Page 185 of Key West Homecoming

Kaitlyn came through with her left hand already raised. Will was right behind her with his camera bag still across his chest.

For one second, nobody said anything.

Then Tess squealed.

She came around the end of the bar and reached her niece in the middle of the room. She took Kaitlyn by both shoulders and held her at arm’s length before pulling her into a hug.

“Let me see it. Let me see it properly. I can’t see a thing with you crying on me.”

“I’m not crying.”

“You’re crying on my good shirt, and I want you to know I don’t mind.”

Leah came around the bar without hurrying. She took Kaitlyn’s left hand and turned it toward the string lights.

Then she looked at Will.

“Smathers Beach,” he said. “About six o’clock. She said yes before I finished asking, which I want noted because I had a whole speech prepared.”

“You had a speech?” Emma asked.

“Four hundred words. I got through about nine.”

Kaitlyn laughed through her tears. “It was a very good nine words.”

Connie came out from behind the register with a dish towel over one shoulder. She looked at the ring for several seconds before turning to Will.

“You did it right.”

Then she went to the top shelf and took down a bottle Emma had seen her touch exactly once before.

After that, the room became chaos.

Someone started clapping at the end of the bar. The applause moved across the room until people who had no idea what they were celebrating joined in anyway. Joey started another song, this one louder, and a man Emma had never met shook Will’s hand twice.

Leah poured drinks. Tess held Kaitlyn’s left hand in both of hers and refused to let go. Will bought a round for the room, then stood there holding his own drink without taking a sip.

Emma found a glass in her hand and had no idea who had given it to her.

Kaitlyn finally reached the bar.

“Hello, cottage.”

She hugged Emma hard.

Emma laughed and hugged her back. “Congratulations.”

“Thank you. I’m still trying to believe it.”

Will came up behind her.

“She’s been calling you that since she heard about you,” he said. “I’ve had nothing else to go on.”

“It’s a good name for me.”

Kaitlyn held up her hand again. “Look.”

Emma did.