title: The Breakout Year
author: Williams, Vicki
description:  How much of yourself would you be willing to change for a million dollars?
   As children, Maddie and Avalon had experienced abuse and abandonment. When they found one another, they knew they were kindred spirits destined to be lifelong friends. Maddie made the rules, and Avalon followed along. Maddie did all the talking, while Avalon listened.
  Avalon knew that their friendship depended on her always being available to bolster the frail ego of her only companion, and she was grateful to have this opportunity. Maddie had always expected everything of her friend, but Avalon asked for nothing in return.
  Maddie grew up to be a respected judge and rich society maven, yet she continually suffered from feelings of worthlessness. Avalon became invisible: working at a dead-end job, living in the same apartment all of her life, hiding from the world and from a terrible family secret.
  Now Maddie, age fifty, has died of lung cancer, but not before she wills a million dollars to her best friend-a will that contains some very important provisos: Avalon must quit her job, move, lose weight, create a new body, take a trip, buy a new car, and start her own business. But will all the money in the world help Avalon discover her own true value?