Julia has never been one to surrender without a fight, but when she receives a devastating diagnosis, she has a decision to make.
Even after thirty years, she can still see her mother slowly fading away with every dose of chemo, every round of radiation, and every lost shred of hope. No, she won't do it... not to her family... and not to herself!
Without warning, she packs up her belongings and disappears, leaving behind a life that, by all accounts, had been as perfect as they come, and a distraught family full of questions.
Finding solace in a beach house in Northern California turns out to have its complications though. While only a handful of other residents share the tiny beach community, each one has brought along their individual baggage. All Julia wants is to be left alone, but that simply does not seem to be an option, especially when there's a persistent bird that declares her to be his new best friend.
Haunted by the shadows of the past, Julia is struggling to cope with the present. Will she have the strength to do this alone and eventually follow through with her plan? Will her family, divided by mixed reactions to being abandoned, come together to try and track her down? And what is the deal with that pelican of hers?
Only time will tell - and time is the one thing Julia does not have...

“A beautiful and emotional novel of love, hope, and the sacrifices we make to protect those closest to us.”

"An outstanding novel about a topic that is rarely dealt with in such an emotional, sensitive, and deeply moving way. I just couldn't stop reading!"