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spiders.”
    Karen snorted. “No way.”
    â€œYes, way,” Caroline told her as she scanned the ceiling for cobwebs. “And if you’d been bitten the day of your first high school dance and wound up in the hospital with an allergic reaction, you’d be looking too.”
    Annie lifted the cushion of the sofa bed. “Uh-oh.”
    Caroline stiffened. “What?”
    â€œPut a hold on the bug spray, Mom—”
    â€œShe brought bug spray?” Karen marveled.
    â€œNo sheets,” Annie finished.
    Caroline’s upshot of adrenaline ebbed. “No hay problema. I’ll just get my handy dandy Spanish dictionary and order them up. Unless one of you ladies would care to.”
    â€œNo way.” Karen stopped the verbal traffic with an extended hand. “Not with my grades.”
    â€œYou first, Mom.” Annie’s dubious look hardly shouted confidence.
    â€œAnd we need more cups,” Caroline observed, undaunted. Next to a mini coffeepot were only two Styrofoam cups. She closed the suitcase on the small can of insect spray she’d brought along, just in case.
    A knock sounded on the adjoining door to their room, echoed by Blaine Madison’s query. “Everything okay in here?”
    â€œNot a spider in sight,” Karen proclaimed.
    Caroline groaned. “That’s a family secret,” she warned the girl.
    Caroline didn’t want the world thinking she was a hysterical arachnophobic. She preferred the word “cautious.”
    â€œIt’s safe with me, Miz C,” Karen assured her. After a little finagling with the flush-mounted handle and deadbolt, Karen got the door open.
    Blaine’s six-foot-plus frame all but filled the entrance.
    â€œIt’s just great here, Daddy. Did you see the taxi that was painted like a beetle bug?”
    â€œA ladybug,” Annie corrected, the subject switched to a more acceptable insect.
    â€œWe’re doing just fine,” Caroline assured him. “How is your room?”
    â€œJust be sure to use the bottled water, even if they do post that the tap water is safe.”
    â€œWe’re slipping out to get some traveler’s checks cashed, grab a bite to eat, and do a little shopping. Care to join us?”
    â€œTake in the sights, absorb the flavors of old and new Mexico.” Karen grabbed her father’s hand and danced as far as his arms would allow.
    â€œI’ve been in Mexico on several projects, Kitten,” Blaine said. His manner suggested to Caroline that he wasn’t all that impressed. “You all enjoy. I’ll just order up a sandwich and get to work.” He winked at his daughter and peered past her. “Are you sure you’re okay with the girls?”
    Caroline was poring over the Spanish dictionary, looking for the right word for bedclothes or linens. “No hay problema . . . now that my feet are on the ground.” Linens. Caroline made out the tiny print. She cast a reassuring smile Blaine’s way as she punched the phone for room service.
    A woman answered, drawing her full attention. “Servicio.”
    â€œYes, have you . . . Necesitas a los linos . . . para la cama y tam-bien una vaca en cuarto numero catorce veinte, ” Caroline finished in triumph. We need linens for the bed and also a water glass in room number fourteen-twenty. At least that’s what she thought she said.
    But when the woman repeated the request in a mix of uncertainty and incredulity, doubt set in.
    â€œSheets,” Caroline reiterated.
    â€œSábanas,” Blaine prompted. His smile was as unsettling as the housekeeper’s tone. “You asked for a tablecloth for the bed.”
    â€œOh, sábanas , no linos ,” she said, shaking her head as though the woman on the line could see her.
    â€œAnd un vaso para agua,” Blaine prompted.
    â€œY un vaso para agua.” Caroline glanced at him. “What did I say?” she mouthed