Water Signs: A Story of Love and Renewal

Madeline soothed the knots in her stomach as best she could as she adjusted the hem of her navy eyelet sundress. She and Ken had

just attended Noon Mass at St. Ambrose and were now headed to his

parents' house for Mothers Day dinner. Standing in the pew with him

again, reciting familiar prayers and singing timeless Church hymns had

been such a powerfully emotional experience-and yet another example

of having come "full circle." There were several moments during the

service when she found herself dabbing at her eyes with a tissue,

thoroughly overwhelmed in the best sense of the word. It was during

those times that Ken would look over and smile, or squeeze her hand

reassuringly.

She'd called her own mom, of course, earlier that morning, though

time constraints had prevented a meaningful conversation regarding the

life-altering events of the past few weeks. Maddy couldn't wait to share

her incredible news with the whole family, but she knew her mother

would be especially exultant; all she wanted now for her youngest child

was to know that she was happily settled down with the right guy. While

she'd suspected Kenny had been the real reason for her daughter's

relocation, and often wondered about his continued absence in her life,

she'd respected Madeline's privacy. And putting Ken aside, Madeline had

grown into a mature, self-adjusted woman over these past fourteen years.

While she missed her terribly, she also felt tremendous respect and

admiration.

After all, hadn't it been Monica's stellar example of independence and

determination that had provided Maddy the blueprint? Mrs. Rose had

admirably handled formidable hardships of her own-the death of her

beloved older brother Anthony during World War II, Bell's Palsy at age

13, and-in one of the biggest tests of her adult life-the birth of a Down

syndrome baby when she was 28, at a time when conventional medicine

dismissed such children as "stigmas" to be shipped off to nightmarish

institutions, never to be seen or heard from again.

Then again, Monica herself descended from a long line of "tough"

women, beginning with her paternal grandmother Rosaria who as a young

widow, uprooted her three small boys and relocated with them to

America in search of a better life-a particularly gutsy move considering

she didn't know a soul in the New World, nor did she speak the language.

But unshakeable faith and stalwart desire had spurred her on in spite

of fear. And thanks to her abundance of courage, each of her sons had

achieved remarkable success in their adoptive homeland as pharmacists,

graduating from prestigious Philadelphia universities when such

accomplishments were unheard of for immigrants. Raffaele, Monica's

father-a consummate entrepreneur-had even owned a thriving corner

drugstore in their Germantown neighborhood.

For over 25 years, it had been a beacon of comfort, where residents

of all ethnic backgrounds could congregate for some good medicine, not

just in the traditional form of pills or liquid, but also in the presence of

Ralph's sparkling personality, boundless generosity and genuine concern

for their wellbeing.

Monica had often regaled her children with stories of her father

translating letters from English into Italian for the old folks who struggled

with linguistic comprehension; playing the piano and singing songs with

Monica, Maria and their friends; bartering prescription medication for a

simple, good meal when someone couldn't afford to pay; and hosting

weekly "mystery nights" wherein he'd hold the elderly men spellbound

with his recitation of suspenseful novels.

Having shared a special bond with her father, his life had always been

an intense source of pride for Monica. When he passed away suddenly

from a heart attack, his grief-stricken daughter nearly lost the unplanned

life that had taken root within her. Madeline's conception could not have

occurred at a more inopportune time for her parents, who were already

struggling to keep a roof over the heads of their four young children.

Joseph had just completed his residency and was knee-deep in debt; yet

neither he nor his wife would've ever entertained the notion of

terminating Monica's pregnancy. True, abortion hadn't been legal in 1966,

although in states like New York, the procedure was certainly attainable.

However, faith, optimism and a clear-cut sense of right and wrong

had conquered anxiety and fear-more for the baby's health than for

financial matters. After all, they knew Joseph was destined for a brilliant

career that would soon yield its own rewards; but this new child's fate

would remain an unknown right up until the moment he or she

successfully navigated out of the birth canal and into the material plane of

existence.

While Louis had proven a source of indescribable joy to the family,

Monica and Joseph had sweated out each of her three subsequent

pregnancies, praying that God would bless each new child with the

priceless gift of full physical, mental and emotional capabilities. Yet no

matter the outcome, love would have prevailed.

But eight months after Raffaele's death, bouncing baby Madeline-

who'd inherited her great-grandmother Rosaria's auburn hair as well as

perfect health, had quickly fulfilled one of her many purposes by

immediately replacing the void of sorrow in her widowed grandmother's

life with happiness. As a further boon to the older woman's spirits,

Monica and Joseph decided to give the infant her name, Madeline. And for

Maddy's loving grandmother, there was absolutely nothing like the sweet,

smiling face of a baby to make an adult forget all about her own

problems.

Monica often joked with her youngest offspring that she sometimes

wondered who'd actually given birth, as Nanny spent her days constantly

doting over her namesake. And though young Madeline was forced to say

goodbye to her beloved grandmother in the most traumatic fashion six

years later-an event that would unknowingly have significant

repercussions over 20 years down the road-she never once forgot about

her. In a brief span of time they created indelible memories that became

an integral part of Maddy's psychic tapestry. From cuddling up in bed

with Nanny to read her favorite fairytales to going to lunch at

Strawbridge's department store, the older woman's positive influence had

been expansive.

One of Maddy's favorite memories involved fetching her

grandmother's medicine as a three year-old "ward" who'd gone to live

with her temporarily after her mother had contracted pneumonia-thanks

to shivering through an Eagles game in sub-zero temperatures. Nanny had

lovingly referred to her then as her "nurse," a title the little girl had

assumed with pride. It was just one of several uplifting details that were

forever etched in Maddy's being.

Gazing now at the passing scenery, she couldn't help but feel her

grandmother's presence, along with Aunt Maria's and every other loved

one who'd gone before her. No doubt they were all celebrating right now,

too.

"Hey!" Ken piped up, noticing her faraway expression, "You ok

sweetheart? You seem a million miles away." He picked up her hand and

kissed it.

"Oh sorry, Kenny!" she laughed, "I was just thinking of how lucky we

are-and how nervous I am about meeting your parents."

"Madeline, there is absolutely nothing to be nervous about. They're

going to love you as much as I do-well, maybe not quite as much as I

do, but pretty damn close!" He'd hoped a little lightheartedness would

ease her mind.

"You sure?"

"Sweetheart, do you remember that New Year's Day when you

encouraged me to call my father? I'd been staying at your parents' house

and I was really nervous about talking to him?"

"Uh, coerced would be a better word," she raised an eyebrow as she

smiled at him; she clearly remembered how torn up he'd been about

making that simple gesture.

"Ok, coerced is probably more accurate, but the point is, you helped

me do the right thing. And while that one phone call didn't salvage our

relationship, I firmly believe it had been the first important step. And I

owe that to you, Madeline."

"Wow, I never knew that," she replied, deeply touched. "You're not

just trying to make me feel better are you?"

"No-Maddy I am telling you the truth, I swear," he pleaded. "And

my mom and dad know all sorts of wonderful things about you, including

how much you've inspired me, how much your whole family has inspired

me. Hell, you still inspire me!"

He kissed her hand again as they headed west on Camino Real.