“Lizzy appeased her sister by sending her away in the car with a message to her mother, saying she wouldn’t be home for a while yet. She laughed off her sister’s disapproval, saying, ‘It’s the twenties, dear! And besides, I’m sure Mr. Braddock won’t let me get lost on the way home.’
“Isaac finished his tale and locked up the shop, then the two took a leisurely walk along the wharf before heading back to the Grand Hotel, where Lizzy’s family was staying. By the time they reached the door, each had secretly resolved to marry the other if they could.
“The next day, Isaac (looking much more like a gentleman and less like a shop assistant) couldn’t wait to open the shop. Lizzy had indicated that she would be dropping by to learn more about the shop, and she was true to her word. She appeared mid-morning with a box in her hand, tied shut with a satin ribbon. Astonished, Isaac accepted the box, then laughed aloud when he removed the lid and found there a bell for the shop’s door! ‘Now,’ she said, ‘You’ll always know when I am here.’” Captain Braddock nodded over at the door, “And there it’s stayed ever since.”
“And Lizzy?” Katherine asked.
“Ah, well, she spent nearly every day of her vacation here in the shop, and by the time the family went back home, Isaac had obtained permission from Lizzy’s father to marry her. They were married for fifty-seven years, they were. Although I remember Great-Uncle Isaac saying that he never could quite tell whether she wanted to marry him or the Harborside. Then Great-Aunt Lizzy would laugh her merry laugh and with a twinkle in her eye reply that she was just happy they came as a packaged set, so she didn’t have to choose.”
“Katherine looked over at the bell with a satisfied sigh. “How lovely it is to know the stories behind ordinary things. I think I shall remember Isaac and Lizzy every time I hear the bell ring or step on that creaky floorboard.” She sat in dazed silence for a moment, then said thoughtfully, “You know, the way history comes alive here, I’m surprised the Harborhaven Historical Society isn’t conducting tours!”
“Well now, that would be pretty difficult, since apart from you, I’m the only one around anymore that knows about the Harborside’s past.”
“What about your sister?” The words slipped out of Katherine’s mouth before she could stop them. Captain Braddock stiffened, a jar in one hand and a dust rag in the other. His back was to Katherine. She wished she could see his face.
“Like I said, I’m the only one around who knows the old stories.”
Katherine sat silent, mentally kicking herself. Things were so open, so friendly, and then she had to go and say something about Serena. Now the wall was back up between them, and she had no idea what to say or do to get him to take it down again. She watched him move around the shop, dusting and straightening, always with his back towards her.
Finally, he turned around and looked at her. His face softened as he said, “We’ll need to be gettin’ the Christmas decorations out from the storeroom when you’re here on Tuesday.”
Katherine’s heart thrilled at this sudden change in the Captain’s demeanor. “Decorations?”
“Yes,” he said, leaning towards her with a grin, “old decorations. Harborside tradition, you know.” He laughed as Katherine’s eyes lit up. “By rights, I should have put them up yesterday, but I thought you might like to have a hand in it.”
“Of course I would!” Katherine exclaimed, sitting up straight in the chair.
“Well, I supposed you wouldn’t mind helping. I may need you to come in extra early, or else stay late, since we can’t very well decorate while the shop’s open.”
“Just name the hour, and I’ll be here!”
Captain Braddock chuckled and went back to his dusting, and Katherine settled back into the comfortable chair, basking in the warmth of the wood stove and the delight of being once more at home.
19 Rest for the Soul
The drive to church the next morning made Katherine even happier to be back in Harborhaven. Bright red leaves lay scattered across the road, and they swirled in graceful little curls after the cars as they passed. The road wound along through the mist that had rolled in from the harbor, and Katherine savored the view out the front windshield as Miss Harriet drove. The two chatted amicably as they wound their way through the mists to the little old church building.
When they arrived, Katherine got out of the car and walked towards the church, realizing that for the first time, she was looking forward to the service instead of looking back to memories of the past. With the rift between her and her parents beginning to heal, the memories that rushed in on her as she walked towards the building made her want to smile instead of cry.
She hadn’t realized what a dark cloud her bitterness had been. It had shut out the brightness of the joyful things in her past, making them shadowy reminders of how she wished life had gone instead.
She followed Miss Harriet in and the two took their usual place in one of the old wooden pews. As the service began, Katherine noticed that everything felt more vibrant: the words of the hymns they sang suddenly meant more to her, the sermon touched her heart more deeply, the times of prayer seemed more personal, as if she were suddenly closer to God, somehow, and could talk to Him about anything.
Her heart thrilled with fresh rejoicing as they stood to sing “Nothing Between My Soul and the Savior,” basking in the fact that the words she sang were true: at long last, the walls were down, the rifts had been mended.
How different it felt from the previous Sundays since her return to Harborhaven, when church had been a constant struggle against her own memories and emotions. It had become something merely to be gotten through, because that was what she did on Sundays. But today everything seemed different. For the first time in years, she felt free.
After the sermon, Katherine slipped quietly out of her seat and knelt. Feeling she might burst with joy and gratitude, she began to pray.
Thank you, Lord.Thank you for showing me the “old path” of forgiveness and the truth of my own pride and selfishness. Thank you for restoring my relationship with my parents and for helping me to let go of the hurts of my past. Thank you for bringing this rest to my soul.
With tears brimming in her eyes, she stood and joined in as the congregation sang the closing hymn. Miss Harriet reached over and squeezed her hand. Katherine gave her a bright smile and whispered, “I’ve found it Miss Harriet—rest at last!”
* * * *
On the way home from church, Miss Harriet and Katherine were quiet. A joyful, holy hush had fallen over the two as they drove along the winding road. After a while, Miss Harriet asked gently,
“All right if we take a little detour? It’s a perfect day to look at the harbor.”
“Of course!” Katherine replied. “I haven’t been up to the viewpoint in a long time.”
When they reached the old viewpoint, Katherine was glad she had chosen a thick wool skirt and her warmest dress boots to wear to church that day.
The wind gusted icily around them, as they got out of the car, but what took Katherine’s breath away was the view. The morning mists had cleared away and Katherine looked out over the harbor and the vast expanse of water beyond, reflecting the dull grey of the winter sky. The fierce wind gusting around them at the viewpoint also ruffled the surface of the harbor into waves that crashed against the wharf’s sturdy sea wall.
“How could I have forgotten how beautiful the harbor is?” Katherine asked, bewildered. “I used to look out at it every day from my window growing up, but since I’ve been back, I’ve barely noticed it was there. I suppose I’ve just been too wrapped up in my own misery to notice anything else.”
Miss Harriet surveyed her silently as they leaned on the old stone railing.
Katherine gazed out across the water for a while, then suddenly turned to Miss Harriet.
