“The garlands we’re going to make while we wait for customers today.” Captain Braddock replied, casting a sidelong glance at Katherine to catch her reaction.

“We’re going to make them?”

“Yes. It’s a Harborside tradition. We have to have real fir garlands in the window, shelves, and counter.”

“Oh, that will be lovely!” Katherine said.

“The ornaments are only in the top of the box. There’s a tray you can lift out,” Captain Braddock said, turning to attach another bow.

Katherine lifted the tray from the top of the hatbox. There was another layer of crumpled tissue, with some mysterious shapes scattered throughout. Katherine lifted one gently and carefully removed its tissue paper covering. In her hand was an exquisite porcelain shepherd. She reached in again and unwrapped a wise man, then a camel, then Mary and Joseph, a donkey, and a delicate little sheep. Finally, she fished around among the tissue paper and found a manger, with a tiny baby to lay inside it.

“Where is this nativity from?” Katherine asked as the captain walked up to the counter.

“Great-Uncle Charles, that was Isaac’s brother, you know, bought it in Italy. He was a great traveler, and always brought back presents for everyone. This was bought as a gift for Lizzy originally, but she put it out at the Harborside the first Christmas she had it, and here it’s belonged ever since. She said it was too pretty to keep at home where no one would see it.”

Captain Braddock pointed at the intricate detail of the tiny manger. “They’re hand-painted, see, and worth quite a bit, so I’ve always been told. They go up there, on that shelf on the wall behind the counter.” Captain Braddock picked up the shepherd, with a sad sort of smile. “Serena had such a way of arranging it. Somehow, when the pieces are all placed just so, it sort of draws you in. Makes you feel like you’re really there.”

Katherine looked down at the pieces, wondering if she could figure out how to place them “just so.” The captain set the shepherd down and looked back over at the box.

“There should be an angel somewhere, too. Was it in the box with the other pieces?”

“No. I haven’t seen an angel yet. Maybe I missed it somehow.” She looked through the tissue papers one more time. “There’s nothing left in the box but paper. Could it have gotten put away somewhere else?”

Captain Braddock shrugged. “I suppose so. I haven’t helped with the decorations since before I went to sea. Can’t imagine Serena mislaying anything, though. She was always so careful.”

Katherine sifted through the papers again. “Maybe we’ll find it later.” She said, hopefully, thrilled that the captain was talking more freely about his sister.

“Likely so. Anyway, it’s time to open up. Put the boxes back in the trunk for me while I unlock the door, will you?”

“Yes, sir.” Katherine said, putting the lids back on the boxes.

* * * *

Back in the storeroom, she knelt on the floor in front of the open trunk. An aroma of ancient pine needles and cinnamon drifted out of the trunk as she gently set the boxes in their place. As she reached up to close the lid, she noticed something shiny wedged between the other boxes in the trunk. She moved them over and pulled out an antique picture frame.

Turning towards the light, she saw it was a black and white picture of two small children: a boy and a girl, sitting on the floor in front of a Christmas tree, engrossed in watching a small train wind its way around the tree.

Something about the scene seemed familiar to Katherine, but she couldn’t quite figure out what it was. I wonder who they were, she thought. In a sudden fit of boldness, she decided to go back upstairs and ask.

* * * *

When Captain Braddock saw what she was holding, he reached out to take it with a look on his face she had never seen before.

“Well, now. I haven’t seen this in ages,” he said softly.

“I was wondering who the children in the picture were,” Katherine asked cautiously.

“You’d never know it now, but that little tyke is me, and that’s my sister Serena next to me.” The captain smiled and sighed. “Them were good days, when we were young. This was taken for my grandparents as a Christmas present. They set it on that shelf over there every Christmas. We were their only grandchildren, you see, and they doted on us.”

Katherine gently took the picture from Captain Braddock. “I think we should keep it out.” She said, walking over to the shelves. “Is this where it goes?” she asked, gently moving a tea bowl to one side to make room.

Captain Braddock smiled. “Yes, just there.” He paused for a moment, then gave a heavy sigh, and said, “Well, I guess we’d best get to our work now.”

* * * *

The clock chimed five just as Captain Braddock locked the front door and pulled down the dark green window shades. He poked at the fire in the wood stove, then turned and stood in the doorway to the office, watching his assistant.

Katherine sat on the floor, surrounded by piles of fragrant green branches, working busily away. She looked up and met the captain’s gaze.

“What are you thinking about?” she asked, picking up another branch to tie onto her garland.

“I was just remembering the days long ago when I was the one sitting on the floor, tying branches together.”

Katherine smiled and looked back down at the knot she was tying.

“You know, Katherine,” Captain Braddock continued, “I sure am glad you came to the Harborside this year. I never would have had the heart to do all this on my own, and yet, Christmas wouldn’t have seemed quite right without it.”

“I wouldn’t have missed this for the world,” Katherine held up her garland. “Does this look right?” she asked brightly.

“Perfect. Now it’s time to hang them. Let me show you where they go.”

By the time they had finished, there were garlands over the windows and doorways, along the counter, and even along the top and sides of the shelves. The whole room was filled with the fragrance of the fresh branches.

The two stood back to admire their work. “It sure does seem like Christmas now.” Katherine said.

“We haven’t even put up the tree yet,” Captain Braddock replied.

“Oh, I almost forgot about the tree. When is it coming?”

“Any minute now. I told them to deliver it at five-thirty. I’ll bring in another chair, and we can both sit by the stove while we wait.”

* * * *