Love's Autograph (9 page)

“
And then when I was done, her mother’s voice called down. She said, 'Ellie, Ellie is that you?' I froze. I looked up at Natalie whose face had turned to fear. Natalie moved her hand in a motion trying to shoo me away. I, with guitar in hand, ran out of her yard. I was hurdling hedges and generally tripping over things in the yard. I ran all the way home,” Ellie said.

“
Oh, that's horrible. That's horrible,” Ria said.

“
What was even worse is that I forgot I drove there and parked a few houses away. I dropped my guitar off at home, so that I could run back to the scene of the crime to retrieve my car,” Ellie added, as she laughed at her youthful blunder.

“
So, did she ever talk to you again?” Ria asked.

“
Well, the worst part of the story isn't over. Her family was Mormon. Her dad ended up coming to my house. I watched as her father and my father talked in the front yard. Her father pointed to the sky, pointed to the ground, pointed at the house and at times raised his voice. My dad nodded and Natalie’s father gave him some papers. He walked in the house and threw the papers on the table by the door. My heart was in my throat.”

“
Did your dad know you were a lesbian?” Ria asked.

“
I didn't even know I was. I didn't go so far into my thought process to realize that writing a love song for a girl was something only a lesbian would do. So my father came in and asked me if I knew what Natalie's father wanted. I nodded. He said that I should stay away from the family because they were very angry.”

“
What were the papers that he gave your father?”

“
Latter Day Saints pamphlets,” Ellie laughed. “Okay, happy ending of the story. I graduated with fewer than two hundred students. Our class was small. Somehow Natalie managed to avoid me during school, and I was thankful for being saved from the embarrassment. Every day I went to school after the serenade, I braced myself for peer ridicule or to find homophobic poems on the bathroom stalls. Nothing came. She was the real deal. She told nobody.”

“
Wow, I wonder if she felt the same way. Maybe she was gay too and was afraid to tell her religious family.”

“
I don't think so but here is what I was saying about a happy ending. After our graduation ceremony, everyone was walking around and hugging everyone and saying goodbye and wishing each other good luck. I turn around right into Natalie's embrace. We were close enough friends that we would've hugged if it wasn't for my concert three weeks prior. Then she whispers, ‘That was a beautiful song. I know you'll find someone who's great.’”

“
Aww,” Ria was tearing up. “Did you?”

“
What?”

“
Did you ever find someone great?” Ria asked.

“
Oh, we are so done with the question portion of this date,” Ellie replied.

“
Oh, I didn't realize this was a date,” Ria said as she grinned at Ellie.

“
Well, I meant lunch date,” Ellie said.

“
Come on, did you ever find that girl?” Ria asked again.

“
I thought I did,” Ellie said. “I've had my heart broken a bunch.”

“
Like with Jazzie. You setting yourself up for a heartbreak?”

“
No, like I said, Jazzie and I aren't dating,” Ellie started.

She was interrupted by the waitress who handed Ellie a note,
“This is from the hostess.”

Ellie opened the note,
Paparazzi in the parking lot and in the restaurant. I told them you were not here, but they are persistent.

“
What is it?” Ria asked.

Ellie
scanned the place to find a way to avoid the paparazzi. She looked down at the note again. It was written on boat stationary. She remembered the boat rental place she saw on her way in.

“
Umm… there is an old friend I want to avoid in the front of the restaurant,” Ellie told Ria.

“
How does the hostess know that? You said this is your first time coming here,” Ria asked.

“
How did you get here?” Ellie asked and avoided answering Ria’s question.

“
I drove here,” Ria answered. “My car is out front.”

“
I'm sorry. Are you done with your food?” Ellie asked as she threw money on the table.

“
Yeah,” Ria said. “That's a hundred dollars. You're starting to freak me out a little. Is it a stalker or something?”

“
Kind of,” Ellie said. “Come with me. If anything this will be fun.” Ellie jumped up and stretched her hand out to Ria. Ria grabbed her hand and Ellie pulled Ria out of her chair.

“
Why do I feel like action movie music should be playing?” Ria asked.

“
Because it always should be playing,” Ellie said. They made their way to the stairs leading to the boat shop below.

“
You ever canoe?” Ellie asked. She walked up to the boating desk and threw money on the counter.

“
ID?” the fifteen year old staffer asked.

“
ID to rent a boat. It's not a motor boat,” Ellie said as she felt her chest get tight. Any minute now the Paparazzi would be upon them.

“
Here, use mine. I think that he needs it in case something happens to the canoe or if it doesn't come back,” Ria said. Ellie grabbed two life jackets, two paddles, and flipped over the nearest canoe.

“
You canoed before?” the boy asked.

“
No, I haven't,” Ria answered politely and turned her attention to Captain Teenager.

“
I'm an expert. Used to be a canoe instructor,” Ellie interjected.

“
You want to make sure you don't stand up, and—” the boy started to say.

“
Bow, stern, starboard, port, keel line, and three points of contact,” Ellie said. “Honestly guy, we're fine. Stop hitting on my girl. We have to go.” Ellie threw the life vest at Ria. “Snap it up.”

“
Ellie, really I think we do need some action background music,” Ria said. “I'm your girl, huh?”

“
For this scene, you'll be my girl and I'll be the hero,” Ellie said.

“
Does that make me the dim-witted damsel in distress?” Ria asked.

“
If the canoe fits,” Ellie said.

“
Hey!” Ria said as Ellie dragged the canoe toward the water and moved it sideways so the starboard side faced them. “Get in. You sit bow, the front, I'll sit stern. I'll teach you when we get on the water.”

“
What about my purse?” Ria asked. Ellie reached down and grabbed a plastic bag sitting in the dirt, shook the dirt out and handed it to Ria. Ria put her purse in the bag and set it in front of her seat. She used Ellie's shoulders to steady herself as she climbed in the canoe and sat down.

“
This doesn't have holes does it?” Ria asked.

“
Even if it had holes, this thing can still float when full of water,” Ellie informed.

Ria said,
“You're a canoe encyclopedia.”

“
Like I said, I was a canoe instructor,” Ellie said. Ellie handed Ria a paddle. Ellie pushed the canoe out a bit, and with one foot in the canoe and one on land pushed the canoe fully into the water.

“Put the paddle in the water on either side and push it through the water,” Ellie called up to Ria.

“
Like this?” Ria asked as she reached the paddle out, parallel to the water. The blade hit the water several feet from the canoe.

“
Well that's more row boat style. Reach out in front of you, stick the paddle in the water so that it’s perpendicular to the water and then pull the paddle back in that same position until you get to your hip. Take it out of the water and then go back to the first step.”

“
Like this,” Ria said. She did a stroke.

“
Yes, exactly. That's a basic forward stroke. You're a pro,” Ellie said. She was already out of breath. She had been relentlessly paddling since they got in the canoe.

“
This isn't so hard,” Ria said. “Wait, maybe you're actually a pirate. That's why you have a secret identity and know so much about canoes.”

“
You got me there, Dr. Diaz. Pirates didn't use canoes though,” Ellie said.

“
Oh,” Ria giggled.

“
I do have this love for learning nautical terms though,” Ellie said.

“
I always wanted to learn them,” Ria said. “Teach me some. You said I'm in the bow. That's the front of a boat?”

“
Yes, and I'm in stern,” Ellie answered. “Starboard is right when you're facing bow and port is left. A trick to remembering is port and left each has four letters.”

“
Nice, I'm looking up nautical terms when we get out of here,” Ria said. “I think you just inspired me to be a pirate next Halloween.”

“
You would be one sexy pirate,” Ellie said.

“
Do you think Gwen thinks I'm sexy?” Ria asked.
I start flirting with Ria and she brings up Gwen.

“
I don't know Gwen, but I can't believe anyone would find you not sexy,” Ellie said.

“
Really?” Ria asked.

“
Yes. I don't think I've ever met someone as good looking as you who doesn't know it,” Ellie said. “You really like this Gwen chick?”

“
Yeah, I do,” Ria said. “She's all I can think about. I know we've only seen each other twice, but we connect. We have such a good time when we hang out. We talk and text throughout the day.”

“
You text?” Ellie asked.

“
What?” Ria asked.

“
Nothing. Well, I’m glad that you’re happy,” Ellie said.

Ria said,
“Thanks. Wait until I tell Maggie that I went canoeing on my lunch break with you.”

“
What do you think she'll be more impressed with, the canoeing or that it was with me?” Ellie asked. She started to paddle slower due to exhaustion and being a few hundred yards from the restaurant. Ellie turned to look back at the restaurant. She did not see anyone following them by canoe.

“
You. She's so stuck on you. You've put some spell on her,” Ria said.

“
I think she's great too,” Ellie said. “This is nice being out here.”

“
Yes, it's a beautiful day. The sky has the right amount of clouds,” Ria answered.

Ellie said,
“Some other time when we're not in an action movie, I'll teach you some more strokes and might even let you sit in stern.”

“
You going to tell me what that whole restaurant thing was about?” Ria asked. She turned to look at Ellie and the boat tipped starboard and water sloshed into the canoe. “Ahh, my purse!” Ria yelled.

“
I got it,” Ellie said. “Just stay seated and looking forward, and paddle.” Ellie put her hands on the gunnels, stepped over a wooden thwart and picked up the bag that had slid behind Ria's seat. “I'm going to tie it to the thwart, the wooden bar, here. That way it won't get wet unless we flip over or it rains.”

“
Comforting,” Ria laughed.

“
You can swim right? Not afraid of water?” Ellie asked.

“
A little late to ask now. Yes, I can swim,” Ria answered.

“
Well, if you couldn't swim the life jacket would keep you afloat.”

“
So, what was that all about in the restaurant? You really freaked out,” Ria asked.

“
Just some of the craziness of my life. I'm trying to not make you part of it. That's all,” Ellie said.

“
I'm a big girl. You don't have to protect me,” Ria said.

“
Yeah, well, it’s partially protecting me. Believe me, you don't want any part of it,” Ellie said.

“
Tell me about it,” Ria said. “It can't be so horrible. You married, escaped prison, have a second life?”

Ellie felt her chest tighten, and it got harder to breath
e. A panic attack was ensuing. Ellie needed to calm down. She needed to sing to avoid having this panic attack in front of Ria.

“
How about instead I sing you the Natalie serenade?” Ellie asked.

“
Yeah, I'd love to hear that,” Ria said. “But at some point I still want to hear more about your freak-out.”

“
In good time,” Ellie said. “Hold on. Paddle hard for a little bit. I have to send a text.”

Ellie texted Kelly and Dina,
I need one of you to pick me up by the bridge across from the Hidden Garden. ASAP