Love's Autograph (3 page)

“
Ellie is here. She brought flowers. You can leave now,” Maggie said in her robotic voice.

“
Maggie, that probably wasn't the best way to say that. We'll work on it,” Ria said as she stared, mesmerized, at Ellie.

“
Ellie Jane, but I like to be called Ellie,” Ellie said.

“
Nice to meet you Ellie. I'm Ria,” Ria said as she shook Ellie's hand.

“
Nice to meet you,” Ellie said.

Ria turned to Maggie,
“I'm going to talk to her for a minute. Okay, Maggie?”

“
Yes, but just for a minute. You said she is here to spend time with me ,” Maggie answered.

She probably didn't know that I was
EJ Way when we were texting. I texted her as Ellie. I guess Roxie didn't tell her who I am.

Ria waved Ellie to the kitchen.
“What?” Ria said. “This never happens. She never warms up to people this fast. She hardly warms up to anyone. She's showing you her notebooks?”

Doesn't she know who I am?

“I have a way,” Ellie answered and laughed
.

.

“You look… you look…you seem a little overdressed for babysitting,” stammered Ria. “You brought flowers?”

Does she have a clue I
’m EJ? She’s gorgeous—and oblivious that I am famous. I want to take her on the date, not that chick from work.

“
Umm, yeah well, I just came from a date,” Ellie answered.

Ria tugged on her necklace,
“Well, I hope my date goes well.”

“
How could it not? You look amazing,” Ellie answered.

“
Thank you,” Ria said as her face turned red. Elle smiled at how her comment affected Ria.

“
So, umm, she has already had dinner. She's in her pajamas. She goes to bed at 8:32. She has a watch alarm that will go off. She doesn't like to be told when to go to sleep. If she wants, she might allow you to read her a book.”

Ellie answered,
“My pleasure.”

“
And umm… there is food and drinks... oh but no alcohol. I shouldn’t have said that. I'm sure you wouldn’t drink, would you... I'm sorry, it’s been a long time since I left her with someone other than family or her regular sitter.”

Ria is absolutely adorable. I could kiss her right now.

“Not me, I'd worry more about my family. She's in capable hands. Roxie wouldn’t have vouched for me otherwise. I'm assuming she vouched for me?” Ellie asked.

“
Oh, yes, she said that you were great with kids and I already see that you are,” Ria said.

“
What else did she tell you about me?” Ellie asked.

“
She said that you were one of a kind and very sweet,” Ria said. “What did she tell you about Maggie?”

“
Not much,” Ellie said.

“
Maggie is on the spectrum, autism spectrum. Did Roxie tell you that?”

“
No, she didn't, and I don't see how it makes a difference. We'll be fine.” Ellie said.

“
Mom, it has been way more than a minute I am sure,” Maggie said. “You are not on time. I'd like Ellie back.”

“
See, she's very literal,” Ria whispered to Ellie and winked. “Okay, off I go,” Ria said as she walked to the living room and gave Maggie a kiss. “Goodnight, Maggie. I'll not be home until late.”

“
It does not matter, I will be sleeping,” Maggie said. “We have notebooks to read.”

“
You'll be okay?” Ria whispered to Ellie.

“
We'll be fine,” Ellie answered. “Oh, here,” Ellie handed Ria the flowers. “Give these to your date.”

“
No, those are yours,” Ria said.

“
No, that's fine. I'd love for you to use them. You've been waiting a while for this date,” Ellie said.

“
Sure?”

“
Yeah, no worries. You can't go on a date empty handed,” Ellie said.

“
Perfect, thanks. You have my number right?”

“
Yes, go and have fun,” Ellie answered.
Ria walked out the door with flowers in hand. Ellie watched Ria leave and stared as it shut behind her. She heard the
ping
of the elevator. She sighed.

“
Ellie Jane, likes to be called Ellie,” Maggie said.

“
Yes,” Ellie answered.

Maggie said,
“We have a lot of notebooks to read. 8:32 is my bedtime. Not much time left.”

“
Okay, what are these notebooks?” Ellie asked. Maggie spent until 8:25 p.m. showing Ellie all her notebooks with cartoon information. She had notebooks on disguises, dialogue and funny signs. Ellie's favorite book was Maggie's book of questions.

Why does gravity not work all the time? It does not work until they notice it.

Why can't they get along?

Why does the mouse live in a house with a cat?

Why doesn't my mom like Eggers Element?

Did Pixie Hamster get speech therapy like me?

When it was time for bed, Maggie stopped mid-sentence and wished Ellie a good night.

“
Good night Ellie. I can put myself to bed. I know that I need to go to the bathroom, wash my hands, brush my teeth, and turn off my light. Please do not come into my bedroom unless there is a fire or some other emergency,” Maggie said.

“
Goodnight Maggie. It was wonderful meeting you. I'll be out here watching television or hanging out or something until your mom comes home,” Ellie said.

“
And not drinking alcohol, remember what mom said,” Maggie said.

“
Juice and soda it will be,” Ellie answered. Maggie tilted her head to the right at Ellie's statement.

“
Did you mean for that sentence to sound weird?” Maggie asked.

“
Yes I did,” Ellie answered.

“
Because it did,” Maggie said. “And we don't have television. We only have movies. My mom doesn't like television. Mom has a big selection of movies though. You use this remote here, and point it at that box there. There is like thousands of movies. I watch cartoons.”

“
Thanks for letting me know,” Ellie said. Maggie went into the bathroom and then to her bedroom.

Then Ellie was alone. Despite being in the middle of
Boston, the apartment was quiet. Ellie poked her head in Ria's room and saw the bed unmade and clutter strewn on the dresser. She walked around the apartment and saw pictures of Ria and Maggie. On the wall she saw several graduation degrees. Ria had a medical degree from Stanford. She was a doctor. Roxie didn’t mention that. Ellie pulled out her phone and searched for Ria on the internet. She found out that not only was she a surgeon, but one of the youngest leading general surgeons in the country.

“
Hot and a doctor,” Ellie whispered. “I gave up a date with a hot doctor.”

Time crawled on. Ellie did all the dishes and wiped down the counter. She straightened the pillows on the couch and then tu
rned on the television. She scrolled through the shows Ria had saved in her movie archive. She pulled up the summaries and most of them were romantic comedies. Ellie's phone kept vibrating. It was text after text from her manager Robert. She did not reply. Then a text came through under another tone.

How's
she doing?
Ria texted.

She's
fast asleep. How's the date?
Ellie answered.

Don't ask.
I'll be home in about an hour or so.

Can't be going so badly if
you're still out,
Ellie said.

Wait til I tell you. See you soon. Thanks. Text if you need anything,
Ria said.

Ellie said
,
Okay have fun.

Ellie found a tolerable movie and
lay on the couch to watch it. A fruity smell filled the pillows.

Ellie woke to the sound of keys repeatedly being dropped at the door. Ellie walked toward the front door. Through the peephole she saw Ria. She opened the door.

“
Oh, I was trying to be quiet,” Ria tried to whisper but her words came out loudly. Ellie smelled beer.

“
That’s okay,” Ellie said as she picked up Ria's keys off the floor. Ria grabbed the keys from Ellie's hand and wobbled into the apartment. “How is she?”

“
Sleeping,” Ellie answered. “Easy night.”

“
At least for one of us,”
Ria said as she slid off her high-heels and tossed them near the door.

“
What happened? If you don't mind me asking,” Ellie asked.

“
Oh, I don't want to bog you down with all my drama. I'm sure you've better things to do and it's late,” Ria said.

“
I'm interested,” Ellie said.

Ria walked over to the couch and motioned for Ellie to come sit with her and asked,
“Well, what's worse than being stood-up? I don't have cable. I don't watch television.” Ria pointed to the movie on the screen.

“
That's fine. Umm, I don't know. What?” Ellie asked as she picked up the remote and turned off the movie.

Ria answered,
“Someone showing up with a bunch of friends and not realizing that it was a date.”

“
Oh.”

“
Yeah, she didn't know I was asking her out on a date. That's bad, huh? And I showed up with those flowers. I said that some random guy on the street gave them to me,” Ria said shaking her head at the absurdity of her evening.

Those flowers are full of lies. Could be worse. You could
have been the accidental sitter like me.

“
Then she...” Ria said as she tried to recall her date’s name. “Mandy... continued to flirt and make out with several guys in the room. Come to find out that she's not gay!”

“
Your gaydar not working?” Ellie asked.

“
You gay?” Ria asked.

“
Yes.”

Ria laughed,
“No, it's still working. I guess not on her. Months of crush gone to waste.”

“
You'll have to find someone else to crush on,” Ellie suggested.

“
Any suggestions?” Ria asked. Ellie hesitated and Ellie's face turned red. “You two have fun?” Ria changed the subject.

“
Yes, it was great. She’s wonderful,” Ellie said. “She put herself to bed and gave me strict instructions not to come near her room unless there was an emergency.”

“
She does that,” Ria said. “You were great with her.” Ria slumped into the couch. “I've never seen anybody get so close to her so fast. She never let me see those notebooks. Did she actually share them with you?”

Ellie replied,
“Every last sentence and drawing.”

Ria shifted on the couch and squared her shoulders to Ellie. She was now face
-to-face with Ellie and a bit closer. Ellie felt electricity between them. “What's in them? I was too scared to ever peek. I asked once. She freaked out. It was as if I'd cut off her right hand.” Ellie shifted nervously on the couch. Her pulse raced and she had a hard time keeping eye contact with Ria so close to her.

“
I was sworn to secrecy. No concerning content. I promise. It was so nice to have some kid time. It was surprisingly relaxing,” Ellie said as she stood and moved toward the door. “It was nice meeting you. Call me some time.”

“
Wait, no wait,” Ria grabbed Ellie's sleeve. “I'm a little buzzed but not ready for bed. Stay a little bit? I'd rather this night end on a positive note. Do you want a drink?” Ellie looked down at Ria and hesitated to answer. Ria's brown eyes held her there. An awkward silence fell between them.

“
Umm, sure what you got?” Ellie answered. Ria pointed to the kitchen.

“
I don't know. Look in the fridge,” Ria said. Ellie grabbed two beers and gave one to Ria. Ria connected her phone to some speakers and the two sat on the couch. Music filled the room.

“
That's the first date I've gone on in over a year, and it wasn't even a date,” Ria said.

“
You must have been really busy. No dates and from the sound of this music, you haven't updated your music archive in what. Twenty years?” Ellie said and laughed. “Well, the dating world only can get better from here.”

“
Where did you read that? A bumper sticker? And I've been busy with things like medical school, a kid, a divorce, and saving lives. Not much time for keeping up with television and the latest music,” Ria said.

Maybe that
’s why she doesn't recognize me.

“
Okay, you get a pass on being behind in the media world,” Ellie said. “Let's talk about dating.”
I want to learn as much as I can about Ria.

“
People keep trying to set me up, but I'm afraid of the whole friend setting you up thing. You never know what you'll get and then there is all that pressure because a friend set you up.”

Ellie chuckled and asked,
“How do you know Roxie?”

“
She's a friend of the family. I haven't seen her much since she hit the big time. But she was around a lot when I was little,” Ria added.

“
I bet you were cute when you were younger,” Ellie said without thinking. “I mean you're good looking now...”

“
I think tonight pushed me over the edge,” Ria interrupted Ellie's flirtatious blunder.

“
Over the edge?” Ellie asked.

“
Not like that.”

“
Like what then?” Ellie asked.

“
I'm going to dive into online dating,” Ria said.

“
Nothing wrong with that,” Ellie said. “I've met my most diligent stalkers that way.”

“
Stop poking fun. I’m doing it right now.” Ria staggered to the kitchen counter and brought back a laptop. It took Ria a few seconds to find the power button and her screen navigation was a bit inaccurate. Ellie avoided the whole drunken mess and grabbed the laptop from Ria.

“
Hey, what you doing?” Ria asked.

“
What website?” Ellie asked.

“
What do you think? Any ideas?” Ria asked.

“
Boston's Singles
?” Ellie responded.

“
Sure,” Ria said. “You date a lot? Can I ask that?”

“
Do you mean is it in the Babysitter Handbook of Etiquette? Yes, I guess,” Ellie said.

“
You guess what?” Ria asked as she took another sip of beer.

“
I haven't dated in a while, but I used to date a lot,” Ellie answered.

“
What's your current girl like?” Ria asked.

“
Okay, let's get you set up with a profile.” Ellie changed the subject and then navigated email, passwords, username and she started to build the profile.

“
Type this. I'm a fat divorcee with child. Like it or not.”

“
As enticing and as sexy as that is, I'm going to have to use my babysitter veto.” Ellie typed.

Ria read out loud as Ellie typed,
“Single mom with childcare so we can go explore Boston together. Loves to shop, dance, and has a great sense of humor. Looking to start dating fun woman who wants to share in these interests.” Ria poked Ellie and asked, “How did you know I like to dance, and that I like funny people?”

“
I said you have a great sense of humor.”

“
How did you know that?” Ria asked.

“
Roxie.”

“
Oh.”

“
Do you want to put that you're a doctor?” Ellie asked.

“
How did you know that? Oh… Roxie.”

Ellie pointed over her shoulder,
“No,
big
ass diploma on your wall.”

“
Oh, you can read. That's great in a babysitter.” Ria said as she took some gulps of her beer.

“
Stop losing focus. What else do you want on this? Anything else you want.”

“
Umm, they need to not bring other people on dates with them and not flirt with guys.”

Ellie responded,
“I think that's understood.”

“
Not tonight it wasn't,” Ria said.

“
Anything else they need to like?” Ellie asked.

“
Nothing.”

Ellie and Ria spent the night talking. Ellie had searched Ria's
‘Friends News’ account for a recent picture of Ria. Ellie picked a picture of Ria at a family party where she was laughing at something someone said. Ria was not paying attention to Ellie's navigation on the computer. This allowed Ellie to read some of her posts and look at several pictures. With every picture that Ellie saw, she yearned to see more and learn more about Ria.

Then they
logged on to the
Boston’s Singles
page, and watched the activity.

“
There are a lot of people online right now,” Ria said.

“
Probably people who were stood-up or had a bad date tonight,” Ellie answered.

“
I’m never online. All the pictures of me are through friends or family. All the interns talk about all these apps, sites, games, and I've no clue. I nod and change the subject,” Ria said.

“
I don't think you're missing anything. I’m on it too much,” Ellie said.

“
Yeah, I'm way busy. It does leave me clueless in a lot of conversations. What do you do?” Ria asked.

“
Oh besides babysit and make online profiles for hot, tipsy women?” Ellie asked.

“
You called me hot,” Ria said. “I needed that.”

“
You're gorgeous. You have to know that and I'm going to stop flirting and answer the question. I'm a musician,” Ellie said.

“
What kind? Like in a band or in an orchestra?” Ria asked.

“
Band,” Ellie answered.

“
Cool. I don't have a musical bone in my body,” Ria said.

Ellie realized that most of the time she had spent with Ria was
spent laughing.

I love her
smile, and her laugh. What is it about her smile that is so enticing?

With
Ria being tipsy it was easy for Ellie to linger on her gazes at Ria. Ria ran her finger down the side of her beer bottle. Her finger left a trail in the condensation. Ria brought the bottle to her full lips, took a drink and then placed the bottle on the coffee table, then leaned back on the couch. Ria's lips held Ellie's gaze. Ellie noticed each line of her lips. There was a slight scar below her lower lip. Ria had imperfections that drew Ellie to her. Ellie could almost taste Ria's lips on her own.

Did she fall off a swing? Get hit with a stick? Scratched by a cat? A biking injury? I would like to check every inch of her body.

She noticed the left side of Ria's mouth started to smile a millisecond before the right. She had beautiful brown eyes and her hair was thick and lightly kissed her shoulders. With every beer Ria got closer to Ellie on the couch. Ria patted Ellie's knee, shoulder or hand when she laughed. Ellie's skin tingled at each spot Ria touched.

Ria's shirt swooped down exposing part of her collarbone and her caramel skin. Ellie wanted to nibble down Ria's neck
all the way to that collarbone. Ellie could see herself continuing down to where her breasts met. Ria's breasts looked perfectly rounded under her shirt. Ellie had to pull
her eyes to Ria's eyes and then her lips as Ria spoke. But Ellie could not maintain her focus and her eyes started to wander again. Ria leaned into Ellie and slapped Ellie’s thigh. Each time Ria touched her, shivers flew through Ellie's body. At times Ria would rest her hand on Ellie's thigh, her arm, and her shoulder. Each time Ellie froze and wished she would keep it there forever.

Ellie noticed Ria's hands. Her fingers were long and thin. They seemed strong
, yet precise for surgery. Ria's feet were bare and her toes clung to the edge of the coffee table like a monkey’s. Her toenails were painted a deep red. Ellie looked at Ria's face. She was beautiful. Ellie wanted to run her fingers through Ria's long, thick hair. Ellie plastered her hand under her own thigh as if that would stifle her thoughts.

“
Who's your closest friend?” Ria asked.

“
That’s easy, Dina,” Ellie answered.

“
Why?” Ria asked.

Ellie leaned back on the couch and locked her hands behind her head and answered,
“She was the first person I came out to. She didn’t care. She said something like. ‘no duh.’ She followed it up with saying that if anybody else had a problem with it, she'd kick their ass.”