* * *
"Ah, the smell of the seashore!" Maddy laughed as she held the
button down on the electric window, breathing in the quintessential salty
air as they cruised over the 34th Street Bridge on their way into Ocean
City. Her Down's brother Louis was sitting on the seat next to her; Mom
and Aunt Maria followed closely behind in their own car.
"Smells good!" he agreed. Maddy was so glad he'd been able to get
the weekend off from his job in material services at the hospital; she'd
told Kenny so much about him and his accomplishments and she couldn't
wait for them to meet each other.
And though it was well into the middle of the month, the weather
remained warm and pleasant, as if God were offering a consolation prize
for a mostly rainy summer before ushering in the inevitable fall and
winter. Almost on cue, "their song" came on the radio again, bringing
Maddy right back to that magical first date in Atlantic City, and that funny
night at the Point Diner when Ken kept calling out fruitlessly for their
clueless waitress while Maddy rebuffed his cute, but slightly irritating
affections. Who knew that such an inauspicious beginning would herald the promise
of something so much better?
As she and Louis pulled into the driveway from the alley, Maddy's
heart skipped a beat when she noticed a familiar figure waiting for them
on the back porch. He'd been sitting there patiently on a cushioned patio
chair, ever since returning to Ocean City after stopping home to shower
and change after his shift. He stood up the moment he'd seen the
headlights flooding the pavement and heard the familiar hum of the
engine, feeling the blood rush through his veins again. Even in the
darkness, Maddy could make out the radiance of his ever-present smile.
"Kenny!" she cried joyfully, slamming the car door shut.
"Heh-hey!" he laughed in his inimitable manner, throwing his arms
around her as she bounded the three stairs up to his level. He held her
tightly as he picked her up off of the ground.
"Kenny! Put me down!" she ordered playfully. "I'm too heavy!"
"Are you nuts?" he asked, in all seriousness. She felt light as a feather
in his big, strong arms.
Then, noticing Louis behind her, he carefully set her back down on
her feet while Maddy made the proper introductions. She smiled as the
two of them shook hands, before Kenny inquired about the latest John
Grisham book Louis was holding. He never went anywhere without a
book in his hand; at 34, he'd pretty much shattered every dire prediction
ever made by narrow-minded doctors, who'd admonished her parents to
place him in an institution just days after his birth. All these years later,
and Louis was a thriving, happy and productive human being. Maddy
couldn't imagine her life without him.
The trio stood talking and laughing until Mom and Aunt Maria pulled
up. After exchanging pleasantries, they sat down in the family room with
some iced tea, before Monica announced their plans to head over to
Harrah's in Brigantine with Aunt Maria and Louis.
"I just got some comps in the mail this week," she explained. "So
we're going to try someplace different."
"Oh good!" Louis beamed, rubbing his hands together. "I feel lucky!"
he added, prompting all of them to crack up.
"My sister has successfully corrupted my sweet little nephew," Aunt
Maria laughed. "You should see him play that video poker. He's really
good!"
"You like that, huh?" Ken asked him.
"Oh yes!" Louis affirmed, smiling.
"I don't even know how to play that," Maddy added.
"You my dear, should be singing in one of the lounges," Aunt Maria
stated. "That beautiful voice; you could make a lot of money. You and
Kenny could create some kind of act!" she added, jokingly.
"Ah, no," he piped up. "I'm afraid I'd have nothing good to
contribute there." Ken laughed as he spoke.
"Yeah, right," Maddy protested. "Re Re, you should see him dance.
He's amazing!" Ken was a little embarrassed as she went on to describe
how he'd displayed his moon-walking skills at Key Largo that night.
"Ok, that's just about enough of that, young lady," he teased.
"You are much too modest!" she scolded playfully.
"Look who's talking, sweetheart," he replied softly.