Love Burned, She Rose Unscathed novel Chapter 143

That same head sent blessings her way, and the girl's gentle, serene voice seemed to carry a hint of laughter.

In Owen Reynolds' mind, an image surfaced: her, holding her phone, a slight smile on her face as she wished him a Merry Christmas.

Fireworks exploded, illuminating her smiling profile.

It must have been beautiful.

...

On Christmas, Roseanne was allowed to sleep in until eleven.

Sunlight crept up the windowsill, its brightness seeping through the curtains. She opened her drowsy eyes to see the shadows of tree branches, cast like dancing claws on the fabric.

Is the sun out?!

Sitting up, she yawned, walked to the window, and with a swoosh, drew the curtains back.

Sure enough, daylight glittered on the snow-capped mountains in the distance, blindingly bright.

Norris and Madge were in the yard, reading books and basking in the sun.

Norris, ever so attentive, knew Roseanne had woken up the moment he heard the window open. As a teacher, he always had a strict sense of time and disapproved of Roseanne's habit of sleeping in.

He lifted his tea cup, took a sip, and said, "It's all your mother's doing, sleeping till this hour, meals all out of whack, do you even care about your stomach anymore?"

"Young people these days, no regard for their health. Wait till you're older, then you'll understand..."

Madge stuffed a slice of orange into his mouth, "Will you stop nagging? She's graduated, not your student anymore. It's the first day of the year, let her sleep in, will you?"

Then, turning to Roseanne by the window, "Don't mind your old-fashioned father. There's breakfast on the table for you, just warm it up."

Roseanne smiled, "Got it."