Key West Promises (Seaside Palms #1)

Chapter 26

CHAPTER 26

C helsea left the group and quickly walked to The Gardens Hotel, the historic mansion's white trim gleaming against its rich red brick patio.

The wrought iron gates stood open, welcoming her into what felt like a different era of Key West. As she walked up the shell-stone path, the lush tropical gardens embraced her, providing a peaceful respite from the day's tension.

The former estate of Peggy Mills seemed perfect for what they needed—discreet, elegant, and above all, private. The mahogany doors opened into the cool interior, where the original wooden floors still told stories of Key West's past.

Robert, the manager, greeted her. “Hello, what brings you to The Gardens today?"

“Hello, Robert, I’m Chelsea Thompson. I called earlier about needing two rooms for family members coming into town within the next couple of hours.”

Chelsea followed him to the front desk, her voice low. "We need two rooms, preferably near each other.”

"Of course. How long will your guests be staying?"

"Let's say two nights to start. We may need to adjust." Chelsea glanced around the elegant lobby, with its perfect blend of tropical sophistication and old-world charm. "One room needs to be ready within the hour. The other guest won't arrive until later tonight."

"The Garden Suite would be perfect for your guests,” Robert suggested, "It's private, opens onto its own section of the garden.”

The Gardens Hotel's reputation for handling high-profile guests with grace made it ideal for their situation. The four-poster beds, antique furnishings, and private verandas would provide both comfort and seclusion, but what mattered most was the privacy Kaitlyn and Sarah needed.

"Perfect." She handed over her credit card. "And Robert? My niece will be meeting someone here. They'll need access to one of the private garden areas. I’m assuming family will follow.”

"The hidden garden behind the pool would be ideal," he said, processing the payment. "It's peaceful there, especially in the evening. The orchid collection provides a natural privacy screen. We have a wine bar as well, and I’ll provide you with details on how to access that.”

Chelsea smiled, thinking that Sarah and Kaitlyn wouldn’t need the wine bar, but if Jeffrey and Gretchen talked, her sister most definitely would want access.

Chelsea felt some of her tension ease. The tinkling of the fountains, the subtle fragrance of jasmine, and the property's old-world grace created exactly the atmosphere Sarah and Kaitlyn would need for some time together.

"Thank you." She accepted the key cards. "One more thing—if Jeffrey Miller arrives asking for his daughter, please direct him to me first. I’ll be at the Paradise Harbor House.”

Robert's expression remained professionally neutral, but his eyes showed understanding. He'd undoubtedly handled similar family situations before in this historic property that had seen its share of Key West drama since its construction in the 1870s.

"Of course, Mrs. Thompson. I understand.”

As Chelsea headed back to Paradise Harbor House, she paused in the garden, watching a pair of white butterflies dance among the orchids. The Gardens Hotel had survived hurricanes, the Great Depression, and decades of change in Key West. Surely it could handle a little family drama.

Kaitlyn took a deep breath and dialed, and Sarah answered right away.

"Hello?".

"Sarah? It's Kaitlyn. Are you okay? Dad called and said you’re driving here. Everyone is worried about you. I've wanted us to talk but not this way."

"Kaitlyn!" Sarah paused, her breath audible over the line. "I…I wasn't sure you’d want to talk to me. I thought about sending you a message through the Paradise Harbor House website, but I worried the email would go to the wrong person. I’m glad you called."

"I don’t want you to talk and drive, and whatever you do, don’t text and drive. Do you have enough gas?”

“Yes, I stopped earlier to get gas. You’re on speaker. Is my father…our father mad? He’s upset because we’re supposed to look at a few colleges this summer, but I wanted to see you first. We had a big fight, my mother was the worst. She doesn’t understand how important this is to me. We’ve already lost years; I don’t want to lose anymore.”

“I'm here now," Kaitlyn reassured her. “How far away are you?”

“I just passed Key Largo. I think I’m a couple of hours away.”

“Okay, you should call your mother and let her know that you’re safe and where you are. Tell her you talked to me and we’ll look out for you. Dad is on his way here too. He’ll be here a few hours after you get here. We’re getting you reservations at a hotel but come to Paradise Harbor House first. That’s where I am so I’ll wait for you here.

Sarah sighed. "Okay, I will. It's just— it's been so hard with them. But I'll call."

"I know it's tough," Kaitlyn empathized, imagining the whirlwind of emotions her sister must be experiencing. Her gaze drifted to the vision board on Elena's wall, covered in photos of families finding their way back to each other. "But right now, let's focus on you getting here safely. I’ll meet you at Paradise Harbor House. We’re getting you a room at The Gardens Hotel. It's quiet, and it'll give us the space to talk everything through."

"That sounds really nice." Sarah's voice brightened slightly. "I just want to connect with you, Kaitlyn. I want to know everything about you. Do you feel that way too?”

Kaitlyn didn’t hesitate. “I do. You don’t have to worry about that. We’ve missed out on so much but that’s all over now. You just get here safely and we’ll talk about everything,” Kaitlyn assured her, brushing away tears.

"And I'm here to help you through this, every step of the way. Just keep driving safely, and remember to pull over to a parking lot if you need to talk or text, okay?"

"I will," Sarah promised, a hopeful tone threading through her words. "Thank you for calling, Kaitlyn. It means a lot."

“I’ll see you soon,” Kaitlyn responded, her voice thick with emotion. "Drive safely, Sarah. We're all waiting for you."

"See you soon," Sarah replied, a note of determination in her voice.

As Kaitlyn ended the call, the weight of their first conversation settled around her.

She turned to look at Will, who was the first to move, crossing the room to wrap her in a gentle embrace.

"She sounds scared," Kaitlyn whispered against his chest. "But brave too."

"Like someone else I know," Will murmured.

Elena was already in motion, her practical nature taking charge. "Chelsea, you said you'd made arrangements at The Gardens Hotel?”

Chelsea nodded. "The Garden Suite. It's private, away from the main areas. Perfect for a family reunion that needs space to unfold."

"I should call Tess and Leah," Gretchen said, pulling out her phone. "Let them know Sarah's okay and on her way."

"Already texted them," Will said.

Kaitlyn sank onto the sofa, the adrenaline leaving her system. "She sounds so young," she said softly. "I mean, I knew she was sixteen, but hearing her voice…"

"She's the same age you were when Jeffrey left," Gretchen remarked, then immediately regretted it. "I'm sorry. That wasn't helpful."

But Kaitlyn shook her head. "No, you're right. I remember how it felt—wanting answers, needing to understand. At least Sarah's brave enough to go looking for them."

Chelsea sat beside her niece. "What do you need from us? When she arrives?"

"Space," Kaitlyn said immediately. "Just…space for us to figure this out ourselves. No pressure, no expectations." She looked at her mother. "Can you handle that?"

Gretchen straightened her shoulders. "I can try. But I want you both to know I'm here if you need me."

“I told her to come here first. We can drive over to the hotel, but I want you all to meet her too. I know none of you are related, but you all still feel like additional family for her.”

“That’s how we see it, too,” Leah added. “All of us can be her unofficial aunts.”

Tess nodded. “I agree. Making her feel loved will go a long way in helping her adjust to the new normal.”

“Have you contacted Jeffrey to tell him where he should leave his car?” Elena asked.

Chelsea looked at Gretchen. “I suggest you send him a text and tell him to drive to the hotel. Let him know we’ve made reservations for him and Sarah.”

Gretchen nodded. “Of course, although I expect he’ll be thinking Sarah will meet him there.”

Chelsea smiled. “That’s the point. Sarah and Kaitlyn will be at Paradise Harbor House and Jeffrey will be there. He can wait until they’re good and ready to see him.”

Through the windows, the Key West evening was settling in, strings of lights beginning to twinkle along Duval Street. Somewhere between here and Key Largo, a sixteen-year-old girl was driving toward them, carrying the weight of family secrets and the hope of connection.

As Kaitlyn gathered her things, Elena touched her arm. "Remember what we tell our families here: healing happens at its own pace. Don't rush it."

Kaitlyn hugged her mentor, drawing strength from Elena's steady presence. "Thank you. For everything."

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.