The Summer of Broken Rules

It has been a year and a half since Claire Fox was killed in an accident involving a drunk driver. Now, Meredith Fox and her parents are finally returning to the family’s homestead in Paqua on Martha’s Vineyard. The family is reuniting for the first time since the tragedy, and Meredith has not talked to any of the family members she is about to see since Claire’s death. The impetus for the gathering is the impending marriage of Meredith’s cousin, Sarah, to her college sweetheart, Michael Dupré. Before boarding the ferry to Martha’s Vineyard, Meredith and her parents stop for lunch at the traditional spot, and they all forget to order the truffle fries for the table, since that was always Claire’s job. Meredith takes care of it, but they all look at the empty chair and feel Claire’s absence.

Once on board the ferry, Meredith receives a text from her now ex-boyfriend, Ben Fletcher, who broke up with her two weeks prior. He asks how the trip is going and then tells her that he would still have come to the wedding with her, because she is still his favorite girl.