Love Burned, She Rose Unscathed

Roseanne took a bite, her eyes crinkling with delight. "Yummy."

Madge caught the gleam of happiness in her eyes, reminded of how she looked when she arrived home today. A wave of emotion washed over her. She reached out, taking her daughter's hand in her warm palm, gently brushing her hair back to take a closer look at her face. "You've lost weight."

With her cheeks all stuffed with strawberry, Roseanne shook her head, denying it. "That's not true. I just weighed myself. I'm two pounds heavier than last week."

"It's just that you look thinner to me. Feel my hands. They're much more chubby."

She feigned distress. "I was considering going on a diet..."

Before she could finish, Norris interjected with a frown. "Young lady, why would you need to diet? You're so thin. Losing any more weight would turn you into nothing but bones."

Kids were always online, following some diet guru and starving themselves, not to mention taking diet pills. It worried him sick.

Roseanne's eyes sparkled as she leaned into Madge's hand, becoming limp as if boneless. "I was just saying."

Madge tapped her on the head lightly. "Even 'just saying' is not okay. You'll be in trouble if I find out you've lost weight next time you come home!"

Roseanne's eyes danced with laughter. "Got it."

Feeling her daughter leaning on her, Madge gently combed through her hair, finally voicing the question she'd longed to ask. "How have you been these past few years, living away from home?" Roseanne's gaze faltered, lightly glossing over the past. "I've been okay."

"And him? He didn't come with you?" The inevitable question had arrived.

Roseanne looked down, and her voice was soft. "We've broken up."

After Norris got out of the hospital, he and Madge went to see Lumina. But they left all ticked off because of her stubbornness.

Since that day, Norris had cut off contact with her, a disconnect that lasted six years.

When bringing up the past, Roseanne thought her father would blame her, but Norris' aged features were calm and forgiving in the glow of the fire.

"It's for the best. You two were never meant to be," Norris sighed gently.

Roseanne choked up again.

...

Soon, it was Christmas Eve.

Early in the morning, Madge woke everyone still snuggled in their beds. When Roseanne opened the door, still in her pajamas, feeling sleepy with one eye half-open and her hair sticking up in a tuft, it was clear she hadn't woken up fully.

"Didn't you say you'd help me with the Christmas shopping today? Rise and shine! Go wash up, get dressed, and come down for breakfast. Slightly disgusted, Madge pushed Roseanne back toward her room.

"It's only 7:3 a.m." Her voice was groggy, sounding like it was too early.

Madge couldn't help but laugh. "7:30 is late for me. Hurry up, or the milk will get cold."

After such a shock, Roseanne snapped awake real quick.

She washed up, brushed her teeth, changed into clothes suitable for going out, and came downstairs for breakfast.

Breakfast was milk and donuts bought from a nearby diner, along with some homemade rib soup that Norris had prepared, all smelling deliciously inviting.

Sitting down to eat a donut, Roseanne noticed Norris was nowhere to be seen in the yard or the kitchen. She asked, "Where's Dad?"

"The principal called him over early in the morning. Something about needing to go over some school matters. He'll be back later." As Madge spoke, her phone rang.

She walked out to the yard to answer it. However, the call didn't seem to go well. Roseanne had never heard her mother sound so agitated and distressed before.