* * *
"I'm dyin'ova here! Give me details!" Maddy broke out into laughter
in response to Elyse's exaggerated imitation of a New York accent. Of
course, she was already giddy from the blissful hour she'd just spent with
the man she now knew she was destined to marry-not that they'd
actually discussed the topic or anything. It was just that such a
conversation would've been superfluous.
"You were right, he's single!" she revealed breathlessly. "And all of
the same feelings are still there for both of us, only better somehow!"
From her office on the 22nd floor, Maddy gazed out at the Fort
Lauderdale skyline. In the distance, a resident cruise ship made its way out
into the aquamarine ocean, off to distant islands.
"Oh Maddy, I'm so excited for you! This is the best news I've heard
all day-just think; now we can all watch the Eagles games together at
CJ's Draft House this season!"
"God, that sounds so wonderful. I can actually double-date with you
and Billy-amazing!"
"So, when are you seeing him again?"
"This weekend. He's finally moving into a house of his own and he
wants me to see it. He's taking a few days off from work this week to get
it all together."
"And he didn't call my family's company to move him? Ok, screw
him!" Elyse was obviously teasing, though Maddy took her at her word.
"I'm sorry," she replied. "Had we connected sooner, you know I
would've recommended that."
"Madeline, I'm kidding! Where's his house?"
"Uh, somewhere off of A1A in Boca. He told me where; I can't
remember exactly, but I recall him saying that it's on water. I was kind of
nervous and distracted."
"Well, that's understandable. Did he ask you about your life? I mean,
you know, previous relationships?"
"I didn't get into any specifics; just let him know that while I've dated
a lot, nothing really panned out. I don't know, Leese, I'm kind of scared
to have to tell him about Ray. What if he can't handle it?"
Her face clouded over, thinking of that horrendous experience four
years ago and its ensuing consequences. And yet, she recalled clearly
Ann's strict warning about up-front honesty; the psychic had been
particularly harsh on that point, though she'd also described Maddy's
husband as a loving man who happened to be stunningly successful in
business. At the time of that particular reading, the name "Kenneth" had
not yet been revealed, though looking back, Ann's physical description of
him had been chillingly accurate, right down to the "electric blue eyes."
"Hey Mads, if Kenny is as great as you keep telling me, he won't let
anything come between you two ever again. Besides, honey you dealt with
the problem admirably; you sought out help and you handled it. I have to
think he's going to be even more impressed by that."
"Yeah, I hope you're right, Leese. I guess I just have to trust that by
doing the right thing, it'll make our relationship stronger. But right now, I
just want to enjoy our reunion. The rest I can figure out later."