“Yes. I was just admiring the staircase.”
“It is beautiful, isn’t it? But then, I might be biased.”
“Braddocks do seem to be partial to spiral staircases,” Katherine said with a laugh.
“Oh, yes. And this one was designed to be especially grand.”
“Edward again?”
“You’ve been paying attention.” Serena smiled at Katherine before letting her eyes trace the wide curve of the staircase. He built this just before the Harborside’s brick façade went up. The Braddock’s original home was plain and simple, and much smaller.”
“Like the old farmhouses that used to stand where Cliffton is?”
“Yes, in fact, it was essentially just like those. After Anne and Jeremiah died, Edward decided to pull down the house, which as you can imagine caused great consternation among the rest of the Braddocks.”
This sparked Katherine’s memory and she hurried to set her box on a chair and retrieve the unopened letter. “I haven’t found anything about the trust, but I did find this today.” she handed the letter to Serena. “It looked intriguing.”
Serena turned the letter over slowly in her hands. “That’s Granny Braddock’s writing, for sure." She squinted at the address on the front. "But, does that really say Braddock?... And in such a faraway place as New York!”
“I wondered why it was never opened.”
“Yes, that is odd.” Serena’s hand hovered over the flap for a moment, then she looked up at Katherine. “We should wait for Jeremiah. He would want to be here when we open it, especially if it means there’s another Braddock somewhere.”
Serena set the letter down on a small table beside the captain’s favorite armchair, saying softly to herself, “Maybe we aren’t the last ones left, after all.”
18 The Letter
The time had finally come. Serena and Katherine leaned nearer to the captain’s chair, heads bent close, eyes alight with anticipation. The cozy glow of the fireplace mingled with soft light from a number of table lamps scattered throughout the room, making it feel warm and welcoming, but echoing the mysteriousness of the unopened letter.
Captain Braddock flipped the envelope over to examine the address. “Yer right. It is certainly to a Braddock, and in New York.” Picking up an antique silver letter opener Serena had set beside the letter, he slid the long, thin blade under the flap.
The room was still. No one moved or breathed, and the only sounds were the ticking of the mantel clock and the soft tearing of paper. Unfolding the letter, the captain held it up to Serena. “I think you should read it out to us, since this light makes it hard on my eyes.”
Serena nodded, took the age-yellowed paper in her hands, and began to read.
"September 8, 1948.
Dear Sir,
I thank you for your letter. It was a shock to read such bitter allegations about Captain Jeremiah Braddock and his sons, and at first I thought them wholly unfounded—so much so that I must confess to having thrown your original letter away in disgust.
But I came across an entry in the captain’s journal that hinted at the animosity of which you wrote, and although I do believe that Captain Jeremiah meant well, his sons may have resented what he meant as kindness to your great-great grandfather.
Whatever occurred in the past, the fact remains that you are indeed a rightful member of the Braddock family, and as such, know that you are always welcome at the Harborside. I invite you to come and get to know your long-estranged family.
With utmost sincerity,
Irene Braddock”
The three sat in stunned silence, the clock seeming to tick louder than ever. Captain Braddock’s face wrinkled into a frown as he voiced the question Katherine had been wanting to ask.
“Allegations? What allegations?”
Serena shook her head. “I don’t know…Granny Braddock never mentioned anything like that to me.” She sighed. “I wish I could ask her.”
“She mentioned the captain’s journal. Do you know where that is?”
Captain Braddock and Serena looked at each other. “I’ve never come across it. Have you?” the captain asked.
“No. And until tonight, I had no idea such a treasure existed.”
Katherine’s heart leapt. She couldn’t help but grin as she said, “Well, now we have two things to search for!”
Captain Braddock chuckled. “You’d better hand Serena a stack of papers, then.” He turned to Serena, “Mind you don’t lose that letter—or its envelope.”
