Water Signs: A Story of Love and Renewal

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Kenny's bright smile greeted her a few minutes later from behind the

pale pink metal door of the entryway. Her heart leapt at the sight of him,

looking like an ad for Coppertone in his navy and red swim trunks and

white tee shirt. In the light of early afternoon, his curly hair appeared even

blonder, while his broad shoulders and toned muscles exuded alpha-male

masculinity. His azure eyes twinkled as he gazed back at her, a beautiful

vision, still in her sexy, but tasteful sundress that set off her porcelain

shoulders and emphasized her deliciously curvy figure.

"Kenny! Come on in!" she said, as she planted a kiss on his cheek and

offered him a quick hug.

"Hi…I'm really embarrassed about this, being in my bathing suit and

all," he reminded her as he noticed the familiar scent of her perfume.

"Will you relax? My family's not like that!" she assured him, taking

him by the arm and leading him to the dining room, where everyone was

already assembled and pretending to be engrossed in conversation.

Maddy made the customary introductions, before ushering Ken to a

seat and helping her mother transport plates of scrambled eggs, bacon

and toast to the glass-top table.

"Maddy, he's adorable!" her mother whispered approvingly.

"Isn't he, though? I don't think I realized it until just now."

As Kenny joined in the reverie, he was amazed by all of the

accomplishments of Maddy's impressive family, from her dad being a

respected neurosurgeon to Lori and Greg's thriving legal careers. Even

the soon-to-be spouses came with remarkable résumés: Vanessa was a

marketing director for a publishing company, while Vince worked as a

CPA for a large firm in Philadelphia. And the two siblings not present?

One was an anesthesiologist with Vanderbilt University in Nashville, and

the other, a Down's boy who against all odds, held a good job with a local

hospital in Maddy's suburban hometown of Media.

"So that leaves me," Maddy told him. "While I work in sales, I am

trying to build a writing career."

"Along with your singing and dancing," her dad reminded her.

"Well, I knew about her dancing talents, but singing? You've been

holding out on me Madeline!" Ken teasingly poked her in the side.

"Madeline has a beautiful voice," her mother explained, "but she

lacks the confidence to really sing in front of an audience. I don't know

why, she's such a pretty girl!"

"Mom," Madeline pleaded as she felt her cheeks turn red.

"She sure is," Ken whispered, squeezing her hand underneath the

table.