Her memory of the event was confused and contradictory, yet she kept reliving it through memories and nightmares. Her emotions became unpredictable; s...e was generally anxious. Often she felt numb, detached, as though in a dream, yet sometimes she was abnormally alert. The familiar world became strange to her, full of danger. She avoided not only Holland Park but also any object, any feeling, that could remind her of the assault. She burned the clothes she’d worn that night. She felt. He said adopting a relative is easier and a shorter time span than normal adoptions. Allison could be your legal daughter on the 30th of June.”Tears of happiness flowed down Dan’s cheeks. Claudia’s eyes matched his as they tried to halt the other’s flow. She had to cover her mouth to stifle her giddy, hysterical laughter, her eyes dripping ecstatically happy tears.“Thank you, thank you, both so much! You’ve just made our day, our week, our month, our year, you’ve just made our whole lives!” She. "Thank you Tony, that was the best hamburger I have ever had."We both chuckled at the pun. Very soon I heard movement in the kitchen, some of the boys were getting an early breakfast. I warned Sheila that they were out there and I needed to get up and help them.Pulling on a the shirt and a pair of shorts I went out into the kitchen to be greeted by friendly calls of derision."Get a bit scared of all those women Tony?" Did our little cookie have to get an early night?"The ribbing was good. Personally, I think it would be better if no one remembered them beinganyone or anything else. It would be less confusing. But then, therewouldn't be anything for anyone to complain about. We'd just come inand do our jobs. Even if something were different when we went homethan it had been when we'd arrived, no one would ever notice anythingwas ever different.They don't let us get married without first getting permission. Theydon't really like the idea of excluding more people from.