Love's Autograph (32 page)

“
You okay?” Dina asked. Ellie raised her head and her eyes were full of tears. Dina slid her chair next to Ellie and Ellie's head fell into Dina's lap as her body shook from sobs.

“
I should've stuck with my plan of killing her,” Dina said.

Maggie texted Ellie,
Jessica can't stop talking about the private jet you sent her on. She called you an angel.

Mom looks up stuff on you on the internet all the time. She has all your songs, and listens to them a lot.

I heard the track I'm on. It says it is me, but it does not sound like me.

I got my first royalty check. Mom says I have to put it away for college.

We visited your studio, but you weren't there. Jazzie said you haven't been around for weeks.

Do you watch cartoons without me?

Ellie texted to Dina,
It’s hard getting someone out of your mind and out of your life when you still have a connection to them
.

The first week in December Ria texted,
You still want to have Maggie to your place?

Ellie looked at the phone and smiled at a familiar picture of Ria and answered
,
Yes, that would be great. We can figure out a time when I'm in Boston again, and I can bring her back.

Or I can bri
ng her out, and I can visit too,
Ria offered.

Ellie said
,
That would probably not be a good idea.

Okay, let me know when
you're in Boston and she can spend some time with you. She is free 12/27 to 1/3.

Ellie said
,
I'll let you know ASAP.

Ellie met Ria and Ellie at
EJ's Way
studio on December twenty-seventh. She would bring her back to Boston on December thirtieth so that Maggie could spend New Year's Eve with Ria. The whole way from Boston to Western Massachusetts, Maggie read Ellie pages from her notebook.

Girls laugh more than boys.

Boys take longer to write sentences.

My teacher says umm a lot.

My teacher usually eats chips for lunch.

Ellie especially liked her newest notebook. It was titled Mom.

She reads every night before bed.

S
he takes long showers and leaves hair in the drain.

Mom says 'no' more than 'yes'.

Mom has many smiles. One is for when she wakes me
up; one is when she is thinking of
something, one is when she is really mad at me but does not want to tell me, and one is her
real one.

She listens to Ellie's music a lot.

She drives by EJ's Way even when it is not on the way.

She says she does not miss Gwen. I don't either.

She saves lives practically every day.

Mom says that I can be anything I want to be. I almost believe her.

Mom talks to my grandparents every Sunday. She lies and says she went to church this

morning.

Mom cries at night sometimes. I hear her.

Mom eats chips and cookies a lot.

She does not answer me when I ask about Ellie. Does she like her?

They pulled down a narrow paved road. At a rock with a green number 17 on it
, Ellie turned right. She continued driving down a long dirt driveway with bushes and trees on either side of the drive. A quarter-mile up the way was a log cabin.

“
This is your place?” Maggie asked.

“
Yup,” Ellie answered.

“
It is small,” Maggie said. “Is that rude? Did you lose all your money? Can I ask that?”

“
Both of those statements are rude,” Ellie said. “Look, I needed to simplify my life, and this is what I like,” Ellie said as she grabbed one of Maggie's bags from the trunk. “You might like it. Come in and see.”

They stepped into the house. It was an open floor plan cabin. There was a living room, kitchen, bathroom and a spiral staircase that lead up to a loft master bedroom. The ceiling was high and had wooden exposed beams.

“Wow, this is nice!” Maggie said. “Where do I sleep?”

“
The couch? Or if you want, you can sleep in my room and me on the couch,” Ellie said.

“
The couch is fine. If that doesn't work, then your bed,” Maggie said.

“
Come, I'll show you the coolest thing,” Ellie said. They walked out the back door toward a light brown barn bigger than the house. Ellie slid open the door. Maggie and she were greeted by a room full of musical instruments. The inside of the barn was rustic like the interior of the cabin. Dozens of guitars hung on the wall. A full drum set was set up at the back of the room. One wall had a counter with several stools. Several amps sat around the room. A couch sat in the middle of the room and another one on an empty wall.

“
Wow!” Maggie said. “This is what I'm talking about. This is great! You should live in here.”

“
Cool right?” Ellie said.

They went back in the house and Ellie made them lunch.

“You learned to cook?” Maggie asked.

“
Only the basics,” Ellie answered. “Not anything compared to your mother's cooking.”

“
Oh, I have to text her and let her know I got here,” Maggie said as she pulled out her phone, slid open the screen, and tapped on the screen. The swooping sound of a text being sent filled the air. Within a few seconds a text was received. “Mom said, 'Glad you got there okay. What's her place like?' What should I say?”

“
I don't know,” Ellie said. “You can say what you think of my house.”

“
Okay,” Maggie said. She pushed on her phone screen for almost a minute.

“
You writing a book?” Ellie asked.

“
Shh… I mean hold on a minute please,” Maggie said. She heard the message being sent. “If you must know I said, 'Her house is small and I have to sleep on the couch, but that is okay. I asked if she did not have money, but then she said that was rude to ask. She has a great barn with a bunch of instruments. She can cook, but only basic things. She misses your cooking. And she is lonely.”

“
What? Why did you say that I was lonely?” Ellie asked.

“
Aren't you?” Maggie said. “Why else would you have me coming to keep you company? You live here all alone,” Maggie said.

“
That doesn't mean I'm lonely,” Ellie said.

“
You aren't?” Maggie asked.

“
Well, kinda,” Ellie said. “But don't tell her that.” Maggie's phone received another text. “What does it say?”

“
Mom says, 'I miss you. Make sure you don't ask personal questions. Go easy on Ellie. Tell her I miss her. Be good.' That is what she said. I don't know why she says be good. I'm always good,” Maggie said.

The next morning Ellie woke to the sound of Maggie walking up the spiral staircase.
Am I being watched?
Ellie turned over and saw Maggie sitting on the wooden chest next to her bed.

“
Good morning Maggie,” Ellie said.

“
I was not staring at you, and I was not trying to wake you up,” Maggie said.

“
I know. What’s up?” Ellie asked as she rubbed her eyes.

“
We have an appointment at 11:00 a.m.,” Maggie said. “We have a 32 mile drive for 43 minutes. You need to bring $780,” Maggie said as she stood and walked down the spiral staircase.

Ellie yelled down,
“What? Umm this is too early. What are you doing? You don't even live around here.”

“
I have my ways,” Maggie said as she held up her tablet. “Also, Mom taught me how to make pancakes. I brought a mix and I made you some.”

“
I slept through you cooking? Don't tell your mom that,” Ellie said. “Can I shower quickly?”

“
Five minutes,” Maggie commanded. “You are going to do it? I thought I'd have to do some more convincing.”

“
I've become more relaxed in my loneliness, and I like adventure. I have to stop by the bank,” Ellie said.

“
You don't have money here?” Maggie asked.

“
Not $700,” Ellie said as she rushed around the room finding clothes.

“
$780, not sure if there is tax,” Maggie said.

“
You going to give me a hint?” Ellie asked.

“
Umm, it is a present for you from me,” Maggie said.

“
That I have to pay for?” Ellie asked.

“
You are rich, right? My mom says it is the thought that counts,” Maggie said.

“
Okay, tell me, is it at least legal?” Ellie asked.

“
Yes,” Maggie said. “At least I think so.” Ellie laughed as she walked down the staircase.

“
Your mom will be a little mad if we get arrested,” Ellie said. “I'm going to take a shower. Try to stay out of trouble okay.”

“
Okay, I'm going to call Mom,” Maggie said.

“
Alright,” Ellie said.

It was a warm December day. After Ellie picked up $900 from the bank, Maggie used her phone GPS to navigate them down back roads to a huge beautiful
farm house three towns away.

“
Okay, ask for Tara,” Maggie said.

“
This isn’t a date is it?” Ellie asked.

“
No,” Maggie said. “Why would you need money for a date?”

“
What am I asking about? You have to tell me that much,” Ellie said. “This is weird.”

“
Don't worry. It is a positive surprise. Don't be scared,” Maggie said.

“
Okay, you better be right or you're sleeping in the barn tonight,” Ellie said.

“
Can I? That would be nice,” Maggie said.

“
Let's go,” Ellie said. “Tanya?”

“
Tara,” Maggie said.

They walked up the house and two dogs pushed their way through the screen door and onto the porch. An older woman with long gray hair walked out onto the porch.

“Hi, you must be Maggie,” the woman said as she outstretched her hand to Ellie.

“
She's Maggie and I'm Ellie,” Ellie said. “You Tara?” Ellie asked.

“
Yes, Ellie? EJ Way?” Tara asked.

“
Yes, that is her,” Maggie said.

“
Oh how nice. They are out back,” Tara said as she hopped off the porch and trudged through the snow to a back porch area.

“
What's back here?” Ellie whispered to Maggie.

“
You'll see”!” Maggie squealed as she brought her hands to her mouth in excitement.

I don't care why we
’re here. I’d pay $780 for a bucket of mud just to see this look on Maggie's face. I wish I could have captured that look for Ria.

“
You can have your pick,” Tara said. “Only one male has been taken.”

Ellie walked onto the back porch to see a litter of puppies.

“Puppies?” Ellie asked Maggie.

“
Yes, so you are not lonely. I researched how to make people not lonely, and one suggestion was a puppy.”

“
Oh,” Ellie said.

“
So, I contacted Tara here, and she agreed to sell you one. It is the closest person to you,” Maggie said. “They are mature enough for you to take one today. Right Tara?”

“
Right,” Tara said. “Wow, I've heard of moms surprising kids with puppies, but not kids surprising moms.” Ellie had been in a trance staring at the puppies, with the mention of mom, Ellie's head snapped to Tara and then to Maggie.

“
She is not my mom,” Maggie said. “She’s in love with my mom. My mom is in Boston. I’m just visiting Ellie.”

“
Maggie,” Ellie said.

“
What, you are in love with her still right?” Maggie asked.

“
Okay, let's not talk about this right now. So, do you think I should really get a dog?” Ellie asked. “What kind are these?”

“
Australian Cattle dog mix,” Tara said. “They look like the cattle dog. I can't prove they are pure bred, but I'm highly certain. That's why they’re only $780.”

“
I did a lot of research, and took a lot of online surveys. This one fits you,” Maggie said. “Trust me.”