The Able Sisters

Chapter 29

The snow melted mid-February, and soon enough the grass was green again and colored insects were flying and hopping. It was Sunday, and Sable had decided to close the shop for the day to spend time with Mabel and Tom.

The day was warmer than usual, and they had all decided it would be a good day to pick flowers and catch bugs. Sable stood in front of her mirror, gazing at her outfit. It was just a simple shirt and some pants, though she hoped it looked nice enough.

"When are we going, sissy?" Mabel asked.

"In just a few minutes," Sable promised.

"Why do you keep looking in the mirror?"

"I just want to make sure I look nice, that's all," Sable told her.

"Do you like Tom?" Mabel asked.

"Not like that!" Sable exclaimed, lightly shoving her younger sister. Mabel giggled and ran off to get the bug nets. Tom was waiting outside for them when they headed downstairs. It was getting into afternoon, but the sun was as bright as ever.

"Ready to go?" he asked.

Sable nodded, and they took off. 

"Look at the butterfly!" Mabel exclaimed, pointing to a pretty yellow butterfly that was gently flying in the air.

"Okay, now try to catch it," Sable whispered. She steadied the net in Mabel's hand and watched as her sister brought the net down. Slowly, Mabel pulled away to find the butterfly sitting in her hand.

"Hi, butterfly," Mabel said. The butterfly took off again, and Mabel gave a little wave to her new friend.

"I see a ladybug over here!" Tom called.

Mabel walked forward to catch another bug while Sable took a seat in the bright green grass and grinned. It was days like these that she forgot about her parents, about Label.

Soon, she was up again to now pick flowers with Mabel. They picked out a lovely bunch of flowers to put in a vase, and soon, the evening was upon them. 

Sable sent Mabel inside to put the flowers in a vase and stood outside with Tom.

"Thanks for coming with us today. I think Mabel had a lot of fun," Sable told him.

"Of course! I always enjoy hanging out with you guys, though I wish we could hang out alone sometimes."

"Oh." Sable felt her cheeks get red. "I can leave Mabel alone for a couple minutes. We could watch the sunset."

"Sure."

"Okay, I'll go tell her," Sable said. She told her sister quickly that she'd be gone for a few minutes, and then she nearly ran down the stairs to be back with Tom. He was laying in the grass with his arms behind his head, staring up at the sky.

"The clouds look really pretty like this," he said.

Sable nodded and laid down beside him. The orange sky was strewn with pink cotton candy clouds, and the faintest traces of stars could be seen.

"How's the shop going?" he asked.

"Really good," Sable told him. "I feel like I'm managing the work well. We're making good profits. Even Mabel's working on her sewing."

Tom laughed. "You just have a family of tailors, don't you?"

"Pretty much," Sable replied.

"Still, it's amazing that you have a business at so young," Tom told her. 

"You'll reach your dream some day," Sable assured him.

"What about your dreams? What do you want? I have a feeling it's more than the shop," Tom said, turning on his side to face her.

Sable frowned. "I-I don't know."

"Come on!"

"There's nothing really in my grasp right now," Sable told him. "I wish my parents were still alive."

"Sorry, I didn't mean to upset you," Tom told her.

"No, it's okay. I think it'd be a lot easier though. I'm practically Mabel's mother at this point. She doesn't even remember our parents. And I...I wish my sister were here too," Sable lamented.

"The one who left a couple of years ago? What was her name again?" Tom asked.

"I-I'd rather not say. I don't like to talk about it. I don't bring it up in front of Mabel. I just hope she's okay, and she's found her dream in the city," Sable muttered.

"I'd love to open a shop in the city somewhere," Tom explained.

"In the city? Won't you miss country life?" Sable asked.

"Yeah, but it'd be nice to have a change of scenery for once. You'd have to come visit me," Tom told her.

"I don't know. I don't really like the city," Sable replied. Really, she was too afraid she'd run into Label in the city. As much as she wanted her sister to return somedays, she didn't want a reunion anytime soon.

"But there's so much to do! All I really want is my own business, like you."

"Like me?"

"Yeah! Like I said, I'm really impressed by what you've been able to do. You've inspired me a lot," Tom said. "I know it's possible for me to open a shop in the city one day. I just know it."

Sable grinned. 

"'Dreams before money' is what I like to say," Tom mentioned after a bit of silence.

"You don't care about the profits?"

"Well, it'd be nice to have a little more bells, but no. I just want a job where I'm happy," Tom told her. 

Sable leaned forward, and not really comprehending her actions, kissed him on the cheek. Tom's eyes widened, and he smiled.

"You should go for your dream," she told him.

Tom squeezed her hand with this. "Thanks. I will."

All light had pretty much vanished by now, and the stars brightened the sky. Sable sat back up, realizing it was time to go.

"Mabel needs you?" he asked.

"She always needs me," Sable replied. 

"Well, thanks for enlightening me," Tom told her, sitting up as well. "I'll see you soon," he said, taking off.

Sable grinned, her cheeks hot. She stepped back inside, full of ecstasy. Her sister was sitting upstairs playing.

"Why do you look like that?" Mabel asked.

"Like what?"

"Like you're a princess who met her prince or something," Mabel muttered.

"I-I don't know what you're talking about. Aren't you hungry? Let's make you some dinner," Sable suggested.

"Can we have macaroni and cheese?" Mabel asked.

"We had that last night. Come on. Sit down, and I'll get something started."

Mabel grinned and took a seat while Sable fixed dinner, though all she could think about was how content she was with life right now. Nothing could get better than right now.