and in all that time I haven’t seen you with anyone. A date, I mean. A male companion.”

“I’m not interested in anyone at the moment.” Mia held the flat of her hand above her brow to skim the beach. “Yes, there was someone. Once. But that was another phase of my life.”

“Did you love him?”

“Yes, I did. Very much.”

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t pry.”

“It’s no secret,” Mia said lightly. “And the wound’s long healed. I like being on my own, in control of my destiny, and all the little day-to-day decisions and choices. Coupling requires a certain amount of unselfishness. I’m a selfish creature by nature.”

“That’s not true.”

“Generosity has levels.” Mia began to walk, lifting her face to the breeze. “And it’s not synonymous with altruism. I do what suits me, which stems from self-interest. I don’t find that something to apologize for.”

“I’ve had personal acquaintance with the selfish. You may do what suits you, Mia, but you’d never deliberately hurt anyone. I’ve watched you with people. They trust you because they know they can.”

“Not causing harm is a responsibility that comes from what I’ve been given. You’re the same.”

“I don’t see how that can be. I’ve been powerless.”

“And because of it you have empathy for those in pain and those who despair. Nothing happens to us without purpose, little sister. What we do because of it, what we do about it, is the key to who and what we are.”

Nell looked out to sea, to the boats gliding, the jet skiers racing, the swimmers gleefully riding the waves. She could turn away, she thought, from what she was being told and what would be asked of her. She could have a calm and normal life here.

Or she could have more.