Love Burned, She Rose Unscathed

It was a bustling June in the lab, and Roseanne had been going nonstop for two weeks before finally getting a day off.

She had just finished feeding her fish early in the morning when Norris called.

"Is Anne up?"

"Yeah, I'm up."

"Why not sleep in? I thought you said you had the day off from the lab to rest."

"My internal clock's set, I guess. How's mom?"

"In her study."

"Working on her novel again?"

"Yep! You know her; mornings are when her muse speaks loudest."

Roseanne's thoughts drifted to the matter of the contract, her gaze intensifying, "Dad, has mom's publisher been around lately?"

"Not that I've seen. Why? They do most of their communicating online these days."

"Just curious."

up, Roseanne headed to the

in the backyard tending

in her study, fingers flying over the keyboard,

was calm

home, in the faculty housing area where their old house stood, a woman was growing impatient as she knocked on

nines in a Chanel suit, clutching a Louis Vuitton handbag, her heels sinking into the muddy ground, visibly

Such surroundings!

Such conditions!

than a dog's

it not been for Madge's contract nearing renewal, she

after their last

memory. They'd had their spats over the years, but Madge always came crawling back, ready to compromise. This time, she wanted

Resistance would eventually give

was just a matter of

know

"Open up!"

disagreements, but where's your basic courtesy and respect?" "Madge-If you keep this up, I'm washing my hands

reddened from the effort, but the door remained unresponsive. "Knock,

pajamas, her hair a mess, clearly just woken

in her yard, hands on hips, glaring at Nadine through the iron