Love's Autograph (41 page)

“
You asked my parents?” Ria asked. Ellie nodded. “Oh, you're... that was sweet.” Ria leaned in and kissed Ellie again.

“
Mom, your kid is in the car. Not too mushy!” Maggie said.

Jazzie drove around the block a few times and then dropped them off at Ria's apartment complex. Maggie was excited about the new engagement and to Ria's dismay insisted in staying at the apartment instead of
her friend’s house. She spent most of the night looking up wedding venues and chatting with her grandmother about the wedding plans. Maggie went to bed with Remi in tow. Ria and Ellie adjourned to Ria's bedroom.

“
Well, at least
we
don't have to plan a big wedding,” Ellie said.

“
What do you mean? My mother is dying for one,” Ria said.

“
Well, first, it's whatever
you
want, and second, I think Maggie and Sophia will have it all set. We'll just have to show up,” Ellie and Ria laughed.

“
When do you want to go visit your parents?” Ria asked.

Ellie stared at the ceiling as if she was thinking and answered,
“Never.”

“
Ellie,” Ria said.

“
Okay never or whenever you have time,” Ellie said.

Ria said,
“At least we need to call them tomorrow morning. They probably heard about it via all the media. My parents would be furious.”

“
That’s your parents. My parents are different. Not bad different,” Ellie said.

“
Well, I want the chance to see your home and your embarrassing pictures,” Ria laughed.

“
Fair is fair,” Ellie said.

Ellie la
y back on the bed. Ria lay on top of Ellie and kissed her gently on the lips.

“
Today was perfect,” Ria said. “It was a perfect proposal, and this ring!”

“
I know, I don't think you have been able to go two minutes without looking at it,” Ellie laughed.

“
Sorry that Maggie is still here,” Ria said.

“
Don't be. This is her home too,” Ellie said. “When we live together, we won't be sending her off places.”

“
I know, but,” Ria said, “living together? That's right we'll live together. Where will we live? Where you live is too far and...”

“
Wow, we don't have to figure it all out tonight,” Ellie said as she pulled Ria into a kiss. “I don't care where I live as long as I'm with you.”

“
I was so looking forward to us being alone here tonight,” Ria whispered.

“
Come on you called out of work tomorrow right?” Ellie asked and Ria nodded. “So what's one more night of not making love?” Ria leaned down and planted kisses on Ellie's neck. Ellie held her breath, and Ria pushed her body into Ellie's.

“
Or we can be really, really quiet,” Ria said.

Ria, Ellie, and Maggie sat on a long, purple velvet couch across from a short blonde-haired woman. She was sitting in a matching purple chair, and was dressed head to toe as if she was going on the red carpet.

“
So we're here with EJ Way, her wife Dr. Ria Diaz, and their daughter Maggie Diaz,” the talk show host Hattie Pierce said. “Tell me EJ, how's life?”'

“
Well, we bought a new house just outside Boston. The label is doing well, and married life and family life is amazing.”

“
Your label was named New Label of the Year,” Hattie said.

“
Yes, umm and that wasn't always the case,” Ellie said. “At one point we thought we were going to have to fold. Then my agent, Dina Claison, found some sponsors, we signed some more bands, and I cranked out some albums.”

“
Two albums this year!” Hattie said. “A tour in your future?”

“
Yes, two albums, I've been inspired,” Ellie said as she took Ria's hand to her lips. “As for touring, not right now. We're enjoying our family time. And... and we found out that Maggie here is a genius at finding new talent.”

“
Is that so, Maggie? How?” Hattie asked.

“
Well, I got a chance to listen to some demos, and I was able to find the ones that were good or not,” Maggie said. “I listened then researched them on the web, and told Jazzie, EJ, and Dina who was good and not.”

“
She found us twenty-three bands through cold demos,” Ellie said. “She made us a huge amount of profit.”

“
I also play on the album,” Maggie said.

“
Yes, I heard that you play,” Hattie said. “You guys open to playing a little bit for us after the break?”

“
We sure will,” Maggie said.

“
Okay after the break, we'll come back with EJ Way, her beautiful wife, and talented daughter Maggie.”

The cameras go off.

“Beautiful wife,” Ria whispered to Ellie. “I think I can get used to this.”

“
Good 'cause you're stuck with me,” Ellie said.

Thank you for reading
Love’s Autograph
. If you enjoyed it, PLEASE leave feedback on Amazon.com, GoodReads and any other review sites. As a self-published author reviews are my life-line. Please send all constructive criticism to
[email protected]
.

I am constantly taking suggestions from my readers and updating my books.

My blog:
http://mmreynolds.blogspot.com/

Writings by Michele M. Reynolds:

Trail Swap

Off-Trail

Tunnel W

Love’s Autograph

Coming Soon! -
A Dozen East

Thank you to my friends and family who have supported my writing and creativity. Thank you to my partner Steph who tolerates my hours of writing and editing, for creating my book covers and for helping me get out of technology jams. Thank you to my Jath, Renee Desmarais, who supports practically everything I do. Thank you to three amazing kids Emily, Eli and Ty who lend me a plethora of creativity.

Thank you to my wonderful Beta Readers: Kristin Paterson, Traci Webber, Angie Peraza,
Elle Boca, Jessica Strunk, Sarah Matulis, Mia and Sandy Ferrara. You have been instrumental in making
Love’s Autograph
better. I appreciate and value your time and suggestions. Any mistakes are mine not theirs.

Last, thank to my dog Cali who suffers the most from my writing as she lounges impatiently at my feet as I finish just one more paragraph
...