Page 5 of Key West Promises

"You're going to wear a groove into the floor if you keep pacing like that," Tess said from her spot on the sofa, where she was sprawled with a magazine that had clearly been read one too many times. The latest issue of "Island Life"—their last remaining subscription from better days—featured a cover story about "Making Paradise Perfect." The irony wasn't lost on either of them.

"I'm not pacing," Leah replied, though she immediately stopped moving. She adjusted a shell-encrusted picture frame for the fourth time, wondering if their attempt at island decor looked charming or just desperate. "I just want everything to be…ready."

"It's not like the Queen of England is visiting," Tess said with a grin, tossing the magazine onto their thrift store coffee table. "It's Kaitlyn. She'll be too busy taking selfies to notice if the place is clean. Remember Christmas at Gretchen’s? She spent the whole time doing TikTok dances in the kitchen."

Leah gave her sister a look but said nothing. Tess had always had a knack for minimizing stress, even when it wasn't helpful. For Leah, the arrival of their niece was both exciting and nerve-wracking, not to mention ill-timed.

“Does Gretchen know her daughter is coming to stay with us?” Tess asked.

Leah shrugged. “Good question. I didn’t ask, nor did I press her to explain why the last minute visit. I mean, it’s short notice.”

Leah felt uncomfortable about the whole thing, but didn’t complain. Their niece was fun, yes, but she was also a whirlwind of youthful energy that Leah wasn't entirely sure they could keep up with. Especially now, when their own lives felt like they were held together with dental floss and optimism.

She'd spent the morning hiding evidence of their financial struggles—past-due notices tucked into drawers, their wall of failed business cards discreetly removed, the "vision board" relocated to Tess's room. The last thing they needed was for Kaitlyn to report back to her mother about their situation. Gretchen, their older sister, had already made her opinions about their "midlife crisis" quite clear.

A car horn beeped outside, and Tess shot to her feet, dropping the magazine. "Speak of the devil!" She practically bounced to the door, her enthusiasm genuine despite everything else going on in their lives.

Leah followed her to the door, where they found Kaitlyn climbing out of her car, her long blonde hair spilling over her shoulders. She pulled a floral suitcase from the trunk with dramatic flair, flashing the driver a smile that could have been plucked straight from a travel commercial. Everything about her screamed "influencer in training," from her perfectly coordinated resort wear to the professional-looking camera hanging around her neck.

"Aunties!" Kaitlyn exclaimed, her voice lilting with exaggerated enthusiasm as she bounded up the steps, managing to look both effortlessly casual and carefully composed—a skill that seemed to come naturally to her generation.

Tess opened her arms wide, pulling Kaitlyn into a hug that nearly toppled them both. The smell of expensive perfume—something with notes of coconut and vanilla—wafted between them. "Look at you, Miss College Graduate! All grown up and ready to take on the world."

Kaitlyn stepped back, laughing, though something flickered behind her carefully maintained smile. "Or at least ready to take on Key West. This place is so cute. I can already see my Instagram blowing up. My followers are going to love it." She gestured to the street, where a group of tourists on bikes pedaled past, their matching helmets bobbing in the sun. "It's like a movie set or something."

Leah smiled warmly as Kaitlyn leaned in to hug her. Up close, she could see the slight shadows under Kaitlyn's eyes, barely concealed by expensive makeup. Something about her sunny demeanor felt forced, like she was putting on a show for an invisible audience.

"How was the trip?" Leah asked, noting how Kaitlyn's designer sundress looked fresh despite the long drive. Some people just had a gift for appearing perfectly put together, no matter the circumstances.

"Long," Kaitlyn said, wrinkling her nose. "But worth it. I'm so excited to be here. Mom's been driving me crazy with all her 'responsible adult' lectures. It's like, hello, I just graduated. I need time to figure things out, you know?"

"Well, we're excited to have you," Leah said, helping with the suitcase that probably cost more than their monthly rent. "Though I should warn you, it's not all beaches and cocktails. Key West has its own…rhythm."

"Why would you say something so cruel?" Tess teased, guiding Kaitlyn inside. "Let the girl live in bliss for a few hours before reality sets in. Remember how excited we were when we first got here?"

"That was different," Leah muttered, but neither of them seemed to hear her.

Inside, Kaitlyn's eyes darted around the living room, taking in the seashell decor and slightly worn furniture. Her expression was carefully neutral, but Leah caught the slight raise of her eyebrows—the same look Gretchen got when confronted with something she found beneath her standards. She plopped onto the sofa, kicking off her sandals with a carefree sigh that seemed practiced.

"This is perfect," Kaitlyn said, stretching her arms over her head. "It's so laid-back. Totally Key West vibes. Very…authentic." She pulled out her phone, angling it to capture the room's best features.

Leah exchanged a glance with Tess, who shrugged as if to say, "Just let her enjoy it." They'd both become experts at reading between the lines of polite comments about their living situation.

“How about some iced tea?” Tess asked.

“I’d love some,” Kaitlyn responded, looking around the room. “So, where will I sleep?”

Leah smiled. “You’re sitting on it. That’s a pull-out.”

“Oh, that’s perfect. I hope I’m not putting you out.”

“Don’t be silly, we’re thrilled to have you,” Tess answered.

They moved outside to the small area with a table and four chairs. Kaitlyn shared stories about her college years and the endless drama of her sorority sisters. Each tale seemed crafted for maximum entertainment value, like episodes of a reality show.

"And then Madison—you remember Madison from my Christmas posts, right?—she totally freaked out because Kyle liked someone else's photo from like, three years ago." Kaitlyn paused for dramatic effect, stirring her tea with a practiced flourish. "It was this whole thing. But honestly? I think she was just stressed about not having a job lined up. Everyone's so obsessed with having their lives figured out right after graduation."

Leah caught the slight tremor in Kaitlyn's voice. Maybe their niece wasn't as carefree as she wanted them to believe.

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