* * *
A few miles away, Ken stared at the tray ceiling and spinning
overhead fan. Though it was getting late, he still didn't feel tired, as his
mind raced from one scenario to another. From what he could ascertain
from Madeline's letter, she was most likely single. But had she married at
some point? If so, what happened? He found it impossible to believe that
someone hadn't snatched her up, yet why was she contacting him after all
this time?
Yes, he understood the purpose of her card, and it touched him
deeply that she felt the need to apologize for past transgressions. And at
the same time, he acknowledged that he himself was also guilty of
inflicting pain on her. In many ways, he should've been the one sending a
letter.
Strange also that this particular year had brought her so much clarity;
he'd just signed his divorce papers the previous fall. Did Maddy somehow
know that? If she had been aware of his marital status, she offered no
indication in her correspondence. His last recent search of public records
had revealed no information whatsoever, which was understandable, given
that his attorney had advised him it could take up to a year for such
records to be updated on Internet databases. With no mutual friends or
acquaintances to spread the word, Maddy was most likely in the dark. And
that made her gesture even more impressive.
Ken rolled over onto his side, kicking the cotton sheets down to the
end of the bed. Ever since having children, he no longer enjoyed the
luxury of sleeping in the raw, and had taken to wearing boxer shorts.
Tonight, he'd just happened to have chosen a green pair featuring the
Philadelphia Eagles logo, though it had been ages since he'd actually slept
in them. Somehow it only seemed appropriate. Funny, Erin despised
football, one of the many activities Ken and Maddy had delighted in
together.
It was also thrilling that she regarded him as a catalyst for positive
change in her life, despite all of the heartbreak he'd caused her. And the
thought that he'd somehow inspired her was the icing on the cake. All this
time he feared she might actually feel nothing but contempt for him,
though he completely understood her rationale for keeping her distance.
He supposed it was selfish of him to want to keep her as a friend while he
gave his love and devotion to another woman, but he'd truly missed her
presence in his life. Could there be a miracle, a second chance looming on the
horizon for them? God, he hoped so!
* * *
Madeline awoke to the sound of a ringing phone; good thing she'd
had the wisdom to bring her cordless into the bedroom with her last
night. When she glanced at the display, her heart skipped a beat. She
quickly rubbed her eyes and cleared her throat in an attempt to remove all
traces of lingering sleepiness.
"Hello?"
"Good morning, sunshine!" All of the familiar sensations rushed
through her body at the sound of his enthusiastic greeting.
"Kenny! How are you?"
"I'm doing just great. How are you?"
"Very well, thanks."
"So, what's been going on? It was so great to hear from you!"
He was cruising down Interstate 95 on his way into the office as he
spoke. God, it was so nice to listen to her ebullient voice again; he well
remembered the irresistible way she spoke in energetic bursts. Clearly, the
passage of time hadn't diminished one of the many attractive qualities
he'd loved most about her; he could just picture her smiling face and
accompanying lively hand gestures as she filled him in on her current life.
Had thirteen years really passed since he'd seen her? It hardly seemed possible.
Madeline struggled to focus on his words, thanks to the pulsating
rhythm of her heart-a cadence that had dramatically accelerated upon
being referred to as "sunshine." Try as she might, it was difficult to avoid
jumping to the conclusion-based on one term of affection-that he was
free in the legal sense. While he was obviously happy to talk to her, it was
hardly conclusive evidence of his marital status.
But she noted with interest his accomplishment of an MBA degree,
while working full-time as an outside sales rep for a telecommunications
company-a career that was as lucrative as it was enjoyable. It thrilled her
to witness the sheer excitement in his voice as he discussed his
responsibilities and Palm Beach County territory. Because he only dealt
with businesses employing a minimum of 100 people, his commissions
tended to be high.
And yet, there was no trace of arrogance or smugness-only gratitude
for having the ability to do something he loved and be rewarded
handsomely for it. It was so adorably Ken for him to admit, "I've never
made this much money in my life!" But it was no surprise to Maddy that
he'd come so far while retaining his innate humility; right from the
beginning, she'd known he was destined for something greater.
All of the deep conversations they'd shared beneath the skylight,
snuggled up in the waterbed of his Somers Point home had laid the
foundation for this present reality. That inner spark he'd possessed from
birth, that unquenchable desire to rise above his circumstances had
partnered with a brilliant mind to produce spectacular results. It was a
fitting tribute to the power of the human spirit when allowed to flourish
in a free and democratic country-a nation that he himself had spent a
portion of his life defending. Like so many in her family, Ken truly
embodied the American dream.
Neither one of them dared mentioned children, spouses or even
possible boyfriends, though Ken had the benefit of near-certainty of her
single status, which had been implicitly stated in her letter. Still, he
hesitated to ruin the joy of this reconnection by speaking of Erin, even for
the express purpose of revealing his divorce. Why remind either one of them of
the pain of the past?For now, he'd simply savor this long-overdue
conversation with Madeline; he could fill her in on the details of his
marital break-up when they finally met face-to-face again.
However, he couldn't resist "confessing" to Googling her and feeling
frustrated when his searches came up empty. His admission sent shivers
of excitement down her spine, proving Ann right on yet another point-
Ken had ardently wanted Maddy to contact him. The psychic had been
adamant about so many things, not the least of which was Ken and
Madeline's ability to "recreate the relationship," now that he was out of
his marriage. And though Ann's track record had been nearly flawless
over the years, Madeline still yearned to hear him speak the words as she
held the phone to her ear and paced around her bedroom.
But though no outright confirmation was forthcoming, he did
surprise her by asking if they could get together the following week, a
request she happily agreed to, while thoughts of seeing his handsome face
again resonated ecstatically through her being. After giving her his
personal email and confirming receipt of her cell phone number, Ken
reluctantly ended the call to begin another hectic workday. With an even
brighter smile than usual, he strode through the double-glass door of his
office, invigorated and hopeful.