Love's Autograph (31 page)

“
How do you feel about coming in with the band and me, and playing on
My Way World
?”

“
You said that Mom would have to sign,” Maggie said.

“
She has to sign if we're going to use it. I'm sure she'll sign. If not, we’ll exclude your track from it. What do you say?”

“
In front of all those people?” Maggie asked.

“
Yeah, but remember what I said? You know more about guitar playing then probably all of them in there. What do you say?” Ellie asked.

“
Okay, I guess I will try,” Maggie said.

Ellie introduced Maggie to the band. Ellie had Henry
, the other guitarist, sit that track out. Maggie sat on a stool with her back to the band.

“
Okay, ready, set, go,” Maggie said. The band started up the song. Maggie sat frozen on the stool. Ellie started singing. Maggie tapped her foot to the beat. Ellie sang the chorus. Maggie mouthed the words. The violin fell into the song. Maggie closed her eyes. It was not until the end of the song that Maggie played a few chords.

“
You okay?” Ellie asked.

“
Yeah, that was okay right?” Maggie said. “It sounded in key to me. All the chords were played right.”

“
Yeah, what you did was great, but I have a feeling that you can do much better. Am I right?”

“
Yes, you are right. It is just hard with all these people,” Maggie said.

“
My fault. Let's try something new,” Ellie said. “Come back to the other studio.”

Ellie set
up the band again and talked to the sound board controller briefly.

“
Maggie, like before. You'll be able to hear them, but they won't be able to see you.”

“
Will they be able to hear me?” Maggie asked.

“
Well, it would be hard for them to play along, if not. Is that okay?” Ellie asked.

“
Yes, I guess. We can try it,” Maggie said.

The band played through the song, and Maggie played along while Ellie sang in the studio with the band. She came back in
to the sound booth and listened to the track played back.

“
Okay in a minute from the top,” Ellie said through a speaker to the band. The band members gave her thumbs up. Ellie walked into Maggie's room.

“
A+ my friend,” Ellie said as she patted Maggie on the back.

“
Nobody gives A+,” Maggie said as her face turned red.

“
Okay then whatever the highest grade is,” Ellie said. “Do you think you can play the song again?”

“
Sure, playing guitar is the only thing I don't mind doing over and over. Other than watching cartoons,” Maggie said.

“
Okay, this time. I want you to continue playing until I tell you to stop, and no matter what, keep playing.”

“
You are not going to tickle me are you? Mom does that,” Maggie asked.

“
No, I promise,” Ellie said. “And if you want to, only if you want to, you can sing.”

“
Okay, ready, set, go,” Maggie said. Maggie started strumming her guitar. The band followed Maggie's lead with drums lightly entering, and the bass perfectly complimenting Maggie's guitar. Ellie started singing. Maggie looked up for a half-second and then back down like a soldier obeying orders. She was not going to stop until told. Ellie's voice climbed along with the instruments. With each drum beat she seemed to step, the bass made her sway and Maggie's guitar fueled her.

Sunrise after sunrise our walk begins,
Ellie sang. Then something strange happened, as if it was an algebraic equation or a scientific experiment, it happened. At the chorus, Maggie joined in. Maggie's voice added color, smell, and a feel to the song. Ellie began to fade out and harmonized as Maggie took the lead, and then Maggie changed to a completely different chord rotation.
The genius, she is improvising
. Alison, the violinist, pulled in during the second chorus, and her violin sounded stronger and sweeter at the same time.

My way world nobody has been within. Pull my covers tight, and dreaming sets-in,
Maggie sang.
Understanding and hope that is what they are missing...

Maggie kept singing the song, and Ellie was hit with a realization.
I can't believe I never heard it before. I can't believe it took me this long to figure it out why Maggie likes my songs. They sound like something Maggie would write.

The song ended and Ellie gave Maggie a big hug.

Maggie turned her head as she yelled into the microphone, “Hell yeah, we rocked! Cut and print!”

“
Maggie Marie Diaz. Language,” a voice came over the speaker. To both Ellie and Maggie's surprise, they saw Ria standing in the sound booth. She was wearing a black leather jacket, and her hair was up in a ponytail. Ria was wiping tears from her eyes. To Ellie's disappointment, her heart did six back flips, a round-off, and collapsed back into her chest.

“
Mom!” Maggie yelled into the microphone. “You made it! Did you—”

“
Maggie stop yelling into the mic and go in there. You're making us all deaf,” Ellie said as she pushed the microphone away, took Maggie's guitar from her, and shooed her in Ria's direction. Maggie ran out of the recording booth and into the sound booth to Ria. Ellie slowly trailed behind carrying Maggie's guitar. When she walked into the studio, she hit the main studio audio button.

“
Thank you, I think that we're done for the night,” Ellie told the band. The band members high-fived each other and started gathering up their stuff. Ellie avoided eye contact with Ria. Being in the same room as Ria made her chest tighten and feel like it was going to implode.

“
Maggie you were... that was phenomenal,” Ria said.

“
Thanks... and Ellie said if... wait, Mom, come meet the band,” Maggie grabbed Ria by her coat sleeve and pulled her toward the main recording studio. Ellie watched through the glass. Dina leaned forward, turned on the mics in the main studio and glared at Ellie. Maggie introduced Ria to every member. Maggie had remembered everyone's name.

“
She’s something else,” Dina said.

“
Yeah, her singing was amazing,” Ellie said.

“
Not her, Ria,” Dina said. “You might need to get a towel or something. I think you're drooling,” Dina said as she pointed to Ellie's chin.

“
I'm not,” Ellie said as she touched her chin.

“
You're still into her!” Dina asked.

“
I didn't think so, and then I saw her. I see her there and...” Ellie said.

“
I think the only solution is that I kill her,” Dina said as she walked out of the sound room. Ellie watched Dina enter the room. Ellie stared as Dina looked out toward the recording studio at Ellie and shook her head. Ellie saw Dina shake Ria's hand, motion to Ellie, and then handed Ria a piece of paper. Ellie couldn’t hear anything they said. There was too much ruckus going on in the room. Ria pulled a pen out of her purse and signed the form and handed it back to Dina. Dina walked back in the room with Ellie.

“
The track contract for Maggie?” Ellie asked.

“
Yup,” Dina said.

“
Your bark is worse than your bite,” Ellie said.

“
Yup,” Dina said as she sat and started typing on her laptop. The band left and it was only Maggie and Ria standing in the recording studio together.

“
Ellie came in and we sang the song together,” Maggie said. “On the first time, did I tell you about the first time? On the first time, Ellie said, she said I know you can do better. And then I did. I did.”

“
That's wonderful. What's the name of the song?” Ria asked.

“
The title is
My Way World,”
Maggie said. Both of them walked back into the sound booth. Ria and Ellie watched Maggie as she snapped her guitar securely in its case. Ellie finally found the nerve to look at Ria. Ria was looking at Ellie. Their eyes met, and Ellie quickly looked away. Ellie's chest tightened. Months of self-care and anti-Ria thoughts flew out the window.

“
Ellie, you going to use that track?” Maggie asked.

“
I can't see how we couldn't. It's perfect. You made my song ten times better,” Ellie said.

“
Thanks,” Maggie said.

“
Maggie, can you say good bye and thank you to Ellie?” Ria asked.

“
Wait, Ellie you said we would talk,” Maggie said.

“
Oh yeah, umm… so yeah I sold my apartment in Boston and moved. That's why you can't sleep over,” Ellie said. Ria's eyes narrowed and a frown grew on her face.

“
Why? Where? Very far away? How many movies away?” Maggie asked.

“
She watches movies when we travel places. A movie is about 90 minutes,” Ria said.

“
Oh, well, I moved because I didn't like living in the city anymore. I live in a small rural town about a movie away,” Ellie said.

“
Don't worry. She comes into Boston all the time,” Dina said. Ellie looked up startled at Dina's statement. She had forgotten she was in the room.

“
Okay so maybe then you can sleep over sometime?” Maggie said.

“
Maggie, she doesn't want... she isn't your babysitter anymore,” Ria said.

“
Maggie-sitter, and she watched me tonight,” Maggie said.

“
Maggie, we'll keep in touch, and maybe sometime you can come visit me if your mom lets you,” Ellie said.

“
Mom?” Maggie asked.

“
Yes, of course, anytime,” Ria said. “Can you please wait in the lobby so that Ellie and I can talk?”

“
Okay, how long?” Maggie asked.

“
One or two commercial breaks,” Ria said. Maggie walked over to Ellie and gave her a hug and then waddled out of the room with her guitar case. Dina swiveled around in her chair looking at Ellie and Ria.

“
What?” Dina asked. Ellie pointed to the door. “I think I’m entitled to stay. I think sometimes you forget who's in charge,” Ellie gave Dina an impatient look. “Okay, okay.” Dina stood and then moved to stand toe to toe with Ria. “See you later heartbreaker,” Dina said then strutted out of the room.

“
Your girlfriend?” Ria asked.

“
No, that's Dina. She's more like a sister and friend in one. She's also my new manager,” Ellie said.

“
Oh, that's Dina. I pictured her not as...” Ria started.

“
Mean,” Ellie said.

“
I was going to say gorgeous. Anyway, she's right,” Ria said.

“
What?” Ellie asked looking at the chair as she spun it around with her hands.

“
I'm the heartbreaker. The whole time I thought you would break my heart,” Ria said.

“
Anyway,” Ellie said. “What do you want to talk about?”

“
Wow, I have
never
seen Maggie so excited. She has an amazing voice and, you two together? That was just wow, and did you notice...” Ria said.

“
Yeah, the lyrics fit her,” Ellie said as she looked up at Ria for the second time. “I wrote that about ten years ago, and it fits her.”

“
I know,” Ria said as her eyes welled up with tears. “She was so alive. She was great in there. That's because of you.”

“
Yeah well, I have a way with kids like that,” Ellie said. “Is there anything else?” Ellie felt her heart turning to ice.

“
I guess not,” Ria said. “I guess I'll see you.”

“
Yeah, take care and anytime with Maggie. I'd love to see her and have her to my house,” Ellie said.

“
Okay, we'll definitely set that up,” Ria said. “Thanks for taking her tonight.”

“
Yeah, glad I'm still on your radar,” Ellie said. “For Maggie. Okay, well I have a lot to do, and it's late.” Ellie said as she turned and started organizing a pile of paper.

“
Okay, well congratulations on this studio, and your move. I didn't know you had moved,” Ria said as she continued to stand there.

“
Well you don't call or text me anymore. So, how would you know?” Ellie answered. Ellie continued to shuffle the papers and felt stiff, dizzy, and unable to breathe. After what seemed like an eternity, Ria left the room. Ellie fell into a chair and took some deep breaths. Someone slowly walked in the room. Ellie did not dare look up.