"I'm sorry, Mother, but I refuse to spend my spring break in some disgustingly dirty third world country." Eliza rolled her eyes dramatically for the benefit of her captive audience at the Carter House breakfast table. "It's just peachy that you and Dad don't mind being inoculated with all those toxic shots just so that you can use filthy outhouses, be devoured by mosquitoes, and sleep in rodent-infested tents, but count me out."

Casey giggled and DJ glanced around to see if Grandmother was anywhere nearby. DJ knew Grandmother didn't like for the girls to use their cell phones at the table. But exceptions were sometimes made when it was a parent—especially when it was a parent of wealth or influence, like the Wiltons.

Eliza's forehead creased as she listened to whatever was being said on the other end of the phone. "Thanks anyway, Mother, but I'm passing. Honestly, I'd rather stay right here in boring old Crescent Cove than go with you guys to the ends of the planet. Y'all have fun now." Then she snapped her cell phone shut and used a foul word.

"Eliza Wilton!" exclaimed Grandmother as she entered the dining room. "That's no way for a well-bred Kentucky debutante to speak."

"I'm sorry, Mrs. Carter." Eliza looked slightly embarrassed. "I'm just so frustrated with my mother!"

"Well, please do control yourself." Grandmother frowned as she sat down in her regular place at the head of the table and put her napkin in her lap. "Good morning, ladies."

Like well-trained robots, or Stepford teens, they all chirped back "good morning." And then Rhiannon asked the blessing. This was a relatively new development, but something that Rhiannon had volunteered to do and, when both DJ and Taylor had backed her, Grandmother had agreed and later on even acted as if it had been her own idea in the first place.

After Rhiannon said "amen," she turned to Eliza. "So ... where is it that your mom wants you to go for spring break anyway?

"Nepal." The way Eliza said the name of the country sounded as if she was swearing again.

"I've heard Nepal is an interesting place." DJ refilled her coffee cup. "I'd love to go there someday."

Eliza made a face. "Great, I'll ask my parents if you can take my place."

"The mountains there are beautiful," Kriti said quietly.

"If I wanted to see mountains, I'd go to Switzerland," retorted Eliza.

"I think a trip to Nepal sounds like a fun adventure." Casey stabbed her fork into a piece of pineapple. "I'd be happy to go too."

"Maybe you and DJ should flip a coin." Eliza broke her toast in half. "To see which one of you can go."

"Well, DJ would need a passport," said Grandmother wryly. "And with only two weeks before spring break, I don't think it's very likely."

"Too bad." Eliza directed her sarcasm toward DJ. "It would've been fun to see you coming home covered in mosquito bites and suffering from some rare form of tropical dysentery and—"

"Eliza?" Grandmother's brows arched in warning.

"Sorry, Mrs. Carter." She made a sheepish smile. "I was just joking."

"Well then ..." said Grandmother. "As it turns out, I've already made plans for DJ and myself anyway."

DJ stopped with her spoonful of yogurt in midair. "Plans?"

"Yes. The general has graciously given me the use of his Palm Beach home during the week of spring break."

"Palm Beach, Florida?" asked Eliza with interest.

"Yes, of course."

Now DJ wasn't sure whether to be pleased or irritated. On one hand Palm Beach might be somewhat pleasant—sunshine and sand—but on the other hand, why hadn't Grandmother asked her before accepting the invitation for both of them?

Grandmother smiled at DJ. "Doesn't that sound lovely, dear?"

"I guess so."

"You guess so?"

"To be honest, you kind of took me by surprise, Grandmother."

"But isn't it a pleasant surprise?" Grandmother looked so hopeful that DJ forced herself just to smile and nod.

"Palm Beach sounds good to me." Taylor glanced out the window where it was raining again. "And I'm sure you won't miss this weather."

"My thinking precisely." Grandmother rubbed her wrist. "My arthritis has been acting up lately, and I thought some warmth and sunshine would be most helpful."

"So ..." Eliza began slowly, directing this to DJ's grandmother. "If you and DJ are in Palm Beach, does that mean Carter House will be vacated by everyone else that week?"

"Yes, of course." Grandmother put a spoonful of sugar substitute into her coffee and stirred. "I couldn't have you girls left here unsupervised."

"No, no ... of course not." Eliza looked slightly miffed now, like maybe she'd planned on spending spring break in "boring old Crescent Cove." Actually, DJ wouldn't be surprised, since Eliza had recently developed a crush on a new guy at school. She probably hoped that she and Lane Harris would be dating by spring break. Perhaps she even imagined inviting him over to Carter House while everyone else was gone—and maybe they'd throw some huge house party and get into all kinds of trouble. Really, it wouldn't surprise DJ a bit. It seemed that Eliza was steadily spinning out of control—like she thought someone was giving prizes for teenage girls with the most messed-up lives.

"So perhaps you'd like to rethink your decision about vacationing with your parents now." Grandmother peered curiously at Eliza.

"No, thank you." Eliza firmly shook her head. "I'd rather just go home to Louisville."

"And stay there by yourself?" Grandmother looked concerned.

"The household staff would be there."

Grandmother nodded sympathetically. "Yes, I suppose so ..." Now she smiled as if an idea was occurring to her. "You know, Eliza, the general's Palm Beach house is quite roomy. Perhaps you'd like to join us for—"

"Grandmother!" DJ felt alarmed now. The last thing she wanted was to be stuck down in Florida with Eliza Wilton for a whole week. And, besides, didn't Grandmother know how many things could go wrong during spring break—especially with someone like Eliza along?

"What is it, dear?"

"Don't you think you should consult me first?" DJ asked. "I thought it was just you and me going to Palm Beach and now you're inviting Eliza too." The dining room got very quiet now and DJ could feel all eyes on her. "I mean, what if I decided to invite someone else to come without asking you first? How would you feel about that?"

"Well ... I suppose that would be acceptable. It's a very large house after all."

DJ looked hopefully at her other friends now. "Like what if Taylor or Casey or Rhiannon wanted to come." Then feeling bad, she quickly added, "And Kriti too—what if they all wanted to come down to Palm Beach? Shouldn't they be included too?"

"Are you saying you want to invite all the Carter House girls to come with us to Palm Beach?" Grandmother looked slightly appalled and not exactly pleased. DJ thought she had her grandmother over a barrel with this idea. Surely she'd reconsider her invitation to Eliza now.

"Why not?" said DJ. "It seems only fair. I mean, we shouldn't exclude anyone, should we? That doesn't seem very polite, does it, Grandmother?"

"Well ... no, I suppose it's not." Grandmother smiled stiffly and looked around the table. "All right then ... let's make this official. I'd like to extend an invitation to any of you who'd...