Page 33 of Key West Promises

"But it's hurricane season and every AC company is already booked solid," Tess finished, understanding dawning. "What about the fundraiser planning money?"

"We can't touch that," Leah said. "It's barely enough for the cruise deposit as it is."

Chelsea looked between her sisters, noting the way they communicated in half-sentences and shared glances. Something had shifted in their dynamic—a new purpose that hadn't been there during their failed business ventures.

"How much?" she asked.

Both sisters turned to her. "What?"

"The air conditioning repairs. How much?"

Leah named a figure that made Chelsea wince. "But it's not just about the money," she added. "We need someone who can do it immediately. The shelter has children, elderly residents—they can't wait in this heat."

Chelsea was already pulling out her phone. "Give me two minutes. I know someone who knows someone." At her sisters' surprised looks, she shrugged. "What? You think you're the only ones with Key West connections? I've been coming here for art shows for years."

Chelsea made the call, and when she hung up, Kaitlyn walked in, deep in conversation with a tall man carrying camera equipment. She stopped abruptly at the sight of her aunt, color draining from her face.

"Aunt Chelsea?"

"Surprise number two," Tess murmured.

Will, who Chelsea assumed must be Kaitlyn’s new boyfriend, spoke up. "I should go. Kaitlyn, call me later?"

Kaitlyn nodded, her eyes never leaving Chelsea. As Will left, the tension in the room thickened like storm clouds gathering.

"Did Mom send you?" Kaitlyn's voice was tight, defensive.

"Why does everyone assume I'm Gretchen's messenger?" Chelsea sighed, sinking into the sofa. "I came because something's obviously wrong, and unlike your mother, I've learned that sometimes you have to show up in person to understand the whole story. Besides, and you need to trust me on this, you do not want to see your mother right now."

The words hung in the air, heavy with unintended significance. Kaitlyn's face crumpled slightly before she caught herself.

"You want the whole story?" She pulled out her phone, fingers shaking slightly as she pulled up an Instagram page. "Here's the whole story. Meet Sarah Miller, my half-sister. The one Mom never told me about. The one she never told you or Aunt Tess or Aunt Leah about. The one she's been hiding for years."

Chelsea took the phone, her breath catching as she looked at the photo on the screen. The resemblance to Kaitlyn was unmistakable.

"That's not possible," she whispered, but even as she said it, memories began realigning themselves—Gretchen's peculiar behavior during the divorce, her insistence on handling all communication with her ex-husband, her sudden move to Captiva Island when her time in Key West fell apart.

"Oh, it's possible," Kaitlyn said bitterly. "Mom knew the whole time. She knew he had another family, knew I had a sister out there, and she just…she let me think he abandoned us for no reason.” She corrected herself. “Well, not for no reason. There was obviously another woman. I understood that, but I had no idea she’d been in the picture for years. And Mom just lived with it.”

Chelsea looked at her sisters, seeing the truth in their faces. "You knew about this?"

"Found out recently," Leah said softly. "We've been trying to figure out how to tell you, and how to deal with Gretchen. Apparently, Kaitlyn only recently found out about it through the internet."

"Because Gretchen now lives ten minutes from you on Captiva," Tess added, "we weren't sure…"

"Weren't sure if I was in on it too?" The hurt in Chelsea's voice was genuine. "I would never—" She stopped, taking a deep breath. "I would never keep something like this from any of you. But why in the world would Gretchen?"

The sound of a phone ringing cut through the tension. Leah grabbed it, relief washing over her face. "It's Elena." She listened for a moment. "Yes, he's there now? We'll be right there."

She hung up, turning to the others. "The AC repairman Chelsea called is at Paradise Harbor House. We should go back and see if Elena needs help with the families. Maybe we just take them to the beach or something until it’s repaired."

“That was fast,” Kaitlyn said.

Tess smiled. “Have you forgotten how your aunt Chelsea gets things done?”

“Well, that and apparently the guy was already next door having a beer. He didn’t have to walk far,” Leah added.

“I’ll come too," Chelsea said, standing. "I'd like to see this place that's got you all so invested." She turned to Kaitlyn. “Honey, we’ll figure this out. Why don’t you come along and show me where you volunteer. I want to see what’s more important than being an Instagram influencer.”

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