Page 53 of Key West Promises

“Yellow,” Hailee said.

“Yellow? That’s my favorite color.

Hailee smiled. “Me too.”

“I was wondering if you’d like to color with me? I think there might even be a bunny in the book. We can color it yellow,” Gretchen added.

Hailee nodded and walked to the table and chairs on the porch while Kaitlyn began talking to Melanie.

“There’s no wrong way to tell your story,” Kaitlyn assured her, sitting across from Melanie. “This is about what you’ve been through and how Paradise Harbor House has helped you. Take your time, and we can pause if you ever need a break.

Melanie let out a breath, her shoulders easing slightly. “Okay.”

“Ready to roll?” Will asked from behind the camera.

Kaitlyn nodded.

Will raised his hand. “All right. Rolling in three…two…one.”

Kaitlyn turned slightly toward Melanie, keeping her voice gentle.

“Melanie, thank you for being here today. Let’s start at the beginning. Can you tell us a little about what brought you to Paradise Harbor House?”

“I lost my husband about six months ago. He worked construction, and when he died on the job…everything fell apart. We didn’t have much saved, and I’d been staying home with our daughter, so when his income stopped, we had nothing to fall back on. We tried to get by but it wasn’t enough. We lost our apartment and for a while… we didn’t have anywhere to go. We had been living in our car for a few days when someone suggested we try a shelter. We didn’t know where to go or what to do.”

Kaitlyn nodded, her expression compassionate but calm, giving Melanie space to continue.

“Another woman who was also living in her car told us that she knew a good place in Key West that was helping families. She told me about Paradise Harbor House,” Melanie said. “I wasn’t sure what to expect, but the moment we got here, I knew it was different. It wasn’t just a place to sleep. It felt…safe, you know, like a home.”

“How has Paradise Harbor House helped you and your daughter since then?”

Melanie smiled. “In so many ways. Of course they gave us a warm bed, and meals but more than anything they’ve given us a sense of community. My daughter has made friends here, and I had time to get back on my feet. They helped me find job leads, taught me how to update my resume, and even made sure my daughter was cared for when I went to interviews.”

“That’s wonderful. And you recently found a job, is that right?”

“Yes, I’ll be working in Miami, and thanks to Paradise Harbor House, we found an affordable apartment close to the bus line. Plus the job where I’ll be working has child care right in the building, so I can see my daughter during the day. There is a good school nearby too, so we’re now talking with them about that. There were financial issues to resolve with insurance, and the people here helped us navigate that as well. Mostly, I feel a sense of hope for the first time since my husband died. I don’t know what we would have done without Paradise Harbor House.”

Kaitlyn reached over and gave Melanie’s hand a gentle squeeze. “What would you say to someone who might be struggling like you were?”

Melanie’s eyes softened. “I’d tell them not to be afraid to ask for help. There are people out there who want to help—you just have to be willing to take that first step. And when you find a place like Paradise Harbor House, see it as a blessing.”

“Thank you so much for sharing your story with us today, Melanie,” Kaitlyn said, nodding to Will who lowered the camera.

“You did great,” Kaitlyn said, looking over at her mother and Hailee. “It looks like Hailee’s having a good time with my mom.”

Melanie smiled. “Hailee loves it here. I hope she won’t be too sad to leave.”

“I know she’s going to make a lot of new friends in Miami, and you’ll have to come visit when you can.”

“What about you, Kaitlyn? Will you stay in Key West?”

Kaitlyn smiled and she could feel Will’s eyes on her, waiting for her answer.

“There’s a very good chance I will,” she answered.

“That’s good. I think everyone will be happy to hear that.”

Kaitlyn smiled and then looked at Will. Whether Key West was in her future or not, she knew there was one person she was now sure she couldn’t live without.

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