He tied the little sack of tea and held it up. “Do you know what the difference is between this tea and the shoddy powder they put in those bags? These leaves are carefully, painstakingly, gently processed by hand, the best leaves searched for and chosen. And do you know what they call the process they use to process the teabag leaves? CTC. That means ‘crush, tear, and curl’. Imagine! They completely destroy the leaves, so that there’s hardly any remnant of flavor left. About four teabags’ worth…Ha!”

Then, having measured out the desired amount, he handed Katherine the bag and said, “Here, she can have her ‘four teabags’ worth’. You just make sure she brews it correctly, now. I won’t have her ruining the flavor by brewing it like one of her tea bags. And no milk, you hear? No milk!”

Promising quite solemnly to make sure Miss Harriet knew the proper method of brewing and enjoying the valuable tea, Katherine finished packing the order and started off for Miss Harriet’s.

* * * *

That night, after Katherine and Miss Harriet had enjoyed a hearty laugh over the scene caused by her purposefully provoking request, they put the kettle on. Katherine, with no small degree of nervousness, endeavored to repeat the brewing process Captain Braddock had shown her the day before.

All was carefully and precisely done, and soon the floral kitchen timer was ringing. Katherine carefully placed a silver tea strainer over Miss Harriet’s favorite cup and poured the tea from the floral chintz teapot.

“It smells lovely!” Miss Harriet exclaimed as the aroma filled the air. “I’ve never smelled the like. And you say it’s just the buds?” Katherine nodded her reply. “... How interesting!” Miss Harriet murmured as she held face over the cup, savoring the delicate floral steam that gracefully curled as it rose from the pale liquid.

“Taste it!” urged Katherine eagerly. Miss Harriet raised the cup to her lips, took a cautious sip, and thought for a moment, before a bright smile spread over her face.

“Well, now, the captain was right. It is the best tea I’ve tasted all year—not that I would for a moment have him think I’m converted. I’m no tea snob, and I still love my ‘floor sweepings’ well enough. But this really is remarkable. I can see why it’s so expensive. It’s well worth the price, and perhaps even worth enduring the captain’s gruffness.”

Katherine could tell Miss Harriet was half joking, but she was reminded of the Luncheon Club’s description of the “feud” between the two shops.

“Miss Harriet,” She asked gently, pouring herself a cup of tea. “Why haven’t you and the captain gotten along better all these years? I know it can’t be just the teabags.”

Miss Harriet, suddenly pensive, took another sip of tea and thought for a while before replying. “I suppose, my dear, to begin with, it’s partly because we’re so very different. And then, when he first arrived…” She paused, sighed, and began again.

“I was a good friend of his sister Serena’s, you know, or at least, I thought I was… but when she left without a word, and then he wouldn’t say where she had gone or why—it’s very hard to form a cordial friendship with someone who is purposefully keeping something from you.”

Katherine nodded sympathetically, thinking of the room at the top of the spiral staircase.

“I know I should have tried harder, but he can be so disagreeable at times. He’s really just an old grouch, and I knew from the first I ought not to let him get to me. But by the time I finally decided I wouldn’t, it was too late. He viewed me as the enemy, and the enemy I have remained. Though I think, thanks to you, that is not so much the case anymore.”

Katherine sighed. “I can’t deny that he’s secretive. It’s one of his most aggravating traits. But I think he’s less of a grouch than he used to be.” She brightened suddenly. “He might even be losing his stubbornness. He actually listened to a suggestion I made yesterday, and said he was considering it. And when I got to the shop today, he even apologized for leaving so abruptly yesterday without speaking to me!”

“That is unusual! My dear Katherine, keep it up, and you might actually succeed in making him into a civil human being!”

The two giggled, and deep in her heart, Katherine was delighted to think that perhaps there was hope for her two employers to truly become friends.

32 Searching for Serena

The next morning, Miss Harriet was in the middle of mixing up her last batch of scones when the bell over the door rang.

“That will be Harold,” Miss Harriet said, frowning at the sticky dough she was kneading currents into.

“I’ll go out.” Katherine volunteered, picking up the reporter’s tray of tea and scones and hurrying through the curtain before Miss Harriet could reply.

The tall reporter had already settled in at his table by the window. He smiled at Katherine as she approached.

“Well, good morning, Katherine!” he said cheerfully, then nodded towards the kitchen. “Is Harriet hard at work back there?”

“Yes. She’s just finishing up the last of today’s baking.”

“I see,” he said, still smiling.

“Mr. James, can I ask you something?”

“Go ahead,” he said, moving the flower arrangement over and motioning to a chair. “Have a seat if you like.”

Katherine set the tray in front of Mr. James and sat down.

“What did you want to ask me?”

“Well, I was talking with Miss Harriet yesterday about Captain Braddock, and the more I hear about Captain Braddock’s interactions with people, it seems like everything always comes back to Serena.”

Mr. James nodded. “I suppose that’s a fair assessment.”

“So I was wondering. Have you ever looked into what happened to her? No one seems to know where Serena went or why, except possibly the captain, but even he just gets angry or sad when her name comes up in conversation.”

“Well, Katherine, the Gazette doesn’t make a habit of running a story on a person just because he or she leaves Harborhaven.”

“But couldn’t you try to find out? Isn’t there some database you could search somewhere to find out where she is? I know she isn’t dead or anything, because of the way Captain Braddock talks about her.”

“I’m a reporter, not a detective. There are very few ways to get that kind of information, and I’m not sure I could if I tried.”

Katherine’s heart sank. “But couldn’t you please try? I just know if we found her, she would help save the Harborside.”

Mr. James leaned back in his chair and raised his eyebrows as he surveyed her pleading face. “Didn’t Captain Braddock tell you he didn’t want your help with ‘saving the Harborside’? Why do you feel so strongly about this?” he asked.

Katherine frowned. She hadn’t stopped to think about why the old shop meant so much to her. After a few moments, she said, “Ever since I left Harborhaven for college, I have longed for a place, for people I felt I belonged to. I’ve found that, to some extent, here at the shop with Miss Harriet, but… this may sound silly to you, but when I went to the Harborside the very first time, I felt instantly that I belonged there. I felt the Harborside was home, and Captain Braddock was family. I don’t know how or why, but the moment I stepped through the doors, I knew I had found that place of belonging I had been searching for.”

Mr. James nodded. “That’s almost exactly how Harriet describes her feelings towards this place.”

“I know. We talked about it once. But don’t you see? If the Harborside closes, the shop, the captain, the history of the place –all of it will be gone. I’ve only just found where I belong, and I feel I can’t lose it now!”

Tears trickled down Katherine’s cheeks. Until this moment, she hadn’t let herself think about what life would be like if the Harborside really closed. Miss Harriet laid a hand gently on her shoulder.

“I came out of the kitchen while you were talking, but didn’t want to interrupt.” She said apologetically. “I couldn’t help but hear.” Looking across at Mr. James, she asked. “Isn’t there anything you can do, darling?”

Mr. James shook his head. “I can check to see if a missing persons report was filed with the police station, but we would have heard about that at the time, I’m sure.” He reached across the table and squeezed Katherine’s hand. “I want to help –more than I can say, but I just don’t think I can.”

Katherine nodded dejectedly. “I understand.” She stood up to go back to the kitchen, and Miss Harriet enveloped her in a motherly hug. “I’m sorry, Dearie. It was worth a try, though.” She said, stroking Katherine’s hair.

Mr. James settled back in his chair, staring out the window, deep in thought. As Katherine turned to walk away, Mr. James suddenly sat up, bumping the table and sloshing tea into his saucer as he exclaimed, “That’s it!”

The two women turned back towards him in astonishment.