The Able Sisters

Chapter 46

The bedroom was more quiet now. Sable awoke and glanced over at the empty, made bed beside her. Outside, she could hear the wind blowing the autumn leaves off the tree.

Mabel had not slept in the same room as Sable since she was a teenager. They'd converted their parents' office space into a nice little room for Mabel. Of course, the master bedroom was always open and untouched, but both Mabel and Sable felt uncomfortable sleeping there.

It was still early morning and a few hours before the shop would open, the shop Sable had somehow been able to keep open for twenty plus years. Sales were never boosting, but they were always enough to allow Sable and Mabel to live comfortably.

Sable reached into her drawer, pulling out a small wooden box inside. She lifted the top and pulled out her pair of nice, orange scissors. A note was tucked neatly inside...her birthday message.

Sable hardly ever reread the note anymore. The scissors had become worn with age, but she would never throw them away. She cradled them close to her and felt her throat closing with tears. 

Autumn was always a difficult time for her. 

After her encounter with Tom Nook when he came back, nothing was really the same. She went months without speaking to him and a few years later only visited his shop out of absolute necessity.

He never made an effort to speak to her, and she never made an effort to speak to him. She watched as his business grew and expanded. Nook's Cranny had turned into Nookington's, where he employed two of his nephews.

They're like little slaves to him, she thought.

It was true that she and Tom still weren't on the best terms. She didn't expect them to ever really be on good terms again. Whatever those magical years had been were gone now. It was obvious that he cared about bells and business more than her or anyone, really.

The door cracked open, and Sable froze, turning around. Mabel was at the door, staring at her.

"Sable, what are you--" She froze. "Are you crying?"

"I'm not," Sable argued, placing the scissors away.

"When are you going to throw away that worn box and old scissors?" Mabel questioned.

Sable rolled her eyes and shoved her things away, following her sister out into the living room. 

Mabel was the only one who had ever gotten Sable through all those years. She had watched her sister continue to grow and grow before her very eyes. She remembered excitedly teaching Mabel how to sew, and now her younger sister was almost as good as her.

Managing the shop had become a lot easier too. Mabel helped customers and handled transactions while Sable sat off to the side making new outfits. Sable had never really been the social one, but Mabel sure liked people. Sable was grateful for her little corner though. It was nice to finally have a business partner instead of raising her sister and managing the shop.

"I'm making eggs. You want some?" Mabel asked.

Sable shook her head and sipped on some coffee.

"You don't eat enough. You never have. You're lucky I'm here to look out for you," Mabel warned Sable, waving a spatula at her.

"Stop treating me like I'm an old woman. You're only ten years younger than me."

"That's a bit of a difference," Mabel replied, turning to her breakfast.

Sable glanced up at the family portrait on the wall, noticing dust had been collecting. She grabbed a rag and began to scrub it.

Mabel, apparently hearing the noise, stepped away from her eggs and watched Sable clean.