Key West Promises (Seaside Palms #1)

Chapter 30

Chelsea, Tess, Leah and Gretchen stood on the veranda of The Gardens Hotel, watching the scene in the courtyard unfold. They’d already said their goodbyes to Sarah and Jeffrey and left Kaitlyn alone to have her last moments with her sister.

Sarah loaded the last of her things into the trunk of her car, the cool morning air filled with the salty tang of the sea. Kaitlyn stood beside her, wrapped in a light sweater against the morning chill.

"I can't believe you're leaving already," she said, her voice thick with emotion. “I’m glad you came but it wasn’t long enough.”

Sarah leaned against her car, her eyes tracing the lines of the palm leaves above. "I know, but Dad wants to make sure I get back before we miss the college visits," she replied, trying to mask the tremble in her voice.

Jeffrey, standing a few feet away, pretended to be busy with his phone but Kaitlyn could tell he was listening.

"Hey." Kaitlyn touched Sarah's arm, drawing her back from her thoughts. "This isn't goodbye, okay? It's just…see you later."

Sarah nodded, a small smile breaking through. "See you later," she echoed. She glanced over at Jeffrey, who now approached, his expression softening.

"You have my number now," Kaitlyn continued, pulling Sarah into a tight hug. "Anytime, for anything, all right?"

"All right," Sarah managed, her voice muffled against Kaitlyn's shoulder. As they pulled apart, Sarah wiped away a stray tear, her resolve firming. "I'm going to hold you to that. You’re going to get tired of me."

Kaitlyn shook her head. “Never.”

Jeffrey cleared his throat, stepping closer. "Ready to hit the road?" he asked, though his voice betrayed his reluctance to leave the newfound peace. “I’ll follow behind your car.”

Sarah nodded, taking a deep breath of the sea air one last time before sliding into her car.

Jeffrey looked at Kaitlyn. “Is it okay with you if I give you a hug?”

Kaitlyn managed a slight smile and nodded. “Sure.”

Her father held her tight as she breathed in the scent of his cologne. “Daddy,” she whispered.

Responding to her, he squeezed tighter, and said, “Don’t be a stranger.”

She pulled away, looked down at her feet and nodded, wiping a tear from her cheek. She knew it was all he could manage and for now, it would have to be enough.

He looked at Gretchen and nodded, then got into his car.

Kaitlyn waved from the driveway watching as Sarah pulled out onto the street, Jeffrey’s car following closely behind.

As the cars turned the corner and disappeared from view, Kaitlyn felt a pang in her chest. The goodbye was harder than she'd anticipated, but the promise of new beginnings lingered in the air, like the warmth of the rising sun.

Gretchen’s hand was on her shoulder and her aunts stood beside her.

“How are you doing, honey?” Gretchen asked.

Kaitlyn nodded. “I’m okay. At least I will be.”

One by one the aunts wrapped their arms around Kaitlyn. “You did great,” Leah said.

“You were amazing, sweetie,” Tess said.

“Thanks, everyone. I couldn’t have done any of this without your support. I love you all so much.”

“Group hug!” Chelsea announced. “And then, I hate to say it, but I’ve got to get packing and get on the road back to Captiva.” She looked at Gretchen. “What about you? When are you heading back?”

Gretchen looked at Kaitlyn. “I’m not sure. I was thinking today, but it’s up to Kaitlyn. What do you have on your plate today?”

Kaitlyn shrugged and then smiled. “I guess it’s time I go find Elena and accept her job offer.”

“YES!” Leah and Tess yelled at the same time and then did a fist bump.

Gretchen and Kaitlyn laughed. “Why don’t you go do that while Chelsea and I pack.”

“Sounds good,” Chelsea said. “I’ve just got to see Robert to check Jeffrey and Sarah out of their rooms. Wait a few minutes and I’ll walk back with you.”

Walking out of the courtyard, Kaitlyn felt the weight of the morning's farewell but also the lightness of hope. This was just the start, she reminded herself. The road ahead was long, and their story was just beginning.

"Well," Chelsea announced, hefting her bag, "Captiva awaits."

"Are you sure you won't stay one more day?" Tess asked, though they'd been through this already.

"Can't. I've got a new exhibit opening this weekend." Chelsea turned to Kaitlyn. "But you, my precious niece, better come visit soon. Both of you," she added meaningfully.

"Both of us?" Kaitlyn raised an eyebrow.

"You and Sarah, of course. Tess and Leah can manage without you for a weekend."

Gretchen picked up her own bag. "I should get going too. It's a long drive."

The goodbye hugs were lengthy and slightly tearful, with promises of phone calls and visits. Chelsea whispered something in Kaitlyn's ear that made her laugh, while Gretchen held her daughter just a little longer than necessary.

"I'm so proud of you," Gretchen murmured.

After final waves and one last round of hugs, they watched Chelsea and Gretchen drive away. Tess wiped a tear, trying to be subtle about it.

"Don't you start," Leah warned, her own eyes suspiciously bright. "We've got work tonight, and I’d like to keep my mascara in place.

At Paradise Harbor House, Elena welcomed Kaitlyn's decision with a warm hug and a stack of paperwork. As they went through the details of her new position, Kaitlyn felt the rightness of her choice settling into her bones.

"Will's already talking about a documentary series," Elena mentioned, eyes twinkling. "Something about the transformative power of community."

"Of course he is." Kaitlyn laughed, just as Will appeared in the doorway, camera in hand.

"I heard my name," he said, grinning. "All good things, I hope?"

Kaitlyn smiled. “It’s not possible for me to say anything bad about you.”

He looked at Elena. “Mind if I steal your employee for a few? I promise to bring her back soon.”

Elena laughed. “You have my permission.”

“Where are we headed?” Kaitlyn asked as they made their way toward the dock.

“I realized something this morning. Do you know that you haven’t tried my favorite conch fritters since you’ve been in Key West? I thought it was about time I introduced you to Conch Republic.”

“They’re the best, huh?”

“You bet. Come on, let’s order some and I dare you to disagree with me.”

The hostess directed them to a table right next to the dock. A large catamaran filled with people pulled up alongside them. Will ordered the conch fritters and two beers. He lifted his glass in the air. “Here’s to new adventures.”

She smiled. “New adventures.”

They sipped their beer and then Will reached across the table and took her hand. "So," he said, "are you ready for this new chapter?"

Kaitlyn squeezed his hand. "More than ready."

“Well, I’m thrilled you’ll be staying. It means I get to see a lot more of you in the coming months.”

“Only months?” she asked.

“Well, I wanted to say years but I thought that might scare you.”

She shook her head. “After everything I’ve been through, it would take a lot more than that to scare me.”

His face turned serious. “Years, then.”

Lost in his eyes, she was startled when the waitress brought the conch fritters.

Will waited for Kaitlyn to take the first bite. He watched her expression closely. “Well?”

Kaitlyn nodded as she chewed and then gave a thumbs up. “The best.”

His laughter made the people around them look. “Ha! What did I tell you?”

They enjoyed lunch together and then he walked her back to Paradise Harbor House.

“Can I see you tonight?” he asked.

“Yes, I’d like that.”

The afternoon flew by and she smiled, realizing that the minute Will left, all she could think about was when she’d see him again.

Later that evening, Kaitlyn found her aunts getting ready for work. Ernest strutted past, pausing to eye Tess suspiciously.

"He knows that look," Leah groaned. " I know that look. Tess, whatever you're thinking?—"

"Hear me out," Tess sat forward eagerly. "What if we combined our bartending skills with your business sense? We could start a mobile cocktail service?—"

"No."

"But think about it! We'd call it 'Sisters & Spirits'—"

"Absolutely not."

"Or maybe 'Tipsy Tutors'? We could teach cocktail classes?—"

"Tess."

"Fine." Tess slumped back in her chair, but her eyes still sparkled with possibilities. "But you have to admit, the name is catchy."

Kaitlyn couldn't help laughing. Some things never changed—and maybe that was exactly as it should be.

"What?" Tess asked innocently. "We're good at making drinks now. It's not like the coffee cart disaster."

"Or the wind chimes fiasco," Leah added.

"Or the chicken tour debacle," Kaitlyn chimed in.

They all burst out laughing, and Ernest clucked his literary disapproval.

"Okay, okay," Tess conceded. "But maybe just a small business plan? For fun?"

Leah threw her hands up in mock surrender as she walked out the door. "I'm going to work before you convince me to invest in a floating tiki bar."

Tess's eyes lit up. "Now that's an idea?—"

“I’m leaving, Tess!"

As Kaitlyn headed out to meet Will, she could hear her aunts' continued banter as they walked down the street, Tess's creative schemes met with Leah's practical objections.

The familiar rhythm of their sisterly sparring was its own kind of music—the soundtrack of home. But as much as Kaitlyn loved living with them she knew in time she’d need to find her own place.

Above them, the Key West sky grew dark. The stars twinkled their approval, and somewhere in the distance, Ernest began composing his literary criticism of whatever venture Tess would dream up next.

He returned to his nesting spot while the women left the small, yellow bungalow to begin their night.

Some things changed, some stayed the same, and some—like the love of family, found and forged—only grew stronger with time.

THE END

Thank you for reading Key West Promises.