Tzimmes Cracked Corn (And I Don’t Care)
A Spontoon Island story
© 2022 Walter Reimer
(Characters courtesy of M. Mitch Marmel and E.O. Costello. Thanks!)

Thumbnail art by  turnbolt


9.


Willow:

I called down to l’Etoile to make the reservation and discovered that it had already been made by Toni du Cleds. The young woman, Miss Watermaster, at the other end of the line also assured me that Andre d’Arbres would not be on duty.

When I asked why, she snickered and said that he’d “suddenly came down with a cold” after learning that Reggie was back. That’s one obstacle taken care of.

Something told me that the squirrel’s “cold” would probably last until Reggie and I left, which suited me just fine. It suited Reggie just fine too once I told him.

But he seemed a little preoccupied. “Reggie?”

“Hm? Yes, Willow?”

“Is something the matter?”

My buck was gazing out the windows at the view across the lagoon. “It’s . . . “

“Yes?”

“Your father.” He turned away from the window. “I’m trying to think of the right words to say to him.”

“You mean, to apologize?” He nodded, and I smiled at him. There’s an old wheeze in corporate circles that there’s wolf blood in the Buckhorn family line. Sometimes I think they have a point, since Reggie can worry an idea like a feral dog with a bone, and Lord Josslyn’s business practices are best described as predatory. (“Grace?”)

I felt myself move to the back of my head as I heard Grace say, “Reggie?” His ears swiveled, and I saw Grace take him in her arms and give him a kiss. “You’ll find the right thing to say, in your own manner, my darling.”

He smiled. “One way or another, eh?” He gave me a kiss.


***


Allan:

I had gotten a phone call from Willow, letting Vee and I know that a private dining room had been reserved for seven. I thanked her, and after letting Vee know we relaxed a little longer before getting ready for dinner.

We were in the lobby when our friend walked in, a well-built cheetah femme on his arm who disengaged and almost collided with Vee as she and my wife exchanged hugs. “I’m so happy you two are engaged,” she said as she hugged Franklin’s fiancée. “I don’t know if you’ve forgotten, but I’m Vee Minkerton – “

Rosie grinned. “As if I’d forget anyone I shared a night in jail with.” The two of them started laughing.

I shook paws with Franklin. “Congratulations, my friend.”

“Thank you, Allan.” We started walking as the two femmes started talking in low voices.

I heard a muffled exclamation from Vee.

Franklin smiled and leaned in close to murmur in my ear, “Miss Baumgartner is pregnant.” My expression must have been memorable because Franklin chuckled.

An attractive young minkess met us at the door. “Welcome to l’Etoile d’Argent.”

“We have a private room reserved,” I said.

She smiled, not the fake smile you normally see from a hostess or maitre’d. “Of course. Right this way, please.”

Following her was quite a pleasant journey, but I was quite aware of Vee right behind me. Still, no harm in looking and we navigated around a few tables to a pair of closed doors. The minkess opened one, and stood beside them as we went inside.


***


Grace:

The door closed, and all I could see was Da.

It was probably bad manners on my part, but I shoved my twin ego aside and forced my hooves to move toward him. Thank the Lord, he was smiling at me and when I got close enough, he opened his arms and gathered me into his embrace.

I clung to him, and I won’t deny that I started crying.

I could feel him crying with me, his shoulders shaking as he sobbed.

I could feel Rosie nearby, her paw resting on Da’s upper back, and I blessed her for being his support.

“Da . . . . “

“Grace, oh God, . . . ”

“I love you, Da.”

“I love you, sweetheart.”

“I – I wanted – “

“I know.”

Da was hugging me, and I could feel his heart beating.

I felt safe.

I soon felt Rosie’s paw on my upper back, resting and rubbing in small circles on my spine.

She leaned in close and whispered to both of us, “C’mon, you two. Let’s get some food in you both, hm?”

We gently disengaged from each other, looking at each other before I glanced around the room.

Allan was whispering to Pierre and Toni, who looked surprised but were nodding, while Vee and Reggie were talking.

Reggie nodded and looked up at me, and smiled.

I nodded, and ceded the field to Willow, who linked arms with Da and Rosie and started walking toward the table. “You know,” I heard her say to Rosalie, “I heard from Toni that you’re pregnant.”

The cheetah grinned and nodded. “Yep.”

“I’m not going to call you ‘Mom.’” I heard Da smother a laugh.

God, it felt good to see him smile and hear him laugh.

Rosie laughed. “Okeh. How about ‘Rosie,’ then?”

Willow laughed. “Hm, short, easy to remember. I like it.”

And we all took our places at the table, and Reggie signaled for the waiter to come in with the menus.

I couldn’t really tell you what we – Willow and I – had to eat.

I was just too happy.


***


Rosie:

I was glad that I had packed enough tissues in my purse. Between me, Willow and Franklin, we managed to deplete the stockpile in short order. Still, I got them to sit down and we all gave our orders to the waiter when he came in.

I sat on Franklin’s right, with Willow/Grace on his left, and at some point through the appetizer my beloved looked up from his stuffed baked mushrooms. “Where is my grandfawn?” he asked.

I agreed with him. I wanted to see the little tyke, too.

Willow was still gazing at her Da, as if who could blame her, so Reggie stepped into the breach. “Oh! Ah, er, Sophia suggested that he stay up there with her, rather than have him cause a fuss. She’s upstairs with him.”

Franneleh asked, “‘Sophia?’”

Reggie nodded. “Sophia Lovassag, she’s our housekeeper and little Tommy’s nanny. Rules the household with a paw of iron. Which would suit her fur color, rather.” He went on to explain that the mare had managed the last Austrian Empress’ household before the people there decided that the Habsburgs had to go.

Sounded like a fun gal.

“I do want to see him,” Franklin said.

Reggie nodded so fast I thought he’d shake something loose. “Of course, Sir.” He went back to his dinner, and for a while we all just attended to our dinners.

Allan Minkerton took a pull at his whisky-and-soda and asked, “Tell me, Franklin, how are your neighbors across the water?” I guess (correctly, as it turned out) that the mink was going on about those shtarkers over on Krupmark.

My husband-to-be smiled just a little grimly. “They been rather quiet of late, Allan. Of course, far be it from me to accuse anyone of keeping anything from me – “ He gave me a look that I greeted with an air of complete innocence “ – but they seem to lying low.”

“Suspicious.”

“I quite agree.”

Vee poked her husband with a well-placed elbow. “Don’t start talking business, you two,” she declared, and the rest of us chuckled.

“Speaking of business, Spots,” Toni asked, “how’s things at your diner?”

“We’ve done great. Speed Week draws a lot of folks from everywhere,” I said, and gave my old friend a wink.

She winked back.

We sang in unison, “’If it’s called tourist season / Why can’t we shoot ‘em?’” and everyone started laughing as the waiter came in to relieve us of any empty plates.

Been a while since I ate at l’Etoile, I realized as I dawdled over a small but very tasty slice of cheesecake. Made me rather happy that someone else was picking up the check.

Pete and Toni were the first ones to beg off and go back up to their rooms, with Toni promising me that she and her husband would drop by for breakfast – or maybe lunch, judging from the way they were eyeing each other. I’m so glad that Toni hooked up with someone who loves her.

Vee and Allan were the next to go, after Allan talked with Franklin and the two agreed to talk shop later.

When we got into the lobby, Reggie asked Franklin, “Would you like to go upstairs, Sir?”

He was being too polite by half.

Made me a little curious.





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