“That sounds like a very good idea! Let’s plan on it, then.” The older lady put an arm around each of the younger two and said, “How glad I am to have you both here!” Then, catching a glimpse of the clock, she pushed Katherine gently towards the door, saying, “Now, we’d better not keep you any longer. We don’t want you to be late!”

* * * *

“I hear you had a skirmish at the shop yesterday.” Captain Braddock limped over to meet Katherine as she took off her jacket and flung her scarf over her head.

“We did. I still don’t know what to think of it…” Handing him the tin, she said casually, “Breakfast. Mrs. James sent them. She said to tell you she made extra this morning.”

With a wary look at Katherine, the old man cautiously opened the tin. His eyes widened as a smile slowly spread across his face. “Well, now, that was kind of her.” Katherine caught a twinkle in his eye as he set the tin down and limped over to the wood stove, saying “I can’t think how she knew I’d like them, though.” He stooped down without looking at her and began to poke discerningly at the fire.

Katherine sighed. There was no getting around the captain. “I may have just mentioned…” she let her voice trail.

Captain Braddock looked up with a grin. “I kinda figured so. Well, I’m grateful, however it came about. Those are quite the treat.” Straightening up with a slight grimace, he shut the door of the old wood stove and turned to face Katherine. “This weather’s not too good on my old bones.” Crossing to the large shop window, he tugged deftly at the dark green rolling blind and eased it up.

“I suppose it won’t be too good for business, either.” Katherine said, joining him at the window and peering out into the dim gloom outside.

“I suppose not. Tea?”

Katherine nodded. Slow cozy days like today were just the kind of days she liked at the Harborside.

* * * *

The two had just settled into their chairs in the Captain’s quarters, when the bell over the door gave a sharp, cheerful jingle.

“Cap’n, are ya here?” A little boy blustered through the doorway before Katherine and the captain could even rise to greet their young customer.

“That I am, young man. What brings you here so early?”

“Mom wanted me to give you this.” He thrust a piece of paper towards the captain.

“What is it, Tommy?” he gave the boy a bewildered look.

“You have to read it, of course!” Tommy chuckled.

Captain Braddock held the paper up and squinted at it for a moment. Then he looked up at Tommy, who seemed to be holding his breath.

“Let me see if I understand this correctly,” he leaned forward. “Your mother doesn’t have anyone to watch you after school, and wants to know if we can keep an eye on you here each day, till she gets off work, is that it?”

Tommy nodded, eyes large and pleading.

With a quick look at Katherine, Captain Braddock broke into a grin. “Well, now. I suppose we can find enough around here to keep you busy. When do you want to start coming?”

Tommy let out a rather dramatic sigh of relief. “Mom says I can come tomorrow if you say ok.”

“Tomorrow it is,” said the captain, with a happy twinkle in his eye. “Now, don’t you have to get off to school? You wouldn’t want to be late, now would you?”

“No, Sir.” Tommy gave a little salute. “See you tomorrow!”

Katherine watched him bounce out the door, then looked over at the captain. Tommy always brought a smile to the old sea captain’s face. Having him around more would be good for them all.

“Well, wouldn’t you know it, we have an apprentice!” Captain Braddock's voice was soft with wonder, his eyes shining. He shook his head. “Never would have thought there would be a youngster hanging around the shop again.”

“Like you used to?”

“Yes, like I used to.” He stared out into the shopfront, and Katherine recognized the familiar faraway look in his eyes as he remembered the days when the Harborside had bustled with Braddocks.

“I’ll just get started on the jars.” Katherine quietly stood and drained the last of her tea. She grabbed a dust rag from behind the counter and walked to the wall of shelves on the opposite end of the shop. Maybe having Tommy around will help the captain not feel so alone.

* * *

“Well, what happened?” Katherine asked as she let herself into the tearoom after closing that night and found Sally in the kitchen washing the dishes.

“Just what Auntie H. said would happen. She came, sat with a ridiculous fake look on her face, and made sure everyone saw her act as if I didn’t exist.” Sally said, curling her lip in disgust. “I don’t know how Auntie H. puts up with the old peacock.”

Katherine shook her head. “Sometimes I wonder that, too. But Rosie hasn’t always been this way. In fact, before now, she’s only been dramatic and ridiculous, never really malicious. It makes me wonder if something has happened to make her so sour all of a sudden.”

“Sour’s the word,” Sally said, shaking her head.

“How did everything else go today?” Katherine asked, picking up a dishtowel and starting to dry the teacups Sally had placed on the drying mat.

“Fine.” Sally shrugged. “Auntie H had me assembling trays most of the day, though I did bus tables as well. There weren’t too many people today.”

“We didn’t have many at the Harborside either,” Looking up, she added, “It’s the rain. It keeps people indoors, though the locals should all be used to it by now.” She leaned towards Sally and whispered, “But I’ll tell you a secret—I like the rainy days the best.”

“Me too.” Sally said, “Reminds me of home.” She studied her dishrag for a moment, a faraway look in her eyes. Then, forgetting to rinse a plate before handing it to Katherine, she suddenly asked, “How did you start working there? At the Harborside, I mean.”

“Well,” Katherine reached over to rinse the plate herself. “When I first came back, your aunt gave me a job and a place to stay, and I was happy here. But one day, she sent me to the Harborside to pick up some tea, and as soon as I walked through the door it felt like home, somehow. Captain Braddock and I got along well enough, and he could tell I was fascinated by the history of the place, so he hired me on as his assistant.”

Sally had stopped washing altogether, staring out the little window above the sink. “Do you suppose…” she began, turning her wistful eyes towards Katherine.

“Yes?”

“Do you suppose everyone has somewhere like that, somewhere that’s home?”

Katherine picked up another cup and rubbed it thoughtfully with her dishcloth. “I don’t know for sure… but it only seems right that everyone would have somewhere they feel they belong. But…” she took a breath, not sure if this was the right time. Lord, help me to have the words! she prayed silently.

“Did I ever tell you why I came back to Harborhaven?”