As everyone was leaving for the night, the young boar badger with the unusual coppery fur caught the arm of a smaller, sepia-toned, female badger.
	“Sadie...”
	Sadako Hanmura turned to face her boss.  “Yes?”
	“Sadie, I heard about...”
	“All right, I know what’s coming.  You heard that The Creep got me pregnant.”
	Valerian Aubrey grinned and spread his clawed hands in a disarming gesture.  “You figured me out.”  His voice and expression became serious.  “I’d like to talk about it.”
	Sadie tensed.  The phrase “I’d like to talk about it” was usually a bad sign.  “All right,” she sighed, resignedly.  
	“Supporting yourself on a seven-dollar-an-hour job is probably hard enough.  A cub is going to make things even more difficult.  You’re already working forty hours a week, and you may not be able to do that after the baby is born.”  Var realized that he was making Sadie even more nervous, so he decided to cut to the chase.  “Sadie, what do you think of me?”
	The sand badger was puzzled by the question, but recovered quickly.  “You’re a good person, you treat people fairly.  I’m happy to be working for you.  In fact, I’ve kept this job these...almost two years because you and Mrs. Rousseau are, frankly, so much fun to work for.”
	“That’s not what I meant.  Sadie, I’m young...How old do you think I am?”  At her shrug, he continued.  “I’m twenty-three.  I’m single.  I own this business.  I could help take care of a cub.  And I genuinely like you.”
	Sadie’s eyes widened.  “Was that what it sounded like?”
	Var gave an abashed little smile.  “Yes, it was.”
	Sadie burst out laughing.
	“What’s so funny?”  Var wasn’t sure what to make of her response.
	“Mr. Aubrey...”
	“Var.”
	“Var, with all due respect, whatever possessed you to propose to me?  We both know that there was no opportunity for this to be your kid.”
	“You’re right.  But is anyone else going to figure that out?  Someone will see two badgers and start spreading rumors sooner or later.  If we get married, the rumors might be less vicious.  Also, I’m willing to take more responsibility for this cub than its real father is taking.”
	“Var, I’m sorry.  I can’t.”
	“Why?”
	“I can’t explain it.”
	“Is it because I’m not the father?”
	“No.  It’s a long, weird story which may or may not have anything to do with the truth.”
	“Try me.”
	“It’s because of Mrs. Rousseau.”
	“Solana?  What does Solana have to do with this?”
	“I could never marry a guy who’s hung up on someone else.  And...maybe I’m wrong, but...May I speak frankly?”  Var nodded, and Sadie took a deep breath and continued:  “You’re hung up on Mrs. Rousseau.”
	“‘Hung up’ on her?”
	“You’re in love with her.  Maybe you never even thought about it before, but I’m not the only one who’s seen it, so it can’t be all my imagination.”
	Var looked surprised.  “Solana and I have been good friends since high school.  She’s a wonderful otter, and admittedly a beautiful one as well.  However, she’s also the widow of a close friend, and I’m a bit shocked that you’d think I would be hitting on someone who’s grieving.”
	“I didn’t say hitting on.  You just light up whenever you see her.  You know, I came in here with some friends on my day off, and someone asked if Mrs. Rousseau was your girlfriend?”  Sadie changed the subject.  “Anyway, I don’t want a marriage of convenience.”
	Var was a little taken aback.  But on the other hand, he’d almost expected her to respond that way.
	“I’ll talk to Solana and see what we can do for you,”  he told Sadie.