The Able Sisters

Chapter 54

"A letter came!" Mabel announced excitedly as she returned from errands. Sable glanced up from her sewing machine and Mabel entered the shop proudly.

"See. I told you she'd reply!" Mabel announced.

"I wasn't doubting, Mabel," Sable said as she turned her sewing machine off. "What a fast reply too. We only sent that letter a few days ago."

"Close the shop for a few minutes. I want to read it!" Mabel exclaimed.

Sable nodded and moved toward the door. She too was secretly jumping for joy, but she didn't want to get her hopes up. Perhaps what they had said had no impact on Label at all. She changed the sign to "CLOSED" and took a seat besides Mabel.

Mabel opened the letter within a few seconds, and both of them violently read the contents. It was a long letter, detailing nearly all that had happened to Label since she had left them so many years ago.

Sable read on and on. It seemed, like Sable, Label had her ups and downs as well. All seemed well when she read about Label getting the job at GracieGrace and the new apartment and increased salary, but her heart sank to read Label's current situation.

"Isn't this sad?" Mabel said aloud, as if reading Sable's thoughts. "She still wants to design fashion, but Gracie is driving away her creativity."

Sable nodded. Label's whole reason for going to the city had been to pursue fashion, and now even that appeared to have been taken from her.

"What are we going to do?" Mabel asked as they finished the letter.

Sable paused and sat back. Label had clearly expressed the desire to come back home. And she knew Mabel wanted her too. But was Sable really ready for that yet?

"She can stay here!" Mabel exclaimed.

Sable gulped. What would it be like having Label living with them again? They hadn't gotten along well before...But Sable didn't know what she was worrying about. That had been years and years ago. Her sister had clearly expressed a desire to change.

"Sable?" Mabel asked.

"I'm...thinking," Sable said.

"Well, we need to decide soon because she can't keep living like this," Mabel said. "Maybe things will work out, with the expansion and all."

The construction project just north of town had been underway. Sable had reluctantly agreed to move the shop's location there, and soon, the bottom portion of their house would be converted into living space. 

"I need to get out for a little bit," Sable said.

"Do you want me to come with you?" Mabel asked.

"Can you run the shop for a little bit?" Sable wondered.

Mabel nodded, and Sable stepped outside. A cool breeze hit her as soon as she exited, and she looked forward at the orange leaves drifting down from the trees. She tucked her arms and began to walk.

It wasn't so much that she didn't want Label back. She would have given anything to have her sister back years ago. And Label had apologized. She had told them she loved them. 

A part of Sable feared if Label would stay this time. If she grew unhappy again, would Mabel follow her? Her younger sister had no choice but to stay as a toddler, but now, Mabel was perfectly capable of making her own decisions. Sable didn't want to lose her as well.

She continued walking, even if the weather was colder than she anticipated. She knew that an expanded house could be good. They would not be so crammed, and Label could have her space if she needed it.