Love Burned, She Rose Unscathed

 noveldrama

After making sure Owen Reynolds was safely back at his place, fully conscious and capable of taking care of himself, Roseanne finally returned to her own home.

She was sweating bullets.

Deciding to ditch her padded jacket, she couldn't tell if it was from standing too close or if the fabric was just too good at absorbing scents, but it had picked up a faint aroma of whiskey.

With her cheeks flushed, Roseanne fanned herself and muttered under her breath, "Why is it so blazing hot..."

Under the same moonlight, at the Dixon household.

The grandparents were getting ready to hit the sack when Scales suddenly piped up-

"Grandma, Grandpa, wait a sec."

"What's the matter, Caley?" Grandma turned around.

Scales had a serious look on his face. "Grandma, this is for you. You have to come tomorrow!"

He didn't give it to Grandpa because Grandpa's current standing meant he wasn't exactly fit to be seen at public events unless it was something big like a military parade or a disaster relief effort.

"...What's this?"

The moment Grandma took it, her hands trembled.

A red... invitation... "You must come tomorrow"... and the fact that her dear grandson was making such a fuss about it...

This!

"Caley, don't do anything foolish. We're not some old-fashioned family stuck in feudal times; we won't meddle in your love life. If you've found a girl you like, we certainly won't stop you!"

Scales: "?"

Grandpa's mouth twitched uncontrollably. "What are you on about? I told you to cut down on those soap operas. What's gotten into your head?" Grandma looked puzzled. "Isn't it what I think it is?"

Grandpa: "Maybe you should just open it and see!"

Realizing the mix-up, Scales couldn't help but laugh, "Grandma, what are you talking about? It's an invitation, not a wedding announcement!" With hesitation, Grandma opened it. "An... invitation?"

Oops, what a blunder.

"An invitation then. But why red... It's so misleading..."

Trying to save face while reading the text.

"A lab opening?" Grandma looked baffled. "What lab?"

Scales enunciated each word: "Our own lab."

"What? You built your own lab?!"

"Yes."

It took Grandma a full half-minute to process this news. "...So this was the big thing you were talking about?"

"Yep!"

"It's not like... Can you just build a lab whenever? What's it like?"

Scales smiled. "You'll see tomorrow."

Then he turned to Grandpa, "Grandpa, Grandma will take pictures for you at the event."

"Alrighty."

"So you knew all along?" Grandma spun around, "And you kept it from me?"

Grandpa coughed lightly, "Well... it's getting late. Time for bed!"

"?"

The next day brought rare sunshine, Laying a soft golden hue over

gently

the

brow-capped roofs and tree

branches.

The first to arrive were, of course, family members.

"Hey there, my girl-hee hee-"

Duke, bundled up in a thick down jacket, one arm around his wife and the other reaching out to his daughter. "Duke "

Mamie's eyes sparkled as she lunged forward, burying herself in her dad's embrace.

"I thought you weren't arriving until this afternoon?!"

Mamie's hug nearly knocked Duke off balance, causing a dull ache in his chest, but his smile never faded. "Gotcha! Arrived yesterday afternoon, wanted to surprise you! Did it work?"

"Totally! Super surprised!"

"Mom—" Mamie turned with a laugh, "You look gorgeous today, truly the universe's number one glamorous mom!"

n

Regina might have longed for a son, but

home amie was her flesh and blood,

her

one and only, and she cherished her deeply.

Occasionally she'd get caught up in her thoughts, but it never lasted long.

With a beaming smile, Regina struck a pose, "Of course~"