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from the roof without a parachute and no watching Sex and the City episodes unless they were both present.
    â€œRule number one. We have dinner every night together. 7:00 p.m. sharp. This is the time we talk about our days.”
    Issa relaxed. Not too bad. So she would be forced to eat these four-star meals every day. The worst that would happen was she would put on an extra ten pounds. She could deal.
    â€œRule number two. If either of you girls wants to see a young man socially, Alisha and I have to meet him first and approve him.”
    Young man? Issa fought back the urge to giggle. Alisha’s way of approving Issa’s young men was to flirt with them till they became uncomfortable.
    She had a feeling Diego’s approval was going to be a lot tougher.
    â€œRule number three. No interrupting me when I am working in my den or when I’m watching baseball games.”
    â€œWhich is, like, all the time,” Cat muttered.
    Issa rolled her eyes. Poor little rich girl couldn’t stand to have Daddy’s attention on anything but her.
    â€œRule number four. We are a family and will act as such. We will share everything. There is no mine and hers business.”
    Issa stopped smiling. Exactly what he expected her to share with Cat was beyond her. Her homework? Cat would love that.
    â€œNow, let’s figure out transportation.” Diego set his fork down. “Issa needs a car.”
    Cat scowled.
    â€œDiego, no,” Alisha interrupted. “Issa has walked to school all these years and I give her a ride when the weather turns bad. This isn’t necessary.”
    Issa looked up from her water glass. She begged to differ. She’d never had her own car and wasn’t about to look Diego’s gift horse in the mouth. Unfortunately, a stern look from her mother shut her up from voicing her opinion.
    â€œUm, yeah. I don’t need a car. Mom can take me. Really. It’s not that far of a walk from here. Just like five miles or something.” Issa tried to sound as pathetic as possible.
    It worked.
    Diego looked from Alisha to Issa. “Absolutely no walking. Issa will get her own car, but for now, Cat, I want you to give a spare key to the Lotus to Issa.”
    â€œPapi!”
    â€œCat—”
    â€œNo, Papi! It’s mine! You gave it to me for my birthday!”
    â€œCatalina Santiago Morena! Rule number four! Issa will soon be your sister. I expect you both to act that way. Is that understood?”
    No one moved. Alisha poked Issa in the side.
    â€œYes, Diego,” Issa muttered.
    â€œCatalina?” Diego turned his fiery eyes on Cat. “Comprende?”
    â€œSí, Papi.” Cat’s voice quavered as her eyes filled with tears.
    It seemed that Cat’s privileged life was crumbling around her. Issa felt a sense of smugness as Cat pushed her chair back from the table.
    â€œI’m going upstairs,” Cat mumbled before running out of the room.
    The table fell silent. Issa felt Alisha’s eyes on her. She knew her mother expected her to fix the problem to keep the peace in their new family.
    â€œI’ll go to talk to her.” Issa stood up with a sigh, even though she planned to do no such thing. Let Cat stay upset for a night. Finally, she got to experience a fraction of what Issa was feeling.
    As Issa left the dining room, she heard Cat’s stiletto heels thump up the stairs. How the mighty had fallen.
    Finally. Cat Morena would finally know what it was like to have something she loved be taken away. Issa paused in the driveway to run her finger over the hood of the hot-pink Lotus convertible. She would love to ride in this someday.
    Maybe this living with the Morenas wouldn’t be so bad after all.

CHAPTER 5
    If Everything Seems to be Going Well, You’ve Obviously Overlooked Something
    â€œHey, Diego.” Issa slid into a chair across from him in the breakfast nook the next morning and checked out the time. She was