Leaning against the doorway of the captain’s room, she remembered her conversation with Mrs. James the night before.
“Sally will be there tomorrow. I’ve given her the keys to my car so you two will be mobile.”
“Thank you.”
“Katherine,”
“Yes?”
“I think I should cancel the rest of the trip.”
Katherine’s heart squeezed in her chest. As much as she longed for her friend to be there with her, she couldn’t let her give up the long-awaited trip to her childhood home. “No. You can’t… you’ve been looking forward to it for so long, and your brother’s expecting you!”
“I know. But I can’t leave the whole burden of my tea shop on your shoulders while I go off to England to enjoy myself, especially at such a time.”
“I’ll have Sally.”
There was a long pause.
“Is it enough, Dearie? Will you be able to manage with just Sally to help?”
Katherine had silently prayed before giving an answer.
“I think so.”
“Our flight leaves at nine tomorrow evening. Will you promise to call me right away if you decide you need me home?”
“I promise.”
“Good girl.”
Katherine’s heart warmed at the matronly tone that felt like a hug.
“How I wish I could be there with you, Katherine. I can’t imagine how hard this is, and all of us so far away.”
Tears had trickled down Katherine’s cheeks.
“You know you can call me at any time, even in England. And I’ll be praying for you.”
“Thank you.” She had barely managed a whisper.
The steady beeping of the monitor slowly brought her back to the present. Captain Braddock’s forehead creased in a frown as he drifted awake.
“Good morning.” Katherine said softly, returning to her chair by his bedside.
“Katherine.”
“Do you know where you are?” she asked trying to smile.
“It…appears…I’m in a hospital.” He said haltingly, trying to raise a hand tethered by an IV and oximeter.
Freeing the cords from where they had gotten tangled, she waited for the question, praying it wouldn’t come this time.
“What happened?’
Here we go again.
* * * *
No matter how many angles she considered it from, she came to the same conclusion. Someone needed to go deal with the Harborside’s deliveries. They had a shipment of Puer-Sheng coming, along with more Assam and the boxes of teabags for Miss Harriet’s.
She glanced at the captain, trying to gauge how soon he would be awake. Sally’s flight had landed and she was on her way from the airport in Mrs. James’ car. If she could get to the Harborside by three, she would be there when the deliveries came. It was too cold and damp for the boxes to be sitting out on the step. The tea always came carefully packaged, but still.
The weight of responsibility made her stomach feel tight, as another wave of loneliness swept over her. She had to figure this out, to keep things together. Lord, help me! She prayed.
* * * *
“Hi.” Sally smiled shyly as Katherine got in the car.
“Hi.” Katherine tried to smile back.
