Page 72 of Key West Promises

"Actually, it is." Gretchen stepped forward. "These girls deserve to know each other. They deserve the chance to be sisters. Your wife's discomfort doesn't trump that."

"Gretchen, you have no right."

"I have every right," Gretchen cut him off. "Kaitlyn and I have already talked about my involvement in all this. By sticking my head in the sand because I was ashamed of my situation, I let her down. The worst part for me is that I felt ashamed over something I had no control over. I don’t want to rehash what happened in our marriage. What I want now is for us to do right by these girls. They’ve already missed out on so much because of us, let’s not deny them this time together."

Leah moved closer to the girls. "Sarah's things are already in her suite. Kaitlyn can stay with Sarah for the night. The room next door is ready for you, Jeffrey. Why don't we all take a breath and start fresh in the morning?"

"I'm not leaving my daughter alone."

"She won't be alone," Tess said firmly. "She'll be with her sister, and your room is right next door to hers.”

“And our house is only a couple of blocks away,” Leah added.

Sarah stood, pulling Kaitlyn up with her. "Dad, please. Just…let us have this time. I'm safe. I'm where I want to be. Can't that be enough?"

Something in Sarah's voice seemed to reach Jeffrey. He looked at his daughters—really looked at them—standing together, their matching features set in identical expressions of determination.

"One night," he said finally. "We'll talk in the morning."

"Thank you," Sarah whispered.

As Chelsea led Jeffrey away to check in, Kaitlyn wrapped an arm around her sister's shoulders. The Lawrence sisters exchanged glances of relief and victory, while Gretchen watched Kaitlyn with a mixture of pride and protective concern.

"Come on," Leah said softly to Sarah. "We’ll help you unpack."

Kaitlyn nodded to Sarah. “Go on, I’ll be along in a minute.”

Jeffrey stopped and turned to look at Kaitlyn.

"You look good," he said awkwardly. "The fundraiser at Paradise Harbor House…I saw the posts online. You've done well for yourself."

"Don't." Kaitlyn's voice was flat. "Don't pretend you've been watching from afar, caring about my life. You don't get to do that now."

"Kaitlyn, I know I've made mistakes."

"Mistakes?" She laughed, but there was no humor in it. "A mistake is forgetting a birthday. A mistake is missing a school play. You chose to leave. You chose another family. You chose to keep Sarah a secret from me, and me a secret from her. Those aren't mistakes, Dad. Those are choices."

Kaitlyn tried to remain calm as she confronted him. “I realize that Mom made it difficult for you to see me. I don’t know all the specifics on that, but I do know that at some point you gave up on me. Your love for me wasn’t strong enough for you to fight to see me.”

“Kaitlyn, please understand?—”

“Stop! Stop trying to explain because no amount of explanation will repair what’s been broken between us.” She touched her chest. “My heart was broken over and over again because of you. The reason I needed to have this talk with you is to let you know that I’ll make mistakes in my life as I grow. That happens to everyone. But I’m not going to make my choices as a broken person. I’m not going to hold back loving or caring for people because you chose to keep your love from me. I won’t allow you to dominate my life that way. I’m going to choose to love, to be there for people who need my love…my empathy and compassion. I just wanted you to know that.”

Gretchen watched her daughter with tears in her eyes, and Chelsea smiled at Kaitlyn’s strength and poise.

"I'd like to make things right," Jeffrey said quietly. "With both of you."

"Maybe you should have thought about that before telling Sarah she couldn't come meet me." Kaitlyn's voice cracked slightly. "Before letting Joanna decide whether your daughters could know each other. You're still doing it—choosing what's comfortable over what's right."

The silence that followed was heavy with years of unspoken hurt. Jeffrey opened his mouth to respond, but Chelsea stepped in.

"I think that's enough for tonight," she said firmly. "Everyone's tired. We can talk more tomorrow."

Jeffrey conceded, his eyes still on Kaitlyn, who refused to meet his gaze. "We'll talk more in the morning. Maybe we can have breakfast together?"

“Let’s talk in the morning, Jeffrey,” Gretchen responded.

As Chelsea led Jeffrey away to check in, Kaitlyn let out a shaky breath. Gretchen ran to her and pulled her into a hug.

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