The Able Sisters

Chapter 31

Work was the same old for Sable. She spent her days sewing and selling, and she was content with that. Mabel was growing every day and practicing her own sewing skills while Tom visited often to keep them company.

Life would never be as perfect as when her whole family was here and alive, but she was more content than she had ever been since her parents' deaths.

One afternoon, Tom excitedly rushed through the door. Sable was just finishing up a sale with a customer when she looked up to see his excited face.

"Didn't you hear?! I'm going to the city!" he exclaimed.

"What?!" Sable exclaimed. She shooed the rest of the customers out, promising she'd reopen in an hour, then she shut up shop.

"Why don't you take a seat and explain?" she asked.

But the raccoon was too eager to sit. He paced around the shop excitedly while Mabel played with some leftover string.

"When do you leave?" Sable asked.

"You don't look excited," Tom admitted.

"No, I am happy for you...it's just..." Her voice trailed off. She wasn't sure what she wanted to say. "When do you leave?"

"In two weeks," Tom told her.

"So soon?"

He nodded. His joy seemed to have vanished a bit, and the room was filled with an awkward silence.

"I have some distant relatives in the city that are willing to take me in. It was hard to convince my parents, but finally Dad agreed that I've got to try to live out my dream and that I can't stay here forever."

"Tom, it's one thing to start a business here, but in the city?"

"What happened to all your motivational talk earlier?" he asked.

"I'm not trying to tell you not to. But maybe you should wait a little longer. These things don't always work out," Sable told him.

"I'm going to give it my all though," Tom promised. "I know I can do great things."

"I think you can too..."

"Why do you seem so down about it?"

There were a million reasons running through Sable's mind. It was one thing to talk about dreams, but another to live them.

"Fine. If you don't want to congratulate me, then I'll leave," he said.

"Tom, I didn't mean--"

He shrugged and grabbed his things, leaving the shop. Sable took a seat on her chair, tears beginning to stream down her face. Mabel came forward and tugged on her apron.

"Sissy, why are you crying? Tom will be okay," she promised.

Sable smiled weakly and pulled her sister tight. She was just beginning to enjoy life around her. Now her best friend whom she cared about so much was leaving her. She feared what he would see in the city, what he would do. She had lost Label to the city already, but she didn't want to lose him too.

Still, she knew it was his dream, and she had to respect that. Maybe he could start a business like he had always hoped. Maybe she was just too selfish to think about the positives.

She spent the rest of the day in a sour mood. As closing came around, she began cleaning up, and just as she went to lock up, Tom was at the entrance.

She opened the door, staring at him.

"You want to look at stars on the roof?" he asked.

Sable looked around, then back at him. "Yeah...let me put Mabel to bed first. Come in."

"I'm sorry for what I said earlier. It's been bothering me all day. I know you're just concerned for me," he said as he followed her up the stairs.

"No, I'm sorry for what I said. I should be supporting you. Anyway, let's talk more after Mabel's settled down."

He patiently waited on the couch as she put her sister to bed. As soon as the lights in the bedroom were out, she led him up the steps to the rooftop.

The sky was bright and full of dazzling stars. Sable grabbed a blanket and set it down for them to rest on. She placed her head alongside his and glanced up at the stars.

"So...the city, huh?" she said.

"It's my only shot right now," Tom told her.

"Then go for it."

"Will you be upset?" Tom asked.

"No, of course not. I was being selfish earlier. I...I really like having you here, that's all," she said.

"Me too," Tom replied. "I promise I'll write as often as possible."

"How long will you be gone?" Sable asked.

"I don't know. It could just be for a few months, but if things do go my way, then maybe more," he said. "You'll come visit, won't you Sable?"

"Not anytime soon," she said. "I have the shop and Mabel."

"Well, if I am there awhile, you need to visit me at least once," Tom told her. "Promise?"

"I promise," she said. "Just keep your head straight though. The city can change you, I think."

"Of course. Dreams before money, right?"

"Right."

They were quiet for a bit, just admiring the night sky.

"Hey, let's make some constellations," Tom suggested.

"What?"

"Just pick out a bunch of stars and name them as your own."

"Okay. See those ones on the left?"

"Yeah."

"They look like they could make out a shirt."

"You gotta name it too," Tom told her.

"All right. That's 'Star Shirt'," she told him.

"Boring! Okay, okay, look at those ones above it and to the right a little. You see it."

"There are a lot of stars, but sure."

"Well, the really bright ones look like a really wacky shape. That's my constellation."

"And what are you going to call your constellation?"

" 'The Farmer's Market Bargain Bin Constellation'," he told her.

Sable giggled, causing Tom to laugh to. She glanced back up at the stars again, knowing she was going to miss her friend. But for now, she could just be content with the night. Tom wouldn't be leaving for two more weeks. There was still plenty of time to do stuff together.

"I hope you name your shop that," Sable joked.

"Nah. I got to save a nice sophisticated name for my business," Tom told her.

"It's cold," Sable said, clutching her arms. The breeze was beginning to pick up.

"Let's head inside," Tom suggested.

She nodded. They left their constellations behind and headed back into the warm house. Sable felt like she would remember this night for a long time.