Page 75 of Key West Promises

"Oh honey," Gretchen reached over to squeeze her hand, "you're family. This is what family does."

"Besides," Tess added with a grin, "any excuse for a beach day is a good excuse. Now, who's riding with who? Because I'm not squeezing into the backseat of Chelsea's car again."

"That was one time," Chelsea protested. "And it was an emergency ice cream run."

As they gathered their things and headed out into the Key West morning, Sarah fell into step beside Kaitlyn. "Is it always like this with them?"

"Pretty much," Kaitlyn smiled. "My Aunt Chelsea is crazy fun, and Tess and Leah too. I think my mom is the most subdued of the four of them. They can be loud, loving, and slightly chaotic. You'll get used to it. "

Sarah laughed. “I’m looking forward to it.”

An hour later, they'd claimed their spot on Smathers Beach, Chelsea's umbrellas creating a colorful canopy of shade.

Sarah and Kaitlyn sat on beach towels, matching pool noodles propped beside them, while their aunts arranged an impressive spread of snacks and drinks from Jamie's kitchen.

"He really did give us extra pie," Sarah observed, watching Tess unpack the containers.

"Of course he did." Leah smirked. "The man's completely smitten with our sister."

"I can hear you," Tess called out, but she was smiling.

Sarah leaned closer to Kaitlyn. "Are they dating?"

"It's complicated," Kaitlyn whispered back. "I think they will. Eventually."

Gretchen watched Kaitlyn and Sarah’s heads bent together, sharing secrets like they'd done it all their lives. The sight made her throat tighten with emotion.

"They're going to be fine," Chelsea said softly, settling into her beach chair beside her sister. "Look at them—it's like they've never been apart."

The morning passed in a blur of sunshine and laughter. Sarah proved to be a natural in the water, while Kaitlyn preferred to stay in the shallows. Their voices carried back to shore as they tested the buoyancy of their pool noodles, debating the physics of floating while trying to dunk each other.

"Gretchen!" Sarah yelled, grinning. "Can you take our picture? Kaitlyn's teaching me how to bodysurf!"

"More like teaching you how to eat sand." Kaitlyn laughed, splashing her sister.

The day unfolded around them, filled with small moments of connection. Tess taught Sarah how to find the best shells along the tideline. Leah shared her collection of beach reads, delighted to find another mystery fan in the family.

Chelsea sketched the girls in her notebook while they weren't looking, capturing their easy affection in quick, sure strokes, and cellphone cameras captured every moment.

Around noon, they gathered under the umbrellas for Jamie's feast. Sarah sat cross-legged on her towel, salt water drying in her hair, as she devoured a sandwich.

"So," she asked between bites, "does everyone in Key West know everybody else? Because three different people have stopped by to say hi."

"That's just Key West," Kaitlyn explained. "Especially since the fundraiser. The whole town kind of adopted me."

"And now they're adopting you too," Tess added, passing Sarah a cold drink. "That's what happens here. People look out for each other."

"It's different from Fort Lauderdale," Sarah said thoughtfully. "Everything there is so…I don't know, unconnected? Here it feels like one large family."

"Speaking of family," Gretchen interrupted, checking her phone, "your father texted. He's made dinner reservations at Latitudes for seven o'clock."

"Latitudes?" Leah whistled. "Someone's trying to impress."

Sarah turned to Kaitlyn. "Is that good?"

"It's on Sunset Key," Kaitlyn explained. "Very fancy. We'll have to change out of beach clothes."

"Way out of beach clothes," Tess confirmed. "But the sunset view is worth it."

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