Chapter 2

Tom Nook walked into the store, wearing his large, black trench coat. There was nobody in as he stepped through; closing the door behind him, he gazed around, looking for Sable.

"Sable?" he called. The door opened up behind him; both Timmy and Tommy entered, wearing backpacks and carrying sleeping bags. The two young raccoons were excited to the point of fluster that they could sleep over again. Mabel was always such good fun to be around; their nights would consist of board games, scary stories and if the provisions were there, midnight feasts.

"I'm here" a muffled voice called out and Sable appeared from the other door in the room, adjusting her earring. Tom Nook stepped over to her, taking her arm. Something was the second he took hold of her; she seemed more encumbering. Mabel then appeared; the two younger raccoons squeaked with delight as they gathered around 'Auntie Mabel'. Tom Nook watched as they gathered around her, before turning to look at her himself.

"Mabel, are you okay with babysitting for tonight?" he asked. Mabel nodded, ruffling Timmy and Tommy's heads.

"No trouble at all, I'll make sure they behave" she said strongly, looking towards the slightly deflated Sable. "Enjoy your evening together"

"We will" Sable replied. "Good night Mabel"

"Good night!" Mabel called as her sister and Tom Nook went for the door.

Tom Nook had already clicked that something was wrong. Sable had been acting strange from the moment he had walked in to pick her up from the store. They walked arm in arm towards Tom Nook's house, but her arm was limp; there was no conviction behind her support. Her eyes were slightly glazed and more obviously, Tom Nook's attempts at initiating their usual conversation were unsuccessful. He could tell as he craned his head to look at her that there was something wrong; they walked far slower than usual. The sense of relaxation was missing as well; there was a hint of tension in the air. Tom Nook didn't really need to hear a word from Sable to tell that something was wrong and as they approached his house, he started to think: was she ill? Had someone in the family died? No, he told himself. Sable wouldn't keep that sort of information away from him like this. Then again, she was prone to keeping things away from him, in the fear of upsetting him.

He felt tempted to ask if she was okay, but continued to have doubts about the inquiry as he prepared their dinner. Each time he stopped himself from asking, the temptation came back anew, he just had to know what was bugging her! He had never seen Sable so quiet in a long time; her silence went past her shy attitude into the realm of the strange. But what pained Tom Nook most of all was the fact that he hated to see her sad. He had fallen head over heels for her; watching her staring glumly towards her food with her fork loosely held in her hand made Tom Nook feel as if he was neglecting his new responsibility.

The temptation grew too much to bear. After eating a few mouthfuls of his food, he knew he just had to ask.

"Sable, are you okay?" he asked casually, trying not to put much emphasis on his words. "You've barely touched your casserole"

Sable looked up to Tom Nook, her eyelids heavy and her expression weary. She let out an audible sigh; Tom Nook could tell she was very sad about something.

"…I-I'm sorry, Tom" she said quietly, putting her fork down. "I don't feel hungry tonight"

"Sable…" Tom said quietly, putting his own fork down. "…Is something wrong?"

He watched as Sable gathered her strength to talk, but he spotted her eyes glistening with tears. At once, he hoisted up his chair and positioned it right next to Sable, sitting down and putting an arm around her shoulder.

"Why are you crying?" he consoled. "Please Sable, tell me what's wrong"

Sable wanted to pour her heart out onto the table, to tell him of the man that had visited the Able Sisters store. But she couldn't bring herself to explain such a long and painful story to him. She was afraid of how he would react.

"…I…Tom, please forgive me…" she sobbed quietly as Tom Nook took her into his arms, holding her sides and looking towards her teary eyes.

"Sable, please tell me if there's something wrong" he said calmly, wiping her tears away with his thumbs. "I'm not sure what's gotten you all upset like this, but I don't want you to feel sad"

Sable started to think deeply; would Tom Nook react badly to the news of the man who had entered the Able Sisters store? Could he face up to the man named Mark?

The deliberation was quick.

"Tom…something is wrong" she said quietly. She looked to the floor, doing her best to cease her sobbing. It was time to make her decision. "…But I don't feel I can tell you right now"

"…Huh?" Tom Nook hummed, slightly confused. "Why not? Does it concern us?"

"It's something very…personal to me." Sable murmured, unable to meet Tom Nook's gaze. "If I told you now, I don't know how you would take it. I…I'm sorry I can't tell you this…please don't think that I don't trust you…"

"Hey, you never said that" Tom Nook said quickly. Sable was slightly caught by surprise by the comment, lifting her head back up to Tom Nook's eyes. His face was one of sincerity and somewhat saintly patience. It would have been a sight for anyone used to the old Tom Nook to behold. Tom Nook was fully aware of how touchy the situation was, and drawing from experience in the past, decided not to press any details.

"T-Tom…" Sable muttered, flattered by his endurance. Tom Nook started to chuckle a little to himself.

"I feel like a completely different person when I'm around you" Tom Nook explained. "Why, compare me now to a few months ago, and it's almost like comparing two different people!" He realized he was going off track with his point, shaking his head quickly. "Anyway, what I'm saying is that even if you can't tell me now, that's fine. I can wait"

Sable started to feel a slight comfort; she thanked the heavens that Tom Nook was such a good person to her. "A-Are you sure you'll be fine with this?" she asked, still unsure. Tom Nook then released a small smile, taking one of her hands and rubbing her fingers softly.

"You tell me the problem when you feel ready to tell me, okay?" he asked. Kissing her forehead, he sighed quietly. "Let me put these in the microwave for a reheat. Maybe some food will make you feel better"

That night, lying down beside Sable in the bed, Tom Nook stared towards the ceiling. He knew he wasn't perfect. When in front of Sable, he kept his composure and made sure that nothing bad happened. Her comfort was his number one priority. But now, as she lay sleeping, Tom Nook was alone. And with that loneliness came the fear that Sable's secret had the potential to be devastating to him. Perhaps he was a tolerant soul in her eyes, but once those eyes had closed, the quiet, awkward fear started to emerge within him. Closing his eyes and turning onto his side, he prayed desperately that nothing bad would happen to him or Sable; the beginning of a sleepless night had begun.