Love Burned, She Rose Unscathed

Roseanne shook the mop vigorously, continuing her assault.

Louisa darted around, clutching her head, and even as she reached the door, she didn't forget to throw back a threat, "I—I'm not done with you guys!"

"Your goddamn wisteria creeping into my yard, I'll burn it all down tomorrow! It's so annoying!"

With that, she took off running, because Roseanne was already chasing after her with the mop raised.

"Get lost! Come back, and I'll hit you again!"

Roseanne dropped the mop, letting out a deep sigh, but then she noticed Norris with a serious look on his face, making her heart skip a beat.

After a moment, she hesitantly spoke, "...I'm sorry, Dad, I..."

"When did you learn to do that?"

"...Huh?"

"You know... that thing with the mop..." Norris mimicked her mop-swinging action.

Roseanne was speechless.

"Cough! It's better for a young lady to remain graceful and elegant, not resort to brawling."

stepped forward, linking arms with him, "You've got to

Uh!

Norris agreed, "...It did."

messed with the

their homes, which Louisa had taken upon herself to fill with soil and plant vegetables, dousing it daily with waste. The Cole family's wisteria had merely climbed over the wall, not yet reaching that patch of land, but she had destroyed it

generous, and Madge disliked conflict, so they had never brought up the issue of the land, inadvertently

said the branches were blocking the sunlight for her vegetables, so she pulled them all out." Norris sighed,

not realizing her parents had been put through so much while she was

"Dad, what they said..."

air! They don't know anything, just gossiping. I know my daughter better

Roseanne's eyes grew moist.

BUMS

let's not tell your mom about this; she tends

second day of the Christmas, it was time to visit

early by Madge, "No more sleeping, get ready, dress

four children, with Norris being the third, having two older brothers and

Maddox Cole,

to work on construction sites and in his twenties started his own business, had amassed his first fortune and

mansion, and driving a luxury car,

the grandparents lived

on the