Love's Autograph

by Michele M. Reynolds

  “Well, pretend I'm her,” Ellie said.

  “You're like Brittany,” Maggie said. “Always trying to get me to do stupid role plays.”

  “Brittany?”

  “My therapist,” Maggie said.

  “Well, it helps sometimes. So, I'm your mom. Go sit on the couch,” Maggie sluggishly went and sat on the couch. Ellie opened the door leading to the hallway and shut it. “Honey, I'm home. Wow, what a day at work. So many exciting things happened.”

  “You're corny,” Maggie said. Ellie shot her an encouraging glance. “Hi, Mom.”

  “How was school?” Ellie asked as she sat on the couch next to Maggie.

  “It was fine,” Maggie said.

  “Anything interesting happen?” Ellie asked.

  “Yes, we have to ask an adult to come and talk about a career. You're probably busy, so I won't bring anyone,” Maggie said.

  “What day is it? Let me look on my schedule,” Ellie said. “No, look I have it free.”

  “I didn't tell you the date,” Maggie said.

  “I'm so excited about this!” Ellie said as she leaned in and hugged Maggie.

  “Gross! That's eerily close to how mom will react. She gets over-excited,” Maggie said.

  “She probably will. So just duck and weave the hug,” Ellie laughed.

  “Easy for you to say,” Maggie said with a frown.

  “Okay, listen. You need a presenter, your mother will do great, and you'll make her happy,” Ellie said.

  “Are we done?” Maggie asked.

  Ellie answered, “Sure.”

  “You didn't give me any feedback,” Maggie said.

  “Oh you mean feedback on the role playing. Okay, well you should act more excited when you ask her. When you asked me it was clear you wanted me to say no,” Ellie said.

  “I wanted you to say yes and mom to say no,” Maggie said.

  Ellie laughed, “Look all kids think their parents are not that cool. That's normal, but your mom thinks the world of you. You should give her a break. Give her a chance.”

  “Okay,” Maggie said. “So, I should say something like ‘hey Mom, would you like to come to my class next week?’”

  “Sure that sounds better,” Ellie said.

  “Can I ask her not to tell any corny jokes?” Maggie asked.

  “In a nice way,” Ellie said. “Maybe you can ask her to do the presentation for you first?”

  “Oh, like an audition,” Maggie said.

  “No, like a practice. Don't make your mom audition,” Ellie said.

  A few minutes later, keys were heard in the door and Ria came walking into the apartment.

  “Hey, girls,” Ria said. “Hope your night was better than mine.”

  “She didn't say that so many exciting things happened,” Maggie said.

  “She isn't following the script,” Ellie whispered and Maggie giggled. “Hi Ria, how was your day?”

  “Tiring,” Ria said as she looked back and forth between Ellie and Maggie. “What were you guys up to?”

  “Not much,” Ellie said. “I'm going to finish putting the dishes away.” Ellie patted the couch for Ria to sit and winked at Maggie as she stood up.

  “Mom, I was wondering if you're free next Friday.” Maggie said.

  “Friday, I'm working but I can reschedule. What's up?” Ria asked.

  “There is this career day at my school, and I would like for you to come. You being a famous surgeon is so cool, and it would be nice if you could do it.” Ria had her hand over her mouth.

  “Mom? You aren't going to cry are you?” Maggie asked.

  “Sure I can do it. You tell me what time and I'll be there,” Ria said.

  “You can't tell any corny jokes,” Maggie said.

  “No corny jokes,” Ria said.

  “And maybe you can do a practice in front of me, so that I know what you will be saying,” Maggie said.

  “Sure, that would be great,” Ria said.

  “Time for bed,” Maggie said as she leaned in and gave Ria a hug.

  “Thank you,” Ria said. “I love you. Good night.”

  “Oh, here,” Maggie reached into her backpack and grabbed a piece of paper. “You have to email my teacher and tell her what time you want to sign up for.”

  “Okay, I'll do it right away,” Ria said.

  Maggie got up and said, “Good night, Ellie. Are you sleeping over tonight?”

  “No, going home. Good job asking your mom,” Ellie whispered. Maggie went into the bathroom to get ready for bed. Ria wiped her eyes and turned around to Ellie. Ria walked into the kitchen.

  “You,” Ria said.

  “What?” Ellie asked as she finished putting away the last glass.

  “You had something to do with her asking me,” Ria said.

  “Maybe,” Ellie answered with a smirk.

  “Maybe? They have this every year at Maggie's school and she's never asked me,” Ria said. “Thank you.” Ria gave Ellie a hug. Ellie held tightly and quietly breathed in Ria's scent. The bathroom door opened and Maggie walked into the room as Ellie and Ria broke their embrace.

  “Mom?” Maggie asked.

  Ria answered, “Yeah?”

  “Do you think the world of me?” Maggie asked.

  “I do,” Ria said. “I totally do.”

  “You were right Ellie,” Maggie said. “Okay, maybe you can tell one corny joke.”

  “Good night you jokester,” Ellie said.

  “Good night, Maggie,” Ria said.

  “Good night,” Maggie said. “I hope I do not regret this.”

  “I should go,” Ellie said as she walked toward the door.

  “Ellie,” Ria said as she took a step toward Ellie.

  Ellie spun around to Ria. Ria placed the flyer down on the counter and slowly sauntered toward Ellie. Ellie's heart quickened and she froze. Ria stopped a few inches from Ellie.

  “Thanks for covering for Julie on such short notice,” Ria said. “I thought of calling Gwen, but she only met Maggie once.”

  “No problem,” Ellie said. “You and Gwen have been spending a lot of time together. Is it serious?”

  “Yeah, I think it is,” Ria answered.

  “Yet, she doesn't have a relationship with Maggie,” Ellie said.

  “I just… you know,” Ria started to say.

  “I'm sorry. It's none of my business. Good night.”

  “Ellie,” Ria said as she grabbed Ellie's hand.

  “What?” Ellie managed to answer as she looked down at Ria's hand on her own.

  “You get it,” Ria said.

  “Get what?” Ellie asked.

  “You get how important Maggie is to me, how she means the world to me, and what's important to me,” Ria said. She pulled Ellie roughly into her arms again and held her tightly. Ellie wrapped her arms around Ria and held her tightly in return. “This is one of the sweetest things anyone has done for me. It's so wonderful to have you in my life,” Ria whispered.

  “You deserve the world,” Ellie said. She nuzzled her lips close to Ria's neck. Ellie felt energy surge in her stomach. She pulled away, and stepped a few feet back from Ria. She kept her eyes on the floor. “I should go, and you should go practice your presentation. Good night.”

  “Wait,” Ria said. Ellie reluctantly turned around. “Here’s your meal. It's the best homemade macaroni and cheese you'll ever have.”

  “Thanks,” Ellie said. “Good night.”

  “Good night,” Ria said.

  Ria walked into the elevator and texted Jazzie for a ride. Jazzie was only ten minutes out. Ellie sat in the lobby for a few minutes and then made her way out to the street. Her phone vibrated.

  Ria texted, Is everything alright?

  Ellie answered, Yeah, why?

  Why did you leave so quickly?

  Ellie said, I'm not sure. I guess uncomfortable with the amount of gratitude. Not used to people appreciating me.

  Okay. I was afraid my emotions and big hug scared you away, Ria said
.

  Ellie thought about the feel and smell or Ria and then said, Well I was afraid you were trying to get me into your bed. ;) Much too tired for that maybe tomorrow.

  Ellie answered, Look forward to it. Rest up you will need it.

  Ria texted, LOL.

  CHAPTER 14

  The next day she was awakened by the vibration of her phone. It was 3:00 p.m. and the sun was shining into her bedroom. She had stayed up most of the night recording music and writing songs.

  She slid open her phone screen. There was a picture from Ria. It was a pile of papers spread out on her counter. Chords were drawn all over the paper.

  Ria's text read, This is what Maggie was doing in school all day instead of work and skill building. You're in trouble, Miss Ellie.

  Ellie replied, Einstein was known to do equations during gym class.

  Ria asked, You're summoned for dinner tonight. Make it?

  Menu?

  Ria said, My favorite Puerto Rican Dish. At 6.

  Ellie texted, Already there.

  Great see you then.

  Ellie said, Ria, YOU woke ME up this time.

  Ria texted, Payback is a bitch.

  Ellie smiled as she slid the phone screen closed. Ellie jumped in the shower and then got dressed. She heard a knock at the door. She looked out the peep hole and saw Robert. She opened the door and he barged into the kitchen.

  “We alone?” he asked.

  “Good morning to you too,” Ellie said.

  “EJ, it's almost four,” Robert said. “I worry about you.”

  “No you don't. What's up?”

  “I'm here to accompany you to the photo shoot,” Robert said as he opened Ellie's fridge and pulled out a water.

  “Help yourself,” Ellie said sarcastically. “What? A photo shoot today?” Ellie pulled open her phone and saw the photo shoot in her calendar. “Reschedule.”

  “No, no can do. Let's go. They have wardrobe there. We have over twenty models waiting.”

  Ellie answered, “Ugh, I have to be done by dinner.”

  “We'll order in just like always,” Robert answered.

  “I have plans for dinner,” Ellie said. “This has to be quick.”

  “As quick as can be,” Robert answered.

  “Yeah, right, it usually takes seven hours,” Ellie said.

  Ellie texted Ria, So sorry. I forgot, I have a photo shoot. Hopefully over by 7, not sure though. Rain check?

  Ria answered, Sure, but Maggie is a little disappointed.

  Ellie said, Tell her I'm so sorry, please. I would rather be with you guys. I was looking fwd to it.

  Ria texted, Yes, okay.

  CHAPTER 15

  Ellie's photo shoot was done by a slow and picky photographer. It didn’t end until midnight. Ellie and Ria scheduled for Ellie to come by for breakfast the next morning. Ellie arrived at the door with flowers in one hand and music books under her arm.

  Ellie knocked on the door, and for a change Ria, instead of Maggie, answered it. Ria was wearing a maroon t-shirt and blue-jeans. Her hair was pulled back in a ponytail. Ellie was speechless and stared at Ria. The smell of wonderful food wafted its way to Ellie.

  “Hi, Ellie,” Ria greeted her.

  “Hi,” Ellie said.

  Ria motioned her head toward the bedroom, “She hasn't come out yet today.”

  “Oh,” Ellie said. “Anything I can do? I brought her some music books.”

  “I don't know Ellie. When she gets like this, I find it’s best not to push her,” Ria answered.

  “Oh, okay.” Ellie shifted in her stance and then remembered the flowers in her other hand. “This time for you, not your date.”

  “Thanks, these are great. Thank you,” Ria said as she accepted the flowers. “You didn't have to. You shouldn't feel guilty about last night. Things happen.”

  Ellie said, “I don't. Well, I do. You need to know, I'd much rather have been here.”

  “It was that bad, huh?” Ria said as she walked over to the kitchen, put the flowers down and stirred something on the stove.

  “No, it was okay. It’s only that being with you guys is simply amazing,” Ellie said as she walked over to the kitchen and leaned against the island opposite Ria. There was a long silence.

  “Uh huh. Can you put the flowers in water?” Ria handed Ellie a pair of scissor and a vase.

  “Yeah, I'm sorry. I tried to get out of the photo shoot, but my manager wouldn't let me. We had already booked the venue and the crew,” Ellie said.

  “It’s fine Ellie. We're not that exciting I know,” Ria said as she kept stirring something on the stove. Ellie slowly cut the stems of the flowers, and tried to muster up something else to say.

  Ellie asked, “Why can't you realize it's fun and nice for someone, for me, to spend time with you two?”

  “So nice that you didn't come last night?” Ria asked.

  “That had nothing to do with… I thought that you said not to feel guilty?” Ellie said.

  “I know. I just... First you can't come to dinner. Then Maggie gets all upset, and then Gwen doesn't have that much time for me. She's busy with work. I'm busy with work.”

  “Oh, sorry,” Ellie said.

  Ria sighed and then said, “Let's forget about it and have a good breakfast. I’m cooking my special omelet recipe with spicy sausage.”

  Ellie said, “Sounds great, and I'm really sorry for last night.”

  “Okay, let's just have an enjoyable breakfast,” Ria said as she mustered up a smile. Ellie's chest tightened and she took a couple of deep breaths.

  “Breakfast is ready!” Ria called. Ria and Ellie sat at the table and began to eat the omelets. There was a third plate sitting on the table for Maggie. Maggie trudged to the table.

  “Hey, Maggie,” Ellie greeted.

  “I'm coming out to breakfast, but I'm choosing to do a silent breakfast,” Maggie said.

  “Okay Maggie, be polite,” Ria said. Maggie wouldn’t look at Ellie. Ellie’s heart sank.

  “So Ellie, what are you doing this week?” Ria said. Ellie heard Maggie mumble something.

  “Maggie, remember if you're going to say something, you need to make sure others can hear it. But first make sure it's only appropriate things,” Ria whispered to Maggie.

  “Well, I'm going to be getting ready for some concerts. That's about it.” Maggie started to move her omelet around her plate quickly. Ria looked over at Maggie and back at Ellie.

  “How's your omelet?” Ria asked.

  “It's delicious. It has to be the best omelet that I've ever had,” Ellie answered.

  “What? Wait, no hot sauce? You have to,” Ria said as she shook the bottle over Ellie's plate. “Now, perfection.”

  “Why are you being so nice to her?” Maggie asked Ria.

  “Maggie, Ellie is our friend. Let's be polite,” Ria answered. Maggie glared at Ellie and kept eating.

  “If this is about having to cancel last night, I'm sorry,” Ellie said. “You can talk to me about it.”

  “Eighteen,” Maggie said.

  “What?” Ellie asked.

  “I said silent breakfast and you spoke nineteen words to me,” Maggie said.

  “Oh,” Ellie looked to Ria for help.

  “Now, twenty words!” Maggie yelled. “And twenty chords that I learned on your stupid guitar. You didn't even ask.”

  “I'm sure she would've asked if you hadn’t said it had to be silent,” Ria said. Maggie consumed forkfuls of her omelet, and gulped down her orange juice.

  “Excused?” Maggie asked. Ria nodded. Maggie walked back to her room and closed the bedroom door.

  “What no slamming of the door?” Ellie looked to Ria. “Any other kid would've slammed the door.”

  “She's anything but typical. I'm sorry about how she acted,” Ria said. “Unpredictability is hard for her. You can't tell her anything unless it's definite.”

  “Again, I'm sorry, and don't worry about the way she acted toward me. How can I help?” Ellie
asked.

  “Time. Give her some time,” Ria answered. They ate breakfast as they made some small talk. Ellie insisted on cleaning up as Ria sat on the counter a few feet away.

  Ellie finished the dishes and Ria said, “Hey, I got you something,” Ria walked to a pile of bags in the living room. Ellie followed and sat on the couch.

  “What? It's not my birthday,” Ellie said.

  “How would I know when it was anyway? You're a secret pirate,” Ria laughed.

  “April ninth,” Ellie answered.

  “Well, happy belated or early birthday.” Ria handed her a blue bag.

  Ellie pulled out a blue button shirt. “I think it will look great with your eyes.”

  Ellie held it to herself, “Thanks, this is really nice.” Ellie glanced at the shirt and then back at Ria and smiled.

  “When I'm stressed I shop and I end up buying for everyone and their mother,” Ria said.

  “Everyone?” Ellie asked as she raised her eyebrow.

  “Well, you and some other people,” Ria said.

  “What did you get Gwen?” Ellie hated to ask. “Or is it private?” Ellie laughed.

  “Um, no, I didn't get her anything,” Ria said. “She's extremely picky. She probably wouldn't wear anything I bought her. You should see the shirts she wears. One costs more than my whole wardrobe costs.”

  “Well you can dress or undress me any day,” Ellie said as she winked at Ria. Ria threw a couch pillow at her. “Seriously, you have great taste.” Ria grabbed the remote and surfed the channels.

  “What are you stressed about?” Ellie asked.

  Ria asked, “How did you know that I was stressed?”

  “You said that when you're stressed you shop,” Ellie said.

  “Oh, I'm just stressed over work stuff, Gwen and our new relationship, and, as always, over Maggie,” Ria said.

  “Everything going okay with Maggie?” Ellie asked.

  “She's so fragile,” Ria said. “She's not strong enough to deal with all the things going on and I don't know how to make her stronger.”

  “Do you want my opinion?” Ellie asked.

  “Sure,” Ria said.

  “Well, you're her mother, but as I see it Maggie is perfect,” Ellie began to raise her voice. “Instead of her adjusting to the world, I think the world needs to adjust to her.” Ellie's eyes filled with tears and Ria stared into her eyes. They held each others' gaze for what seemed liked minutes.