"Don't be scared, Heath Bar," Lola cooed. "We're here! New York Sit-aaaay!"

A few whiskers poked out the front of the mesh grate and the giant orange cat mewed. Stella rolled her eyes and turned back toward the window.

"Stella, darling, you all right?" Emma Childs glanced across the limo at her oldest daughter, who was sitting on the other side of the cat carrier, tracing a finger over a red line in the Burberry plaid.

BUY SLOANE SISTERS

"Fine." Just freaking fine. Stella rolled down the tinted window and let the warm wind whip through her shoulder-length blond curls. Times Square flew past outside, with its towering walls of garish billboards. A six-story-high Rolex watch showed the time: 4:07. Which meant it was a little after nine o'clock in London. Robin Lawrence was having a party at his flat in South Kensington, just like he did every year the Friday before school started. He had huge dark brown eyes and wild black hair that looked like it was cut with a machete. He was adorable. Stella should have been there.

Emma kept her green eyes on Stella and unbuttoned the top of her beige cropped trench coat. "I'm looking forward to spending the weekend together, getting settled before you girls start school. I missed you both so much this summer."

Stella and Lola had spent the summer in Tuscany with their grandmother, who had moved there ten years ago to grow organic grapes and make her own vinegarlike wine. But anything was better than being stuck in London, where the tabloids were cataloging every detail of their parents' recent divorce.

"Mum, are you going to be on the Ralph Lauren billboards?" Lola asked excitedly, staring up at an advertisement for Calvin Klein tighty-whiteys.

"I assume," Emma replied. "But we haven't started shooting yet, so not for a while."