Love's Autograph

by Michele M. Reynolds

  Roxie was in Australia on business and was not responding to Ellie's texts. She was angry at Roxie for getting her into this situation. At the same time, she was thankful to Roxie for introducing her to Ria. Ellie decided to make a move and ask Ria out. After all, she was EJ Way. Ellie opened her phone and started text after text only to shake her head and delete it. Ria contacted her first through a text.

  Ria said, I had fun last night. Thanks for coming over and staying later. And for the pancakes.

  Ellie's hand trembled as she replied, I had fun too. I was just thinking about you.

  Ria said, I was wondering, what are you doing Tuesday night?

  Ellie's heart caught in her throat, Let me check. Before or after nothing?

  Ria responded, Good I have another date. Can you hang out with Maggie?

  Ellie's heart sunk, Another date, so soon?

  Boston’s Singles is fast. Must be my profile ;) Ria said.

  What time?

  Ria said, 6ish?

  Ellie said, I'll be there.

  You're amazing. Thanks. I'll get my own flowers this time. LOL, Ria said.

  As she looked at her phone, Ellie thought, one more night masquerading as the babysitter shouldn’t harm much. Either way, I get to see Ria. Somehow she and Maggie give me peace again.

  Ellie opened her phone and texted Roxie, So, I met with Ria and her amazing daughter Maggie on Saturday. They both are great. I think I am finally out of this dense fog I have been in about “you know who.” I’m going to see her again on Tuesday. One more thing…she thinks I was her babysitter. So a babysitter I am.

  Tuesday came. Ellie's day was filled with auditioning bands, back-up singers, and sound guys and girls. Ellie could not focus on the tasks. All she could focus on was tonight.

  What am I going to wear? What will Ria be wearing? Who is she going out with? Will she have a horrible date again? Will she stay up late with me again?

  Ellie's car dropped her off around the corner from Ria's and Maggie's house. Ellie had brought a guitar to the studio and had to bring it back with her on her way to the babysitting gig.

  “The one you love?” the driver asked. It was the same driver who had picked her up Saturday morning from Ria's.

  “What’s your name?” Ellie asked.

  “Jazzie.”

  “Well, Jazzie... it’s complicated,” Ellie said.

  “It always is, and it’s never as complicated as you think,” Jazzie said.

  “You a therapist or a fortune teller?” Ellie said.

  “Sorry EJ,” Jazzie said. “I shouldn't be meddling. You probably get no privacy.”

  “Don't be sorry,” Ellie said. “You on call?”

  “Yes, until 8:00 a.m.,” Jazzie said.

  “Okay, I like you Jazzie. I'd love for you to be my driver for the rest of tonight and as much as you can for rides. Do I just ask for you?”

  “I listened out for your call, and begged to take you. I'd be honored,” Jazzie answered. “My driver number is here on my card.” Jazzie handed her a card.

  “Thanks, see you later,” Ellie said. Ellie walked through the lobby, rode the elevator to the fifth floor and was about to knock on the door when she heard Maggie.

  “She is here!”

  “Move the chair before you open the door, please,” Ria yelled back.

  “Okay,” Maggie yelled again. “Ellie I am going to put the chair back. Then I will open the door. You don't have to knock.”

  “Okay,” Ellie yelled back. Maggie opened the door. She had a blanket around her shoulders and wore a winter hat. Ellie stepped into the apartment.

  “Did winter come and I missed it?” Ellie asked.

  “No, why would you ask that?” Maggie answered.

  “You're dressed all bundled up,” Ellie said.

  “Sensory issues. I like to be bundled up sometimes, and sometimes I like baggy clothes. Some noises bother me, and certain food textures are hard for me to eat. I can't eat grits or yogurt with fruit in it. I don't like any soft food with chunks in it. You can ask my mother for my sensory diet if you want. You brought a guitar?” Maggie said. “She brought a guitar, Mom!”

  “Oh, how nice,” Ria walked into the living room with her phone held up to her ear. “Okay I love you too. Yes, I'll be careful. Ellie is here I have to go. No, Ellie is the sitter, not the date. Julie watches her when I have second shift or an overnighter. Yes, she's fine. Maggie loves her. I have to go. Love you.”

  “Telemarketer?” Ellie pointed to the phone.

  Ria laughed. “My dad. We talk practically every day. He's nervous about me going out on dates I find on the internet. You would think that when I started dating women he would calm down. He thinks that I work too much. Well, I do work a lot, but that's what I need to do in my line of work. I'm doing the best that I can. It drives me crazy how much he worries about me.”

  “I think it's sweet that he worries. And you're a great mom,” Ellie said. Ellie's eyes lingered on Ria’s outfit. She was wearing a plain, button-down gray shirt, black skirt and black boots that reached to her knee.

  “You might want to go back and change,” Ellie said.

  “What? Why? What's wrong?” Ria asked as she looked down at herself.

  “You look incredible. You won't give her a fighting chance. She'll be dumbfounded all night and be proposing by the end of the date. I think that's too much too fast.”

  “You're sweet. You just got a raise in your pay Miss Ellie,” Ria said as she patted Maggie on the head.

  “You pay her? She gets paid to spend time with me?” Maggie asked. Ria looked from Ellie to Maggie and panic struck her face. Ellie realized her good graces with Maggie were in jeopardy.

  “On the contrary Miss Maggie,” Ellie answered. “The hard work I have to do is being Ria's typer and listener. That's what I figure I get paid for. If you ask me, I deserve a pay raise.”

  “So be it,” Maggie said in an English accent. “Three million dollars a year!”

  “Deal!” Ria said as she kissed Maggie on the head. Ria turned to Ellie. Ellie instinctively took a step back to give Ria room to pass.

  “What's the guitar for? What, no flowers?” Ria asked.

  “What, no kiss?” Ellie boldly asked. “You'll have to get your own flowers for your dates from now on. And the guitar I was hoping to fiddle around with it and figured Mags might enjoy it.”

  “I love music!” Maggie said. “I don't like being called Mags though.”

  “Sorry, Maggie,” Ellie answered.

  “You a musician?” Ria asked.

  “Yes, we talked about this last time, but you were so umm, tired that you probably forgot,” Ellie said.

  “Yes, tired,” Ria winked. “I hope I wasn't overly tired or embarrassingly tired or over-sharing tired.” Ria seemed to be panicking.

  “You were fine. No worries,” Ellie said.

  “Phew, thank you. Okay, so we negotiated a later bedtime. 9:07 p.m. but only if you sign off on it,” Ria said.

  “More time with Maggie! Yes, I agree. Where do I sign?” Ellie answered.

  “It is not an actual thing you sign like a contract. You are right mom. She is a little silly,” Maggie said.

  Ellie smiled and asked Ria, “You were talking about me?”

  “Don't let your head swell too much. Okay, off I go, wish me luck,” Ria said.

  “Wait, who are you going out with?” Ellie asked.

  “Oh, some artsy chick. I thought it would be good to go out with someone different,” Ria said. “Right?”

  “We'll see I guess,” Ellie said trying not to show her real lack of enthusiasm for Ria’s date. “Have fun,” Ellie managed to add.

  Ria walked over to Maggie again and gave her a kiss on the forehead. “You listen, will you?”

  “Thank you, Ellie,” Ria said.

  “Wait,” Ellie said as she followed her to the door. She whispered, “What if I call you after Ellie goes to bed to see how it's going? That way it might be your way
out of the date.”

  “You don't have to,” Ria said. “But it's probably a safe idea. Okay, have a fun night. Thanks again.”

  Ria walked out the door and Ellie couldn’t help but check her out as she walked by. Ellie looked at Ria's boots and followed up to Ria's behind. She didn’t stop staring until the door closed behind Ria.

  That night Ellie and Maggie played with Ellie's guitar, a Limited Edition Gibson.

  “Where did you get this guitar? Was it expensive?” Maggie asked.

  “Well, usually it's not polite to ask people how much things cost,” Ellie said.

  “Oh,” Maggie said. “Why?”

  “I don't know. I guess it's like the whole asking people their salary thing. I'll tell you though,” Ellie said. “I bought it from an auction.”

  “Those things when you bid on items and whoever says the most money gets it?” Maggie asked.

  “Yup,” Ellie said.

  “So how much did you get this for?” Maggie asked. “Or is it rude to ask?”

  “I don't mind. This was for a children's hospital benefit. It was donated by alternative folk rocker Jani DeSassa. You ever hear of her?”

  “No, is she good?” Maggie asked.

  “The best. I'll give you some of her music. I won this for $17,171,” Ellie said.

  “Wow, that's a lot of money,” Maggie said.

  “Yeah it is, but it was worth it to me,” Ellie said.

  Maggie learned five chords in about an hour. She was learning faster than Ellie could teach her. Ellie had to convince Maggie to stop practicing because Maggie's fingers had not yet formed calluses and were getting blisters.

  Maggie begged Ellie to play for her. Ellie played on her guitar for almost an hour. Ellie made sure to play some of her older and not as well-known material. And, before they knew it, it was 9:07. Maggie let Ellie walk her to the bathroom and watch her brush her teeth, and then let Ellie walk her to her room. The room was light green and had white curtains. It resembled a room from a magazine. It looked untouched.

  Ellie hurried down the hall and back to the living room. She sat at the window overlooking the rest of Boston. She called Ria's number and stared out the window as if she could see all the way to Ria.

  “Hello?” Ria answered.

  “Hi, there is a big fake problem with Maggie. She needs you right here if you need to be saved,” Ellie said.

  “What?” Ria said. “Can't you calm her down?”

  “I'm guessing my answer would be no,” Ellie answered.

  “I really wish you could take care of it, because I'm out on a date.” Ria's rage was somewhat believable.

  “That bad, huh?” Ellie said.

  “Okay, I'll be there as soon as I can,” Ria said. “Keep her calm.”

  “See you soon,” Ellie said.

  Ellie smiled and pumped her fist in the air. She paced around the apartment. She checked herself in the mirror three times. She had gotten a haircut yesterday, but she still didn’t see herself in the way that magazine journalist had described.

  She stood by the window waiting for Ria to reach the building. Finally, a cab pulled up and Ellie saw Ria's black boots exit the cab. Ellie held back from running down five floors to greet her. She faced the door waiting for it to open.

  I look like a dog waiting for its owner.

  She sat on the couch, turned on the television, and started sifting through the list of movies.

  Ria entered the apartment, and flung her purse and keys onto the counter. “I should call Guinness tonight,” she said. “I'm going to break the record for the worst dates in a row.”

  Ellie held back a smile. “Come on, worse than going on a date with someone who doesn't know they are on a date?” Ellie turned off the television, put down the remote, and walked toward Ria.

  “Yes. I need a drink,” Ria said. She grabbed two beers from the fridge. “I usually don't drink this much, but these last dates call for it.”

  “So?” Ellie asked with a smile.

  “Why do I get the feeling you're enjoying this torture that I'm enduring?” Ria asked.

  “Not at all,” Ellie said. “But out with it. I don't want any detail spared.”

  “So,” Ria walked to the wall and used a mounted bottle opener to pry off the beer caps. She slid one beer across the counter to Ellie and took a sip of her own beer. “So, vegetarian, ten years sober, environmental activist volunteer, unemployed, lives with her parents, and made me pay for everything.”

  “So, not a perfect match for you?” Ellie joked.

  “Oh, did I forget to say that she doesn't look anything like her profile picture and couldn't hold a conversation in a bucket?” Ria said.

  “So, back to the drawing board?” Ellie asked.

  “Yeah, I guess so,” Ria said. “Man, I don't know if I should even be looking? Maybe I shouldn't be dating. Look at the effect it could have on Maggie,” Ria said.

  “No, we had a freaking blast tonight,” Ellie said.

  “It took me so long to work up the nerve to date again,” Ria said.

  “Heart broken that badly?” Ellie asked.

  “I so don't want to talk about that right now,” Ria said. “Tell me more about your night.”

  “She's a master at music. Did you know that?”

  “What, really? She likes listening, but she's never played anything.”

  “Genius! I mean it. She picked it up like she has been playing guitar for years.”

  “No way!” Ria said as she covered her mouth. “Do you think she's sleeping?” Ellie shrugged. Ria got up and peeked in Maggie's room. She came back into the living room. “I think she's sleeping. She has headphones on anyway.”

  “She's pretty amazing. We had a blast. 9:07 came quickly.”

  “She loves hanging out with you. She was in such a good mood after you left Sunday morning. She talks about you nonstop. I should've recorded all the questions that she asked about you. She asks things from what's your favorite color, to how much you weigh, what your parents’ names are, what your major was in college, if you have pets, do you have allergies... what you're like in bed."

  “I'm thinking the last question was yours. You could find out,” Ellie said.

  “I don't sleep with the help... anymore,” Ria laughed. “No seriously, she wants to know everything about you.”

  “If she asks, I'll tell. Well, I'll answer the appropriate questions,” Ellie said. “She's wonderful. I could hang out with her all day.”

  “Be my guest,” Ria said. “I know that sounds awful for a mom to say. She's hard to take in large quantities.”

  “You get any breaks?”

  “When she's at school, when I'm at work, her therapy, and tonight,” Ria said.

  “Well, if you give me some notice I'd love to spend time with her,” Ellie offered.

  “That's sweet but—” Ria started to say.

  “No buts. Anytime,” Ellie repeated. “So enough about Maggie. Tell me about you. What's it like being a doctor. I've never been friends with a doctor. I mean not that we're friends. I mean I usually try to avoid doctors.”

  “I consider you a friend. It's pretty cool being a doctor. Like anything else, the newness and coolness of it wears off, but it's pretty amazing,” Ria said.

  “What’s a typical day like?” Ellie asked.

  “Well, right now I'm teaching a lot of interns. I do my rounds on my post-ops, and I have a surgery or two scheduled per day. Some days I cover the emergency department.”

  “What’s the favorite part of your day?” Ellie asked.

  “I love the high I get from a tough surgery,” Ria said. “But even better, I love spending time with the people after surgery. I love seeing the relief in their eyes after a successful surgery. I love getting to know them. They all have such amazing life stories, and I'm a part of their journey to get on with their lives.”

  “Wow,” Ellie said.

  “What?”

  “You're amazing,” Ellie said. />
  “Stop it,” Ria said.

  “Can you be my doctor?” Ellie asked.

  “Anytime you need surgery, I’m your woman,” Ria said.

  “I’m getting it written into my healthcare proxy,” Ellie laughed. “Did you always want to be a doctor?” Ellie asked.

  “As long as I can remember,” Ria said.

  “So you're an amazing doctor. What else should I know about you?”

  “Nothing else really. I'm kind of boring. I'm focused on taking care of Maggie right now. That feels like a full-time job.”

  “I think you're an amazing mom,” Ellie said.

  “Thanks,” Ria said as she smiled at Ellie. “What about you and being a musician?”

  “What about it?” Ellie asked.

  “What's it like being in front of all those people?” Ria asked.

  “It’s pretty amazing. I guess going out on stage comes easy to me. I don't think about it anymore. The moment I walk on stage it's a rush. The first word or sound that our band plays is amazing,” Ellie said. “I love hearing from fans, and getting great reviews. I love looking out and seeing people singing along with me.”

  “Oh, you play guitar and sing?” Ria asked. “I pegged you as an in the background kind of chick. What kind of music?”

  “Alternative folk rock,” Ellie answered.

  “Stalkers? Groupies?” Ria asked as she laughed.

  “I make sure I have good security,” Ellie said.

  Ria laughed and said, “Wouldn't that be nice if you get that big, huh?”

  “Yeah, right,” Ellie said and nervously laughed. “To tell the truth, I do pretty well.”

  “I’m in no way judging,” Ria said. “Can you sing me something?” Ria asked.

  Ellie looked over at her guitar resting in the plush chair. “I have a better idea. Let's try something.”

  “What?” Ria said.

  “You play guitar?” Ellie asked.

  “No, never tried,” Ria said. “I don't think I can.”

  “No way,” Ellie said. “With those long fingers, you have half the battle won.”

  “That's what all the girls say,” Ria giggled. “Okay if we're going to do this, I need a lot of beer.”

  “You're not touching this guitar when you're drunk. Here,” Ellie said as she handed her the guitar. Ria held it awkwardly and then turned it the wrong way. “You're right handed, correct? So hold it this way.” Ellie put the neck of the guitar into Ria's left hand. Their fingers brushed and chills went up Ellie’s arm. Just being close to her drives me crazy. I hope I can remember a single chord.