Love Burned, She Rose Unscathed

Jen's tongue tied in knots, unable to utter a word for what seemed like an eternity.

The others shared a look of utter disbelief.

"Prof... Professor?" Sammy's gaze darted between Owen and Roseanne, as if he'd stumbled upon some earth-shattering secret. Liz's lips tightened, her gaze icy.

"Owen, what's all this about?" Stoddard recovered from his initial shock and asked point-blank.

Owen simply said, "Helping out, didn't you notice?"

"You're helping all the way into the Cole family's affairs now, aren't you quite the hero..." Stoddard joked half-heartedly.

Owen replied, "A close neighbor is better than a distant relative, especially one who only turns up for meals."

"Near neighbor? What do you mean?"

Roseanne explained, "Mr. Reynolds lives next door. We're neighbors, door to door. Just this afternoon when I was leaving the lab and planning to go grocery shopping, Mr. Reynolds was heading out with his car and offered me a lift to the supermarket." "So, that's the story." Jen let out a sigh of relief.

For a second, she thought something was going on between them! It totally freaked her out!

Sammy also patted his chest in relief, narrowly avoiding a major misunderstanding. Thank goodness...

Liz's dark mood cleared up instantly, "Is it time to eat then?"

"Absolutely." Jen nodded vigorously.

Roseanne gestured, "Everyone, please take a seat and start. I'll have the last two dishes ready in a jiffy!"

a cheerful

stop praising Roseanne's culinary skills, and

diet, ended

want to, but two of the dishes were just

All Roseanne's fault...

cleaning up,

it was both Roseanne and

their side-by-side departure made them seem more like a couple seeing

a strange expression

Sammy, engrossed in conversation

much attention, "Liz, it's dark out. It's not safe for you to goalone. Shall I walk you

got

Be careful

QUMS

her car, Liz didn't start the engine immediately. Instead, she pulled up a contact

you still working in real estate?" she asked once the call

that's all I do. What's up? Suddenly

lip, then she said, "I'm looking to rent a place near Kingswell University. Preferably

building? No

person on the other end

sure you want something like

herself to experience the

I'll