Page 65 of Key West Promises

One look at Gretchen's face told Kaitlyn something was wrong. "What happened?" She stood, her heart racing.

"Sarah's coming here," Gretchen said, still breathless. "She ran away from home. Left a note for Jeffrey and Joanna. She's driving to Key West, alone. I guess she didn’t like her parents keeping the two of you apart.”

Kaitlyn felt the room spin slightly. Will was instantly at her side, steadying her.

"She's sixteen," Kaitlyn managed. "She's driving by herself? What were they thinking telling her she couldn't come? Dad just let Joanna make that decision? I knew she wanted to meet me, but I didn’t realize how much. We should have seen this coming."

Elena stepped forward, already in crisis management mode. "Has Sarah’s father contacted the police?”

Gretchen shook her head. “I don’t think so. Honestly, I didn’t think to ask him.”

“I'll contact the Key West police. They’ll need to know. Will, can you reach out to your contacts at the local news stations? Just in case we need them."

"Your father's on his way too," Gretchen added, pacing now. "She's not answering anyone's calls."

Through the window, they could see Carla gathering her children from the playground, sensing the tension in the air.

Other residents moved quietly through the house. Kaitlyn assumed their own experiences with family crises made them particularly attuned to the weight of the moment.

"I'll call Jack," Will said softly to Kaitlyn. "He knows everyone at the local papers. We can put out alerts without causing panic."

“I think Connie was going to do that,”

“Wait!” Kaitlyn yelled. “Someone needs to get me her cellphone number. I can text her mine. I bet she’ll talk to me.”

“That’s a great idea,” Gretchen said. “Let me call Jeffrey back and get it.”

Gretchen walked to the corner of the room to call Jeffrey.

Kaitlyn sank into a chair, Will's hand steady on her shoulder. Frustration over the choices the adults in her life had made on their behalf had come to this.Sarah was driving toward her, alone on the highway, because of what? Because her father had been a selfish and weak man.

Kaitlyn felt sick to her stomach.

"She's out there somewhere," Kaitlyn whispered. "My little sister. Just…driving toward a stranger because she needs to know the truth so badly, and no one is being straight with her."

"She's driving toward family," Chelsea corrected gently. "And we're going to make sure she arrives safely. As a matter of fact, I’m going to call The Gardens Hotel like I was planning before. You’ll need a quiet place out of the way to talk, and they’re going to need a place to stay."

“Thanks, Aunt Chelsea,” Kaitlyn said.

Elena was already coordinating with local authorities, her calm efficiency a counterpoint to the emotional storm brewing. “They'll keep an eye out for her car without making her feel hunted. It’s not the first time I’ve had to call them for something similar."

"Jack's on it," Will reported, hanging up his phone. "He's spreading the word through his network. Someone will spot her."

Gretchen hung up the phone and forwarded Jeffrey’s text to her. “Here’s Sarah’s cellphone number.”

Kaitlyn looked at the number and then Will. She took a deep breath. “Wish me luck.”

He hugged her and whispered, “You’re going to be a fantastic older sister. Sarah is a lucky young woman.”

Kaitlyn could feel tears building, but she fought to keep them at bay; instead, as she pulled away from Will, her shoulders back, she stood tall as she walked to the corner of the room for privacy.

Gretchen’s heart broke for what her daughter was going through but she was incredibly proud of how she was taking control of the situation.

Looking at Kaitlyn, she saw not just her daughter but a woman who'd found her strength, her purpose. Who was about to face one of the biggest moments of her life.

Through the windows of Paradise Harbor House, Gretchen imagined the Key West community mobilizing on her family’s behalf. Word spreading from business to business, eyes watching the roads, a network of people who'd come to care about Kaitlyn now extending their protection to her sister.

All they could do now was wait, and hope Sarah made it safely to the family she'd never known, but who would welcome her with open arms.

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