Forgive Me, My Love ~ ReddNook

Chapter 42

After dinner, the two little tanukis were full of energy again. They played with Redd. They screamed happily as the fox chased after them. "I'll get you!" He shouted, holding out his paws. "And then I'll eat you!"

"Oh no!" Tommy yelped and giggled. Redd caught Timmy first and a moment later Tommy too. "Gotcha!" The twins laughed as the fox tried to pick them up at the same time. "Phew, you're too heavy for me!" He snorted.

Timmy tugged on Redd's paw. "Let's do this again! This time we'll be faster!"
"Oh really? Don't be so sure about that!" Before the tanukis could sprint, Tom stepped out of his office and said: "Boys, it's time for bed! It's getting late."

The little ones sighed in disappointment and hung their heads. "Oh, Nooksie!" Redd nudged his boyfriend. "Let them stay up a little longer."
"Yes, please, Uncle Tom!"
"Please!" His nephews looked pleadingly at him.

"You two have to work tomorrow", the older one replied firmly. "In case you've forgotten." Timmy yawned. "But we're not tired at all yet." Tom smiled softly.

"Brush your teeth and then off to bed, yes?" The twins nodded slowly. "Okay." They went into the bathroom. Redd hugged Tom from behind and kissed the back of his neck. "Well, Nooky? What do we want to do now?" He whispered.

"I have an idea." He continued and grinned, when he saw the tanuki turn red. "I ... don't know what mean."
Of course you do, honey.
"But I'd rather go to sleep." Redd noticed a teasing twinkle in Tom's eyes.

"Shouldn't you go home?" The fox clung to him tightly. "I wanna stay with you!"
"I have to get up early tomorrow," Tom began uncertainly. "My day off was only today." Redd gave him the most pleading look he could.

The tanuki giggled. "Okay, okay! You can stay. But I still have to go to work tomorrow."
"Yes!" He wagged his tail happily. Tom pressed a kiss on his lips. Redd melted away.

"I'll be in the office for a moment," his boyfriend said. "I have to prepare something for tomorrow. You can go upstairs."
"'Kay. But don't make me wait too long."

While Redd was lying on Tom's bed waiting for him, he was busy with his cell phone. His eyes almost closed with tiredness. But then he was wide awake, when the device suddenly began to vibrate.

Somebody called him. He was so startled by the unexpected noise, that his phone almost slipped out of his paws. Redd paused and stared at the screen, confused. This number was unknown to him. After a moment he picked up the phone.

"Hello?" Silence. He waited. "Redd? Is that you, my boy?" An ice-cold shiver ran through him. This voice. That deep, rumbling voice. It couldn't be. He almost hung up, but he could pull himself together.

"Father...?" Redd's throat tightened. "What do you want? Where did you get my number from?" The old man laughed. It was a smoky, coughing laugh. "Isn't a father allowed to ask his son, how he's doing? I haven't heard from you in ages."

Redd gritted his teeth. "Twenty years," he growled bitterly. "After twenty damn years you call in all of a sudden. Why?" He noticed how he was trembling. "Apparently you remembered, that you still have a son, huh?"

His father snorted. "I didn't call you for no reason. You have to do me a small favor." Redd wrinkled his nose. "I'll do shit." He laughed. "I don't think so. You will help me if you don't want to have a problem with me."

Redd's body tensed. Was he trying to blackmail him? "I know where you live, boy," he said in a dark voice. "On an island called Te Fiti, am I right?" He didn't say anything. Sheer horror seized him. How did he know?

"You will come to Bellington in exactly a week and bring me 40,000 bells," his father continued. "My pockets are as good as empty, I'm really in a tight spot."
That's not my problem!
"Are you serious?!", Redd growled.

"You only call me because you need money?" The old man exhaled audibly. "Oh Redd," he sighed. "You will give your old man a little help when he's in need, won't you?" There was a rumble in his voice.

Redd didn't answer, instead he asked: "What do you need so many bells for ?!"
"That's none of your business!" His father hissed angrily. "You will be in Bellington tomorrow, if not, you'll be in big trouble!"

Redd swallowed. Suddenly he couldn't utter a word. "We'll meet at the train station," he said. "And don't forget the money!" Then he hung up.