Pages 262 - 304 Summary

Before they return to South Carolina, Carmen's father and stepmother take the entire family to dinner, including Krista, Paul, Carmen and Christina. Carmen thinks the evening will be a disaster, but it is surprisingly comfortable and she realizes that this collection of people is her family. She also realizes that her father is happy with his new wife and her mother deserves a new beginning too. She confesses to her mother that she rewound the tape and accidentally erased David's message. She says she didn't want things to change between them, but her mother reassures her that it would never happen.

Kostos arrives for a surprise visit. He and Lena go into Washington to look at the national monuments, then they go to a nearby clearing where they stop just short of making love. Lena tells Tibby that she thinks it...