Dear Dr. Laura,
I suspect that Lindsay's husband is attracted to the strength she has developed from her experience (rape) at 17. (the strength is a natural result of Lindsay dealing with the hardship, tragedy, going on with life, etc, and her husband is picking up on it)
He may not realize where it came from, he just knows he likes it, and she may not realize she has developed the strength, (the flower changed color, something horrible made her better) - There is honor here between these two people.
D.
