Page 68 of Key West Promises

Kaitlyn thought of Sarah, somewhere on the Overseas Highway, driving toward a future neither of them could predict.

Kaitlyn watched a light blue Toyota Corolla pull slowly into view. Her heart seemed to stop for a moment, then race forward. Will squeezed her hand once before stepping back, giving the family space.

Sarah parked carefully, almost precisely, reminding Kaitlyn of her own meticulous nature. Through the windshield, she could see her sister take a deep breath before opening the car door. The girl who stepped out made Kaitlyn's breath catch—it was like looking at an old photo of herself at sixteen.

Sarah shared her petite build, the same honey-blonde hair, though Sarah wore hers longer, falling past her shoulders in gentle waves. But it was her eyes that struck Kaitlyn the most—the same hazel that she saw every morning in the mirror, now looking back at her with a mix of uncertainty.

Gretchen made a small sound beside her, something between a gasp and a sob. Sarah glanced their way, her fingers twisting the hem of her blue sundress—another gesture Kaitlyn recognized from her own nervous habits.

"Hi," Sarah said softly, taking a tentative step forward. Her voice was steadier than the slight tremor in her hands would suggest.

"Hi," Kaitlyn replied, moving down the steps. She stopped a few feet from her sister, close enough to see the light dusting of freckles across Sarah's nose—just like her own. "You made it."

Sarah nodded, her eyes filling with tears.

Kaitlyn closed the distance between them, pulling her sister into a tight hug. Sarah's arms wrapped around her immediately.

“My sister,” Kaitlyn whispered.

CHAPTER 27

At Paradise Harbor House everyone gathered, keenly aware of the delicate dynamics about to unfold with Sarah's arrival.

Will checked his phone for updates and waited for Kaitlyn to introduce her sister to him.

Kaitlyn took Sarah’s hand and pulled her inside. “Everyone, this is my sister, Sarah.”

Before anyone else could step forward, Kaitlyn gently took Sarah's hand, guiding her attention to a woman who had been waiting with a mix of apprehension and hope. "Sarah, there’s someone very important I want you to meet first. This is my mother, Gretchen. She’s visiting but lives on Captiva Island."

Gretchen stepped forward, her expression composed but her eyes revealing the depth of her emotions. "Hello, Sarah. I’m so happy to finally meet you.”

The weight of their shared history hung in the air, but Gretchen’s greeting was warm, setting a tone of reconciliation and understanding.

After a brief, poignant pause, Kaitlyn introduced Tess, Leah and Chelsea. "These are my aunts, Tess and Leah. They live here in Key West. Aunt Chelsea lives on Captiva Island near my mom. They’ve been really looking forward to meeting you."

Tess and Leah approached with open smiles, their demeanor welcoming. "It's a pleasure to finally meet you, Sarah," Tess said, her voice soothing.

Leah added, "We hope you'll feel at home here with us."

Chelsea didn’t waste any time being Chelsea. “I’m a hugger. Do you mind if I give you a hug?”

Sarah laughed. “Nope. I’d love a hug.”

“One hug coming up!” Chelsea said as she leaned in and squeezed Sarah.

Elena was next, her introduction brief but heartfelt. "I'm Elena, I run Paradise Harbor House, welcome."

Lastly, Kaitlyn turned to Will, who had been a quiet pillar of strength throughout the evening. "And this is Will, my boyfriend. He's been an incredible support to us all here."

Will extended his hand, his greeting warm and sincere. "Nice to meet you, Sarah. Kaitlyn has told me so much about you."

With the introductions complete, the evening slowly shifted from tentative greetings to more relaxed interactions. The initial awkwardness gave way as conversations began to flow, stories were shared, and laughter started to fill the room.

“Dad should be here any minute, right?” Sarah asked.

Will looked at his watch. “I’d say within the hour. Maybe you two should kill a little time and have something to eat, then head over to the hotel.”

Kaitlyn nodded. “Good idea. You must be hungry. Let’s get a burger next door. There’s a great little place we can sit for a bit.”

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