Love Burned, She Rose Unscathed

Planting vegetables, raising chickens, and cultivating fish - now the family could feast to their heart's content! "Well, well, moving out?" Louisa stood at the gate, arms folded, a smirk playing on her lips.

Norris Cole was too busy shoveling the earth to pay her any mind, grunting with the effort.

Madge, upon hearing Louisa's voice from inside, instantly retracted the foot she had set towards the door.

Out of sight, out of mind.

Louisa snorted. "Feeling proud, are we? Got kicked out, didn't you..."

"Louisa, off to the market?"

On her way back from the market, Louisa ran into an old friend.

"Yep, grabbed some eggs. They're half the price now compared to the early morning rush!" Louisa said, eyebrows raised in pride.

She wasn't boasting - no one in the educators' residential area had a knack for budgeting and planning quite like her.

"Next time, I'll shop at this hour too. Oh, have you heard? Your neighbor, Mr. Cole, is moving."

Louisa nodded. "Heard about it. Wonder where they're renting now. Could it be as convenient as our place?"Property belongs to Nôvel(D)r/ama.Org.

Psh! Grown men playing tough.

If he can't stand it, just move, saves her the trouble of climbing up every two months to trim those annoying vines.

Her friend whispered, "Do you think it's because of the spat you had, that they decided to move?"

Louisa lifted her chin in defiance. "Well, I wouldn't know. If that's the case, it just shows some people can't take a loss!"

"You're something else, hehe. Now you can take over their yard for more of your gardening..."

"Don't tempt me; I was already considering it!" Louisa's eyes sparkled with the thought.

"What are you two gossiping about?" Another neighbor hurried past. "Hurry up and get your sweets! They'll be gone soon..." Louisa blinked. "What sweets?"

"Mr. Cole's handing out sweets because he moved into a new house! Being neighbors, I thought you'd have gotten yours already. I better hurry up or there won't be any left for me..."

"Wait a sec! Why is Norris giving out sweets? It's not like he's getting married..."

"You don't know? Mr. Cole's bought a new house! A big mansion! He's giving out moving sweets."

Louisa's eyes widened in disbelief. "A mansion?! Is he renting it?"

"No way, he bought it! That new development near us... what's it called... Pearl something?"

"Lakeside Pearls?"

"That's the one!"

Louisa gasped, "How is that possible?!"

"Just last week, my husband drove Mr. Cole to drop off some plants there. Stepped inside for a moment - oh boyt Spacious and beautiful, with not one, but two gardens. Super comfy... Alright, I'm off to grab some sweets. Maybe I'll catch some of their good luck and end up in a mansion myself... Hahahaha..."

As the laughter faded, Louisa stood frozen, rooted to the spot, her cheeks burning with embarrassment.

After a busy week, they finally settled into the new house.

Norris took to the kitchen, preparing a feast.

Raising her glass, Madge toasted, "To our new home and a fresh start. May everything go smoothly."

Clink-

Three glasses clinked together, their crisp sound blending with laughter that drifted through the window and out into the garden, all under the gentle glow of the moonlight. The day after moving, early in the morning, Norris received a call from his mother Joie.

"Mom?"

"Heard you moved into a new place?"

"Uh, yes." Norris admitted truthfully.

"Tradition calls for a housewarming with family and friends. Tomorrow's New Year's Day. We usually spend it

at

our brother's, but this year, how

about we celebrate at your place?"