As far as Charlotte knew her dad was long gone and somewhere out in California. That's what she thought until he requested that she comes and visits for the summer. Charlotte never thought her mom would agree but she did and before she knew it she had packed her bags and got in the red sports car with her father, Robert. He was totally different from mom. He let her go to the beach alone and babysit the nieghbors for money, mom would never let her do that stuff. Charlotte is liking California until she figures out she has two stepsisters and a little step brother. Worst of all she has a stepmom, which is totally uncomfortable when you already have a real mom who you've left behind in Florida. Charlotte just has to figure it out and go with it, but that's easier said then done.