Love's Autograph

by Michele M. Reynolds

  “What? No, I'm focused,” Ellie said. “Focused on my music, not groupies. I think I'm done with one night stands. Why am I telling you this? Just no phone numbers, okay?”

  “Okay, okay, I'll push them your band members’ and crew’s way,” Robert said.

  “Fine with me,” Ellie said.

  That night Ellie went to the hotel restaurant to meet Roxie. Roxie was one of the many unique people that she had met as a famous musician. Most people she could take or leave, but she hung on to Roxie. Part of the loyalty she felt for Roxie stemmed from the risk Roxie took in supporting Ellie when nobody else would. She was the one who suggested the name EJ Way instead of Ellie Jane Wakefield.

  Ellie waited at the table as Roxie came sauntering in half an hour late. That was early for Roxie. As Roxie made her way to Ellie's table, one of Ellie’s bodyguards, Jim, started to walk across the restaurant, but Ellie held up her hand to call him off.

  As usual, Roxie was overdressed. Roxie looked like a stereotypical older, rich woman. She was tall and skinny with short white hair. She had diamond studded earrings and a big shiny necklace. She was wearing high-heels, a red designer blazer over a white blouse, and a tight red miniskirt.

  “Ellie Jane, you waiting long?” Roxie asked as she hugged and kissed Ellie on the cheek.

  “You know I was waiting long. I always wait for you,” Ellie answered.

  “I'm so glad that I happened to be in London at the same time as you. How are you?” Roxie asked.

  “I'm fine, and you?” Ellie said as they both sat down. A waiter walked over to them.

  “Oh, sweetie how about a whiskey sour and a salad,” Roxie ordered from the waiter.

  “Another beer and today's special, please,” Ellie said to the waiter and he nodded and walked away.

  “So, the big tour. You excited? Before I forget, I have to ask. Can you get me some tickets for some of my clients?” Roxie asked. Ellie reached behind her to the pocket of her jacket that was hanging on the back of her chair. She handed her a stack of tickets. “Thank you sweetheart.”

  “So, you've been traveling a lot,” Ellie said. “I've been trying to contact you.”

  “Yes, yes, so what happened with you and that woman Rita?” Roxie asked.

  Ellie answered, “Ria, yes what did you tell her? She thought I was her babysitter when I showed up.”

  “Yeah, but she knows now, right?” Roxie asked.

  Ellie took a sip of her water and answered, “No, she doesn't.”

  “I just saw her. When was it? I went to this dinner and she was there. That was a couple weeks ago,” Roxie said as she picked up her phone and ran her finger over the screen. “Yes, last Tuesday I was at a dinner and I saw her.”

  “You didn't say anything?” Ellie asked.

  Roxie said, “Of course not, what was I supposed to say that you broke superwoman's heart. I wouldn't in front of her girlfriend.”

  “What girlfriend?” Ellie asked.

  “There was this gorgeous blonde with her. What was her name? Gloria... or, I don't know,” Roxie said.

  “Gwen,” Ellie said.

  “Yes, do you know her?”

  “No, but I know of her,” Ellie said. She ran her finger around the rim of her glass. “How did they look together?”

  “Fine,” Roxie said as she scrolled through her phone.

  “I mean did they look like they were into each other? In love?” Ellie was not sure she wanted to hear the answer.

  “Who knows? Gwen seemed to be really interested. I don't know if Ria did. Yeah, I guess she did. Oh, well I did take a jab at her when Gwen wasn't around. I did say something,” Roxie said.

  “What?” Ellie asked. “You didn't.”

  “I said something like 'a shame that it didn't work out with Ellie.' Then I told her that you hadn't been so head over heels about a girl since you-know-who,” Roxie said.

  “You told her about Jenny and that I was head over heels about her?” Ellie said.

  “In one way or another, I might have,” Roxie said.

  “Roxie!”

  “You know whatever will happen will happen,” Roxie said. “Tell me about what's planned for this tour. I heard great things about this. I heard that this is supposed to be your best tour.”

  “Let's hope,” Ellie answered.

  Ellie and Roxie talked about the tour and Roxie's business. They planned to meet up again when Roxie was back in Boston. Roxie promised to email or text more often, and Ellie made a mental note reminding herself not to hold her breath for any communication from Roxie.

  She headed back up to her hotel room accompanied by her body guards, Jim and Clara. Ellie always thought Clara's name did little to support Clara's masculine presence. Her name should have been Bertha or an androgynous name. Ellie entered her room, and after Clara diligently checked the room for fans or foes, Ellie fell back onto the bed.

  “All set Ms. Way,” Clara said. She insisted on calling her Ms. Way.

  “Thanks, Clara,” Ellie answered.

  “If you need anything call, or pound on the wall. Remember I'll order room service for you. We don't need another San Francisco incident.”

  “I will, thank you,” Ellie answered. She once called for room service and a fan made her way into Ellie's room. Ellie had to lock herself in her bathroom while the fan trashed her room. Hopefully that was the first and last restraining order Ellie would have to take out. Ellie closed her eyes and tried to fall asleep.

  But sleep was not coming easily. She reached for her phone on the night stand and opened it to the picture of her and Roxie that she had taken tonight.

  She sent the picture to Ria and texted, Dinner with Roxie tonight. As always interesting company. I hope you're well. It was midnight in England but only 7:00 p.m. in Boston. A few minutes passed and a text appeared on Ellie's phone.

  Ria texted, Yeah, Gwen and I saw her at a benefit dinner. How is she? How are you?

  Ellie answered, She's fine. I'm fine.

  What you up to? How's Maggie?

  She's fine. She's constantly playing the guitar. She loves it. I'm thinking about getting her more lessons, Ria said.

  Ellie offered, Or I can still give the lessons. I'm not afraid to make amends with her.

  Ria said, Maybe, I'll talk about it with her, and see. How's your arm?

  Okay, a little sore still, but healing fine.

  Ria said, Roxie said something that was confusing to me.

  Ellie responded, Yeah?

  She said something like that she was sorry things didn't work out between you and me, and talked about you having some recent heartbreak.

  You sure she didn't say that I was a “heartbreaker” LOL, Ellie panicked.

  Ria asked, Were we supposed to go on a date that night?

  Ellie paced around her hotel room. She flipped a coin to decide to tell her or not, she sat down on the couch, and stared at Ria's last text on the phone. Then something happened that was even scarier than the text. The phone began to ring, and it was Ria.

  Ellie answered it, “Hello.”

  “Hey,” Ria said. “You didn't answer my question.”

  “Oh, I didn't get that last text. What question?”

  “I asked you if—”

  Ellie said, “Just kidding, I got it. Yes.”

  “Yes, we were supposed to go on a date?” Ria asked.

  “Yes, that was my understanding.”

  “And then you became a babysitter? How did that happen?” Ria asked.

  “Well, I came in the house, and I heard you talking on the phone to someone about the Maggie-sitter being there, and then talking about some hottie at work,” Ellie said. “I realized that you thought I was the babysitter, and that you were looking forward to going out with this other chick. How could I take that date away from you?”

  “So, you pretended to be a babysitter?” Ria asked.

  “Don't say it like it's something horrible. It's not like I pretended to be a pilot, or doctor, or somet
hing. It ended up okay that night, right?” Ellie said.

  “With you and Maggie, but not with my date. Well, that explains why you were so dressed up and that you came with flowers,” Ria said. “Wait, so why didn't you tell me? Why did you keep coming here and hanging out with Maggie?”

  “Well, I kept coming because I bonded with Maggie. She's amazing and I loved spending time with her. It's easy to hang out with her. I love hanging out with both of you. I don't know. Is that weird?” Ellie said.

  Ria answered, “No, not weird. Not sure why you had to lie.”

  “Well, I… I don't know. The longer it went on the harder it was to talk about it.”

  “So, wait you aren't seeing anyone? Dating then? You never were?” Ria asked.

  Ellie answered, “I've dated a lot.”

  “Ellie, I'm being serious. Are you not dating anyone right now?” Ria asked.

  “No, nobody right now,” Ellie said and there was a long silence.

  “It's weird talking about this over the phone. Can we meet somewhere? Can you come over?” Ria asked.

  “Um… it would take me a while, I'm not in town right now,” Ellie answered.

  “Oh right, you must be on tour, right? Where are you, New York City?”

  “No, a little further. I'm in London,” Ellie answered.

  “London? I didn't realize you toured out of the country. Wow, that's great. Things are picking up, huh?” Ria said.

  “It never was really down. Like I said, I'm a successful musician,” Ellie answered.

  “So, it's like ten o'clock there right?” Ria asked.

  “After midnight,” Ellie answered.

  “Oh, do you want to go?” Ria asked.

  “No, I miss talking to you. It gets lonely on tour. I'd love to talk to you for as long as you can talk,” Ellie answered.

  “Why wouldn't you have said you were my date?” Ria asked.

  “Like I said, I overheard you excited about the date. Who was I to ruin that?” Ellie said.

  “You were my date. You're too much.”

  “Too much and too cute?” Ellie stated.

  “I'd not go that far,” Ria said.

  “Well, anyway,” Ellie said.

  “Oh no, I have to go. I told Maggie I'd watch a show with her. Can I call you back?” Ria asked.

  “Sure, call anytime, but call back, okay? Tell Maggie I said hi if she's not mad at me,” Ellie said.

  “She's not mad. I can explain more later,” Ria said. “I'll call. I promise.”

  Ellie sat on the couch with the phone in her hand. Minutes passed, a half-hour passed, and time just passed. Ellie showered and kept her ringer on the highest volume. At 2:00 a.m. she fell asleep. She woke to the phone ringing at 5:00 a.m. It was Ria.

  “Hello,” Ellie answered. Her voice was raspy from staying up most of the night. She needed to repair it before tonight's concert.

  Ria said, “So, I can't sleep.”

  “Gwen snores?”

  Ria answered, “No, she's fast asleep.”

  “Oh, she's over?”

  “Yeah.”

  “So, Gwen is in your bed and it’s midnight your time. Why are you calling me?” Ellie asked.

  Ria said, “I need to know something. You threw a wrench into things with me.”

  “What? And know that it's early so I'm prone to pure truth… too early to be tactful,” Ellie admitted.

  Ria laughed and said, “Well, so you know, I have a lot of drinks in me. That's what I had to do to muster up some confidence.”

  “Okay, Drunk Doctor Diaz, shoot,” Ellie said.

  “So, when you met me were you relieved to not have to go out with me? Was Maggie a way out?” Ria asked.

  Ellie answered, “Not at all. Maggie is a bonus. And when I found out you were not only hot, but also a doctor, that made me regret giving you up even more.”

  “So, you are or were attracted to me?” Ria asked.

  “Yes, first time I saw you,” Ellie said as she walked across the room and knocked on the door that was between her and her bodyguards. “When I saw you, I involuntarily stood up. That's how attracted I was to you. A coffee and a bagel or something,” she whispered. Clara nodded and picked up the phone to call room service.

  Ria said, “Oh, is someone there? I can let you go.”

  Ellie said, “No, I told you. Nobody is here, and I'm not seeing anyone. Ordering room service. It's morning here. You're the only one with someone in your bed.”

  Ria laughed and said, “I miss you. I didn't realize how much I missed you until you were not around. I have such an easy and fun time with you.”

  “Yeah, I feel the same way.” Silence fell over the phone. Ellie shift her phone from ear to ear. She could hear Ria breathing. Ellie jumped up and down during the silence and did not know what to say.

  Ria broke the silence by letting out a huge breath. Then she said, “Okay, so there were some moments that I felt something between us. I'm not sure if you did too.”

  “Ria, where are we headed here?” Ellie asked. “What are you asking? What do you want? You’re with Gwen now and…”

  Ria answered, “Well, I need to know.”

  Ellie said, “Okay, whatever you want. Yes, yes there were many times that I felt something.”

  “Like?”

  “Like when?” Ellie asked.

  “Yes,” Ria said.

  Ellie answered, “Well, I felt attracted to you when we were wrestling over that scrap piece of paper, when I tried on my new shirt, when you were stitching my arm, when you were wearing those black boots… there were a lot of times.”

  “Me too, why didn't you act on it?” Ria asked.

  “Why didn't you?” Ellie countered.

  “First because you were supposedly dating some fictitious woman,” Ria said. “Why did you lie about that? Is it because of that chick that broke your heart? Then I didn't think you were interested. I don't know.”

  Ellie answered, “I guess my reasoning was a combination of putting myself out there when I wasn't sure if you were interested, and I didn't want to ruin what I had with Maggie.”

  “Great, the one time I find a woman who likes Maggie, I don't realize she's interested in me! How did you let this happen?” Ria asked.

  Ellie said, “Shh, you're being loud. Don't wake Maggie or Gwen. I threw out a ton of flirtation and you never picked it up,” Ellie said. “I didn't think you were interested in me.”

  “I was. I am,” Ria said. Ellie's heart dropped.

  There was a knock at the door and Ellie opened it, directing room service to roll in the cart. Clara had coffee, juice, eggs, sausage, and fruit delivered. Clara was situated in the hallway watching the hotel staff like a hawk.

  “So, now I'm with Gwen. What am I supposed to do?” Ria asked.

  “What do you mean, what are you supposed to do? I don't know. You were the one asking questions. I wasn't the one pouring my heart out unsolicited,” Ellie said.

  “Maybe you should've been the one pouring it out,” Ria said angrily.

  Ellie pulled some money out of her wallet and gave the server a tip. The staff smiled and walked out. Ellie nodded to Clara before the door shut.

  Ellie closed the door and said, “This is the first time I've had someone being mad at me for being in love with them.”

  There was a long pause. Ellie's last words rang in her ears. She told Ria that she was in love with her. Ellie pulled the phone away from her ear and checked to see if she had lost service. She put it back to her ear and she could hear Ria breathing.

  Ria asked, “So, either I'm really drunk, or do you want to take your last statement back?”

  “No, I'm not taking that back. It has been driving me crazy. I'm head over heels in love with you. I know we don't know each other that well, but you make me feel like I've never felt before. Every time I'm in the same room as you and anytime I think of you, you drive me crazy. And when you, Maggie and I are together, it's even better. Hello?”

&nb
sp; Ria answered, “I'm here. I shouldn't have called.”

  Ellie said, “Don't say that. You said you felt something too.”

  “Yeah, but love. I'm not sure,” Ria said.

  “You don't have to know,” Ellie said. “I need you to know how I feel. I've been trying to tell you since the first time I met you. If you want to try, let's go on our first date. This time you get someone else as a Maggie-sitter.”

  “I love that you don't say babysitter. Oh, Ellie, Gwen moved in!”

  “What? It hasn't been but what a few weeks?” Ellie exclaimed.

  “Two months. I know. I know. I'm so… I'm so sorry.”

  “You happy?” Ellie asked.

  Ria answered, “Yeah, I think.”

  Ellie said, “But you're on the phone with me, and she's in your bed. Okay, well I guess that's it then.”

  “Ellie, when are you coming back?” Ria asked.

  Ellie answered, “I'll be back in Boston in five weeks.”

  “Can we do lunch and maybe you can see Maggie?” Ria asked. “That's all I can do right now.”

  Ellie said, “Yeah, I'd love to see both of you, but let's keep Dr. Barbie out of it.”

  “Deal,” Ria said. “I better go to bed. Call me when you're back. Have fun on your tour. Don't sleep with many groupies.”

  Ellie answered, “I won't. I can't get you off my mind. Sweet dreams.”

  “Good night or good morning,” Ria said.

  Ellie sat down and started eating her breakfast.

  A text came through her phone. Ria: What was on the paper that you wrestled away from me?

  Ellie answered, Lyrics to a song.

  Ria asked, About?

  You, Ellie typed into the phone and then reluctantly responded to Ria.

  Ria said, Oh, like Natalie, huh. Can I hear it sometime?

  Ellie answered, Not like Natalie. Stronger because it is about you. Maybe someday you'll hear it. We'll see.

  Good morning, again.

  Good night and please stay in touch, Ellie said.

  Ria texted, I will. I promise.

  Ellie ran that night over and over in her head.

  Ellie texted Dina, I should have told Ria that I wasn’t the Maggie-sitter. Gwen is taking my spot in Ria's bed. She’s eating off the dishes I should be. She’s getting the chance to make Ria laugh. She’s spending time with Maggie. She’s kissing Ria's lips. She’s having my late night conversations with Ria. She’s eating Ria's great cooking. Gwen might have Ria's heart.