Love Burned, She Rose Unscathed

Chapter 724

Owen Reynolds glanced over at Roseanne with a hint of concern in his eyes. "What happened on the way home? You're two hours later than usual."

It was a bitterly cold winter night, the kind where old neighborhoods like theirs went quiet after nine, and the streetlights flickered unreliably. Owen always worried about her safety, so whenever he could, he'd be there, timing it just right to meet her downstairs.

Roseanne's arrival times varied, but never by more than thirty minutes-tonight, though, she was two whole hours late.

And she'd gotten out of Corley's car.

Owen suspected something must have happened on her way back.

A gust of chilly wind swept by, and Owen noticed Roseanne's nose was bright red from the cold. "Let's get inside. It's freezing out here. We can talk more once we're home."

Roseanne nodded, blowing warm air into her cold palms before turning to say goodbye to Corley.

Under the streetlights, Owen and Roseanne walked side by side, their footsteps perfectly in sync.

The hallway lights flickered on with each step they took, and the faint echo of their conversation could be heard in the background.

Corley stood there, watching them disappear into the distance. His mind

wandered back to the way Roseanne's eyes lit up when she talked about Owen, a shadow of regret crossing his face.

Murray. Was he really going to watch her

everything fall into place naturally, but suddenly, he didn't want

enduring six long years until she and Murray finally

twice? That would just

he turned away, the shadow of doubt in his eyes was replaced by a steely

25th, the heart

the time when the cold really settles in, just

it held another special

Her birthday.

call and wish her well was

under her covers, she picked up

"Happy Birthday, Anne!"

"Thanks, Dad!"

gift is on its way. Remember to pick it up at the post office when you can," Norris said, grinning widely, an

present? What is

to know? You'll have to open it

in bed, cocooning

in, popping her

replied, "Just a little father-daughter secret, nothing for you