Water Signs: A Story of Love and Renewal

* * *

"Kenny!" Madeline offered a warm hug as he entered the small tiled

entryway of her condo. It was another sunny Saturday, and he'd dropped

by as planned to take her to breakfast, followed by a visit to his new

home. This being Mothers Day weekend, Bonnie and Brian were

spending it with Erin and her new beau on Sanibel Island, where he

owned a palatial beachfront getaway.

"Hey sweetheart!" He relished the feel of her petite body as he folded

his arms around her waist and held her close. "God, you feel so good," he

murmured, kissing her hair.

She was wearing a cute pair of white Capri pants and a hot pink,

ruffled top; her hair was pulled back in a sleek ponytail with a rhinestone

clip. On her feet she wore her favorite Ann Marino thong sandals in a

coordinating color, decorated with multi-colored flower and palm tree

bangles.

Maddy closed her eyes for a moment, savoring every second of their

embrace, until he pulled away to look at her. Dressed in a pair of casual

Dockers and a navy golf shirt, he was the quintessential image of the

successful South Florida male-minus the arrogance and conceit, of

course. And when he cupped her face in his hands, she felt as if she might

actually fall to the floor before reaching to his forearms for support.

"Madeline, I know this isn't exactly romantic, considering it's broad

daylight and all, but I can't wait any longer," he whispered.

With that he leaned down to place his lips on hers, initiating a flood

of emotion when tender hesitancy quickly transitioned into an artful and

passionate fulfillment of what was once a relentlessly insatiable hunger.

"Oh God, Maddy, you feel so good," he repeated in between kisses,

luxuriating in the feel of her against him. And as was the case all of those

years ago, she still couldn't wrap her arms fully around his broad,

muscular frame; it was a joyful return to a blissful time and place.

When they finally broke away, Maddy gave him a brief tour of her

model unit. Prior to his arrival, she'd removed her treasure maps from the

bathroom mirror, along with her affirmations. Although willing to share

these new lessons with him at some point in the future, she'd determined

that today was reserved for simply reacquainting themselves with one

another; there would be plenty of time for prosperity principles later.

Besides, she already had a full agenda of difficult items to discuss when

the moment was right.

"Madeline, I am so very proud of you," he remarked, just as she was

gathering her purse and house keys. "You are truly a self-made woman,

sweetheart. I always knew you could do it, but still you've blown me

away!"

"Ah well, it's nice to know I can still surprise you, teddy bear," she

teased.

His ears perked up at her use of that particular term of affection; it

was one of the many things he'd desperately missed.

"I guess we never know what we're capable of until our backs are

against the wall. But I was never truly alone-and I've bumped into people

along the way who've helped me tremendously."

In addition to her parents and the rest of her family, thoughts of

Carmella and Frank, Ann, Elyse, Audrey, Carolyn and countless other

friends came to mind, along with of course, the One Supreme Being that

made everything possible. He was ultimately responsible for the

accomplished life she'd managed to create up to this point-a beautiful

existence she was still in the process of designing.

"I've always been in awe of you, sweetheart. Some things will never

change."

He smiled at her again as he took her by the hand and led her out the

front door.