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

The man chuckled softly.

"Mr. Reynolds,

his throat,

Mr. Reynolds

to end at four

line, presenting the book to Madge- "Thanks for all the hard work, Mom, can I get

"Thanks, Mrs. Cole."

her daughter standing gracefully before her, with Owen by her

smiled at

a moment, Madge was dazed; they looked like a perfect pair, none

shook her head, dismissing those unrealistic thoughts, and picked

For Roseanne, she wrote-

some day come, to sail straight across the

For Owen, it was-

the highest peak,

on treating

we let you? It should be us

his hand, saying, "A special autograph from Mrs. Cole

Norris was left speechless.

Worth it? Of course!

she'd like to eat, and

he turned to

picky,

naturally fell

for a moment, "...How

None of them objected.

On the way-