“Yes. And her mother? Is she as poorly as they said last night?”
“I believe so. It sounds like it’s good thing Miss Harriet left when she did.”
“So she’ll likely be gone for a while, then?”
“I’m afraid so.”
“Well, when you’re settled into things here, if you can find the time and energy to come to the Harborside for a couple hours each week for however long she’s gone, I sure would find it a help.” Katherine took a deep breath and nodded.
“I’m hoping to. Miss Harriet did say I could close the shop early a couple days a week if you needed my help.”
“That’s mighty kind of her. I wouldn’t want to interfere with yer regular customers… I know this place is a pretty important part of people’s lives in this town.”
“So is the Harborside,” Katherine said decidedly. “At least, it’s an important part of my life, so I will do everything I can to come by and get at least a little of my normal work done.”
Captain Braddock smiled at her, then frowned and said sternly, “I won’t have you exhausting yerself, though. So if you find it too much, you just tell me.”
“I will,” she promised.
* * * *
The next evening, Katherine arrived at the Harborside after closing. She felt weary from the day’s work, but happy to be back in the Harborside. It had been strange being away from it all day.
“Hello, the shop!” she cried as the bell over the door rang out its musical welcome. A shuffling sound came from the captain’s office, and as Katherine neared the doorway, she saw Captain Braddock hurriedly sweeping a number of papers into a file folder. The floorboard creaked under her weight, and the old man looked up suddenly, as if she had surprised him.
“Hello, Katherine,” he said, a bit distractedly, as he set a large ledger book on top of the folder. “How did yer second day go?”
“About as well as the first: tiring but no major upsets.”
“That’s good. Means yer gettin’ yer sea legs under you.”
“Shall I get a rag and start on the jars?” she asked, moving towards the counter where the rags were kept. Captain Braddock stood stiffly and started to limp after her.
“Yes, I think we might both work on the jars tonight. I’m in need of a break, and I want to enjoy your company while I have it.” He gave Katherine a weary smile as he picked up a rag from the pile on the shelf. “You start with the Anne. I know that’s yer favorite.”
“How did you know that? I’m sure I never mentioned it.”
Captain Braddock dropped his weariness for a moment and said with a twinkle in his eye, “A Braddock knows about these things, you see… Besides, she's my favorite, too.”
Katherine smiled as she took the dainty model ship down off its stand.
“Who made this model?” she asked, as she lightly brushed the rag over the delicate rigging.
“I think it was Captain Jeremiah’s youngest son, William. He made it when his father and the Anne both had to be retired. It happened all at once, you see. Captain Jeremiah nearly died of a fever on their last voyage. When he returned home, the doctor said his heart was damaged, and he couldn’t sail any more. The Anne was so dilapidated from all the sea voyages and storms, it was decided that she should be retired as well. They had two other ships by then, you see, and Captain Jeremiah’s two older sons had taken charge of those.”
“It must have broken his heart to give her up.” Katherine said, with tears brimming in her eyes.
“Yes, I think it nearly did. He was sick for some time—bedridden, you see. William, who ran the shop, spent his evenings with his father, talking to him and listening to his stories while carving pieces for this ship, never saying a word to his father about what he was making.
“Finally, when Captain Jeremiah was strong again and able to come to the shop, they had a bit of a party in his honor. The two older boys were back from their voyages, and the whole family gathered together. William gave a speech, saying how much he loved his father, how hard Captain Jeremiah had worked to make the Harborside what it was, and how he knew his father would miss the sea and his beloved ship, and presented him with this as a reminder that those days would always live on in his memories.”
“Oh, that’s beautiful!” Katherine exclaimed softly, slowly polishing the ship’s hull.
“He was like that: always knew what to say and how best to say it.”
Katherine set the model back on its stand and picked up a jar. “What did Captain Jeremiah do, once he couldn’t go to sea anymore?”
“He just poured himself into the running of this place.”
“Just like you.” Katherine said brightly.
Captain Braddock gave a heavy sigh, and muttered a barely audible, “Much good that’s doin’.”
Katherine studied the captain as he bent over the jar he was dusting. He looked so sad and old tonight, and she wondered if she should ask him what was wrong. He looked up and caught her gaze for a moment, then straightened and set his jar on the shelf. He glanced at the clock and said hurriedly,
“Now, it’s time for you to be gettin’ back. Don’t want to wear you out. You’ve got a long haul ahead of you.” Katherine set her rag on the counter and reached for her jacket.
Captain Braddock’s eyes widened suddenly and he exclaimed, “I nearly forgot. I’ve an order for you to drop in the mail on yer way back, if you don’t mind.” He hurried off and Katherine heard the storeroom door open.
While she waited for his return, she wandered into the office. Catching a glimpse of the folder the captain had so hurriedly put away, she wondered if that might be what had made him so sad. Walking softly to his desk, she looked over at the open door. She could hear him rummaging still, and knew she had enough time just for a peek. Hovering near the table, she fought with herself. It was really none of her business…but oh, how she wanted to know what was in that folder!
Finally, she gave in. Lifting the ledger and the top flap of the file folder, she just had time to catch a glimpse of the paper on top of the stack before she heard the captain’s heavy tread on the stairs. It was enough. With heart pounding, she closed the folder and slipped the ledger back on top. Reeling from what she had just seen, she tried to smile cheerfully at the captain as if nothing were wrong.
He gave her an odd look as he handed her the package. “Yer sure you don’t mind? I could probably drop it by in the morning before I open, if it’s any help to you.”
