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."

Roseanne headed to the

Norris busied himself in the

study, fingers flying over the keyboard, crafting line after

calm

old house stood, a woman was growing impatient as she knocked on the door. "Hello? Madge-are you

was dressed to the nines in a Chanel suit, clutching a Louis Vuitton handbag,

Such surroundings!

Such conditions!

than a dog's

it not been for Madge's contract nearing renewal, she wouldn't have bothered with

could have renewed online, avoiding this hassle. But after their last argument, Madge had blocked all her contact

came crawling back, ready to compromise. This time, she wanted Madge to venture into digital publishing, which probably explained the

would eventually give way to

was just a matter

know you're

"Open up!"

rude to ignore a visitor, Madge. We have our professional disagreements, but where's your basic

furious, her hands reddened from the effort, but the door remained unresponsive. "Knock, knock, knock, first

her pajamas, her hair a

hands on hips, glaring at Nadine through the iron