“And what did he say?”

“Oh, you know Captain Braddock. He just sort of grunted and walked away.”

“That does sound like the captain. Still, you never know what people will do on Christmas. He might change his mind and surprise us after all. We’ll save a seat, just in case.”

* * * *

Inside the church, there was a hum of conversation as people milled around, exchanging Christmas greetings. The children excitedly compared tales of the presents they had unwrapped, while parents told each other how early their children had woken them up that morning.

The low rafters of the old church were twined with green garlands, and a large wreath hung at the front of the sanctuary. It all looked just as Katherine remembered from those years before the move.

The organ began to play and people made their way into the crowded pews. Katherine left an empty space at the end of their row, just in case the captain should come. She looked around expectantly, watching the doors so she could make sure to see when he came in, but when the first hymn began, she turned around with a disappointed sigh and joined in the singing.

The Christmas service was everything Katherine remembered it to be, and she thoroughly enjoyed it, even though the captain hadn’t shown up. After the closing prayer, she and Miss Harriet stood and exchanged greetings with those around them before putting on their jackets and stepping out into the aisle. Katherine looked up and abruptly stopped. There, in the very last row, sat Captain Braddock!

She pushed her way through the line of people making their way towards the door.

“Captain! Oh, you came! Merry Christmas!”

Captain Braddock grinned as Katherine hurried towards him.

“I thought you weren’t going to come,” she said, her face alight with happy amazement.

“To tell you the truth, Missy, I wasn’t. But then I got to thinking about what you said the other day, and… well,” he leaned forwards and lowered his voice. “I thought I might try out some of those old paths for myself.”

“Oh, I am glad!” Katherine said softly, tears swimming in her eyes as she smiled back at the old man.

“Captain Braddock! Happy Christmas to you,” said Miss Harriet warmly as she walked up next to Katherine and extended her hand.

“Thank you. And the same to you as well.” The captain said gruffly, but with a gracious nod of his head as he shook her hand.

“I was just wondering,” Miss Harriet began, “Would you… that is, Katherine and I would very much like it if you came and had Christmas dinner with us.”

Katherine watched the Captain’s face, expecting to see storm clouds gathering, but to her surprise, the old man paused for a moment, then gave a reluctant smile.

“I thank you. I had thought to take my Christmas dinner at home today, but… I may as well join the two of you—since it’s Christmas and all.” He looked at Katherine and winked.

* * * *

Dinner was as wonderful as Miss Harriet had promised: turkey and stuffing, homemade cranberry sauce, roasted potatoes, rutabagas, and another kind of root vegetable Katherine didn’t recognize. There was gravy and a dense, spongy sort of bread Miss Harriet called Yorkshire Pudding. For dessert, a concoction of sponge cake and pudding sat chilling in the refrigerator, while a tin of mince pies waited on the counter.

Captain Braddock stood awkwardly in the kitchen doorway, as if he had intended to help, but found himself utterly at a loss as to how. Katherine set the table with an extra chair and Miss Harriet’s beautiful china plates. Once the food was all transferred into its serving dishes and set on the table, Miss Harriet took off her apron, smoothed her hair, and led the way to the table.

“Captain Braddock, will you take the head?” Miss Harriet asked, motioning to the chair at the end of the small table, which was now a rectangle, due to the extra leaves Miss Harriet had put in it that morning to accommodate the feast.

“I, uh…yes, thank you,” said the Captain, and he sat carefully down, eyeing the floral china plate and crystal glass at his plate with a degree of uneasiness.

“I’ll ask the blessing, shall I?” Miss Harriet said, extending one hand to the Captain and the other across the table to Katherine. The captain grunted and nodded, reluctantly placing his hands in theirs.

“Lord God, we thank You for all Your many gifts. We thank You for this food and for friends with whom to share it. We thank You for bringing Katherine to Harborhaven, and for bringing Captain Braddock here to share our Christmas with us today. Most of all, we thank You for Your greatest gift of all: the Savior whose birth we celebrate as we share this meal. With grateful hearts, we ask Your blessing on our meal and our time together. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.”

Katherine opened her eyes and stole a quick glance at the captain. His eyes glistened as he raised his head, but he quickly shook off his emotion, clearing his throat and asking,

“What’s that lumpy-looking gravy in the pitcher over there?”

Miss Harriet laughed heartily as she deftly carved thin slices of meat off the turkey and laid them on the plate Katherine was holding for her. “Oh, that. I suppose neither of you have had it before. It’s called bread sauce, and I think it’s delicious! It’s meant to go on the turkey, but you can do what you like with it.”

“You’re right, I haven’t ever heard of it. Why is it called bread sauce?” Katherine asked, drizzling some over her turkey.

“Because it’s made with crumbled bread, to thicken it. I’m sure you remember that in medieval times, bread was the most basic thing they had to eat. It isn’t very nice to eat stale, though, so they had to think of things to make with it after it had gone old. Bread sauce was something nearly anybody could make as a Christmas treat, and so it became a tradition. What do you think?” she asked as Katherine took a bite.

“I like it!” Katherine said. “It tastes like Christmas, somehow, and it’s nice to think that we have something to eat that so many generations before us have eaten with their Christmas dinners.”

“That’s exactly why I make it.”

Captain Braddock chuckled. “I can see why you two get along so well,” he said. Cutting a small bite of turkey, he tried some of the sauce himself. “Say, it does taste good… sorta familiar.” He took another bite and chewed thoughtfully. “Come to think of it, Great-Grandma Braddock used to make this for Christmas when I was a boy.”

“Really?” asked Miss Harriet, “Why, that’s quite remarkable. Was she from England?”

“No, but it may have been a recipe from the Braddock side, which did come from England to begin with. It was one of those holiday foods that everybody is expected to eat, because it’s a tradition, but I don’t remember how it came to be one. Strange, though. It’s unlike the Braddocks to let a tradition die out like that.”

“Well, I’m very glad I made it, and that you decided to join us. There’s nothing like food for transporting us back to the good old days, especially at Christmas.”

* * * *

Katherine was surprised to see Captain Braddock and Miss Harriet getting along so well, and when the meal was done and Miss Harriet began to clear the table, the captain stood and said with unusual politeness,

“Well, ma’am, thank you kindly for the excellent meal. I would offer to help with the washing up if I weren’t so fearful I’d break some of yer pretty plates in the attempt. And since I can’t be a help by staying, I’ll be a help by goin’ and letting the two of you get to it.”

“Oh, Captain, you don’t need to go so soon.” Miss Harriet said, setting down the dish she was holding.

“No, I think it would be best for me to be getting back home before my old bones get too tired. A Merry Christmas to you, and thank you for giving a grizzled old curmudgeon a good meal.”

“You’re very welcome, Captain. And you’re welcome any time, really.” Miss Harriet said, shaking the captain’s hand. Just then, Miss Harriet’s phone began to ring in another room.

“Katherine, perhaps you could see the captain out while I run and answer that? Goodbye, Captain, and Merry Christmas!”