Katherine shot a glance over to the kitchen doorway to see that Miss Harriet had safely retreated. Then she swung the door wide.
“Of course! I was just saying that it didn’t seem right to take the decorations down without you, and now here you are to help!”
Mr. James chuckled and shifted a small bag between his hands. “Well, it’s good to be thought of in one’s absence, I suppose.”
“Mr. James!” Miss Harriet stepped out of the kitchen, with a face carefully composed, but showing genuine gladness as she greeted her friend. “Why, I thought you weren’t due back until tomorrow?”
“The weather report said there was a storm brewing, so I changed my flight a day earlier.”
“I see.”
Katherine busied herself with gathering up the Christmas centerpieces at the back of the room, to give the two space to talk.
“I’m just on my way home from the airport now. I was hoping to find you here still.”
Katherine saw Miss Harriet’s blush and downcast eyes from across the room and joined the conversation again with a merry, “Oh, Mr. James, you know better than anyone that we’re always here… More to the point, so are you—except when you’re not.”
“Yes, we’ve been noticing how… quiet it is around here without you.” Miss Harriet had shaken off her sudden shyness and joined in the banter. “It made for a change, to be sure, but it really won’t do to have an empty table right in the window like that, so it’s good you’ve come back.”
“This place certainly has become a fixture in my daily routine. You know, there’s no place like it in New York. In fact, my sister hardly seemed to believe such a place existed anywhere at all! And even though I scoured the city looking for a cheddar scone, I only found one bakery that made them, and when I tried one, it was absolutely terrible.”
“I’m glad to hear it.” Miss Harriet quipped, “We like to have the corner on the market.”
“There could never be a doubt on that score.”
There was a pause then, just long enough to become awkward, as the two stood, trying to decide what to say next. Katherine decided to interject again.
“I suggested we name the table after you. That way, when you’re a world-famous journalist, we can take advantage of your fame.”
“Excellent idea!” laughed Mr. James. “Though I don’t know if even world-famous journalists can survive without their cheddar scones.” He shifted the bag in his hands again, and then started, as if suddenly remembering it was there. “Oh! Now, the real reason for my visit, apart from your charming company—”
“You mean you didn’t come to help us take the decorations down?” Katherine said, eyes wide in mock disappointment.
“No, but I did come bearing gifts.” He took a small package out of the bag and held it out to Katherine. “They’re sort of Christmas and New Year’s gifts… tokens of my esteem and appreciation… Honestly, I just saw them and thought of you.” He spoke the last phrase with his eyes fixed steadily on Miss Harriet’s face. Turning to Katherine again, he said impatiently,
“Well, go on. Open it!”
Katherine grinned. She could tell by the feel of the package that there was a book inside. She tore off the paper and exclaimed, “David Copperfield! I’ve been wanting to read this, but the library didn’t have it.”
“I remembered you mentioning that, and with your propensity to carry a book around with you at all times, I figured a pocket edition might prove useful.”
“Thank you! I’m sure it will.”
“And you’ll have to tell me what you think of the story. It happens to be one of my favorite Dickens novels.”
Katherine nodded. “I will.”
Mr. James took another package out of the bag and held it out to Miss Harriet. “And this one’s for you.”
She smiled sweetly and took the package. Carefully opening one end of the wrapping paper, she pulled out a plain oblong box. Handing the paper to Katherine, Miss Harriet opened the box and gasped in delight. There lay two dainty gloves of deep burgundy leather, fine and soft, with a warm white lining even softer than the leather.
“Thank you.” She said quietly, nearly speechless. She lifted one from the box and tried it on. “However did you know what size to buy? They fit perfectly!”
Now it was Mr. James’ turn to blush. “Well, reporters are supposed to be observant, you know,” he rushed on. “I saw them in a little shop my sister took me into. It was your kind of place. You would have liked it. Anyway, these reminded me of the dress you wore at the Guy Fawkes party.”
Miss Harriet looked down at the gloves, an involuntary smile playing around the corners of her mouth. Mr. James took a step towards her and said, “Harriet, if you only knew—”
Miss Harriet looked up, a little alarmed, and he broke off abruptly. Changing tack, he forced a playful smile and said, “If you only knew how horrible that New York scone was, you’d have baked a whole batch for me, just so I could cleanse my palate.”
With a smile that Katherine could only describe as relieved, Miss Harriet said brightly,
“Well now, I think I may just have one or two left in the kitchen. I’ll go warm them up and make us all a pot of tea while you help Katherine with the lights and garlands.”
She laid the gloves gently back in their box and retreated swiftly to the kitchen, leaving Katherine to wonder whether or not to follow Miss Harriet’s advice about letting things run their course.
The two worked in silence for a while and were putting the lights and garlands back in their boxes at the far end of the room when Katherine felt she couldn’t keep quiet any longer. She could hear Miss Harriet washing dishes in the kitchen, and she knew the noise of the water would keep her from overhearing anything they might say.
“Mr. James,” she began, closing a box and turning around to face him. “Are you in love with Miss Harriet?”
“Katherine! What a question.” Mr. James stammered, looking as if he weren’t sure whether to feel relieved or affronted. Then he sighed. “Is it that obvious?” he asked, handing her another roll of lights.
“Just a bit.” She said dryly. “Even Rosie has noticed.”
“Ah, well, it is obvious then.”
“Why don’t you tell her?” asked Katherine, in exasperation.
“Because I wouldn’t want to ruin the way things are if she weren’t to return my feelings. It’s too good a friendship to spoil.”
