“Besides, when was the last time you had a customer at this time of day?”

Captain Braddock’s frown deepened, and he opened his mouth to speak, then slowly melted into a chagrined chuckle. “I suppose I can’t argue with you there.” He threw out his arms. “Welcome to the library.”

Katherine happily gazed around her. This was a room she had never been in before. It had tall French doors that led out onto a tangle of plants and a tall mass of ivy. The walls were lined with bookshelves, and these were filled with old, leather or clothbound books, many in the ornate style so particular to Victorian times. Walking over to one of the shelves, she ran a finger lightly over the spines, reading the titles. “Homer’s Odyssey…The Count of Monte Cristo… Moby Dick… A Sailor’s Guide to Wind and Wave…” Pulling out a thick volume, she chuckled.

“What is it?” Captain Braddock asked.

“The Ashley Book of Knots. This looks like a good book for Tommy.” She handed it to the captain and chuckled again. "He’s forever asking me to tie his shoes. A basic understanding of knots would be good for him.”

“That’s so. I’ve tried to teach him to tie his shoes, but it just doesn’t stick, somehow. Needs to, though. Maybe a book of knots and a length of sail rope to practice on would help.”

Katherine smiled. “It's worth a try.”

The two talked and laughed as they waited for Serena to return from her meeting with Mr. Patten. The captain was almost back to his old self, and Katherine relished the chance to just sit and chat like they used to.

After a while Captain Braddock leaned forward. “What is it yer tryin’ not to ask me, Missy?”

Katherine’s eyes widened in surprise. “How—”

“I know yer look. You’ve got something on yer mind, but you don’t think you should ask it.”

Katherine shook her head in astonishment. “It’s that obvious?”

He chuckled. “Only to me, Missy. Only to me.” He shifted his leg to a more comfortable angle on the footrest in front of him. “Now, then. Unfurl that troubled heart of yers.”

“Well…” Katherine twisted the fringe of her scarf around one finger, searching for the words. “If there’s enough money in the trust to buy the rest of the Harborside block…”

“Yes?”

“What do you plan to do with it?”

Captain Braddock leaned forward. “I think the question of the hour is, what do you plan to do with it? I know you must have yer ideas, otherwise you wouldn’t have been so excited about it, nor worked quite so hard to find the paperwork about the trust.”

Katherine looked down, suddenly shy. “I do have some ideas…”

“And what are they? Don’t be afraid, my girl.”

She looked up into his eyes, which shone with more gentleness than she remembered ever having seen there. Emboldened, she blurted, “What about a museum?”

He nodded soberly. “Tell me more.”

“Well, the warehouse has so many separate entrances, we could set up whatever space we don’t need for the shop with some of the Braddock’s treasures, and maybe have some signs printed, or do some sort of tour, explaining the history of the Harborside and sharing all the wonderful stories you’ve shared with Tommy and me. That way, the visitors would get a taste of the Harborside’s legacy to go with their tea.”

The captain thought a few minutes, then looked up, beaming. “Yer heart’s with the Harborside, and yer mind’s a sharp one, with a practical bent to it." He nodded. "Start plannin’ yer museum, Missy.”

He paused, then reached out to squeeze her hand as he added, “I trust you.”

20 Harborside United

“Well?” Katherine and Captain Braddock both asked at once as Serena appeared in the doorway.

She stood for a moment on the threshold, her face drawn into a dramatically tragic frown, then grinned and clapped her hands. “We have enough—more than enough!”

Katherine felt tears well up in her eyes. She lifted her heart in silent gratitude to God as Serena and the captain talked over the details.

“It’s ours as-is, but Mr. Patten said whatever money is left over would be fine to use for upkeep and repairs of the building.” Serena sank into a chair, looking bright, cheerful, and exhausted all at once. “Oh, and Mr. Welch is selling it with, as he put it ‘all the junk inside.’ I suppose we’ll find out what that means. I do hope it hasn’t been used as someone’s garbage dump.” She hugged a needlepoint pillow and beamed at them. “Still… it’s ours again.”

“The Harborside will be whole.” Captain Braddock said, eyes shining.

Katherine’s throat tightened with emotion. She smiled at her friends, her heart silently shouting what her voice couldn’t speak: Thank You, Lord!

* * * *

“You mean they’ve really got it?” Sally almost shouted the words. 

Katherine turned the water on to fill the sink. “Yes. The sale closes in three months, since they have to go through the trust and all. But the contract has been signed, and it’s as good as theirs!”

“I just can’t believe it.”

“I know, and there’s more. The captain and Serena both agreed to let me start planning for a Harborside museum with some of the new space!”

Sally squealed and hugged Katherine, then, pulling a serious face, picked up a dish rag and flung it at her friend. “Now, then. These dishes aren’t going to clean themselves. You wash, I’ll dry.”

Katherine laughed and swished her rag through the water to dissolve the dish soap. Soon the sink was filled with suds and Katherine began the comfortingly familiar chore.

As Sally rubbed the first teacup with her towel, she asked, “Did you ever find out what they’re going to do about the letter?”

Katherine looked down at the suds she was rinsing off a saucer. “No. I didn’t.” Raising her head, she met Sally’s concerned gaze. “I’ve thought about it, and worried about it more than I like to admit… but I’ve decided that’s something I need to leave with God.”

Sally nodded, her face sober. “I’ve something of the same kind myself.”

“Really?” Katherine rinsed another cup and handed it to her friend. “Can you tell me?”

“It’s my Dad. I haven’t seen him since… well, you know I ran off pretty quick after my brother died, and never looked back. But now… I started to feel like I needed to write to him, to clear the air, at least about my running away. I know it must have hurt him dreadfully, especially right after losing my brother.”

Katherine nodded. “That sounds like a good thing to do.”

“Well, I talked with Auntie H. and eventually, I decided to. But then we went off for the New Year and I didn’t get around to mailing my letter until the day after I got back here.”

“And have you heard anything in reply?”

“That’s the thing I have to leave with God, as you said. I never did hear, and I might not ever hear. For all I know, he may never read it.” She looked down at the plate in her hands and moved her towel in methodical circles. “I may try again eventually, but for now, I feel I’ve done what was right, and need to just leave it alone.”