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

himself in the backyard

over the

calm and

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

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

Such surroundings!

Such conditions!

a dog's

it not been for Madge's contract nearing

online, avoiding this hassle. But after their last argument, Madge had blocked

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

was confident. Resistance would eventually give way

a matter of

know

"Open up!"

rude to ignore a visitor, Madge. We have our professional disagreements, but where's your basic courtesy and respect?" "Madge-If you keep

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

her pajamas, her hair a mess,

hips, glaring at Nadine through