Chapter 21
CHAPTER 21
T he afternoon unfolded in controlled chaos. Gretchen stayed in Elena’s office, methodically working through the auction descriptions while watching the activity through the window. Every instinct screamed at her to intervene when things went wrong, but she forced herself to observe instead.
When Leah dropped an entire tray of canapés, Kaitlyn handled it with calm efficiency, already on the phone with Harbor Lights to arrange replacements.
When two volunteers disagreed about the silent auction layout, she mediated with a diplomatic touch that reminded Gretchen, achingly, of herself at that age—before life had made her rigid with the need to control everything.
“You survived,” Chelsea commented, appearing with coffee. “Two whole hours without trying to reorganize anyone’s system. I’m impressed.”
“I’m learning,” Gretchen said, accepting the cup. “Though it’s killing me a little. Did you see how they’re arranging the auction item? If they just?—”
“Nope,” Chelsea cut her off.
“I’m just kidding,” Gretchen said. “I’ll be good.”
Through the window they could see Will interviewing Jamie about his restaurant’s involvement with Paradise Harbor House. Kaitlyn stood behind the camera, occasionally making suggestions about angles or lighting. The easy synchronization between her and Will was obvious even from a distance.
“They look like they’ve been working together for years. She’s really good at this,” Gretchen said quietly. “All of it. The organizing, the people skills, even the technical stuff with Will’s filming.”
“Finally noticed that, did you?”
They watched as Will wrapped up the interview. He said something that made Kaitlyn laugh, her whole face lighting up in a way Gretchen hadn’t ever seen before.
“When did she fall in love with him?” Gretchen asked.
“Probably around the same time she fell in love with this place, this work.” Chelsea's voice was gentle. “When she stopped trying to be who everyone expected and started being herself. I think Will gravitated toward her like a moth to a flame. Kaitlyn is special, and he recognized that the first time he laid eyes on her.”
Before Gretchen could respond Kaitlyn appeared in the doorway. “Mom? The first family is ready for their interview. Are you still up for helping?”
“Of course, just tell me what you need me to do.”
“Great. Here’s how it will go. We’re interviewing Melanie, who is here with her daughter Hailee. They’ve been staying at Paradise Harbor House for several months. Her husband passed away unexpectedly, and without his income things unraveled fast. Melanie’s been working hard to get back on her feet, but it hasn’t been easy.”
Gretchen nodded. “Poor thing. I can’t imagine how hard that must be for her and her daughter. What can I do to help?”
“I need you to keep Hailee out of the frame. That’s not going to be easy because she’ll want to stay close to her mother. Melanie is happy to tell her story, but she’s also a little nervous. The other volunteers are helping to keep the other children from running into the camera, but I need you to keep your eye on Hailee and also guard the door and make sure the other children don’t slip through.”
“Got it.”
“Here is a coloring book and crayons. See if you can color with her. Okay, let’s go.”
They walked out into the courtyard. Hailee was tucked close to Melanie’s side, clutching a worn stuffed bunny.
“Hi, Hailee,” Gretchen said. “What a cute little bunny you have there. What is the bunny’s name?”
“Yellow,” Hailee said.
“Yellow? That’s my favorite color.
Hailee smiled. “Me too.”
“I was wondering if you’d like to color with me? I think there might even be a bunny in the book. We can color it yellow,” Gretchen added.
Hailee nodded and walked to the table and chairs on the porch while Kaitlyn began talking to Melanie.
“There’s no wrong way to tell your story,” Kaitlyn assured her, sitting across from Melanie. “This is about what you’ve been through and how Paradise Harbor House has helped you. Take your time, and we can pause if you ever need a break.
Melanie let out a breath, her shoulders easing slightly. “Okay.”
“Ready to roll?” Will asked from behind the camera.
Kaitlyn nodded.
Will raised his hand. “All right. Rolling in three…two…one.”
Kaitlyn turned slightly toward Melanie, keeping her voice gentle.
“Melanie, thank you for being here today. Let’s start at the beginning. Can you tell us a little about what brought you to Paradise Harbor House?”
“I lost my husband about six months ago. He worked construction, and when he died on the job…everything fell apart. We didn’t have much saved, and I’d been staying home with our daughter, so when his income stopped, we had nothing to fall back on. We tried to get by but it wasn’t enough. We lost our apartment and for a while… we didn’t have anywhere to go. We had been living in our car for a few days when someone suggested we try a shelter. We didn’t know where to go or what to do.”
Kaitlyn nodded, her expression compassionate but calm, giving Melanie space to continue.
“Another woman who was also living in her car told us that she knew a good place in Key West that was helping families. She told me about Paradise Harbor House,” Melanie said. “I wasn’t sure what to expect, but the moment we got here, I knew it was different. It wasn’t just a place to sleep. It felt…safe, you know, like a home.”
“How has Paradise Harbor House helped you and your daughter since then?”
Melanie smiled. “In so many ways. Of course they gave us a warm bed, and meals but more than anything they’ve given us a sense of community. My daughter has made friends here, and I had time to get back on my feet. They helped me find job leads, taught me how to update my resume, and even made sure my daughter was cared for when I went to interviews.”
“That’s wonderful. And you recently found a job, is that right?”
“Yes, I’ll be working in Miami, and thanks to Paradise Harbor House, we found an affordable apartment close to the bus line. Plus the job where I’ll be working has child care right in the building, so I can see my daughter during the day. There is a good school nearby too, so we’re now talking with them about that. There were financial issues to resolve with insurance, and the people here helped us navigate that as well. Mostly, I feel a sense of hope for the first time since my husband died. I don’t know what we would have done without Paradise Harbor House.”
Kaitlyn reached over and gave Melanie’s hand a gentle squeeze. “What would you say to someone who might be struggling like you were?”
Melanie’s eyes softened. “I’d tell them not to be afraid to ask for help. There are people out there who want to help—you just have to be willing to take that first step. And when you find a place like Paradise Harbor House, see it as a blessing.”
“Thank you so much for sharing your story with us today, Melanie,” Kaitlyn said, nodding to Will who lowered the camera.
“You did great,” Kaitlyn said, looking over at her mother and Hailee. “It looks like Hailee’s having a good time with my mom.”
Melanie smiled. “Hailee loves it here. I hope she won’t be too sad to leave.”
“I know she’s going to make a lot of new friends in Miami, and you’ll have to come visit when you can.”
“What about you, Kaitlyn? Will you stay in Key West?”
Kaitlyn smiled and she could feel Will’s eyes on her, waiting for her answer.
“There’s a very good chance I will,” she answered.
“That’s good. I think everyone will be happy to hear that.”
Kaitlyn smiled and then looked at Will. Whether Key West was in her future or not, she knew there was one person she was now sure she couldn’t live without.
After Melanie and Hailee left, Kaitlyn and Gretchen remained on the bench in the courtyard.
"That was beautiful," Gretchen said softly. "The way you handled the interview. You knew exactly how to make her feel comfortable, how to let her story unfold naturally."
"Thanks, Mom. I appreciate it."
"Kaitlyn…" Gretchen's voice caught. "I owe you an apology. A real one."
"Mom—"
"Please. Let me say this." Gretchen turned to face her daughter fully. "I was so busy trying to protect you that I forgot to listen to you. To see you. I thought if I could just control everything, keep all the messy parts of life away from you…" She shook her head. "I became exactly what I swore I never would."
"Like Grandma," Kaitlyn said quietly.
"Yes. Making choices for everyone, thinking I knew best." Her voice trembled. "I'm so sorry, honey. For all of it."
“I’ve spoken with your father, and it looks like he and Sarah will come to Key West right after the fundraiser. How do you feel about that?”
Kaitlyn nodded. “I think I’m ready, or at least I will be after all this is done. I think I felt a bit overwhelmed with everything happening at the same time.”
Kaitlyn was quiet for a moment and then sighed. "Mom, do you know what hearing Melanie’s story made me realize? How incredibly strong you were. Going through the divorce, dealing with Dad's betrayal, raising me alone, and you never let me see how much you were hurting."
"That was my job as your mother."
"No," Kaitlyn interrupted gently. "That was you trying to carry everything alone. And I didn't help, did I? Running around focused on my social media perfect life, never seeing what it cost you to maintain the facade of everything being okay."
"You were being a teenager," Gretchen said softly. "That was your job, by the way."
"I was old enough to see that you were struggling. I just didn't want to." Kaitlyn's voice caught. "It was easier to be angry, to blame you for Dad leaving. I'm so sorry, Mom. For not understanding how hard it all was. For not being there for you the way you were always there for me."
"Oh honey." Gretchen reached over, taking her daughter's hands. "You were dealing with your own pain. Your father left both of us."
"But I made everything about me." Kaitlyn's voice cracked. "After high school, I refused to go to college, ran away to Aunt Chelsea on Captiva instead. Even when you came to live with Aunt Tess and Aunt Leah last year—I barely called. I was so wrapped up in my own life, my own drama." She squeezed her mother's hands. "You were so brave, Mom. Trying to save your marriage even after you knew about Joanna. Trying to keep our family together."
"Not brave." Gretchen shook her head. "Terrified. Of losing everything. Of failing you."
"But you didn't fail me, Mom. You protected me the only way you knew how." Kaitlyn's voice softened. "I understand that now, working here. Sometimes people make choices out of fear, out of love, out of desperation—and they're all tangled up together. I think you and I aren’t that different after all."
“How do you mean?”
“The passion you had to keep our family together is the same passion that’s inside me. I think it’s why it’s so important for me to meet Sarah. She’s my sister and I want to be in her life and share my life with her.”
"When did you get so wise?"
Kaitlyn shrugged, tears glistening in her eyes. "I'm not so wise, but I'm starting to understand the choices women have to make in the name of love. I hope I'm half the woman you are in my life."
Gretchen watched her daughter, feeling the weight of all they'd been through. Though she hated what Jeffrey had put them through, she was grateful for the struggle that had brought her daughter back to her—not just as her little girl, but as a grown woman with an incredible heart.
Whatever the future held, their relationship had evolved into something deeper: a friendship built on understanding and truth.