Love Burned, She Rose Unscathed

On the third floor, Owen stood by the elevator, ready to head down to find someone.

Ding-dong-

The metallic doors opened.

Roseanne emerged.

"Mr. Reynolds."

"Where have you been?"

They spoke at the same time, but their tones were completely different. Roseanne appeared relaxed, while Owen seemed slightly impatient, with a hint of concern beneath.

"I ran into Corley downstairs and got delayed for a bit. Here... Mr. Reynolds, have some water." Roseanne pulled a bottle from her bag and handed it over.

Owen glanced at the logo on the bag, which was from the imported goods store across the street. Roseanne likely hadn't gone that far, so it could only mean... "Corley bought it?"

"Yeah. I watched his grandparents while he went to the store across the street for some water. They only drink this brand."

Owen took the bottle.

Roseanne peeked into the event hall, "How's it going? Is it over yet?"

Owen shook his head: "Not yet. There's quite a line; it might take a while."

The earlier embarrassment was still fresh in her memory, and she wasn't eager to go back in and get jostled again.

But then...

Roseanne glanced at the book in Owen's hand: "Mr. Reynolds, are you planning to queue up for an autograph?"

"I'll wait till the end. No need to push through the crowd."

nodded vigorously in

The man chuckled softly.

Reynolds,

cleared his throat, suddenly

She felt like the Mr. Reynolds was fibbing, but she

book signing, initially scheduled to end at four p.m., stretched until

Madge- "Thanks for

"Thanks, Mrs. Cole."

see her daughter standing gracefully before her, with Owen by her

smiled at her, filled

a moment, Madge was dazed; they looked like a

head, dismissing those unrealistic

For Roseanne, she wrote-

come, to sail straight

For Owen, it was-

atop the highest peak, and see

Owen insisted on treating them to

we let

the book in his hand, saying, "A special autograph from Mrs. Cole herself, surely that's worth a

Norris was left speechless.

Worth it? Of course!

first asked Madge what she'd like to eat,

he turned to

not picky, whatever Anne

naturally

a moment, "...How about

None of them objected.

On the way-