Water Signs: A Story of Love and Renewal

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"I'm sorry, Mr. Lockheart but I don't give out the personal phone

numbers of my contributors," Colleen Smith, editor-in-chief of The Good

News Gazetteinformed a frustrated Ken. He'd been at work for hours, yet

unable to think about anything other than getting in touch with Madeline.

"It's ok," he persuaded her, "I am an old friend of Maddy's; she won't

mind."

"I'll tell you what," Colleen had compromised, "Give me your

number and I'll pass it along to her. That way, she can decide if she wants

to talk to you."

"Ok, that sounds reasonable," a somewhat dejected Ken replied,

doubtful that she would actually contact him.

And a few days later, it appeared his suspicions had been confirmed

when there had been no word from Madeline. Unknown to him, she'd

been debating the wisdom of returning the call ever since Colleen had

given her the message. After all, she'd succeeded in banishing every

thought of Ken and their past romance out of her mind, from the night of

that terribly awkward barbeque. Why open up this can of worms now?But in the end, curiosity got the better of her and she briefly

reconnected with her old flame. It was a cordial but quick conversation,

made purposely shorter once apprised of the birth of his daughter.

Madeline warmly congratulated him on the joyous occasion while

graciously accepting his sincere congratulations on her fledgling writing

career.

Ken felt the same powerful eruptions within at the sound of her

voice, though she gave no indication of her personal status, opting instead

to update him about her parents and siblings. Madeline also omitted from

the conversation her ongoing struggle with panic disorder, preferring to

keep the tone light, so as not to encourage any unsolicited offers of help

or worse-an invitation to dinner at his home. The last thing she needed

was an evening with Ken, Erin and their new baby.

At the call's conclusion, Maddy immediately sealed off the part of her

that stubbornly harbored intense love and desire for the man who once

bought a rose for her friend at a nightclub, and then went on to prove just

how loving, kind and considerate a real man could be. And though Ken

continued to honor his marriage vows, within the sacred boundaries of his

heart, memories of another woman-and what might have been-

persistently haunted him.