Chapter 8
"Sable…"
"…Ngh…"
"Sable, wake up. It's ten in the morning"
"Mabel…"
"Are you feeling okay? Do you want me to make you a cup of coffee?"
"Mabel…it's all over…"
"Don't be silly. Nothing's over"
"But…but I told him about Mark…just the fact he existed was enough to turn him off"
"You're overreacting. If he wanted to leave you because of that, then he'd be pretty petty to do so. You'd find better in someone else"
"…Do you think Tom's capable of doing that?"
"No, he's just a bit shocked, that's all. The news was pretty big, but I'm sure he'll get over it"
"I-I love him, Mabel. Last night was the first time I said it to him. I doubt he'll ever return the feeling"
"Tee hee! You're treating your relationship like a sunken ship! How romantic!"
"This isn't funny, Mabel. Why are you taking this so lightly? And who's watching the shop?"
"You're supposed to be, but you're being a sleepyhead, for a change"
"Mabel…ah, see, now I'm smiling. How do you do it?"
"Because I'm your sis, that's why!"
"Why are you so happy today? Considering what happened yesterday, you're unusually…gleeful"
"So are you"
"Me? I'm generally confused; I'm all tuckered out from last night. I bet the day will get worse as I gain more energy to cry with"
"That…won't be happening"
"Okay, stop hiding things, Mabel. Tell me, what's happening?"
"…I got a call from Tom Nook this morning. He wants to see you as soon as you can"
She could recall the strange conversation word for word. Ever since her heartbreak the previous night, she had suffered a terrible night's sleep, which left her empty and emotionless the following morning. Mabel was a godsend to her now; the news she had delivered had filled her with strength. She knew it wasn't going to be something bad; why would Mabel be in such a happy mood if she were going to be the bearer of bad news? However, Sable still felt suspense as she walked up to the automatic doors of Nookington's. What was Tom Nook going to say?
Entering, she found the shop to be completely deserted. No Timmy or Tommy; the hairdresser's was empty (again) and most importantly, no Tom Nook. Walking in deeper, the doors closed behind her, trapping her within the creepy supermarket.
"Tom?" she called, her voice echoing down the aisles of merchandise. "Tom?"
No response. Sable started to get a little scared; something strange was afoot. She no longer felt frightened by the potential bad news, only frightened by the scary atmosphere that slowly enveloped her. Taking a few steps deeper, she turned her head down one of the aisles, when she got a surprise.
There was something on the floor. Something colorful, conical. Her intrigue was piqued; she proceeded towards the item. Upon closer inspection, she found that they were flowers, all neatly arranged in a basket. They smelt beautiful and their colors were dazzling. It was the perfect mantelpiece decoration. Walking right up to it, she knelt down, noticing a small card attached to the wicker basket handle. Manipulating it with her hand, she read the cursive writing inside: "To my beloved"
"Surprise"
Sable had the living daylights scared out of her by the voice. Jumping out of her skin, she quickly scrambled to her feet, almost falling over, as she cast her gaze towards the source of the voice.
It was Tom Nook, stood there with his hands behind his back, a small grin across his face.
"…Tom!" Sable exclaimed in surprise.
"Did you like the flowers?" he asked, stepping towards her playfully. Sable looked back down towards the flowers before lifting the basket up.
"These…th-they're for me?" she asked, bewildered. She did not expect this whatsoever; her previous fears melted away at once as she recognized her fortune. Looking at the flowers again, she couldn't help but start to smile again.
Tom Nook quickly maneuvered his way to Sable in a dancing manner, stepping delicately and smoothly towards her, arms outstretched. He nabbed the basket and placed it down on the floor before taking Sable into his arms, looking deeply into her eyes. Sable was still struggling to understand; he was acting completely different to the previous night.
"Tom, why are you being so nice to me?" Sable asked, suppressing a chuckle of joy. Tom sniggered a little himself.
"Why, isn't it natural for two people in love to act accordingly?" he explained. The smile of Sable's face grew.
"B-But…last night" she pointed out, hoping that Tom Nook hadn't forgotten. Tom nook blinked and his eyes half opened, slightly seductively, full of understanding.
"Listen Sable" he explained, adorning a little smirk of his own. "I was thinking really hard about what you said last night. I thought about this Mark guy, and I thought about my time in the city"
"Weren't you upset about it?" Sable asked. Tom Nook rolled his eyes slightly in thought.
"Maybe at the time" he revealed. "But that's natural. You can't just treat big news like any old business. It was a natural reaction; I was stunned. But then I realized…" His face moved closer to hers. "…It didn't matter. What matters is that I have you, and you have me"
"I…have you…" Sable whispered dreamily in disbelief. This was why she loved Tom Nook; the man had such a way with patience.
"Sable…you don't have to worry about it anymore" he said reassuringly. "I'm okay now. I'm ready to continue our relationship with this new knowledge in hand. There's no need to tell me about Mark; I can live with the fact alone that he was your boyfriend whilst I was in the city. What I want to know is…are you ready to continue?" he asked.
Unable to contain her joy any longer, Sable threw her arms across Tom Nook and held him as tightly as possible.
"Yes, oh, yes Tom!" she squeaked in glee. "Of course I'm ready! I'll always be ready!" Tom Nook was taken by surprise, nearly falling over onto his back as Sable took him in. Containing her glee in his arms, he managed to hold her and watch as she calmed down. More than ever her beauty shone out to him and their gazes met once again.
"Oh, Tom…" she said quietly. "…You're a saint, you know that?"
"Heh heh, well I try" Tom Nook replied. "Say, how about dinner at my place tonight? I got this great new recipe that I'm dying to try out"
Sable sighed in contentment, bringing her face closer to his.
"Of course I will…" she whispered, leaning in for a kiss.
At that very moment, Tom Nook heard the automatic doors opening. Pulling away, the two realized that they had jobs to be getting on with.
"I'd better tend to this customer" Tom Nook explained. "We'll catch up later tonight"
The two walked out of the aisle, with Tom Nook ready to greet his customer. He recognized the man who had walked in, with his black boots, buttoned shirt and hairy chest, all topped off with a powerful physique.
"Oh, hello again!" Tom Nook greeted. "Need a new axe?"
The man looked down towards Tom Nook with an angry, hate filled expression. Confused, Tom Nook watched the man's gaze turn to Sable. Looking back, he noticed Sable's shocked expression. Thinking quickly, he turned back to the large man, studying his appearance. It then clicked in his mind, a crack in his brain that both hurt and bewildered him, reducing his demeanor to a blank expression.
The man was Mark.