* * *
In spite of her genuine elation at the prospect of seeing Kenny again,
Maddy struggled to keep her eyes open as she lay on the couch in the
game room. She'd replayed the movie, hoping it would prevent her from
dozing off, but not even a romantic love story involving one of her
favorite sports could accomplish that task. The emotional upheaval of the
last two months had simply drained her. Finally, she stood up and began
pacing around the room, before checking herself out in the large mirror
behind the bar.
She was wearing a heavy forest green oversized sweater over
matching leggings and a pair of her favorite leather boots. Nearby, her
quilted winter jacket was strewn across a chair, in anticipation of greeting
him in the driveway. Maddy glanced at her watch just as she noticed a pair
of headlights turning into the driveway from the window; the butterflies
began to dance in her stomach.
Tentatively, she slipped out into the cold night air and down the first
few slate steps of the front entrance. As she peered around the walkway,
her heart skipped a beat when she caught a glimpse of Kenny opening the
trunk-a vision of total masculinity in his winter parka and work boots.
Suddenly consumed with a mixture of fear, remorse and longing, Maddy
hesitated at first.
"Ken?"
"Yeah."
Though his tone didn't inspire much confidence, she ran right up and
threw her arms around him, as if spurred on by an invisible force. For a
while, she was unable to speak. He buried his head in her neck, fighting
his own inner battle between love, desire and anger. Maddy finally broke
the silence by whispering over and over, "It's so good to see you!"
She wanted so desperately to say "I'm sorry," to beg for his
forgiveness and ask for a second chance; but as with the phrase "I love
you" she remained involuntarily mute. For some unknown reason, she
just couldn't break down the barriers that prevented her from being
completely vulnerable with him. Still, he seemed happy to see her as they
walked arm-in-arm back to the house.
* * *
"Good morning, handsome!" Maddy called out softly as she lightly
knocked on the guest room door.
"Hey," he said groggily, rubbing his eyes. In spite of the season, he
slept bare-chested; Maddy took note of his broad shoulders and toned
muscles as she sat down next to him, still clad in her fluffy pink bathrobe.
With her hair back in a ponytail and her face devoid of make-up, he
thought she looked like a porcelain doll.
"Did you sleep well?" she asked as he took one of her hands in his.
"Yeah, great thanks. How 'bout you?"
"One of my usual dead sleeps!" They both laughed. "I just didn't
know if you heard all of the commotion this morning with the babies,"
she continued. "Little Tommy was fussing and Ava really didn't want to
get dressed for Mass this morning. I told everyone I'd stay home and
watch them but Damian and Laura insisted on going to church with the
rest of the family. It's so cold to take them out, but I guess it's not my call.
Anyway, I can't wait for you to see them; they're so adorable!"
"Like their aunt," he replied, stroking her cheek.
"I'm so glad you still feel that way," she whispered.