The next morning, Roseanne was jolted awake by the ringing of her phone.


    The early dawn light was barely peeking through her curtains as she rubbed her eyes and squinted at the clock. It wasn''t even 7 a.m. yet. She yawned, her brain still foggy from sleep.


    She picked up the phone, her voice carrying the husky remnants of sleep. "Dad, why are you calling so early?"


    Norris paused for a moment, his voice tinged with an unusual mix of apprehension and uncertainty. "Anne... your grandparents havee to visit."


    Roseanne blinked, still caught in the web of sleep. "Grandparents? What grandparents?"


    "Your mom''s biological parents, your real grandparents."


    Roseanne sat there, stunned for a few seconds before the words finally sunk in. She bolted upright, momentarily speechless.


    After what seemed like an eternity, she jumped out of bed. "I''m booking a ticket home right now."


    By noon, her flight touched down.


    Roseanne exited the airport and gged down a taxi.


    As she approached her family home, she noticed two cars parked outside the house.


    One was a Bentley, the other a sleek ck limousine with a special license te certainly not something your average Joe could afford.


    Neighbors walked by, casting curious nces and whispering amongst themselves.


    After all, Bentleys are seen around, but that limousine... that bespoke model, and with a special te? That''s not just wealth; that''s influence or legacy.


    Roseanne felt a knot tighten in her stomach.


    Once inside, she immediately saw Norris in the front garden, aimlessly digging into the dirt.


    He looked more like a lost child than a man tending to his garden, turning the soil over and over with a trowel, surrounded by empty pots.


    It was clear he wasn''t gardening for the pleasure of it—just keeping his hands busy to stop his mind from spiraling.


    Roseanne nced toward the house, the open door letting faint voices drift out. Her grandparents must be inside.


    She didn''t rush in but instead walked over to Norris and crouched down beside him.


    "Dad."


    Norris froze, and his eyes lit up when he saw Roseanne, as if he''d just found his anchor.


    "Anne! You''re back!"


    "Where''s Mom?"


    "She''s inside."


    Roseanne eyed the trowel in his hand. "Didn''t you say on the phonest time that you''d just repotted


    everything? Why are you at it again?"


    IMS


    "Well... there were a few left undonest time..." he mumbled, clearly not convincing even himself.


    Roseanne read between the lines.


    She gently took the trowel from Norris, her voice soft and calming. "Dad, aren''t


    you happy that Mom found her biological parents?"


    Norris quickly shook his head. "No, it''s not that! Of course, I''m happy!"


    "But you don''t look very happy."


    "I..." Norris''s face twisted with a mix of emotions. "I''m not unhappy, just... it all feels so sudden and... scary."


    "Scary?" Roseanne was taken aback. "What are you afraid of?"


    "Your grandparents, they seem very..." He paused, searching for right words, and after a few


    Shed."


    seconds, he continued, "Vevel.?


    "And?"


    Norris went on, "What if they don''t like me as their son-inw? What if they''vee to take your mom away? What if she decides she


    doesn''t need me anymore?


    Three questions in quick session, and Roseanne finally understood his fears.


    Norris felt silly even as he voiced them.


    But the elderly couple seemed to exude an air of wealth and importance, and with everything happening so fast...


    He was still trying to wrap his head around it all.