Page 32 of Key West Promises

"Now the music won't stop coming." His free hand found hers, squeezing gently. "Funny how that works."

As she walked home that night, Tess thought about how healing happened in layers—like waves reshaping a shoreline, like music building note by note. Some changes you could see coming, like Kaitlyn's growing trust in Will or Leah's deepening connection with Jack. Others caught you by surprise, like finding your heart opening to new possibilities just when you thought it was permanently closed.

The yellow bungalow glowed welcomingly as she approached, Ernest dozing on his usual perch. Inside, she found Leah at the kitchen table, grant paperwork spread around her like confetti, a soft smile playing at her lips as she read something on her phone—probably a message from Jack.

"Good night?" Tess asked, though she already knew the answer.

"Getting better," Leah replied, looking up. "You?"

"Yeah," Tess said, thinking of Jamie's new song, of the way his eyes held hers as he played. Somehow she didn’t want to speak, instead wanting to hold on to the memory of the last few hours, keeping it to herself. So much changed around them, and much of it felt out of their control but wonderful, nonetheless.

Tess had no idea what tomorrow would bring but for now, in their small corner of Key West, hope felt as steady as the lighthouse beam sweeping across the darkness, guiding them all home.

CHAPTER 14

Chelsea Marsden-Thompson stepped out of her car into the humid Key West morning, her designer sundress already wilting in the heat. She hadn't warned her sisters she was coming—hadn't really planned to come at all until Gretchen's increasingly frantic calls about Kaitlyn had pushed her to action.

As the eldest of the Lawrence sisters, Chelsea had long ago accepted her role as family mediator, but lately the weight of that responsibility felt heavier than usual.

After checking in at a small Airbnb a block away from her sisters’ place, she dropped her suitcase on the bed and then drove to the yellow bungalow on Fleming Street.

It looked smaller than she remembered from her last visit, its cheerful paint seeming almost defiant against the weathered homes surrounding it. Ernest strutted past eyeing her with what she could have sworn was literary judgment. Some things, at least, hadn't changed.

Before she could reach the door, it swung open to reveal Tess, still in her pajamas, coffee mug frozen halfway to her lips.

"Chelsea?" Tess blinked rapidly, as if her older sister might be a heat-induced mirage. "What are you—how did you?—"

"Surprise," Chelsea said, attempting a smile that felt more like a grimace. "Why is it you don’t look happy to see me?"

"Don’t be silly, of course we’re happy…I mean, I’m happy…but…" Tess's eyes narrowed with sudden suspicion. "Did Gretchen send you?"

"No one sends me anywhere, little sister." Chelsea followed Tess inside. The air conditioning hit her like a blessing. "But yes, she's been on my front porch several times in the last two weeks. Something about Kaitlyn not answering her phone and you two harboring a runaway."

"Gretchen knows Kaitlyn is here? How is that possible?”

“Yes, our sister knows. She was ready to high-tail it down here until I stopped her. I’m not going to be able to keep her away from Key West for much longer, though. I figured it was best I come down ahead of her and find out what in the world is going on. All Kaitlyn had to do was contact her mother and I’d be home on Captiva enjoying the beach and eating Maggie Moretti’s scones.”

“It's more complicated than that," Tess said, her voice carrying an edge Chelsea hadn't heard before.

"It usually is." Chelsea sat down, taking in the eclectic decor—the mix of thrift store furniture and beach-themed accessories that somehow worked together. "Where's Leah?"

"Paradise Harbor House. She's helping with some grant applications." Tess hesitated. "And Kaitlyn's there too, volunteering."

"Paradise Harbor House? What’s that?”

“It’s a women and family shelter. They do really good work, Chelsea. You’d be proud of Kaitlyn…”

Chelsea held up her hand to stop Tess mid-sentence. “I don’t care if she’s pretending to be Mother Teresa. Get her out of there and back home where I can talk to her.” Chelsea seemed to suddenly understand the change in her niece. “Wait, did you say Kaitlyn is volunteering at a shelter?”

Tess nodded. “That’s right.”

Chelsea raised an eyebrow. "Our Instagram-obsessed niece is volunteering at a shelter?"

"People change," Tess said quietly. "Sometimes because they have to."

Before Chelsea could respond, the screen door banged open and Leah burst in, her face flushed with urgency. She stopped short at the sight of Chelsea, emotions flickering across her face too quickly to read.

"Chelsea? What are you—never mind. We have bigger problems." She turned to Tess. "The shelter's main air conditioning unit just died. In July. Elena's trying to get emergency repairs, but…"

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