-1A/N: Hey, this is Snowflower90 again. I just want to say thank you for all the reviews. I appreciate them. I hope you enjoy the this chapter of Nook. Also, if you are a fan of Harvest Moon: A Wonderful Life check out my new fanfic "A New Kind of Harvest".

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The Secret Life of Nook

Chapter 5: There is More Than Just Umbrellas Here!

It was the grand re-opening at Nookway. Seth was putting the finishing touches in the shelves, straitening anything that was crooked, and washing the windows on the inside to make them sparkling clean. It wouldn't really matter on the outside considering it was raining so hard that puddles within seconds. It was ten minutes until opening and Nook seemed like he was going insane.

"How many fliers did you put out? Did you put them where people could see them? Where is the broom? I see dust on the floor," he would say trying to make the store perfect. "Seth, there is one thing that needs to happen today. We need to sell, sell, sell. I spent a lot of money on this improvement and I can't afford to lose any money on the opening day."

When the doors opened, it was pouring extremely hard and there were two animals waiting outside both soaked. They came in dripping. Seth brought them a towel, which Nook later charged them for just using. After their fur was dry, it revealed Cleo and Cookie. They had had a sleep over the night before and where about to go visit the neighboring town when the wind blew so strong that it had snapped their umbrellas in half.

"Do you have two umbrellas," Cookie said handing the towel back to Seth.

"Yes we do," Seth said, "First isle at the end."

"There is only one," Cleo said disappointed.

"We have more in the back," Nook said trying to make the sell. "Seth, you know where they are, go get this fine young lady an umbrella."

"Yes, sir," Seth said. " What kind?"

"Do you have a Fancy design?"

"Let me check." It took Seth no time to come back with one.

Nook got both the girls checked out and they made their way out to the train station. It was another half hour before Dora, Pudge, Gonzo, and Puck came in. Each of them looked glad to be out of the rain and reported that it had lightened up some. The crowd admired the set up of the store and wanted to see what some of the new umbrella designs were. So, Seth brought out the box and the went through them and found themselves each an umbrella. After checking out, they all left with a content look on their face with their new umbrellas.

Not to long after Dora's crowd left Officer Copper came in looking far worse than Cookie and Cleo did. Seth gave Copper two towels, which he took with a thankful look in his eye.

"An officer of the law shall never leave his post," said Copper when Seth asked why he stood out in the rain for so long. All Copper had wanted was an umbrella for shelter. Nook had offer a shirt at half price for the end of the month aerobics but Copper turned down the offer and paid for his umbrella. Before he left though he whispered something in Nook's ear, which made Nook get the same look on his face as the phone call did the week before.

After Copper business slowed down. Ever two hours or so someone would come in and ask about an umbrella. One of the people to come in was Nate. He made a comment that if the rain didn't let up by the fourth their would be no firework show to commemorate the train station. The afternoon was really boring, not much happened. It was about closing time when an unusual costumer came in. He was a reddish-orange fox.

He strolled over to Nook register and said, "How is business for you Nook?"

"It is going really well," Nook said coldly, "How is business for you, Redd?"

Some this is the fox my friends have warned me about, Seth thought.

"Are you going to the fourth's celebration? I'm setting up a booth," Redd said.

"I have some work to do that night, but I might come down to say hello to the mayor and a couple of my friends," said Nook keeping an I on the fox. "Did you want to buy anything?"

"I would like an umbrella," Redd said. "I am camping out until the celebration and I need something for when I decide to get out of the stuffy old tent."

"There is more then just umbrellas here, you know," Seth said under his breath.

"Did you say something," Redd asked.

"Just talking to myself," Seth said showing him the last umbrella.

Redd checked out and left. The last job Seth had to do was mop up the floor and lock up the back room. But before he could leave Nook called him over.

"Are you planning to go to the fireworks show," Nook asked.

"Yes," Seth said.

" Well, when you get there can you come up to the Shop and tell me how much Redd is charging for his merchandise?"

"Sure," Seth said as he left for home. When he got home he got out his notebook and reviewed the clues he had come across.

1. Possible involvement with the Black Market and Redd

2. 1 ticket for soliciting turnips at the wishing well without a proper vending license

3. Possible work as a detective in the past

4. An out of town business meeting with unknown purpose.

And added:

5. Gave me detective work on my day off.

He closed his book and went to bed.

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End Note: Hope you liked it.