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."

to the

in the backyard tending to his

study, fingers flying over the keyboard, crafting line after

was calm

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

suit, clutching a Louis Vuitton handbag, her heels sinking

Such surroundings!

Such conditions!

a dog's

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

hassle. But after their last argument, Madge had blocked all

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

would eventually

a

know you're

"Open up!"

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

reddened from the effort, but the door remained unresponsive. "Knock, knock, knock, first thing in

hair a mess, clearly just woken up, exuding that

yard, hands on hips, glaring at Nadine through the iron fence separating