Page 56 of Key West Promises

"The sunset will be perfect from this angle," Will said, framing shots with his hands. "We can set up the presentation screen here, catch that golden hour light..."

"And the dining area below deck," Captain Mike continued, leading them down. "Plenty of room for your silent auction displays."

Gretchen touched Kaitlyn's arm as the others explored. "Can you picture it? All those people coming together to support Paradise Harbor House? You should be proud of what you’ve done."

"What we've all done, Mom," Kaitlyn corrected softly. "I couldn't have done any of this alone."

Chelsea appeared with more coffee from the boat's galley. "Jack's showing Leah the upper deck. I think he's trying to convince her it's the perfect spot for a private date."

"Subtle, he is not." Tess laughed, then grew thoughtful. "Though speaking of not subtle... Jamie's bringing extra staff tonight. Said something about wanting everything to be perfect."

"For the fundraiser?" Gretchen's tone was innocent. "Or for you?"

“Very funny,” Tess responded as she walked away to explore more of the boat.

"This is really happening," Kaitlyn said softly, leaning on the rail beside Will. "All our work, all our hopes..."

"It's going to be amazing," he assured her, his hand finding hers. "Just like you."

Kaitlyn touched his arm, her voice thick with emotion. "I can't thank you enough for everything you've done. Not just for the fundraiser, but for me personally. My life has been upside down for so long, but now..." She paused, searching for the right words. "Now I feel like the spinning has finally stopped. Like I've found solid ground."

"And you think I had something to do with that?" he teased gently, though his eyes were serious.

She met his gaze, the blue of his eyes matching the water below. "You've had everything to do with it."

Their eyes locked, and for a moment, everything felt perfect. But even in this peaceful moment, thoughts of her father and Sarah tugged at the edges of her mind. The uncertainty of their future relationship cast a shadow she tried to push away, not wanting it to dim this precious moment with Will.

As if reading her thoughts, Will touched her cheek. "Kaitlyn, don't worry about Sarah. I know in my heart that you two will find your way to each other."

"How did you know I was thinking about that?" she asked, wonder in her voice.

He smiled, his thumb brushing her cheekbone. "I'd like to think I know you pretty well by now. The more time we spend together, the more certain I become of that."

Kaitlyn leaned into his touch, marveling at how he could read her silent moments, how he seemed to know instinctively when her thoughts turned dark and exactly how to ease her fears.

In all her carefully curated social media life, she'd never imagined finding something this real, this true. Nothing could be more perfect than being known, being understood, being loved exactly as she was.

“Looks like someone changed her mind,” Chelsea yelled to everyone.

From the dock, Elena appeared with more volunteers carrying supplies. "I couldn’t stay away, I’m too excited. Besides, I’ve got extra stuff to drop off. Ready to start marking setup locations?"

Kaitlyn waved to Elena. "Absolutely!”

"The bar setup will go here." Captain Mike indicated a polished wooden counter. "And we've got built-in coolers underneath for your champagne service."

"Perfect for the sunset toast," Tess noted, already envisioning the flow of service. "Jamie's staff will have easy access."

Leah was making notes in her ever-present notebook. "Jack, what time are your publishing contacts arriving? We should reserve the best viewing spots for major donors."

"Six sharp," he replied. "Though knowing Regina, she'll be here at five forty-five. She's particularly interested in the literacy program."

Will had his camera out, documenting the space. "Kaitlyn, come see this angle. When the sun hits here, it'll create the perfect backdrop for the presentation."

Chelsea watched her niece move confidently through the space, directing, planning, solving small problems before they could become large ones. "She's really found her calling, hasn't she?" she murmured to Gretchen.

"She has," Gretchen agreed softly. "Though I never would have predicted this a year ago."

"Life's funny that way," Captain Mike commented, overhearing them. "Sometimes the best journeys are the ones we never planned."

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