Very Fawnedly Yours

© 2013 by Walter Reimer

(All characters courtesy of  EOCostello,  MercMarten and  Major Matt Mason. Any resemblance between characters depicted herein and any real person, living or dead, is too bad for them.)

The setting is Spontoon Island, in the story section Let's Doe It (Let's Fall In Love).

Art by  Fluffball


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Part 42.


Reggie:

I knew better than to ask “Knows what?”

I’m not avian, but I watched her like a hawk. I didn’t want my mate chucking another fit like she’d had two years ago before we’d gotten engaged. Tears were in her eyes, and her paws trembled so much she almost dropped the letter. “Do . . . do you want me to read it aloud, darling?”

A napkin was being deployed, and she nodded as she started sobbing in earnest.

I took up the letter, and started to read aloud:

“20 November, 1937
My Grace,
Words cannot express the joy I felt when I realized that you were still alive. I had thought myself cut off from the family after the Revolt. But when you hugged me on your wedding day I discovered the truth.
Although you did a very good job of camouflaging your scent with attar of roses, enough of your scent lingered on my uniform for me to recognize. It was all I could do to avoid disrupting the service, and I was determined not to do that. After all, a bride should look upon her wedding day as a joyous occasion.
I applaud your discretion and your determination to remain incognito. It would not do to have the Red Fist learn of your continued existence, and your secret is safe.
Once I guessed the truth, I confronted Rosie about it. After some resistance she told all. I have already contacted Alan to thank him for his assistance in concealing you and your identity. He has also told me that you have done very well in his employ.
Rosie tells me that you and Reginald are coming back to Spontoon in the summer, and I look forward to seeing you, and hearing about your life.
I also look forward to holding my grandfawn in my paws.
Hoping you are well, as I am,
Your loving father,
Franklin Stagg.”

Now here was a bombshell, and no mistake. Had the Kaiser something like this, we’d all be speaking German right now.

I got up and went over to Willow/Grace. She definitely needed a hug, and even crying and in her condition I felt my ribs creak. “I love you, Willow – and you too, Grace.”

I felt her nod against me as she cried.

“Don’t be sad, darling – he sounds like he’s fine – “

“It - >gulp!< - it’s not that, love.”

“Then what’s the matter?” I pulled back far enough to look into her eyes.

“I’m happy, Reggie,” she sobbed, tears running through her fur.

“But you’re crying. Here, love, bear up. Tell me what’s wrong.”

Eventually she stopped crying, and Grace spoke up. “You see, Reggie . . . I always thought . . . that Da would hate me for hiding from him all these years . . . or that . . . or that – he’d die of shock – “

I kissed her, which resulted in another interval of hugging and crying.

I rubbed her back and stroked the backs of her ears as she cried, until finally there was enough of a break in the clouds for me to ask, “Do you want me to read Rosie’s letter, Grace?”

“I’m here now, Reggie,” said Willow’s voice.

This was getting dashed confusing, and I was glad that I hadn’t had anything to drink lately.

Leaving my mate to blow her nose, I retrieved Rosie’s letter and read it through quickly. “Ah! Here we are: ‘A few days after Bernyce left, Franneleh asked me if I had anything to tell him. When I asked him ‘what about?’ he said simply, ‘Grace.’” I finished reading and looked at Willow.

I could almost see two pairs of eyes looking back at me.

“To make a long story short, dear, Rosie says that your father took his uniform to be cleaned, and that took the attar of roses off. Apparently it didn’t get rid of your scent. He started adding things up during the wedding ceremony and before, and came up with you.”


***


Willow:

I wanted to sing.

Hell, I wanted to fly.

I settled for sobbing a laugh. “I never could hide anything from him.”

“Judging from the Spontoon papers, neither can anyone else. Anyway, Rosie played dumb, but somehow your father managed to get it all out of her.” Reggie looked at me. “Rosie playing dumb?”

“Now, now, Reggie.”

“I know, or my nose will get poinked. Although how she might manage it from the northern Pacific is a bit of a mystery. Anyway. Are you going to be all right now? Both of you?”

“How does Rosie say he’s doing?”

“Let’s see . . . ah! She says he’s doing fine – ‘He’s smiling more, and looks like he just got a new lease on life.’ Sounds pretty good to me.”

Sounded good to us, too.


***


Gwladys:

“Hello, Willow?”

“Gwladys! Wonderful to hear from you.”

“How’s my favorite daughter-in-law doing?”

“Not too badly today. I haven’t thrown anything at your son lately.”

I laughed. “What are you doing this Saturday?”

There was a pause on the line. “I suppose you have something in mind. Shopping?”

“Good lord, no. Although you and I will have to do some eventually. Christmas is coming, as you’ve probably guessed.”

“I had gathered that.”

“Oh? How?”

“From the radio and the fact that Reggie’s been humming carols.”

“Good. So, you’ll be home this Saturday?”

“As far as I know. Why?”

“You told me that your friends threw you a baby shower before you and Reggie left Spontoon.”

My daughter-in-law, even in her condition, was never slow on the uptake. “Gwladys, I’d be thrilled! Will it be just you?”

“Not at all. There’ll be a few others in the party.”

“Who?”

“Never you mind about that,” I laughed, and I steered the conversation toward the invitation up to the house in Bucks for Christmas. The invitation was enthusiastically accepted, naturally.

I hoped Joss would be on good behavior.


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