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."

the kitchen to whip up some

himself in the backyard tending to

in her study, fingers flying over the keyboard, crafting

was calm

the faculty housing area where their old house stood,

clutching a Louis Vuitton handbag, her heels

Such surroundings!

Such conditions!

than a dog's

been for Madge's contract nearing renewal, she wouldn't have

have renewed online, avoiding this hassle. But after their

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

confident. Resistance would eventually give way

a matter

know you're in

"Open up!"

have our professional disagreements, but where's your basic courtesy and respect?" "Madge-If you keep this

grew more furious, her hands reddened from the effort, but the door remained unresponsive. "Knock, knock, knock, first thing in the morning-are you

her hair a mess,

in her yard, hands on hips, glaring at Nadine