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 kitchen

Norris busied himself in the backyard tending to

the keyboard,

was calm and

housing area where their old

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

Such surroundings!

Such conditions!

than a dog's

nearing

hassle. But after their last

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

Nadine was confident. Resistance would eventually

just a matter of

know you're

"Open up!"

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

Nadine's knocking grew more furious, her hands reddened from the effort, but the door remained unresponsive. "Knock, knock, knock, first thing

her hair a mess, clearly just woken up, exuding that

hands on hips, glaring at Nadine through the