Chapter 18
CHAPTER 18
W aves rolled gently onto the shore, their rhythmic motion a steady backdrop as Tess, Leah, Chelsea, Gretchen, and Kaitlyn strolled along the beach. Their footprints trailed behind them, vanishing with each retreating tide. The salty breeze carried the scent of the ocean, cooling the warmth of the morning and making everything feel light and unburdened. Leah tilted her head back to feel the sun on her face.
“I don’t think I realized how much I needed this,” Leah admitted, adjusting the brim of her straw hat. “Just the ocean, the sand, and no drama for a few hours.”
Chelsea chuckled, stretching her arms over her head. “Don’t say it too loud. The universe might take that as a challenge.”
Tess shook her head with a smile. “Then let’s not invite trouble. Let’s just enjoy the moment. When was the last time the four of us did this?”
“All four of us? I’m thinking Chelsea’s wedding weekend,” Gretchen said.
“It was all a blur for me. I kept worrying that the tent was going to fall on top of everyone. There were moments of fun though. It was good having you all there to celebrate with me.” Chelsea added, “But I agree that we all need to do this more often. We can take turns hosting. One year you guys come to Captiva and the next Gretchen and I will come to Key West.”
“Sounds good to me,” Tess added.
“Well, I have no idea where I’ll be. For now, Key West is my home and that feels right, but a year from now? Who knows.”
Kaitlyn, a few steps ahead, dipped her toes in the foamy surf. “I know I should be stressing over the fundraiser, but right now, I just want to pretend I have nothing to do but lie on this beach.”
“Pretend all you want,” Leah said, smirking. “But at some point, we have to talk about appetizers.”
Tess groaned. “Maybe we should let one of the other restaurants handle everything? I’m starting to feel like we’re taking on more than we can handle. It seemed like a good idea at the time, but now, I don’t know…”
Leah gasped, clutching her chest. “Bite your tongue! We are women of culinary distinction, Tess.”
Chelsea laughed. “Distinction? More like desperation. You two cooked your way through every bad financial stretch you ever had.”
“Exactly,” Leah said. “Which is why we’re going to make appetizers for the fundraiser. Jamie’s restaurant is handling most of the food, but we’ll contribute some homemade stuff. We promised Elena.”
Tess sighed. “And where exactly are we doing all this? Our kitchen is the size of a closet.”
“Elena said we can use the kitchen at Paradise Harbor House,” Kaitlyn said, grinning. “It’s huge—plenty of counter space, professional-grade ovens. No excuses.”
Tess crossed her arms. “Fine, but I’m not making anything fussy. No tiny, bite-sized, ‘stacked’ things.”
“Agreed,” Leah said. “I was thinking bruschetta, maybe some kind of dip and homemade crackers. Stuff we can make ahead.”
“And don’t forget the mini key lime pies,” Chelsea added. “Everyone will expect them.”
Tess sighed dramatically. “I should’ve kept my mouth shut.”
“You never keep your mouth shut,” Leah said, nudging her.
Kaitlyn laughed, shaking her head. “Well, at least the big stuff is settled. Thanks to Jack, the sunset cruise is locked in. Apparently, the boat’s captain is an old friend.”
Chelsea lifted an eyebrow. “Of course he knows a boat captain. The man knows everyone.”
Kaitlyn smirked. “I think he knows someone in every zip code.”
“True,” Leah agreed. “But hey, it works in our favor. The sunset cruise is going to be the highlight of the fundraiser. Between that, the auction, and the donations from local businesses, we should be able to do a lot for Paradise Harbor House.”
“I’ve seen some of the flyers that Elena did. They look amazing,” Kaitlyn said. “I think the fundraiser will be a big success. I know so many families are excited to see Paradise Harbor House getting the attention it deserves.”
There was a pause as they all let that sink in. It wasn’t just about planning an event; it was about changing lives.
Tess gave Kaitlyn a sideways glance. “This whole thing was your idea, you know. You should be proud.”
Kaitlyn hesitated, then shrugged. “I just wanted to do something that mattered.”
Leah linked arms with her niece. “Well, you’re doing it. And you’re not alone.”
“We couldn’t be prouder of you, sweetheart,” Gretchen said.
“I’m ready to dive into the water. Who’s with me?” Chelsea asked.
They all got up and walked toward the water, the easy rhythm of the ocean settling over them. Eventually, Leah attempted an impromptu yoga pose in the sand, only to topple over, sending a spray of sand onto Tess and Chelsea.
“I’m just testing the softness of the beach,” Leah said, sprawled on her back. “It passes.”
Chelsea snorted. “I swear, you were a circus performer in a past life.”
Kaitlyn ran into the water first, her head diving into a large wave.
“Look at her,” Gretchen said. “That’s my daughter.”
Chelsea smiled. “No matter how bad you feel about Jeffrey and Sarah, you should be proud of the way you raised Kaitlyn. She’s an incredible young lady.”
“She’s all grown up. It’s hard knowing what my place is in her life now.”
Chelsea laughed and slipped her arm through Gretchen’s.
“Don’t you worry about it. She’ll always be your baby, and from the looks of things, she’s going to need her mother.”
Kaitlyn looked back at her mother and her aunts and smiled. It wasn’t perfect—there were still unspoken tensions, unfinished conversations—but here, now, there was peace.
She hated to admit it, but with everything that was about to happen in Key West, she imagined that peace wouldn’t last much longer.
The sound of footsteps in the sand behind her made Kaitlyn glance over her shoulder. Will was walking toward her, his hands in the pockets of his board shorts, his easy stride making it look like he had all the time in the world.
“Hey, stranger,” he said, stopping beside her.
Kaitlyn smiled slightly. “Hey yourself.”
“I saw your aunts heading back up the beach. Figured you might still be out here.”
She nodded, wrapping her arms around herself. “I wasn’t ready to leave yet.”
Will studied her for a moment before stepping closer. “What’s on your mind?”
Kaitlyn let out a breath and ran a hand over her ponytail, her fingers toying with the ends of her hair. “Everything. Too much.” She huffed a small, humorless laugh. “You ever feel like you’re standing in the middle of a storm, but everyone else is just going about their business like it’s a sunny day?”
Will tilted his head. “Yeah. I’ve felt like that a time or two.”
She nodded, staring out at the water. “My father and my sister are coming to Key West next week.”
Will didn’t react immediately, giving her space to continue.
“I don’t even know how to process any of this. One minute, I’m furious at my parents for keeping this from me. The next, I’m overwhelmed by the idea that I have a sister who might actually want to know me.”
She could tell his silence meant that he was letting her work through her thoughts.
“And my dad…he stayed for her, you know? He left me behind but stayed for Sarah. I try not to think about what that means, but it’s hard not to.”
“So, your dad stayed with you and your mother when he already had another child?”
Kaitlyn shrugged. “For a while. I imagine it became too much for him. I have no idea about his new wife, but she must have put pressure on him for years to leave us.”
“Not to mention how hard it was for your mother. I mean it had to be difficult to try to save her marriage, knowing what he’d done.”
Kaitlyn hadn’t thought of how her mother must have felt, but now, hearing Will say it, she suddenly felt sick to her stomach at the way she’d treated her mother.
“She must have finally given up when he left,” she responded, her voice barely a whisper.
Will shifted slightly. “Have you talked to him?”
“No. Not yet. I don’t know what I’d even say.” She rubbed her arms like she was cold, even though the late afternoon was warm. “And it’s not just that. The fundraiser is days away, and everything has to go perfectly. We need it to be a success, not just for the money but because Paradise Harbor House deserves it. I need to do something that matters.”
Will nodded slowly. “You already are.”
Kaitlyn let out a short laugh. “I don’t know about that.”
“I do.” He turned slightly, facing her. “Look at what you’ve done since you got here. You found a way to take everything you’re feeling—about your family, about where you come from—and turn it into something good. That says a lot about who you are.”
She swallowed. “And what if it all falls apart? What if the fundraiser doesn’t go the way we need it to? What if Sarah doesn’t want anything to do with me? What if my dad…” She hesitated, her voice quieter now. “What if he never really wanted me in the first place?”
Will chuckled and then reached for her hand, threading his fingers through hers. “My love, you have a lot of ‘what ifs’ to keep you up at night. Why not let it all go and stop worrying? You’re putting too much on yourself. Besides, you are not alone. I’m here.”
Kaitlyn looked up at him.
“I mean it,” he said, his voice steady. “I’ll be there for you. However you need me to be. If you need someone to listen, I’ll listen. If you need to vent, I’ll let you yell at me. If you need to walk away for a while, I’ll be the guy standing at a safe distance, waiting for you to be ready.” His fingers squeezed hers gently. “But you won’t go through this alone.”
Something in her chest loosened at his words, at the certainty in his voice.
“Will…” She hesitated, shaking her head slightly. “I don’t know what to say to that.”
“You don’t have to say anything.” He exhaled, glancing down at their joined hands. “But there is something I need to say.”
She felt his fingers tighten around her’s before he looked back up at her, his expression unreadable, like he was sorting through his own emotions.
“I might as well come clean here. I’m getting in deep with you, Kaitlyn.”
Her breath caught.
“I know neither of us is ready to slap a label on this,” he continued, his voice quiet but firm. “But this thing between us? It’s not casual for me.”
She swallowed hard, her pulse racing.
“I need you to know that,” he added. “Whatever’s happening here, I’m in it for the long haul. I don’t take it lightly.”
Kaitlyn searched his face, trying to find the right words, but nothing felt big enough to match what he was giving her in that moment.
Finally, she just nodded. “It’s not casual for me either.”
A small, almost relieved smile flickered across Will’s face before he reached up, his fingers brushing lightly against her cheek.
Kaitlyn stilled as his hand settled against her face, his thumb grazing her cheekbone, his touch warm and steady. She didn’t pull away.
His gaze locked onto hers, searching, waiting—giving her the space to decide.
Kaitlyn’s breath caught, and then she leaned in, closing the distance between them.
His lips met hers, softly at first, testing, but when she didn’t hesitate, the kiss deepened—slow and sure.
When they finally pulled back, Kaitlyn exhaled shakily, her forehead resting lightly against his.
Will smiled, his voice a little rough. “I think we just crossed into deep waters.”
Kaitlyn let out a soft laugh, her fingers curling into his shirt. “I think we did.”
They stood there, the waves rolling over their feet, the rest of the world fading away.
Whatever this was, wherever it was going—they were in it together, and nothing felt more perfect.