Book excerpt: What happens when two people who have just experienced devastating, heart breaking losses encounter each other on a lonely stretch of beach at the edge of the world? They both deal with disappointment differently and while Adam tries to end it all by swimming out beyond the reef, Christa is looking for a new start and providentially saves him from drowning. The two baby boomers spend the night on the beach reflecting upon life . . . The Big "L" . . . their similar childhood experiences and the idea that there might be a purpose in every life. This encounter teaches both of them that first impressions are usually inaccurate and that things are never as they seem and the reality of who they each are grows brighter with the dawn of a new day. The fabric of their lives has been sewn together by the hands of Christa's loving nanny, Abbie, who spent her life guiding Christa on the path of success, integrity and perseverance. She is responsible for Christa's fashion business and her climb to greatness as Christa watched her scale and conquer her own Everest of oppression and discrimination As the evening progresses, we see the tapestry that was woven years ago by Abbie, come into sharper focus. She arranged for Adam to see Christa's designs, which resulted in his investing in her over 20 years before this evening. If he had not believed in Christa years ago, she would not be here now, saving his life, which ironically ends up saving hers in the end. And none of these lives would have been impacted had a loving nanny not sacrificially given her life for a little girl who she loved and believed in. By overcoming the personal obstacles that the Big "L" threw at her, Abbie was able to help Christa scale the mountains of discrimination as a woman breaking into a man's world. She gave her the courage to end up saving one, only to discover that men are not necessarily stronger than women, and face the same obstacles and challenges in life. We discover that the hands that rocked the cradles in a segregated country, imparted dignity, mercy and inspiration to untold numbers on their travels through The Big "L" . . . life.