"Here you go sweetheart," Ken said with a smile, handing Mandy a small cup of one of her favorite treats-lemon water ice.
"Ooh, it's even got little pieces of lemon in it, awesome!" she
enthused, taking a spoonful into her mouth. They were sitting on a greenpainted
wooden bench, facing the ocean.
"You know, I really could have splurged on a large, Madeline Rose,"
he remarked, giving her a playful nudge. Then, just as she was about to
speak, added, "Oh, I know, I know. We have to watch our calories!" He
was teasing of course, but Maddy took slight offense.
"Hey, just 'cause you don't understand what it was like to be the
'chubby girl' in school, don't make fun of me! I wish I didn't have to be
so careful, but I was never one of those naturally thin girls like Carmen
who can eat whatever she wants and not even have to exercise. It's just
the way it is."
As she spoke, her eyes followed the graceful trail of a seagull as it
rode the evening air currents. Ken lodged his plastic spoon back into his
slushy cherry flavored concoction, and then turned her shoulders so she
was looking squarely at him.
"Madeline," he addressed her in a serious, but gentle voice. "Listen to
me, please. You are absolutely beautiful. There is nothing you need to
change about yourself, ok? You want to be healthy, fine. You want to stay
in shape, that's great with me. You're already there, sweetheart. But how
can I get you to understand how incredible you are, when all you can see
are flaws?"
His eyes were sincere as they gazed into hers. Maddy comprehended
his words, appreciated them even, and yet still couldn't quite grasp the
truth of what he was saying.
"Y-you really feel that way, don't you?" she finally said, softly.
"Yes, I do." Although he was frustrated on the inside, he never
wavered for a moment as he spoke. "Look, Maddy, I don't know
everything that last guy said or did to make you feel this way, but I am
telling you he was an idiot. I just wish I could make you see what I see
whenever I look at you."
"I think you just did," she finally answered after a short period of
silence.
"Good," he declared, kissing her on the cheek. Then in his teasing
style, added, "Now finish your water ice, young lady!"
Maddy cracked up as they watched the waves rush to shore.