Love Burned, She Rose Unscathed

"Stop making excuses, sweetheart. I'm not one of you city folks, all those fancy restaurants don't sit well with me. And come on, I'm your elder. Is it too much to ask for a homemade breakfast? If you don't like it, I'll just have a word with your mother-in-law!" As she spoke, she began to moan and groan, now claiming a headache from the stress, now bemoaning her hunger.

The others around immediately took her side, launching into a chorus of complaints against Madge.

Looking at the lot, Madge could almost see the usual banding together, the mob mentality at its finest.

"Great-Aunt Martha, you're hankering for some home-cooked breakfast, huh? Alright, I'll have Norris whip something up for you, just give us a moment."

"No! Didn't you get my point? I asked you, not Norris! It's only natural: men make the money; women cook the meals!"

"I heard you loud and clear but..." Madge flashed a wry smile, "In our house, I bring in more bacon than Norris does. Even this house, it was bought with my paycheck. So, by your logic, Norris cooking is just the way things should be." "Bullshit-You bought this mansion?!"

The disbelief was palpable in her eyes.

Madge, ever so serene, simply nodded.

Martha's sister nudged her, whispering with an awkward grin, "I asked Norris about it yesterday. The mansion really is bought by his wife..."

Martha was gobsmacked.

word, turning back

Impossible...

that

Martha was utterly flabbergasted.

cook for me. With money in the bank, who'd bother with the kitchen? Put

with money, who would

...

came back with breakfast, she walked into a strangely tense atmosphere. Before she could figure out what

came from

bad feeling washed

orchid was smashed to smithereens,

trembling, his heart bleeding for

cultivate such a

it, meticulously keeping notes. And just

ve

reckless kids.

Norris, isn't it pretty? We picked it for you, hehe..." Roseanne caught Norris' ashen face and feared his blood pressure