Every time I messed up, my dad and I would huddle up, chalk it up to a lesson learned, and then scout for an even more secretive spot to regroup. But, without fail, it was like my mom had eyes everywhere no spot was too hidden for her to uncover." As Roseanne shared this, she realized Owen hadn''t made a sound in a while. She asked, "Mr. Reynolds, are you listening?"


    Turning her head, she inadvertently found herself lost in the depth of his eyes.


    Roseanne froze.


    Her hair, which had grown past her shoulders and was loosely tied during dinner, danced wildly in the night breeze.


    In that moment, she was unexpectedly captivating.


    "Uh-huh, I''m listening." Owen''s voice was slightly raspy. "Your mother is quite the detective, with a keen eye."


    Roseanne looked away, feeling a sudden tightness in her throat. She swallowed before continuing, "Of course, she''s a mystery writer!"


    Mystery novels are all about logic and deduction.


    If Norris taught her the virtues of honor and integrity, then Madge painted the backdrop of her life, encouraging her to boldly be the person she always wanted to be.


    "And what about you, Mr. Reynolds? What was your childhood like?"


    Owen replied, "Reading, studying, exams."


    "That''s it?"


    "There might have been more, but it''s all a blur now."


    Perhaps it was the soft glow of the streetlights, or maybe it was Roseanne''s bright eyes, but Owen found himself wanting to share more as he gazed at the neon signs across the river.


    "I must have been about five when I stumbled upon a physics book in my grandfather''s study-The Secrets of the Universe."


    "It was my first encounter with physics. I didn''t even grasp the concept of ''physics'' at the time, but I found it fascinating."


    He smiled warmly, his eyes intense yet sincere, "A philosopher said: Toprehend the beauty of the universe and to analyze the principles of all things. The most iprehensible thing about the universe is that it isprehensible." Roseanne listened intently. She didn''t understand physics, but in that moment, she could empathize with Owen''s passion.


    "Before physics, my world was dull and colorless."


    His voice paused, and he turned to look at Roseanne, "After


    physics, the world began to


    And now, it seemed, there was someone new.


    something different


    His gaze was intense, his eyes burning.


    But Roseanne was the first to look away.Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org.


    The ice cream she hadn''t finished was melting in the heat, dripping down her hand. Feeling the cold, Roseanne suddenly stood up, "It''s gettingte, we should head back."


    With her body turned, Owen couldn''t see her face, but he could sense the shift in her emotions.


    He felt unusually off-kilter today...


    "Alright, let''s go."


    ...


    That night, Roseanne found herself struggling to sleep.


    With her eyes closed, her mind wavered between sleep and wakefulness, shing images


    Owen''s face and then memo


    her past with Murray.


    of


    Remembering the foolish things she had done for a man before, the foolish words she had uttered, she instantly snapped awake!


    Hadn''t she had her fill of love''s bitter taste?


    Free from one snare, why consider another?


    From one pitfall to another deep well.


    It wasn''t necessary, nor was it worth it.


    Realizing this, Roseanne''s restless heart soon calmed. Since sleep eluded her, she decided to get up and work on her thesis.


    Yes, studying brought her more joy.


    The next day, as Roseanne swiped her card to enter theb, she was immediately met with the intense gazes of Jen and Stoddard. "What''s going on?"