Morning

Waking up with the same person beside her was the single most impossible part. Moreau knew how she would not get such a sight in the morning. Abihirt might have left the room too early so as not to arouse suspicion, or perhaps the man had other important business to attend to instead of just waiting for her to wake up, then they would act like this forbidden relationship was something to be condoned.

It wasn't. Moreau grunted while rubbing her face roughly, just for a moment... then one arm slowly grazed the surface of the bed. An instinctive gesture, but one that led her to find something furry and soft, grabbed it, and was transfixed for a few moments.

A stuffed panda.

Moreau couldn't imagine how Barbara would react upon learning that something the woman had picked up was back where it belonged. At the very least, they would involve arguments; fierce, sometimes painful; and Moreau would always give in, while her mother could walk aw