Water Signs: A Story of Love and Renewal
Page 24* * *
Ken counted the hours until he could see her again. Time seemed to
drag on, and it didn't help that things were slow at the plant today.
Making matters worse, his buddy Quentin-normally one of his biggest
supporters-kept riding him about Madeline, and how a girl like that
would never stay for long with a blue-collar guy like him.
"You don't know anything about her!" Ken had snapped back
defensively.
"Oh, I know all I need to," Quentin brusquely retorted. "Doctor's
daughter, big house in the Philly suburbs, vacation home at the Jersey
Shore-she may like you now, man, but she's way out of your league. I
mean, really, what do you have to offer her? Do you think she really wants
to end up with a working-class Joe doing graveyard shifts at Atlantic
Electric? Get real!"
"Hey Quentin, this place? It's only a starting point, man. I'm just
biding my time and saving my money until I can finish my education and
make something of myself. Maddy knows that. And when she sees my
townhouse and hears more about my plans for the future, she'll know I'm
serious. She already gets that I'm not just another Jersey shore beach bum,
slicing up pizza pies on the boardwalk like my brothers, going nowhere
she feels the way I do-"
Unmoved, Quentin rebuffed him, "Sure man, you'll be good for one
thing, but she'll tire of that eventually!"
An enraged Ken grabbed his friend by the collar. "Don't you ever
speak like that about her again! Madeline is a real lady, not one of your
cheap Somers Point bimbos! But you wouldn't know what a real lady is
now, would you?"
A stocky, slightly overweight man a few inches shorter than Ken,
Quentin didn't take too kindly to that last statement. His ruddy face took
on a deeper shade of scarlet as he threw a punch in Kenny's direction,
which he easily deflected. Twisting Quentin's arm around his back, Ken
pinned him against the wall.
"This conversation is over," he informed him before storming off.
Noticing the crowd that had gathered in anticipation of a knock-down,
drag-out brawl, Ken informed them in a loud voice that the show was
finished. "Mind your own business and get back to work!" he ordered
them.
Rubbing his arm, Quentin called after him, "You know I'm right,
man! One day you're gonna find out!"
"Kenny!" Maddy couldn't hide her excitement when she opened the
front door and saw him standing there with a big bouquet of flowers in
one hand and a box of chocolates in the other. Dressed in a pair of khaki
pants and a white buttoned-down shirt, he was the image of the
quintessential clean-cut boy of summer. His ever-present smile radiated
warmth and sincerity. And as he pulled her into a tight hug, mindful of
the presents he was still holding, he realized there was nowhere else in the
world he wanted to be at that precise moment.
"Hiya, sweetheart!" his words were muffled as he kissed her hair.
"It's so good to see you!" she said, releasing herself long enough to
take the flowers and lead him into the foyer. "These are so beautiful,
thank you!" She brought the assortment of white orchids, red roses and
delicate babies' breath to her nose, breathing in their sweet fragrance.
"Uh, where are the ladies?" he asked, hoping they might actually be
alone, respect for her family notwithstanding.
Pulling out a glass vase and setting it on the kitchen counter, Maddy
informed him they were still at the beach. But before she could even cut
the flowers out of the plastic, she felt his arms slip around her waist and
his hot breath in her ear.
her neck as he gathered her long hair to one side. She was wearing her
favorite black knit halter top, studded with gold and multi-colored
gemstones, and a pair of dressy black shorts. Around her waist, she wore a
matching gold belt, with a pretty rhinestone buckle.
"Afraid so, sailor," she softly confirmed, turning to face him, as he
drew her into another delectable kiss. Maddy wished it could go on
forever as she felt his hands caress her bare upper back, then move to her
waist and back up again. All of the day's stress melted away for Ken, as
thoughts of his earlier confrontation with Quentin and his own nagging
insecurities were obliterated by the satin feel of her skin, the warmth of
her body against his and the rush of emotion that electrified his entire
being at the mere sight of her.
When their lips finally parted, Maddy placed her head against his
chest and held him close.
"God, you feel so good, Kenny," she sighed.
"So do you, baby," he whispered. "I never want to let you go."