Love's Autograph (6 page)

Ellie was home licking her wounds from lunch with her so-called friends. She texted Ria and didn’t get a text back until a few hours later.

Ria
said,
Maggie is having some problems at school. I have been busy with her therapist and behavior planning. Things at the hospital are out of control busy. Sorry.

El
lie took a deep breath and then texted,
Anything I can do?

No. Thanks though. This is my life
, Ria said.

Ellie
said,
We all have things we have to work through. Hang in there and call me anytime.

I'm
sorry that we haven’t talked in a while. I miss you, Ria said.

Ellie
said,
I miss you too. I would love to see you. Let me know when you're free for another lunch or dinner.

Ellie received a text from Ria.

Ria
said,
I'm going to Hot Mama’s!

Where? Is that a strip club? Classy
, Ellie said.

Ria
said,
No, it’s this amazing Louisiana-style food place. Been dying to go there. Impossible to get reservations.

A smile
spread across Ellie's face and she said,
Great. I'll be there to hang with Maggie at 6.

About a half-hour later Ellie saw that Ria had posted a picture on her
Friends News status. Ria was wearing a red dress that made Ellie inhale and hold her breath. Ria’s hair was down and she was wearing bright red lipstick. Ellie was mesmerized by her beautiful smile and the twinkle in her eye. She wished she was the reason behind that smile. The caption under the picture read:
Going to Hot Mama’s tonight. Can't wait!

Ellie texted Dina,
Ever hear of Hot Mama's?

Dina answered
, What planet do you live on? Yeah, Davie has a cousin who works at the door. Why? Want to go tonight? He might be able to get us in.

Ellie said,
Just wondering. A friend is going. I can't hang tonight. I'm busy.

Babysitting? And Ria is going with someone
to Hot Mama’s? I swear Ellie, I'm going to call Ria and profess your love for her,
Dina warned.

Ellie confessed
,
You know me well. I'll do it. I'm waiting for my opening. If tonight's date doesn't go well, I'll probably make my move.

Ellie don't forget, I’ve known you since high school. If you don't make a move
…

Ellie said
,
Okay okay. Have a good night.

Glad you became a rock star
so that you can change diapers,
Dina teased.

Ellie responded
,
LOL. You're too funny.

Dina texted,
What are friends for!

Ellie slipped on her shoes and threw on a flannel over her Green Lantern t-shirt. Her phone vibrated in her front jean pocket.

Ria texted,
Stood up. You’re free tonight.

Ellie'
s heart sunk and she answered,
What happened?

Ria said
,
I have no idea. I was sent an email that she had to cancel tonight. When I tried to reschedule, she stated that it wouldn't work out. What the heck?

Ellie imagined Ria wiping
off her lipstick, makeup, slipping out of her dress and slipping into jeans and a t-shirt. Then completing it by throwing her hair into a ponytail.

Ellie thought,
I have to do something to salvage her evening.

Ellie texted Ria,
Yes, I'm free tonight, and you're free too. How about a date with me?

Ria answered
,
That is nice, but it is okay. I'll be fine. I also don't have anyone to watch Maggie.

How about we hang
out at your house? I'll bring dinner for three,
Ellie offered.

Ria said
,
If you're sure you want to spend your Sunday with us, I could use some company.

Ellie said
,
See you in about an hour.

Ellie called
Davie who wanted to know all the details of the whole story and was ecstatic to soprano proportions about Ellie taking Ria a nice dinner. With his help, she connected with his cousin at Hot Mama’s. Ellie ordered one of every appetizer and one entree from each section of the menu. Not only was Hot Mama’s exclusive, it was expensive. Jazzie drove Ellie to pick up the food.

Ellie received a text from Dina,
Davie called me. She was stood up. Now this is your chance. Don't back down or chicken out. You're a stellar catch for anyone. She would be lucky to have you.

Ellie texted back,
Thanks. Sweating up a storm and trying to formulate what to say. I forgot to change. Still wearing a flannel and t-shirt.

“
That food smells delicious,” Jazzie said.

“
Yup, and here is a take-out dish for you,” Ellie said. “Luck of the draw. Do you like chicken and sausage?”

“
For real?” Jazzie said. “Ya-ya.”

“
Good good,” Ellie said.

“
No, Ya-ya. I think that's the name of the meal. It's a famous dish.” Jazzie said.

“
Oh,” Ellie said.

“
What's going on?” Jazzie asked. “You look a little off.”

“
I'm hoping to tell Ria how I feel about her,” Ellie said. “I'm not sure how to say it. Should I just tell her? Or should I simply kiss her? I have no idea.”

“
You, EJ Way, nervous,” Jazzie said. “I swear my stereotype of you famous people is being shattered. You're nervous. She still doesn't know you like her?”

“
No,” Ellie said. “I don't think she has a clue. I haven't been sending her any signals.”

“
I don't know. I think that you should just wait for a moment and kiss her. Actions speak louder than words.”

“
I don't know. What if she freaks out on me?” Ellie asked. “I was thinking of saying something like ‘you've been wasting your time with all these dates. I'm someone who won't stand you up. I love spending time with you, and I wish you would go out with me.’”

“
Too wordy. Just kiss her,” Jazzie said. “Then text me in the morning.” Jazzie laughed.

“
You're not helping,” Ellie said. She felt her chest tightening. She ran her sweaty palms up and down her jeans.

“
You need to get pumped up,” Jazzie said. She pulled over into a parking spot.

“
What you doing?” Ellie asked.

“
Wait. I don't mess with my phone while driving,” Jazzie said as she picked up her phone and scrolled down the screen, plugged the phone into the stereo. “Let's get pumped to this. This gets me going when I'm down or low on energy. Hope it works on you!” A crowd’s roar came out of the speakers. “It's a boot leg, hope you don't mind. I bought it before I knew you!” Jazzie yelled over the noise.

“
What do you do when they are all against you, your day seems wasted, your heart is broken, and all that?” a recording of Ellie yelled.

“
Take it up!” the crowd yelled back.
Take It Up
started playing through the speakers.

“
This is from my first San Francisco concert two years ago!” Ellie yelled over the music
.

Jazzie started making movements with her hand and singing along. Jazzie looked at Ellie in the rear view mirror and raised her eyebrows to Ellie
. Ellie smiled back and started to sing along. Jazzie rolled down all the windows and turned up the radio. They took turns singing parts of the song.

Up and down this is my town

Stepping this way I'm coming through

no room for any of you

My love is pure and won't be tainted by this

My muscles, these muscles have a plan

Taking it up, take it up!

Ellie was delivered pumped
up around the corner from Ria's building. She stood in the elevator holding the handles of the two bags from Hot Mama’s. They were high quality, gray cloth bags with a fancy H and M on the side. The smell of hot sauces, gator meat balls and rice filled the elevator.

If the elevator got stuck, I
’d be armed with a feast for a queen. Too bad I have nothing to drink.

Ellie pictured Ria's response when she saw Ellie standing there with
Hot Mama's food. She felt like a knight riding on an alligator across the moat and up the tower to claim her princess. She imagined how Ria's face would light up, a beautiful smile dancing across her face. She wondered if Ria would put that hot red dress back on. The elevator doors opened snapping Ellie out of her trance and cheesy grin.

Ellie knocked on the door and it swung open.

“Hey Ellie, you and I get to spend time together tonight!” Maggie said. “I have to go finish some things in my room.”

“
Yes, and I brought us all dinner,” Ellie said as Maggie hurried toward her bedroom. Ria passed Maggie in the hallway and rounded the corner into the living room. Ria was wearing her light blue scrubs.

“
Hi Ria,” Ellie said as she held up the two bags of food.
So much for the red dress.

“
Hi, so, change in plans again. Plan ‘C’ I guess. There is this surgery they need me on at the hospital. It's perfect for my study and a journal article I’m working on,” Ria said.

“
Oh, I didn't realize you were doing a study—” Ellie started.

“
I'm not sure when I'll be back. I might need to stay overnight at the hospital. Julie can't Maggie-sit tonight. Would you be able to stay over and get Maggie off to school?” Ria was still rambling.

“
Sure, I imagine she's pretty self-sufficient and—” Ellie started and was interrupted again.

“
Yes, she gets up, has cereal, makes her lunch, you know,” Ria said.

Ria walked back to her bedroom to finish getting ready. Ellie put the food on the counter. She ran both of her hands through her hair and left her fingers interlocked on the top of her head. She grabbed an assortment of appetizers and an
entrée, putting them in a bag for Ria. Ria came out of the bedroom with her purse over her shoulder.

She yelled into Maggie's room,
“Later, gator. Listen to Ellie.”

“
Yes, I will be fine,” Maggie robotically called out.

“
You can sleep in my bed. It's wicked comfortable,” Ria said to Ellie. “The shorts and tshirts are in my drawer.”

“
Okay,” Ellie answered. “Here, you have to eat.” Ellie handed her the bag.

“
Thanks,” Ria said. “Sorry about dinner and all, but you were planning to Maggie-sit originally, right?”

“
Yeah, a little disappointing,” Ellie said. “But I guess you're saving lives. How can I compete with that, right?” Ellie tried to sound upbeat.

“
Yeah, you know, there is nothing like a complicated, unique surgery to cheer me up,” Ria said. “It's weird, you know, it's kind of a high for me.”

“
Yeah, I guess I can understand that,” Ellie said.

“
Thanks. Have a good night,” Ria said. Ria walked out the door and shut it without giving Ellie a hug. Ellie turned around facing the counter of food and there was a knock at the door. She went to the peephole and it was Ria. Ellie smiled and opened the door.

“
Forgot my keys,” Ria said as she grabbed her keys off the counter. “Good night.”

“
Good night,” Ellie responded.

“
Wait!” Ellie called and Ria turned around. The door stayed open behind her. “Umm… I wanted to let you... I wanted to tell you something.”

“
Oh, okay,” Ria looked out the door and then back at Ellie.

“
Well, I just wanted to say that it’s good to see you. Even if it's only for a few seconds. Can I at least have a hug good night?”

“
Of course, sorry I’m so rushed,” Ria said as she smiled, put the food bag on the floor and stepped toward Ellie. Ellie held Ria tightly and then released her. “Good luck, break a heart, or sew an intestine. Not sure what to tell surgeons for luck.” Ria laughed, and Ellie forced a smile.

“
Thanks, Ellie. Text me if you need anything. My team will read me the text if you send it while I’m operating.” Ria left again. As the door shut behind Ria, Ellie looked down at her arm. She swore she could see a tattoo of a heart forming on her sleeve.

Ellie and Maggie ate the expensive
Hot Mama’s food. Maggie tasted each new food, then wrote in her notebook her reaction and carefully thought about each one.

“
Mom missed some amazing food,” Maggie said.

“
Naw, I sent some with her,” Ellie said.

“
You treat her nice,” Maggie said. “I've never seen someone be so nice to my mom other than my grandfather.”

“
She deserves it,” Ellie said.

“
That is nice of you,” Maggie said. “Why don't you go out on dates with her?”

“
What makes you think that I like women?” Ellie asked.

“
You're a lesbian aren't you?” Maggie asked.

“
Yes,” Ellie said. “How'd you know?”

“
Please,” Maggie said. “I am very observant for my age.”