Reconciliation between Water Signs' two main characters, Madeline Rose and Kenneth Lockheart
As mentioned previously, when the story unfolds in 1992, the character of Madeline Rose is still somewhat naive and insecure, in spite of having grown into an attractive young woman of 25. She's just endured an incredibly painful breakup with her first boyfriend, and is reeling from the ramifications, in spite of the realization it was all for the best. Indeed, as the story progresses, readers learn via flashbacks and conversations among characters that Jake Winston's abrupt exit from Madeline's life -- while clumsy and cruel -- is also a tremendous relief to those who love her.
Unfortunately, having occurred on the heels of a difficult adolescence wherein dates were as scarce as 80-degree days in the middle of January in Pennsylvania, it wreaks havoc with her ability to see herself as a vital, attractive and smart young woman who is worthy of the good things in life.
When a twist of fate leads to a shared late-summer evening at a Somers Point, New Jersey nightclub with a fun-loving, intelligent and handsome former US Navy sailor -- who also happens to be her exact same age -- it never occurs to Madeline that the meeting will progress beyond a few laughs and couple of dances. Ken's impressive self-sufficiency and life experience are simultaneously a source of pride and conflict. On one hand, she's genuinely thrilled to know of someone who's overcome obstacles and admirably served his country; on the other, she cannot help but draw an unfair comparison between this new guy and her ex-boyfriend.
Will he, like Jake before him, resent her for not having to endure the same family and financial challenges? Worse, will he view her as someone whose physical appearance, while acceptable, still needs some improvement?
Of course, the fact that Ken initially makes overtures to her exotic, statuesque friend Carmen (with the purchase and presentation of a long-stemmed rose) lays the foundation for her erroneous belief that he is simply marking time by agreeing to hang out with her. While to readers it should become fairly obvious rather quickly that the US Navy vet is truly charmed by his unlikely date for the evening, thanks to Madeline's inability to let go of the recent past, she cannot quite accept that reality. Thus, several hours later, she's amazed that he actually followed through with his promise to meet her at the beach.
For his part, Ken is quite enamored of his new romantic interest, and her wonderful, welcoming family. However, due to Madeline's inability to adequately express herself, he's puzzled by her reaction to his sincere compliments and genuine desire to someday make her his wife. He's also intrigued by her innocence, and hopelessly enticed by the very real possibility of becoming her "first" and only.
But Ken is not without his own insecurities, the most insurmountable of which are his feelings of not being good enough for the daughter of a successful neurosurgeon -- a situation that is only exacerbated when Maddy abruptly ends the relationship because of maternal pressure. Seems Mrs. Rose, although she finds Ken to be a likable and mannerly young man, cannot get over the fact that he's not yet completed his college degree.
Monica's pride in her own father's accomplishment of having graduated from Temple Pharmacy School in 1919 (during a time when such an achievement by immigrants was nearly unheard of), becomes a source of heretofore nonexistent contention between mother and youngest child. Further, with the rest of her brood either married or on their way to the altar, the sticking point of a college education appears to be the only way to slow down a relationship that is moving much too fast for her liking.
Though she has the blessing of the rest of her family -- including Dr. Rose -- to continue the relationship, Madeline's utter distaste for conflict, particularly between her two parents, along with her own seemingly insurmountable insecurities, conspire to lead her to a series of very unfortunate actions. Among the pain and hurt she unintentionally inflicts upon Ken are her decisions to back out of being his date for a work party and a wedding, and ending the relationship with a Dear John letter.
And although the pair reunites shortly thereafter, Madeline's inability to communicate the motivations behind her actions, ultimately leads to more heartbreak. Perhaps unconsciously, Ken decides to inflict the same sort of heartbreak upon her when he stands her up for a much-anticipated ski date; months later, a phone call out of the blue adds insult to injury when he reveals he's relocated to Florida.
Several more months down the road, after a series of regular phone calls from Ken, during which he encourages and at times, implores her to join him, Madeline finally makes her shocking (to those who know and love her) and bold move to The Sunshine State, simultaneously wanting to be with Ken and frustrated with life "up north". She cannot seem to gain traction either in a fulfilling career or a loving relationship (though she's certainly given the dating scene plenty of tries); further, it has become increasingly difficult to watch her siblings' lives progress even as her own remains stagnant.
What she doesn't bargain for is the discovery that Ken's "platonic" roommate is actually his betrothed -- a suspicion that's confirmed by an in-person visit to her apartment not long after her arrival in South Florida. A humiliated, angry and devastated Maddy nevertheless takes the high road when Ken asks her point-blank how she feels about the news; in an Oscar-worthy performance, she leads him to believe she's moved on.
Thus when the two characters unexpectedly reunite well over a decade later, there is much to discuss, forgive and reconcile before they can renew and revitalize their relationship into something that far surpasses anything they'd experienced before. Both have grown and matured to the point where honest communication leads to genuine understanding and full release of the mistakes of the past. All is forgiven, and all that matters to them now is the present moment.
Coming soon: the mother-daughter bond, and the theme of reconciliation.
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