Water Signs: A Story of Love and Renewal

* * *

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.