Love Burned, She Rose Unscathed

Chapter 828

In the blink of an eye, New Year's Eve arrived.

The old year faded away in a burst of firecrackers, while a gentle spring breeze seemed to drift through the house, filling it with warmth and anticipation.

"Morning, Anne. Why are you up so early? You could've slept in," Neely called from the living room.

"Morning, Grandpa!" Roseanne replied, bounding down the stairs.

She found Neely making tea at the coffee table, a pair of polished walnut worry stones resting at his side.

"What do you want for breakfast?" he asked.

"What's in the kitchen?" Roseanne shrugged. "I'm not picky-anything's fine."

By the time they finished breakfast, it was only eight-thirty.

Assuming Norris and Madge were still asleep, Roseanne was about to head upstairs to wake them when she spotted Madge already tucked away in the study, laptop open and intent.

As for Norris, he'd gone out with Grandma for groceries.

with the driver and

they returned,

your stuff! You even know how to haggle!" Grandma

know, shop for groceries more often than most. Picked up a few

already dismissed for the holiday-only two cooks and the driver remained-Grandma threw herself into the kitchen the moment she got home, carefully checking every ingredient. Clearly,

eager to make the most of his mother-in-law's praise,

by their standards, though it still boasted six or seven dishes. The real star, of course, would be the

nap, Roseanne joined Grandpa for a couple of rounds of chess in

paper stamped with cheerful holiday wishes. The task was bigger

she wrapped, Roseanne couldn't help but ask, "Do we really have that many relatives

didn't before. That changes starting this

took Roseanne only a moment to

if they celebrated, it was always a muted affair in some foreign city,

now, with Madge found and the family reunited, her grandparents finally had a reason to

Grandpa sighed. "We've been

Ket

many years. We lost touch with a lot of old friends and relatives some we call now and then, some we haven't spoken to in ages. But from now on, we'll be here. Your grandmother feels it's important to reestablish those