Love's Autograph
Page 9
Ellie opened the note, Paparazzi in the parking lot and in the restaurant. I told them you were not here, but they are persistent.
“What is it?” Ria asked.
Ellie scanned the place to find a way to avoid the paparazzi. She looked down at the note again. It was written on boat stationary. She remembered the boat rental place she saw on her way in.
“Umm… there is an old friend I want to avoid in the front of the restaurant,” Ellie told Ria.
“How does the hostess know that? You said this is your first time coming here,” Ria asked.
“How did you get here?” Ellie asked and avoided answering Ria’s question.
“I drove here,” Ria answered. “My car is out front.”
“I'm sorry. Are you done with your food?” Ellie asked as she threw money on the table.
“Yeah,” Ria said. “That's a hundred dollars. You're starting to freak me out a little. Is it a stalker or something?”
“Kind of,” Ellie said. “Come with me. If anything this will be fun.” Ellie jumped up and stretched her hand out to Ria. Ria grabbed her hand and Ellie pulled Ria out of her chair.
“Why do I feel like action movie music should be playing?” Ria asked.
“Because it always should be playing,” Ellie said. They made their way to the stairs leading to the boat shop below.
“You ever canoe?” Ellie asked. She walked up to the boating desk and threw money on the counter.
“ID?” the fifteen year old staffer asked.
“ID to rent a boat. It's not a motor boat,” Ellie said as she felt her chest get tight. Any minute now the Paparazzi would be upon them.
“Here, use mine. I think that he needs it in case something happens to the canoe or if it doesn't come back,” Ria said. Ellie grabbed two life jackets, two paddles, and flipped over the nearest canoe.
“You canoed before?” the boy asked.
“No, I haven't,” Ria answered politely and turned her attention to Captain Teenager.
“I'm an expert. Used to be a canoe instructor,” Ellie interjected.
“You want to make sure you don't stand up, and—” the boy started to say.
“Bow, stern, starboard, port, keel line, and three points of contact,” Ellie said. “Honestly guy, we're fine. Stop hitting on my girl. We have to go.” Ellie threw the life vest at Ria. “Snap it up.”
“Ellie, really I think we do need some action background music,” Ria said. “I'm your girl, huh?”
“For this scene, you'll be my girl and I'll be the hero,” Ellie said.
“Does that make me the dim-witted damsel in distress?” Ria asked.
“If the canoe fits,” Ellie said.
“Hey!” Ria said as Ellie dragged the canoe toward the water and moved it sideways so the starboard side faced them. “Get in. You sit bow, the front, I'll sit stern. I'll teach you when we get on the water.”
“What about my purse?” Ria asked. Ellie reached down and grabbed a plastic bag sitting in the dirt, shook the dirt out and handed it to Ria. Ria put her purse in the bag and set it in front of her seat. She used Ellie's shoulders to steady herself as she climbed in the canoe and sat down.
“This doesn't have holes does it?” Ria asked.
“Even if it had holes, this thing can still float when full of water,” Ellie informed.
Ria said, “You're a canoe encyclopedia.”
“Like I said, I was a canoe instructor,” Ellie said. Ellie handed Ria a paddle. Ellie pushed the canoe out a bit, and with one foot in the canoe and one on land pushed the canoe fully into the water.
“Put the paddle in the water on either side and push it through the water,” Ellie called up to Ria.
“Like this?” Ria asked as she reached the paddle out, parallel to the water. The blade hit the water several feet from the canoe.
“Well that's more row boat style. Reach out in front of you, stick the paddle in the water so that it’s perpendicular to the water and then pull the paddle back in that same position until you get to your hip. Take it out of the water and then go back to the first step.”
“Like this,” Ria said. She did a stroke.
“Yes, exactly. That's a basic forward stroke. You're a pro,” Ellie said. She was already out of breath. She had been relentlessly paddling since they got in the canoe.
“This isn't so hard,” Ria said. “Wait, maybe you're actually a pirate. That's why you have a secret identity and know so much about canoes.”
“You got me there, Dr. Diaz. Pirates didn't use canoes though,” Ellie said.
“Oh,” Ria giggled.
“I do have this love for learning nautical terms though,” Ellie said.
“I always wanted to learn them,” Ria said. “Teach me some. You said I'm in the bow. That's the front of a boat?”
“Yes, and I'm in stern,” Ellie answered. “Starboard is right when you're facing bow and port is left. A trick to remembering is port and left each has four letters.”
“Nice, I'm looking up nautical terms when we get out of here,” Ria said. “I think you just inspired me to be a pirate next Halloween.”
“You would be one sexy pirate,” Ellie said.
“Do you think Gwen thinks I'm sexy?” Ria asked. I start flirting with Ria and she brings up Gwen.
“I don't know Gwen, but I can't believe anyone would find you not sexy,” Ellie said.
“Really?” Ria asked.
“Yes. I don't think I've ever met someone as good looking as you who doesn't know it,” Ellie said. “You really like this Gwen chick?”
“Yeah, I do,” Ria said. “She's all I can think about. I know we've only seen each other twice, but we connect. We have such a good time when we hang out. We talk and text throughout the day.”
“You text?” Ellie asked.
“What?” Ria asked.
“Nothing. Well, I’m glad that you’re happy,” Ellie said.
Ria said, “Thanks. Wait until I tell Maggie that I went canoeing on my lunch break with you.”
“What do you think she'll be more impressed with, the canoeing or that it was with me?” Ellie asked. She started to paddle slower due to exhaustion and being a few hundred yards from the restaurant. Ellie turned to look back at the restaurant. She did not see anyone following them by canoe.
“You. She's so stuck on you. You've put some spell on her,” Ria said.
“I think she's great too,” Ellie said. “This is nice being out here.”
“Yes, it's a beautiful day. The sky has the right amount of clouds,” Ria answered.
Ellie said, “Some other time when we're not in an action movie, I'll teach you some more strokes and might even let you sit in stern.”
“You going to tell me what that whole restaurant thing was about?” Ria asked. She turned to look at Ellie and the boat tipped starboard and water sloshed into the canoe. “Ahh, my purse!” Ria yelled.
“I got it,” Ellie said. “Just stay seated and looking forward, and paddle.” Ellie put her hands on the gunnels, stepped over a wooden thwart and picked up the bag that had slid behind Ria's seat. “I'm going to tie it to the thwart, the wooden bar, here. That way it won't get wet unless we flip over or it rains.”
“Comforting,” Ria laughed.
“You can swim right? Not afraid of water?” Ellie asked.
“A little late to ask now. Yes, I can swim,” Ria answered.
“Well, if you couldn't swim the life jacket would keep you afloat.”
“So, what was that all about in the restaurant? You really freaked out,” Ria asked.
“Just some of the craziness of my life. I'm trying to not make you part of it. That's all,” Ellie said.
“I'm a big girl. You don't have to protect me,” Ria said.
“Yeah, well, it’s partially protecting me. Believe me, you don't want any part of it,” Ellie said.
“Tell me about it,” Ria said. “It can't be so horrible. You married, escaped prison, have a second life?”
>
Ellie felt her chest tighten, and it got harder to breathe. A panic attack was ensuing. Ellie needed to calm down. She needed to sing to avoid having this panic attack in front of Ria.
“How about instead I sing you the Natalie serenade?” Ellie asked.
“Yeah, I'd love to hear that,” Ria said. “But at some point I still want to hear more about your freak-out.”
“In good time,” Ellie said. “Hold on. Paddle hard for a little bit. I have to send a text.”
Ellie texted Kelly and Dina, I need one of you to pick me up by the bridge across from the Hidden Garden. ASAP
“Who you texting?” Ria asked.
“Reinforcements,” Ellie said. “Okay here is the song. Keep paddling. It's a slow song so don't paddle to the music.”
“Sing already!” Ria called back and Ellie sang.
Because you said
you with your blue eyes and blue jeans because you said
with your kind heart and laughter
because you said
if there are words to music and they are only for me
words to beautiful music tied to someone's heart.
Because you said
Here are the words and the music
and tied tightly to my heart
to you the kindest most amazing girl in my heart
Take my hand
Here are the words to tie around them
Take my heart
here is the music to beat one by one by one
Because you said…
After Ellie finished singing, the only sound was the paddles hitting water. The knot in Ellie's chest had subsided. It was her own personal music therapy.
“You have a wonderful voice. That was so brave,” Ria finally said.
Ellie said, “Or crazy. There is a thin line between brave and crazy.”
“You're brave. That wasn't crazy. If someone wrote me a song like that, I'd love them, well at least invite them into my bed,” Ria giggled.
“Hey, I fell for that line once. I'm not falling for it again,” Ellie laughed.
“What do you write about now?” Ria asked.
“Great question,” Ellie said. “Let's see, love, lust, hate, anger, interactions or things that have happened to me, opinions on things, motivational things, taking chances, sex.”
“Okay, that all sounds interesting. I need some songs by you,” Ria said. “Where do I get some?”
“I’ll download them for you,” Ellie said.
“I don't mind buying them,” Ria said.
“Yeah, but I'll get them for you. Not a problem. That way I can pick the good ones for you.” Ellie's phone chimed. Kelly texted, ETA 10 minutes.
“So, where we going anyway?” Ria asked.
“Keep paddling toward that bridge over there. In about ten minutes we're getting picked up,” Ellie said.
“This is my exercise for a month. A lunch date with you turns interesting. What can be weirder than rushing out of a restaurant, onto a boat and rowing to the middle of nowhere?” Ria asked.
“It’s technically a canoe and we're paddling,” Ellie corrected.
“This is the most exciting lunch break I've had. Oh, wait second most exciting,” Ria giggled.
Ellie asked, “What, did the other one actually have action music?”
“It included sex,” Ria said as she smiled over her shoulder.
Ellie said, “Oh, canoeing doesn't compare to sex? We could try that sometime and see.”
“This fresh air is getting to your head,” Ria said.
They paddled under the bridge and Ellie navigated the boat ashore. Ria exited the canoe without getting wet. Ellie put down her paddle, grabbed Ria's purse, and made her way down the canoe and onto dry land. Ellie pulled the canoe fully onto land. Ellie handed Ria her purse and unsnapped Ria’s life vest, then her own, and threw the vests into the canoe.
“Phew, I'm exhausted,” Ria said.
“All part of Ellie's lunch and work-out package,” Ellie said.
“So you going to tell me why the great escape?” Ria asked.
“Well...” Ellie started. “I don't know how to say this.” Ellie's phone beeped. Ria's phone beeped.
I'm here, Kelly texted.
“Our ride is here,” Ellie said.
“Tell me another time?” Ria asked. “There is a problem with one of my post-ops. Can your friend drop me off at the hospital? Oh wait, I need my car. Nevermind, I'll get one of my interns to get my car later.”
They walked up to the road and Kelly was waiting in her car. The front passenger seat was covered with Kelly's things. Ria and Ellie climbed in the backseat.
“Kelly, Ria, Ria this is Kelly,” Ellie introduced them.
“Hi Kelly, thanks for picking us up,” Ria said.
“No problem. That's my job,” Kelly said.
“What do you mean it's your job?” Ria asked.
“She's being funny,” Ellie said. “Kelly is always helping me out.” Ellie laughed. “Can you drop Ria off at the hospital? It's right down this street a few miles.”
“Sure,” Kelly said.
“You guys look alike. You related?” Ria asked.
“No,” Ellie said. “You think Kelly is that good looking?”
“I’m the better-looking cousin,” Kelly laughed.
“So Kelly, what was the reason that Ellie told you that she needed to be picked-up?” Ria asked.
“Well, Ellie…” Kelly started. “Didn't give me a reason.” Ellie breathed a sigh of relief.
“Oh, okay. I get it. It's top pirate secret. So, how long have you guys known each other?” Ria asked.
“Four years?” Ellie said.
“Five,” Kelly said.
“What a day. I've met two of Ellie's friends. I had lunch on the balcony and I went canoeing. Wait, what about the canoe, and my license?” Ria asked. Ria pulled out her phone and was texting.
“I'll take care of it. Don't worry,” Ellie said.
“Pull up to the emergency bay, please. My interns are meeting me there,” Ria said to Kelly as they pulled into the hospital parking lot. “Nice to meet you, Kelly.”
“Nice to meet you too,” Kelly said. “You a doctor?”
“That's what she tells me,” Ellie laughed.
Ria said, “Yes, I’m a doctor. Thanks again for the ride.”
“Bye, Ellie. Thanks for lunch,” Ria said as she gave Ellie a hug. Ria gave her a warm kiss on the cheek. Ellie watched as Ria walked toward the automatic doors of the hospital. A group of four interns was standing there with tablets in their hands. They were talking to Ria and showing her things on the tablets. The interns appeared frantic and worried. They had baby faces, looked loaded with energy and stared at Ria as if she was handing out free candy.
“Where to?” Kelly asked.
“Wait just a few seconds please,” Ellie asked.
Ellie watched as Ria studied the information on the tablet. She pointed to each intern and after each of them was pointed to, they ran back into the hospital. Ria grabbed one intern’s arm and placed keys in her hand. Ellie surmised that this was the unlucky intern going to fetch Ria’s car. Ria turned and looked back at Ellie who was still staring at Ria. Ria smiled, waved and walked into the hospital.
“Okay, so Kelly, I need you to get someone to bring the canoe back to the rental place and get Ria her license,” Ellie said.
“On it already. While you were drooling over Ria, I texted some people to get it done,” Kelly said.
“You're great. I should never doubt you,” Ellie said.
“So is she your new love interest?” Kelly asked.
“What if she is?” Ellie answered.
“I know I’m straight, but even I'd say she's pretty hot,” Kelly said.
“Yes and she's amazing,” Ellie said.
Ria text, Best lunch ever (even without the sex).
Ellie text back, I had fun too. Next time I’ll bring the action theme music.
CHAPTER 13
“School is annoying,” Maggie answered.
“What do you mean?” Ellie asked.
“Teachers make us do annoying things,” Maggie said.
“Like?”
“Like next week we have to bring a parent or a grown-up to school to talk about a career,” Maggie said. “That is annoying.”
“Well, that's not unusual. A lot of schools do that. I did that when I was in school,” Ellie said.
“So you think it is cool and not annoying?” Maggie asked.
“I think it's something different and could be fun,” Ellie said.
“Perfect,” Maggie went to her backpack and pulled out a flyer. “It is next Friday. You can come from nine to eleven or from one to three. You get to speak for about twenty minutes.”
“Oh, I'd love to see your mom do a talk on this,” Ellie said. Ellie opened her phone. “But I have a gig out of town that day.”
“I don't want you to watch my mom talk about her career. I want you to come and talk about being a rocker,” Maggie said.
“Why aren't you going to ask your mom?” Ellie asked.
“She is probably busy,” Maggie said as she put the flyer back in her folder and then into her backpack. “It is okay. I do not have to have someone.”
“Have you asked your mom?” Ellie asked.
“No,” Maggie said.
“You should ask. Not many kids can say that their mom is a world-famous surgeon,” Ellie said.
“You think that's cooler than a musician?” Maggie asked.
“Way cooler than a musician,” Ellie said.
“Even a famous musician?” Maggie asked.
A confused Ellie furrowed her brow and then answered, “Your mom is better than anyone else you can bring.”
“Mom probably is too busy,” Maggie said.
“You'll never know until you ask her. My bet is that she'd drop everything to go to this. The sooner you ask her, the more flexibility she'll have in her schedule and the better chance she'll do it,” Ellie said.
“Okay, what should I say?” Maggie asked.