Katherine placed one hand gently on Sally’s shoulder. “You can’t know what would have happened. Sally, the only thing you can know for sure is what did happen. You didn’t stay behind on purpose, you were locked in your room. There was nothing you could have done to stop it. It wasn’t your fault he died.”

Sally pulled her arms across her middle and whispered, “But I lived.”

Katherine’s heart sank. There it is. She thought, heart almost breaking for her friend. This was the real source of her friend’s guilt and remorse.

“That wasn’t your fault either.” she said gently. “Has it ever occurred to you that there might be a reason you were kept from that accident?” Turning her friend toward her, she continued. “God has a purpose for you, Sally, a good and loving purpose. And nothing you have done or could ever do will change His love for you.”

Suddenly, something seemed to break inside Sally. She turned and threw her arms around Katherine’s neck, clinging tight. She was sobbing again, but Katherine sensed no defiance this time, nothing held back. They stood that way for a long time while Sally sobbed out years of guilt and pain. Finally, she stepped back, dragging an already sodden sleeve across her face. “I’m sorry,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

“Sally, I’m glad to be here for you, and that’s the truth.”

Sally mustered a watery half-smile. “You’ve said lots of true things today. Thank you.” Her voice fell to a whisper again, but no tears fell this time.

Katherine hoped the compassion she felt for her friend showed in her smile. “You’re welcome. Do you want to walk further?”

Sally shook her head. “I think I’m ready to start back now. I suppose we won’t have time to see your neighborhood now?”

Katherine glanced up at the sun. Their talk had taken a while, and they still had to walk quite a distance back to the park entrance. She looked back at her friend. “I think we need to get back, but we can always come again.”

Sally looked skeptical. “Truly? You don’t mind, now that you… know?”

“Not at all, Sally. Nothing you told me today changes anything. God loves you just the same as He always has, and so do I.”

Sally looked at her, thoughtful, exhausted, but with a look of hope in her eyes. “You really believe that He could love me?”

Katherine gave her friend another hug. “With all my heart. He can, and does.”

Sally hugged back, then broke away, a thoughtful look on her face.

As they neared the stairs down to First Street, Sally asked, “How do I…do it? I mean, how do I ask for forgiveness, like you said.”

“Your Aunt Harriet is fond of saying that prayer is just telling it all to God. Tell Him what you told me, but most importantly, tell Him about the ways you know you have sinned, and ask Him to forgive you, believing that  His death on the cross paid for your sin.”

“That’s it?”

“That’s it.”

“I don’t have to do anything or say special words?”

“No. Prayer is just a conversation with God. Talk to Him like you would to me.”

Sally turned to look out at the harbor, now a dusky mass beyond the dark shapes of the buildings. A light flicked on here and there as the two stood in silence. Then, letting out a long breath, Sally turned to Katherine.

“It’s done. I feel… different, like everything’s gone quiet inside.”

“Rest for your soul.” Katherine said quietly, her vision blurring with tears of joy.

“And…forgiveness.” Sally’s eyes were soft and wide with wonder.

12 The Rest of the Story

A different Sally descended the stairs into downtown Harborside that day. Katherine noticed it as they stood at the corner, waiting to cross the street. There was a calm about her Katherine had never seen before.

It wasn’t just in her eyes and expression, either. The stillness of Sally’s hands and feet as she stood, the slight lift to her chin, and the shoulders squared as she stood just a little taller. A wave of joy bubbled up inside Katherine as she realized her friend wasn’t hiding anymore.

They walked through the familiar downtown blocks, and as before, Sally didn’t seem to even see them, but this time, it was eagerness, not preoccupation that Katherine sensed in her friend. They spoke little, until they neared the last block.

“D’you suppose she’s there?”

Katherine shrugged. “I don’t know. She never comes in Sundays. It’s her one true day off.” She gave her friend an encouraging smile. “But you never know. She has a habit of showing up right when we need her.”

Sally’s steps quickened as they neared the shop. The sun had set while they walked, but through the dusk, light spilled onto the sidewalk from the tea shop’s windows. Suddenly, Sally froze, her brows crumpled into a worried frown.

“What’s wrong?” Katherine asked, turning to peer at her friend through the dim light.

“Oh, Katherine… whatever do I say?”

“Whatever’s in your heart to say,” Katherine chuckled. “If you’re at all like me, one look at her and the words will just come tumbling out all over each other.”

Sally grinned. “She does that to you too, huh?” They laughed together, and then Sally stepped quickly to the door.

Katherine unlocked the door.

“Is that you, Dearies?” Mrs. James’ voice called out from the kitchen.

Katherine and Sally exchanged a grin, then Sally quickly crossed to the kitchen doorway. She hesitated just outside.

“Oh, Auntie!”

Katherine saw Sally run the last few steps into the kitchen, and the soft muffled sobs and soothing tones which followed told Katherine that her friend was safely in the arms of her aunt.

* * * *

“Hello the shop!” Katherine called out with a laugh as the bell jingled merrily overhead and a gust of wind and rain followed them into the Harborside.

“Why, Katherine! I didn’t expect you today.” Captain Braddock stepped in from the office, Tommy following close behind him.

“I wanted to make sure I didn’t miss the end of that story you promised to finish. And I’ve brought Sally with me.” Katherine threw a casual arm around her friend’s shoulders. “Are we in time?”

“Of course.” Captain Braddock winked. “You didn’t think I’d forget my promise to wait till you both were here, now did you?”