Page 10 of Key West Promises

"You found it," Leah said softly, setting down the grocery bags. There was something knowing in her tone, as if she'd been waiting for this moment.

Kaitlyn looked up, surprised. "You know about Paradise Harbor House?"

"I did some research after we saw it the other day," Leah admitted, exchanging a glance with Tess. "We’ve been living here for over a year, and I don’t ever remember seeing the place before.”

Tess laughed. “I bet we’ve walked by it before but never paid much attention.”

“It seems like they're doing important work there," Leah added.

"They are," Kaitlyn said, straightening in her chair. "I met Elena today—she's the director. I offered to volunteer, and she accepted."

“Really? You want to volunteer? I had no idea. I thought…” Leah didn’t finish.

“You thought all I wanted to do was party, right?”

Leah felt ashamed to admit Kaitlyn was right. “Honey, there’s nothing wrong with wanting to have a good time. You just graduated from college. You have every right to celebrate and take whatever time you need to figure out what you want to do with your life.”

Tess pulled out a chair and sat down, her expression thoughtful despite the lingering effects of Trivia Tuesday evident in her slightly squinted eyes. "That could be good for you, Kaitlyn."

"You don't think it's weird?" Kaitlyn asked, a hint of defensiveness in her tone. "Me coming to Key West for vacation but wanting to do something serious?"

"Honey," Leah said, joining them at the table, "we all need to find our own way. Sometimes it just takes a while to figure out what that looks like." She paused, choosing her words carefully. "Does your mother know you're interested in this kind of work?"

Kaitlyn tensed slightly at the mention of her mother.

"Mom doesn't know a lot of things right now." The words hung in the air, heavy with unspoken meaning. "She has my whole life planned out—law school, corporate career. But maybe that's not what I want anymore."

"Well," Tess said, breaking the tension, "I think it's great. And who knows? Maybe while you're helping others find their way, you might find yours too."

Kaitlyn's face seemed to soften at the lack of judgment in her aunts' responses. "Thanks. I start tomorrow morning."

“Great. In the meantime, how about we have a little late breakfast? Do you like quiche?” Leah asked.

Kaitlyn smiled. “Yes, I love it, and I didn’t realize it until now, but I’m starving.”

CHAPTER 5

Tess leaned on the sticky bar at Margarita Max's, watching the crowd ebb and flow with the unpredictable rhythm of a Key West evening.

The overhead fans spun lazily, barely cutting through the humidity, while the jukebox blared an off-key rendition of "Sweet Caroline" courtesy of a karaoke enthusiast who had clearly peaked three margaritas ago. The neon signs cast a multicolored glow over everything, turning the usual chaos into something almost magical.

A group of sunburned tourists crowded the bar, their matching t-shirts proclaiming them part of "Ava's Last Fling Before the Ring." Tess had already memorized their drink order—five strawberry daiquiris and one virgin margarita for the designated driver. They'd been cycling through the same drinks for the past two hours, each round getting progressively louder and gigglier.

"Leah, table four needs another round," Connie barked from across the bar, her tone sharp but not unkind. She moved with military precision, mixing drinks while simultaneously keeping an eye on every corner of the establishment. Nothing escaped her notice—not the couple trying to sneak their own drinks in, not the wannabe musician attempting to adjust the sound system, and certainly not her new employees' growing competence.

Leah adjusted her tray and nodded, weaving through the tightly packed tables with practiced care. She'd mastered the art of dodging tipsy patrons and balancing drinks like a pro. Her corporate efficiency had translated surprisingly well to bartending, though the sticky floors and constant noise were a far cry from her former office. Still, it wasn't exactly the life she'd imagined when she'd moved to Key West.

"Watch your back," she called out to a server carrying a precarious tray of shots. The younger woman flashed her a grateful smile—they'd all learned quickly that survival at Max's depended on looking out for each other.

"How's it going?" Tess asked as Leah passed by, her voice loud enough to cut through the noise. She was arranging lime wedges with the same attention to detail she'd once applied to their failed craft projects.

"Great," Leah deadpanned. "I'm living my best life." She gestured to a spot on her shirt where someone's blue cocktail had left its mark. "The tourist from table seven wanted to show me his impression of a dolphin. It involved a lot of arm movement."

Tess grinned and returned to wiping down the bar, where a man in a Hawaiian shirt was gesturing wildly about "the best fish tacos on the island." She nodded along, throwing in the occasional "uh-huh" while her mind wandered to Kaitlyn.

Their niece's sudden interest in Paradise Harbor House had caught both of them off guard. Tess had expected beach days and bar hopping, not volunteering at a women's shelter. It was like watching a butterfly emerge from its social media cocoon.

The man in the Hawaiian shirt leaned forward, his enthusiasm for fish tacos apparently boundless. "You gotta try Rico's place—it's this little shack down by the marina. Changed my life!" He punctuated this declaration by accidentally knocking over his water glass, which Tess caught with newfound bartender reflexes.

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