Monday...

Vicky felt very sluggish as dawn's light filtered in through the windows. Recollections of the previous night’s nightmare made her shudder into full wakefulness and she immediately went to have a shower to wash off the feeling of cold sweat. She realised that she must have gotten tangled up in her own pyjamas, as she seemed to have opened her nightshirt in her sleep.

“That explains the dream,” she mumbled to herself, remembering with unease how terribly helpless she had felt. “Let’s hope that doesn’t happen again.”

Her nipples must have chafed against the bed linen or something, because they were just the slightest bit tender as she washed.

Brandon had left the room by the time Vicky came out of the shower, but appeared moments later with a coffee in each hand - both with cream and sugar - and gave one to Vicky. Leon’s choice of stock was top quality, and Vicky felt the warmth and flavour filling her body in a single sip.

“Are you okay?” Brandon said, looking worried. “You were really restless last night.”

“Bad dream,” Vicky said, shaking her head. “Feeling a lot better now though, thanks.”

Brandon nodded, still concerned, but handed Vicky a sheet of paper before heading into the bathroom.

“We’ve worked out a kind of roster for cooking and suchlike for the week,” he said. “Some families are helping out more than others.”

Vicky noticed Garnet’s name was distinctly absent, though her parents had volunteered for several duties. Brandon had volunteered both of their services together, starting with that day’s lunch and the following wash-up.

That left Vicky with the better part of the morning to herself, and she wondered idly how she should spend it.