“Only that things are bound to be different in lots of ways, now that Miss Harriet—Mrs. James, that is, has a husband to go home to at the end of the day.”
“I suppose we probably won’t be able to linger over the washing up like we used to…” Katherine’s voice trailed off. The nightly ritual of dishwashing had been a highlight of Katherine’s time at Miss Harriet’s. The two would discuss just about everything; the day, the customers, the books they were reading. It was a relaxing end to a busy day, and Katherine knew it just wouldn’t be the same without her dear friend to talk to.
Captain Braddock’s brows furrowed as he watched the change in her expression. “Now, here I am pourin’ doom and gloom on yer day, and yer mornin’s barely begun! Fine company I am!” He reached across the table and patted her hand. “Don’t you worry, Missy. You’ll be just fine, so long as you keep yer focus right.”
Katherine gave his hand a gentle squeeze. “I know." She sighed. There’s just so much going on right now—” A genteel chime sounded from behind the curtained doorway, and Kathrine grinned. “Such as the morning baking. I’ll just get that next batch into the oven.”
She hurried into the kitchen with a full heart and busy mind, determined to follow the captain’s advice and stay focused on the tasks at hand, not wanting to think about how things might be about to change.
2 A Family Business
The sun had already begun its descent into the blue-grey of the harbor as Katherine locked the door of Miss Harriet’s and started out across Harborhaven’s historic downtown blocks. Here and there the sinking sun squeezed its way between the tall masses of elaborate Victorian brick, bathing everything it touched in a vibrant shade of gold.
Katherine stooped and picked up a bright leaf from among many on the sidewalk. The weather may have been mild so far, but the trees certainly knew what season it was.
Autumn always seemed to sneak up on Katherine now. Perhaps it was because she was too busy, too distracted to watch for it. As a child, she would notice each leaf, each change in the temperature from one day to the next, savoring the coming of fall as it unfurled bit by bit before her eyes.
But now—she sighed and twirled the leaf between her fingers. These days, it seemed like the change was nearly over before she even noticed it had begun. Perhaps someday she would have time to savor the seasons again.
Loosening her fingers to let the breeze carry her leaf away, she strode onwards. There was much to do at the Harborside tonight. And then it would be back to Miss Harriet’s to finish the washing up and polish the counter before going to bed. She took a deep breath. Three more days.
* * * *
“Hello there, Katherine. Profitable day?” Captain Braddock met Katherine at the door and helped her off with her jacket.
“Almost too profitable. The lunch rush had people waiting on the sidewalk, there were so many at once. Here’s our restock order.” Katherine fished a piece of paper from her pocket and handed it to the captain.
“I brought you more of the Don Chong Oolong this morning.”
“I know… it’s the Luncheon Society. Rosie’s forbidden them from asking for a recommendation. Instead, she has the whole tableful of them ordering the same tea, and she’s working her way down the tea list one week at a time.” Katherine pulled the stiff navy apron off its hook by the door and slipped it wearily over her head, then glanced back at Captain Braddock with a weak smile. “She’s calling it, ‘the grand tour’ and insisting we should feature it on the menu—and name it after her, of course.”
“I’m sure she is.” Captain Braddock chuckled a little, but as Katherine peeked at the large jars under the counter to see which needed to be refilled, she glanced up and saw his bushy white eyebrows scrunch together into a look of concern. “That employer of yers oughtta hire someone on to help you when she goes off gallivantin’ like this.”
“It isn’t frivolous gallivanting, she’s on her honeymoon. Besides, we talked about it before the trip, but neither of us could think of anyone suitable.” She shrugged and walked into the back office, the little room she had nicknamed the “Captain’s Quarters.” Reaching up, she took a clipboard from the wall.
“Still. I can’t help thinkin’ it’s too much on you all at once.”
Katherine shrugged again, then glanced up from the clipboard with a little smirk. “You know, Miss Harriet isn’t my only employer.”
Captain Braddock folded his arms and stood tall. “You might have noticed, Missy, just what kind of business we have here?”
“Um… a tea business?” Katherine replied slowly, uncertain where the captain was headed.
“Yes, but this also happens to be a family business. Right from the beginning, when Captain Jeremiah Braddock unloaded his first cargo of tea right into this very room, the Harborside has been a family business. Every generation of Braddocks has grown up, right here, working alongside the rest of the family.” Captain Braddock fell silent, gazing into the storefront.
Katherine knew that look—the look of memories flooding in, and the inevitable wave of sadness close behind. She thought it must be so hard to be the last generation, with only one sister left —and her in a distant land—out of what had been a close-knit bundle of aunts, uncles, grandparents, and great-grandparents all living, working, laughing, and crying together.
With just a hint of emotion in his voice, he turned back to Katherine and fixed her in one of his serious frowns. “We don’t have employees here, Katherine. Never did, never will. We only have family. And don’t you forget it.” With that, he turned and went back into the shop, his characteristic limp making an uneven staccato of footsteps on the time-worn wood of the floorboards.
Katherine stared after him, eyes blurred with tears. She knew Captain Braddock thought of her as belonging to the Harborside, and Katherine herself thought of it as home, but he had never used that momentous word before.
Yes, family was the thing most precious to Captain Braddock’s heart—so much so that he had nearly sacrificed his entire retirement savings in order to keep the Harborside running and his family’s legacy alive.
Family. She felt the word sink warmly into the deepest part of her heart. She wished she could go in and tell the captain just how much that word meant to her, but she knew Captain Braddock too well. He had made a gesture, shown his heart, and now it was done. He would want everything to just go on as it was before.
No fuss, that was the captain. He would drop his reserve momentarily, then the wall would go right back up again, even higher and thicker than before. Katherine always wondered why he did that, but she knew better than to try to push her way past the wall. She would find some way to show him how she valued the honor of being Harborside family... but what?
With full heart and mind, she turned her attention to the task at hand. Inventory in the chilly storage room didn’t appeal to Katherine’s aching muscles, but it had to be done. Opening the heavy wood door, she flipped on the light and got to work.
3 Mrs. James
Katherine had just put in the morning baking when she heard the rattle of a key in the lock, followed by the cheery jingle of the bell over the door.
“Hello, Dearie!”
A burst of joy thrilled through Katherine as she heard the familiar voice. Rushing out from the kitchen, she found herself wrapped in a motherly embrace. “Miss Harriet! I didn’t expect you this early. Why, you haven’t even been home yet, have you?”
“No. I wanted to surprise you and make sure you were still alive after bearing the full burden of the shop for an entire week!”
