Water Signs: A Story of Love and Renewal

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"Lay wif Ava?" The sweet little voice of Maddy's two year-old niece

stirred her out of her reverie; she looked down to see the toddler's

beautiful face beaming at her, while her arms clutched her favorite stuffed

teddy bear to her chest.

"Hi bella girl!" Maddy scooped her up and brought her into the bed,

where she immediately curled up in her aunt's embrace. And as with every

other night since her arrival, Madeline knew that somehow Ava would

end up in a ball on the floor by the time the sunbeams flooded through

the curtains. But as she smoothed the child's wavy light brown hair, she

felt an amazing sense of gratitude for having this unexpected time with

her and her twin brother. Who knew how long it would be before their

paths crossed again, now that Maddy would be logging air miles to Philly

in her free time? It seemed so strange, yet wonderful that she was finally

about to embark on this life-changing adventure.

Though all of her siblings were supportive of her decision, leaving

Louis behind had been especially difficult, but Maddy promised to write

regularly and talk on the phone often. Although logically she recognized

her right as an adult to make this move, a nagging guilt persisted over her

special brother. How could he truly understand what was really going on?

And besides assuring him repeatedly that she would always be there for

him, there was little else she could do.

Damian in particular understood his sister's need to find her own way

in a new place. He'd originally inquired about the possibility of a Nashville

residency, but Maddy quickly squelched that idea for a myriad of reasons,

not the least of which was its geographical distance from Kenny.

However, with the entire Rose family in the dark over her primary

motivation for relocating, she'd assured her brother that while she

appreciated the gesture, her own personal growth required her to create a

new life from scratch.

And though Carmella and Frank were generously offering temporary

shelter, Maddy was determined to find her own apartment-and

identity-as soon as possible. Fully accepting the mantra, "If it's meant to

be, it's up to me," she was infused with determination to succeed on her

own terms in an un-chartered land where she would simply be Madeline

Rose-not Dr. Rose's daughter, Lori's sister, spoiled rich girl or perennial

loser in love.

As Ava drifted off to sleep, Maddy pulled out a special gift from

Damian, a hardcover copy of William J. Bennett's The Book of Virtues: A

Treasury of Great Moral Stories. Opening the cover, she re-read her brother's

genuine, handwritten words and pondered their inherent truth: