* * *
"Good morning, Dad!" Maddy greeted her father enthusiastically as
she entered the kitchen. He was sitting at his usual place at the head,
drinking a cup of coffee.
"Morning, beautiful! Where's Kenny?"
"I think he's still getting dressed," she replied nonchalantly as she
added some cream to her mug and then sat down to join him. Mom and
Louis had gone to early Mass; Dr. Rose was preparing to make rounds.
And while Maddy made pleasant small talk with her father, she kept
thinking back to her puzzling conversation with Kenny the night before.
Her heart felt as if someone had wrung every ounce of strength out of it.
Here she'd finally mustered the courage to tell him how she felt and he
responded by promptly shooting her down. She simply didn't get it.
Ken pulled on a sweater before placing the rest of his things in his
duffle bag. Guilt and remorse engulfed him like a tidal wave; still, he
pressed on. He could hear her chatting downstairs with her Dad, and
quickly decided the best course of action would be to join them. At this
point, it was probably best to avoid being alone with her. Besides, he'd
pretty much engraved her sweet face in his mind forever; she'd never truly
be far away.
But when Dr. Rose invited him to go skiing with him and Maddy a
few minutes later, he cheerfully accepted the invitation. Preferring not to
involve her father in their drama, a confused Madeline agreed to the plan
for the following weekend, outwardly smiling while inwardly, her
emotions spun out of control. And when Ken hugged her goodbye in the
driveway, she really believed he was sincere when he told her how much
he was looking forward to it. They'd decided to drive up on a Friday,
necessitating a day off from work. However, Maddy was certain Betty
would agree to it; as bosses went, she was fairly easygoing and reasonable.
So with one last kiss, Ken drove off in his black Acura, while Maddy
stood shivering in the driveway, contemplating the uncertain road ahead.
* * *
"Where's Kenny?" Dr. Rose asked, as he, Maddy and Monica sat
around the kitchen table talking and laughing over their morning blend.
Having injured his hip in a tennis match a few days prior, Dr. Rose had
wisely decided to stay home, rather than risk further injury on the ski
slopes. Though disappointed, at least he knew his daughter would have
the pleasure of Kenny's company. That is, if he ever showed up; he was
supposed to arrive at 8 a.m. and it was now close to ten.
"Wow, it's not like him to be late," Monica commented. "I mean, the
only time was New Year's Eve, but that was understandable given the
weather conditions. And at least he called to say he was running behind.
But it's beautiful out today. That's really strange that he hasn't even
picked up the phone. I wonder if he's sick."
Maddy silently debated whether or not this was the official end of
their relationship. Maybe it had been too good to be true after all.
Her mother continued, "God, I don't get it. I mean, when your aunt
and I were at the Shore house this week for a few days, he called to check
in on us, which I thought was really sweet. And he talked to me for a long
time about how much money he makes, and how his townhouse is just a
starter home. He made a point of telling me that he can provide for a wife
and family. Why would he tell me that, unless he was serious about you,
honey? Maybe you should call him, Maddy. Something's not right."
And as she stepped into the privacy of her bedroom, those words
reverberated in her head. Something was definitely not right. And it would be
five very long months before Madeline would even speak to Ken again, let
alone understand what had just happened.