Love's Autograph

by Michele M. Reynolds

  “Okay, so anyway. We were saying,” Ria whispered. “You're ready to leave Platonicville?” Ria giggled and another huge smile spanned across her face.

  “I think so. At least as ready as I'll ever be,” Ellie said.

  “Really? I'm so excited. What made you decide? Forget it, I don't want to know. Really?” Ria asked as she nervously giggled. Ria stood on her toes and back to flat footed again.

  “Yes,” Ellie said. “Are you having second thoughts?”

  “No, absolutely not,” Ria said. “You're so lucky Maggie is right here. I'm having a hard time restraining myself from you,” Ria whispered.

  “Okay, to help you with the restraining, I'm going to go out into the studio to get a few things done while you finish up dinner, okay?” Ellie said. Ria nodded as she stirred the vegetables and meat in the dish. Ellie leaned in and gave Ria a kiss on the cheek and Ria turned and smiled at Ellie.

  Ellie floated to the barn. She opened the barn door and entered the studio. Ellie pulled out a piece of paper and ripped it into a few pieces. She then found a small box and threw in the pieces. She found a few pages of old sheet music and wrapped the box with the music.

  Ria texted, Dinner is ready!

  Ellie answered, Okay be right there, I'm starving. Ellie opened the door to the barn and a huge bear was between her and the house. She quickly and quietly closed the door and noticed the bear was looking at the side of the barn. There was a small cub sitting on the west side of the barn. She walked to the other side of the barn and saw another small cub sitting on the east side of the barn.

  Ellie texted Ria, Don't panic, but there are three bears surrounding me in the barn. Keep Maggie and Remi in the house.

  Ellie's phone rang and Ria was on the other end of the phone, “What? That one is huge. Is that the mama bear?”

  Ellie answered, “I guess you didn't get the memo not to panic. We're fine as long as we stay indoors. They usually stroll through. Try not to let Remi see them and don't say the word bear around her. It drives her nuts.”

  Maggie was talking in the background, “Mom, there is a...”

  “Maggie, don't say the b-e-a-r word,” Ria stopped her. “I know. I’m on the phone with Ellie who's in the barn. She says we'll be fine.”

  “Do not worry Mom, Ellie will be fine,” Maggie said. “There is a gun in here and in the barn.”

  “What?” Ria said.

  “Oh, another bad parenting moment,” Ellie said. “I told her how I keep a shotgun in the barn and in the house. They are locked up. I don't think you need it. Do you know how to use one?”

  “Yes,” Ria said. “My dad made sure I knew how. Where is the gun?”

  “There is a gun safe in my closet upstairs,” Ellie said. “The combo is 3-25-0. I don't think that you'll need it but if it makes you feel better.” Ellie moved to the barn safe and opened it. She took out the shotgun and loaded it.

  “Are you loading the one in there?” Ria asked.

  “Umm, yeah,” Ellie answered.

  “Okay, I won't worry about it then,” Ria said. “You can shoot them if it comes to it.”

  “I don't think it will, and this is the first time I've loaded it since I lived here. I get nervous because you and Maggie are here,” Ellie said.

  “Okay well, dinner is ready. Do you think we should eat?” Ria asked.

  “Yeah, go ahead. Oh man,” Ellie said.

  “What?”

  “The mama bear is lying down and so are her cubs. What the heck?” Ellie said.

  “Well, I've waited this long for you,” Ria said. “I can wait for some bear's nap.”

  “Okay, keep Remi and Maggie inside,” Ellie said. “Remi went out so she shouldn't have to go out again until bed. Pick up her water bowl and don't feed her. She'll ring the bell by the door if she has to go, but I think we have four or five hours until that happens.”

  “Okay, I'm going to feed Maggie,” Ria said. “Get over here as soon as the coast is clear.”

  “Will do,” Ellie said.

  From the window Ellie watched the mama bear. She was taking a bath between the two houses. Ellie searched online for things to scare bears away. Ellie found that she could use an air horn, pepper spray, make a lot of noise, appear big, or throw things at the bear. These choices seemed applicable if she was out in the wilderness and encountering a bear. None of these choices seemed reasonable seeing as she was somewhat safe in the barn.

  Ellie dragged a stool over to the window. She looked across the lawn at the house. She could see the light on in the kitchen and living room. Ria and Maggie were sitting at the table eating dinner. Ellie's mouth began to water. She walked to the small fridge and pulled out a soda and popped the top. As she did so, she saw the bear raise its heads, sniff the air and move toward the barn.

  Ellie froze as she was in mid-lift, bringing the can to her lips. Ellie could no longer see the bear, but she heard her sniff at the barn door. Then there were three loud bangs at the door. Ellie glanced at the shotgun on the table. The door moved inward slightly and there was a loud thud. Then there was the sound of licking. Ellie guessed the bear was now bathing in front of the door. Ellie watched as Maggie sat on the couch playing on her laptop, and Ria started to do the dishes.

  Ellie texted Ria, You saved me some leftovers right?

  Ria stopped washing dishes and wiped her hands off on a dishtowel, and picked her phone up.

  Ria answered, Of course. Can't wait to see you.

  Good. I'm starving.

  Ellie could see Ria walk over to the window and look out.

  Ria texted, Looks like they are gone!

  Ellie walked around to the side windows and no cubs could be found.

  The cubs might be gone, but if you look at the barn doors, Mama is slumbering there, Ellie answered.

  Ellie saw Ria nonchalantly walk to the front door and squint across the lawn.

  Ria said, Oh no. What are you going to do?

  Ellie said, Hang tight that is all I can do. Go hang out with Maggie. I'll be fine. If you hear growling it is most likely my stomach.

  Ria said, You're too funny. Be careful.

  Ellie hung up and looked at the wrapped box on the table. Ellie walked away from the door and saw her instruments.

  Ellie texted, I'm going to try to make some noise in here. Can you see if the bear moves?

  Ria answered, Okay.

  Ellie plugged in her amp, played riffs on the guitar, and played it on a loop. She turned up the guitar amp and hit the loop button. The guitar filled the room. She sat at the drum set and wailed away. She stopped playing the drums and turned off the guitar loop.

  Ria said, It was loud in here and the bear didn't move.

  I might be in here all night.

  Ria said, I might have to wrestle that bear.

  I don't doubt you. Don't worry we have until Sunday.

  Don't even joke, Ria responded.

  Ellie sat at the stool, looking out the window at Ria and Maggie. Ria switched through television stations, and Maggie was still on her laptop. Ellie grabbed a notepad and started writing on it. At one point, Ellie unloaded the shotgun and put it back in the safe. The gun being out was making her nervous. She watched as Ria put Maggie upstairs to sleep, and Remi followed them up. Ria came down alone.

  Ria texted, Maggie is in bed. I think the bear is still outside.

  Ellie answered, Yeah, I think that she is still snoozing away. We might plan for me to be in here all night.

  Even nature is coming between us.

  Ellie texted, Only temporarily.

  CHAPTER 50

  Ellie wrote in her notebook as she watched Ria slowly fall asleep on the couch. Ellie walked over to the studio couch and lay down. Something poked her in the side. She pulled her phone and car keys out of her pocket and put them on the floor next to her. She then picked up her keys. Suddenly, she got an idea. She saw her car parked in front of Ria's. Ellie put her phone and the wrapped box in her cargo pocket.

&n
bsp; She pushed the alarm button on her key chain. Her car lights started flashing and the alarm sounded. Ria stayed asleep on the couch but Ellie heard some grunting in front of the barn doors. The bear galloped in front of the house, and then back into the woods. Ellie shut off the barn lights, swung open the door and latched it shut behind her. She sprinted across the lawn while shutting off the car alarm. Ellie entered the house and shut and locked the door behind her. Ria was still asleep on the couch. Ellie quietly closed the door and heard Remi growling.

  “Remi, it's me,” Ellie whispered up to the loft. Remi walked to the top of the stairs. “Go to bed.” Remi turned and walked back into the bedroom. Ellie walked over to Ria on the couch. Ria had a pillow pulled under her head, and her plump lips were parted slightly. Ellie knelt down in front of Ria and pushed her hair back from her face. Ria opened her eyes.

  “You're here,” Ria said.

  “Yeah, I scared the bear away with my car alarm,” Ellie said.

  “Wish I would have thought of that hours ago,” Ria said as she sat up and patted down her hair. “You must be starving. There is...”

  “I'll get it,” Ellie said as she pulled the wrapped box from her pocket. “You open this while I warm it up.”

  “What, while you were held captive you made me a gift?” Ria asked.

  “Every loyal captive does that. Don't they?” Ellie said as she put her dinner dish in the microwave. “This smells great,” Ellie said. Ria opened the box and pulled out a bunch of pieces of paper.

  “What the?” Ria asked.

  “Put it together. You good at puzzles?” Ellie asked.

  “Well, I'm a doctor,” Ria said.

  “Does that mean you're skilled at puzzles?” Ellie asked.

  “I don't know I’m too sleepy. My logic button hasn't booted up yet.” Ria placed the pieces of paper on the coffee table in front of her and started putting the edges of the page together. “This is fun.” Ria said. Ellie ate a spoonful of the rice, veggies, and meat.

  “This is delicious,” Ellie said. “I was so hungry.”

  “What the heck is this?” Ria asked. She placed a few more pieces of paper together. It revealed spaces of white paper with horizontal blue lines. Finally, Ria found a piece of paper that had some writing on it, 6. No undressing in. “Is this our rules?” Ria asked and Ellie nodded. “So, all of them are gone?” Ellie smiled.

  Ria took Ellie's plate out of her hand and placed it on the coffee table. She pulled Ellie off the couch until she was standing face to face with Ria.

  “You better hold on Ellie,” Ria said. “This time I'm not letting you go.”

  “I’m counting on it,” Ellie said. Ria leaned in to kiss Ellie and Ellie put her finger to Ria's lips. Ellie wrapped her hands around behind Ria's neck. Ria wrapped her arms around Ellie's waist. They looked into each others eyes. There was an energy that sat between them. They both stared from their eyes to their lips. Each of them breathed calmly.

  Ellie smiled and slowly moved toward Ria's lips. Ria lurched forward and pulled Ellie close to her as her lips pressed hard on Ellie's. Ellie tried to move back and Ria held her tightly. Ria eased up on her kissing, and began slowly kissing Ellie's lips. Ellie's hips pressed into Ria and Ria walked Ellie backwards. They landed softly on the couch. Ellie smiled back up at Ria.

  “You can't let me kiss you first, huh?” Ellie asked.

  “Well it was months of pent up sexual frustration,” Ria said. “I want to devour you. You're so lucky Maggie is upstairs.”

  “Am I?” Ellie asked teasingly.

  “You would be without clothes by now if we were alone,” Ria said.

  “Really?” Ellie teased as she pulled up Ria's shirt to feel her naked back. “I love your back.”

  “I love your neck,” Ria said as she moved her lips to Ellie's neck. Ellie moaned and pushed her hips against Ria.

  “You're driving me crazy,” Ellie whispered.

  “Good,” Ria's whisper was muffled by her mouth against Ellie's neck. Ria bit Ellie's neck.

  “Ouch, careful,” Ellie said.

  “Sorry,” Ria said as she lifted her head with a smile. “I'm just a little excited. Let's break all the rules we can tonight.”

  “I'm excited too, but you don't need to take off a chunk of my neck,” Ellie laughed.

  “Maybe we need to slow down,” Ria said.

  “You are saying we need to slow down?”

  “I know, I know, but we have to survive somehow through Sunday,” Ria said. “It's not like you have a room we can go into and close the door. Why did you have to buy a house with a loft?”

  “Guess I wasn't thinking in these terms,” Ellie said.

  “Okay so how about we watch a movie?” Ria asked. Ellie sat up and passionately kissed Ria and ran her hands from the back of her shirt to Ria's stomach. She slowly caressed her hands toward Ria's breasts. Ria quickly moved her hand to stop Ellie's.

  “Not so fast,” Ria said. “You're so coming to our apartment for a sleepover soon. Or we have to go away or something. If you start what you're trying to start, I won't be able to stop.”

  They fell asleep side by side holding each other on the couch. Ellie was awakened when she heard the door shut. She slid Ria's arm from around her and slid off the couch. Out of the window, she saw Maggie walking Remi toward the woods. The sun had risen. Ellie grabbed the bear bell off the wall, slid her sneakers on and ran out the door and down the porch.

  “Maggie! Wait up, let me go with you guys,” Ellie called. “Let's stick to the road out this way.”

  “Okay, why?” Maggie asked. “Good morning by the way.”

  “Good morning,” Ellie said. “Because this is one of the times you would run into a bear. Here put this on.” She handed Maggie the bells. “It scares bears away.”

  “I saw you and Mom on the couch this morning,” Maggie said.

  “Yeah, is that okay?”

  “You guys looked cute,” Maggie said. “Not like Gwen and her. She was mean-looking even when sleeping. Do you mind Mom's frequent snoring? Did you guys have sex?”

  “What? No, we didn't have sex, and you know I'm not going to answer that anymore. That's a question you should not be asking an adult. And no I don't even notice the snoring,” Ellie said.

  “Why shouldn't I ask about sex?”

  “Because it's private,” Ellie said. “It's not something that a kid and an adult talk about. Adults should not talk to their adult friends about it. It's something that's between you and whoever you…”

  “Have sex with?”

  “I prefer to say who you're intimate with,” Ellie said.

  “Okay I won't ask you anymore,” Maggie said. “Does this mean that you and Remi might move in with us?”

  “Let's not jump ahead of ourselves,” Ellie said. “We're dating. There might be some nights that I stay over, but your mom and I've not discussed moving in together.”

  “Well, I support it,” Maggie said. “Mom and Gwen never asked me about Gwen, but I am going to be the first one to say that you should move in.”

  “Thanks, but let's not put any pressure on your mom okay?”

  “Okay, I am glad you guys are finally dating,” Maggie said. “It is about time.”

  “That's what I say,” Ellie said.

  They walked to a crossroad and then turned around heading back to Ellie's. Remi kept running ahead and then back to them. The sky started to get brighter as the sun rose. There was a fog filtering through the trees and across the road.

  “I like it out here,” Maggie said.

  “Yeah? Why?”

  “It is quiet,” Maggie said. “There aren't all these people. I feel lighter. Do you know what I mean?”

  “I do,” Ellie said.

  “Is that why you moved out here?”

  “It's one of the reasons,” Ellie said.

  “What was the other reason?”

  “I needed to get away from everything I guess.”

  “Like Mom and I,”
Maggie said.

  “No, well yes. I needed to get away from your mom, but never you. You're what I miss the most out here. You're my best friend.”

  “I am?”

  “Absolutely,” Ellie said. “You and Remi here.”

  They walked in silence and reached Ellie's driveway.

  Maggie stopped and looked at Ellie, “Did you have to move away from Mom because you were so in love with her that your heart hurt?”

  “Yes.”

  “Yeah,” Maggie said.

  “How did you know that?” Ellie asked.

  “I read a lot. I am smart for my age,” Maggie said.

  “Thanks,” Ellie said.

  “For what?”

  “For understanding me,” Ellie said. “I have a question to ask and I need you to be honest with me.”

  Maggie answered, “What? And I am always honest.”

  “Would it bother you if I kissed your mom in front of you?” Ellie asked.

  “No, that would be okay. Not all too mushy or something,” Maggie said. “Gwen and Mom never kissed around me. That would make me throw up.”

  “Okay thanks,” Ellie said as she patted Maggie on the back and they continued on their walk. They walked through the front door and Ria was in the kitchen cooking up breakfast.

  “Sausage!” Maggie yelled. Remi barked. “You can only get three Remi. I mean, good morning Mom!”

  “Good morning Maggie. How did you sleep?” Ria said as she averted her eyes from Ellie.

  “Great,” Maggie said. “Remi snuggled with me all night on the bed.

  “Remi you aren't supposed to go on the bed,” Ellie said to Remi. Remi lowered her ears and head, walked out of the kitchen and curled up on the living room floor. “Good morning Ria.”

  “Good morning Ellie,” Ria said as she turned to the stove. “Western Omelets.”

  “Nice, smells great,” Ellie said as she walked over to Ria. Ellie grabbed Ria and swung her around to face her. She gave her a kiss on the lips. Ria looked at Maggie and then back at Ellie in panic.

  “It’s okay. We had a talk and I said you guys can kiss in front of me,” Maggie said.

  “Not too mushy though,” Ellie laughed.

  “Oh, in that case,” Ria said as she leaned in and gave Ellie a stronger kiss on the lips and held her close.