Water Signs: A Story of Love and Renewal

Ken opened the passenger door for his unexpected, but welcome date. Still a bit tortured as to whether she was making the right

decision, Maddy hesitated for a moment.

"Ken, let me take my own car," she pleaded, "I promise, I-" she

began, before he shushed her by gently placing two fingers on her soft

lips.

"Madeline, I promise you, I am a perfect gentleman. I just want to

drive you around the traffic circle to the diner, where all we will do is

drink coffee and talk," he said in a hushed, sincere tone. She looked up

into his electric blue eyes. "Please?" he whispered.

"Alright, I'm sorry for being so suspicious. Maybe I'm just not used

to being treated like a lady."

"Well, that's too bad, because I was just thinking how unbelievably

lucky I was to have run into a nice girl at last, one who deserves to always

be treated with respect, even if she did refuse my hospitality three times."

He grinned at her as he spoke, but the sentiment was genuine. He

couldn't remember the last time a woman rejected the idea of going back

to his place. Whoever Madeline Rose was, it was clear to him she

possessed the qualities that were sorely lacking in most of today's modern

women. And that made her even more irresistible.

"Oh, ok!" Maddy laughed as she slipped into the comfortable leather

bucket seat. After quickly clicking her seatbelt into place, she leaned over

to unlock Ken's door, a simple gesture that truly impressed him.

"Wow," he laughed.

"What now?" she asked, somewhat defensively.

"Nothing. You're unbelievable, that's all."

"Why because I know how to unlock a car door?"

"Because you actually thought of doing it," he replied, planting

another smooch on her forehead.

A few minutes later, Ken and Maddy stepped out into the salty sea

air. As a pleasant breeze blew in off of the bay, in the distance, the muted

lights of Ocean City mingled with the illuminations of a thousand stars

overhead. It was a magical, late-summer scene, one that would soon fade

into the memory of another bygone season, once the biting winds of

winter came along to sweep the area into a seemingly endless hibernation.

Maddy had dutifully waited for Ken to open the door for her, lest she

trample unintentionally upon his feelings. Jake had always accused her of

acting like a princess for expecting such traditional courtesies; as a result,

she'd long ago become accustomed to stepping out of a vehicle the

moment he'd placed the car in park, so as not to invite unwarranted

criticism and accusations of snobbery. And while Ken's old-fashioned

mannerisms rated high marks in her book, it was difficult to break old, if

unfairly imposed, habits.

He kissed her hand as she got out, holding it until they entered the

surprisingly half-empty diner. After all, it was well past 2 a.m., the bars

were now closed and hordes of partiers should've been indulging in the

customary post-club-scene breakfast. Yet inexplicably, the only booth and

counter occupants were a few older couples and a smattering of off-duty

cops. Lack of patrons notwithstanding, it seemed hours before a harried

waitress even acknowledged their presence.

"Maybe we don't look hungry enough?" Maddy teased.

"Hello!" Ken called out when she passed them by for about the fifth

time, prompting Maddy to break out into gales of laughter. Whether as a

result of being overworked or just plain rude, the woman-who appeared

slightly beyond middle-age, displayed about zero interest in serving them.

When Ken called out again, she finally scowled, "Sit anywhere you like!"

"Sheesh, Kenny, I don't think she likes us too much!" Maddy giddily

exclaimed. In spite of herself, she had to admit she was having a great

time.

"Nah, I don't think so!" he laughingly agreed. "But since you won't

go back to my place, this is our only hope for coffee." Ken winked at her

as she playfully nudged him into a booth.

"Where are you going?" he asked incredulously as Maddy slid into a

cushioned red seat directly across the table.

"What? I'm sitting across from you!"

"Please, I just wanna be near you!" he begged.

"Ken, please, I'm right here!"

"Please, let me sit next to you!"

"Oh alright," she relented. "But keep your hands to yourself!"

He grinned as he slid in beside her, slipping an arm around her

shoulder. The waitress slapped two menus on the table as she scurried

past them.

"Hungry?" he asked playfully, opening one of them up to the

breakfast page.

"A little," she admitted. "But I think we'll be lucky if we even get

coffee at this point, Ken. It could be a long wait for eggs."

He laughed as he pulled her close to him and kissed her forehead

again. "Ken please, I don't even know you!" she scolded, pushing him

away. That only seemed to give him more encouragement, as he kissed

her hand again.

"We'll get to know each other, sweetheart, don't you worry," he

assured her with another wink.

"You're impossible!" she sighed, even as she felt her heart begin to

flutter.