Page 38 of Key West Promises

"She sounded different," Leah said. "Scared, maybe. I've never heard Gretchen scared before."

"Good," Tess muttered, but there was more worry than vindication in her tone. "Maybe now she understands what Kaitlyn's been going through."

"It's not that simple," Chelsea said, making both sisters jump. "You know Gretchen—she probably thinks she's been protecting everyone all these years."

"By lying?" Tess's voice rose slightly. "By letting Kaitlyn think her father just forgot about her? Moved on without a backward glance?"

"Lower your voice," Leah warned, glancing toward the house "Kaitlyn's still sleeping."

"Actually, I'm not."

They turned to find Kaitlyn in the doorway, still in her pajamas, phone clutched in her hand like a lifeline. She looked younger somehow, vulnerable in a way that made Chelsea's heart ache.

"How much did you hear?" Chelsea asked gently.

"Enough." Kaitlyn moved to the coffee pot, her movements mechanical. "Mom's coming. Today. And you're all trying to figure out how to handle it without upsetting me further."

"Honey—" Tess started, but Kaitlyn shook her head.

"Don't. Please. I can't handle anyone else trying to protect me right now." She turned to face them, gripping her empty mug. "Did she say anything about Dad? About Sarah?"

Leah exchanged a glance with Chelsea before answering. "She called him last night. They want to come too."

The mug slipped from Kaitlyn's hands and landed on the steps, and she started to cry. Tess was there instantly, steadying her niece with an arm around her shoulders.

"I can't," Kaitlyn cried. "I can't do this today. The fundraiser…"

"Is exactly why you can do this," Chelsea said firmly. "You'll be surrounded by people who love you, who support you. The whole community will be there."

"That's worse!" Kaitlyn pushed away from the counter, starting to pace. "Everyone will see. Everyone will know."

"Know what?" Leah asked quietly. "That families are complicated? That sometimes people make mistakes and have to find their way back to each other? Isn't that exactly what Paradise Harbor House is all about? Besides, you don’t have to tell anyone about anything. You just focus on the people who need your help. But even if anyone asks what’s going on, they’ll understand."

"That's different. Those families…they're trying to rebuild. They're trying to move forward. This is just everyone's lies catching up to us. This is self-inflicted drama."

"Then maybe it's time," Tess said. "Maybe it's time for the truth to have its say. You can’t live your life in a bubble. Not if you want it to be authentically yours."

Kaitlyn's phone buzzed in her hand—Will, checking in as he did every morning. She stared at the screen, not reading the message.

"What if I'm not ready?" she asked, her voice small. "What if Sarah isn't? What if we're all just pretending we can fix something that's been broken for years and needs to stay buried?"

Chelsea moved to her niece, taking the phone gently from her trembling hands. "Honey, look at me. You've spent all this time helping other people face their fears, rebuild their lives. Maybe it's time to let people help you do the same."

"But the fundraiser?—"

"Will happen," Leah said firmly. "With or without the family drama. Paradise Harbor House’s work is bigger than our problems."

"And you won't be alone," Tess added. "We'll all be there. Jamie's helping us handle the catering, Jack's bringing his publishing contacts and will make sure it gets promoted the way it should, Will's documenting everything…"

At Will's name, Kaitlyn's expression shifted slightly. "Will. Oh no, he can't film this. He can't?—"

"He won't," Chelsea assured her. "He cares about you, Kaitlyn. The real you, not the story. This is hardly something to be documented.”

“What about Mom? She’s coming here for a confrontation. It isn’t the time or the place.”

“You leave your mother to us,” Chelsea said. “We’ll make sure she understands what’s at stake. We’re not going to let her control the narrative."

"Not this time," Leah added with a chuckle. "This time, she’s going to have to listen to her sisters, even the younger ones."

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