Love Burned, She Rose Unscathed

"That's a relief," Leda sighed, her tension visibly melting away. "Hey, are you free tonight? I could use your help."

After a successful meeting with the school board, Hertha's mood visibly brightened, contrasting her frustration from her recent encounter with Madeleine. "Let's go, Mom. Time to hit the road."

Her mom Beverley frowned, her gaze drifting away from the direction of the library. "You go ahead. I've got something else to deal with."

Beverley dialed her phone without another word, arranging for another family driver to fetch her.

Hertha figured her mom was just heading to another fancy lunch and didn't think much of it. Little did she know, as soon as Beverley got in the car, she ordered, "Drive to Murray's office."

Just ending a meeting, Murray was surprised to see his mother storming in with a scowl. "Mom, what brings you here?"

Beverley scoffed, "What, I can't visit?"

"It's not that," he said, touching his nose nervously.

Beverley huffed and plopped onto a sofa. "If you can't handle your woman, I don't mind stepping in."

Murray was puzzled.

"Look at the attitude on Roseanne. It

tensed slightly,

my mind, and she blew up, accusing me of being harsh and mocking me as an uneducated woman!

"You met her at the

tidying up, she's there pretending to be an intellectual, thinking it'll make me

now on, we're strangers! Who talks to their elders like that? Does she not want to be part of the Sherwood family

asked, "So, you two broke

blurted out, "How could

to give it up easily! Make sure you give her a good talk when you get back!" Listening to Beverley's

meeting soon.

mood darken further,

But don't let Roseanne off easy. Women need to be kept in line and tamed properly,

seeing Beverley off, Murray loosened his tie

the corner, he texted Cliff about what to get her. Cliff instantly

texted, [I'm clueless about these things.

a freaking bachelor,

at the