Thanks for all the views so far! Glad you all are enjoying this cute little story. Just FYI, the date of this chapter is Saturday March 12, 1960. Also, I found out just yesterday, Elvis actually started recording the music he made in the army around the 20th of March. I'm not sure what he was up to before then right after he got home. Maybe he actually had a break. I don't know. No doubt he would've been busy with something.
~ ~ ~
She was in love with me, but she didn't want to start anything because she felt inferior to me. This was the first time that I wished I wasn't famous... and wished that I was older. But she said we wouldn't work out even if I was her age, either.
I let out a sigh as I stared up at the dark ceiling that night after I confronted Mary. It was probably around four in the morning, and I hadn't gotten to sleep until around midnight. With all this going on, as what was going on in my career, it was just hard for me to sleep. Too many things encumbered my mind, mostly thoughts of my little romance with Mary.
I recalled when I first met her. I had just turned nineteen in 1954, shortly before I cut a second record at Sun Records, later to find out nothing came of it. I came home one evening to my family's little two-bedroom apartment in Lauderdale Courts downtown and found that Momma had company with her in the living room. It was Mary. My very first impression of her was kind and personable since she greeted me with a friendly smile. Remembering it now, it was attractive. That wasn't running through my mind at the time, though. After Momma told me that they met in a department store and talked for a while and hit it off, I had sat next to Mary on the sofa. I told her what I was up to with trying to produce music at Sun Records. She told me she had faith that I could do it since she had seen me perform before, at my high school. She had gone with Sandra who had friends going to my high school and told her to bring her family and witness the talent show.
Thinking back on it, Mary was a pretty big source of confidence when I first started out. I met her several times after that, when Momma would invite her, Randall and Sandra to dinner. Before we all knew it, I appeared on the Ed Sullivan show, and Sandra bragged to her friends that she was besties with Elvis Presley. It was odd, that I didn't feel the need to woo Sandra. Maybe God made it that way, made me see her as only a friend, and as the years went on, like a cousin or sister. We were only meant to be such since...
I was meant to eventually fall in love with her mother. My past self would laugh at that if I went back and told him that after coming home from the army, I would fall in love with Mary, and she with me.
But why? Was there even an answer? People fall in love all the time just because. It happens. But there was a reason for everything.
I shut my eyes and forced myself to not think of anything. After another good hour, my consciousness left me, and it seemed like only an hour later that ringing jumped me out of a dream. Groggily, I hit my alarm clock, silencing it. The morning sun filtered through the magenta curtains, lighting the room a bit. I remained in bed, debating with myself on whether I was dreaming being home from the army since before my alarm woke me up, I was back there in Germany, training with the boys, and looking forward to seeing Priscilla again.
Priscilla. I needed to call her and tell her that she was just too young for me. Though, it was a heck of a lot better than being eighteen years younger than your love interest instead of ten. It didn't seem fair that she expected something from me since I asked her to be there when I boarded the plane, and we waved at one another, making a silent agreement to keep in touch.
No more two-timing. I was done with that. Plus, Priscilla and I weren't far enough along in our relationship to make it a total catastrophe if we ended things, not like what happened with Anita. She probably didn't want anything to do with me again.
I swung my legs over the edge of the bed and rubbed both hands up and down my face, trying to wake up. With difficulty, I got up and got ready for the day. After a cold shower to wake me up even more, I stepped out of the bathroom in a towel to hear the piano playing from downstairs. Confusion filled me. Dad nor Mary knew how to play the piano, but... Sandra could â we bonded over that when we first met. That was her down there!
Now in a hurry, I got dressed in a black collar shirt and slacks, and I did my hair. Heart running fast in excitement, I cantered down the hall and the stairs. The piano music became louder as I descended the stairs, and once in the entryway, I saw the back of a girl with long shimmering blonde hair and a light-purple dress sitting at the black grand piano. She was playing a classical piece. I grinned as I walked into the living room slowly, and thankful that my black loafers made no noise on the white carpet.
Sandra stopped playing and turned around, noticing someone was in the room behind her. I stopped in the middle of the living room as her mouth spread into a wide smile. She squealed gleefully as she left the piano and ran up to me, bombarding me in a massive bear hug like Mary predicted.
"Elvis!" she hollered happily as I swung her around once and set her down. "Oh my golly, it's great to see you!"
We continued to hug, moving back and forth as we did so, and my nose took in her sweet perfume. "It's great to see ya, too, Sandra." I brought her out in front of me, and I could indeed see that she had gotten older. She wasn't that little girl I knew anymore. "Look at ya! You're a lady."
She smacked my arm playfully. "I was already a lady when you left, you know. My hair just got longer."
"I can see that. It's down to your waist now, when it was just at your shoulders when I left."
"You look a bit different, too. Mom was rightâyou got taller, and you thinned out quite a bit, like you have a squarer jaw now."
At the mention of Mary, heat rode up my neck before I could stop it. I attempted to not let it show. I gave Sandra an indignant look, but it was playful. That was just how we were with each other, like siblings. "You sayin' I was fat before I left?"
She released her hold on me and put both hands on her hips, near her little waist that was shown by the white belt she wore around her dress. "No, I wasn't. I'm just stating a fact."
"You were callin' me fat."
"Okay, so what if I was?"
"Ouch."
We both laughed at that, and she wrapped me up in a hug again, and my arms went around her petite frameâshe only went up to my chin. "It's mighty nice to have you home, Elvis. I missed ya so much."
Her tone of voice was calming and loving. "I missed ya, too, Sandra."
"How's bein' home? You adjustin' alright?"
"Alright enough. I jumped right back into work, cuttin' records and such."
"The Colonel's not givin' you a break."
"It's okay. It's nice to be back into all. I wanted to get goin' again and cut those songs that I sang in the army."
"You recorded songs in the army?"
"Just home recordin's, and a lot of 'em, too. We've been busy with it all the past few days." We remained hugging there, and something came to mind. I creased my brows as I brought her back and looked down at her, curious. "Hey, howd'ya get in?"
"I have a key, remember?"
I thought back. "Oh, right. So... your momma's not up yet?"
"I checked her room maybe thirty minutes ago and heard snoring from the other side. My guess is that she was up late." She squinted her hazel eyes at me. "You had nothing to do with that, right? Mom's told me everythin', you know."
We completely let go of one another, and I slammed my hands into my pockets. The atmosphere suddenly became serious. "How much has she told ya?"
"Not much, just what happened between the two of ya right after you arrived back home. Why? What else has happened? She said she'd call me, but I haven't gotten any calls."
So, she didn't know about me kissing Mary. That heat on my neck rose to my face, and I knew Sandra could see it. "Well..."
She gasped before I could speak further. "Oh my heavens, something else did happen, huh?! Tell me! I was so thrilled when Mom told me that she was fallin' for you and that you were fallin' for her, too. I have ta know everythin'!"
I knew Mary wouldn't keep what was going on between me and her to herself and she would share it with her daughter. The two had always been very close. Plus, I knew that Sandra wouldn't let me off the hook unless I revealed everything. I chuckled. "You're as giddy as ever."
"Can you blame me? Mom and I have known you and your family for six years, and never would I have imagined, or even fathomed, that you and Mom would fall in love. Now, what happened?"
If I didn't tell her, Mary would. Might as well. "Okay. So... I came home and... well, I guess to make a long story short, somethin' happened after I came home for the both of us. It was like God turned on a switch, and we were suddenly attracted to each other. Mary probably told ya about the party, but after... we just acted like fools 'round each other like high school kids."
"I told Mom to tell me about some hints that you had feelings for her. You blushing right now is a sure hint, and..." She nudged me, a sly look in her eyes. "You didn't contradict me when I said the both of you are in love. You're in love with 'er, right?"
I went and sat on the white sofa, and Sandra followed me and sat on my right. "Well... I broke up with Anita because of 'er, so what does that tell ya?"
She sucked more air into her lungs with a gasp, and her eyes filled with shock. "Really? You broke up with Anita because of Mom?"
"Priscilla had somethin' to do with it, too. Anita just didn't wanna share me, that's all. It was then that I realized I wouldn't two-time nobody anymore."
"That's really great of you, Elvis. Honestly, I was concerned about the string of women you had, and especially that girl in Germany. If you ask me, you're more suited for someone older than you."
"Eighteen years older?" I questioned.
"Why not? If you love each other. Now tell me since you hadn't given me a straight answerâyou do love 'er, don't chya?"
Without hesitation, I nodded. "Yeah, I do."
She squealed again. "Oh my, this is wonderful! Have you told 'er? Has she told you? C'mon, details!"
I chuckled at her enthusiasm, and I recalled the billowing bed sheets outside. I met Sandra's gaze, hers gleaming. "I kissed 'er, Sandra. I kissed 'er yesterday mornin' in the backyard when I was helpin' 'er fold the bed sheets that were dryin' out there."
She started bouncing up and down in happiness. "You two kissed?!"
"Yeah."
"Let me guess..." Her expression turned dreamy. "You two were folding a giant sheet, and while you were doing so, you came close to each other and locked gazes. You stared into each other's eyes for a few limb-weakening moments until you couldn't take it anymore. The moment was perfect, and the world stood still. You leaned in and shared a few magical seconds as your lips touched. It seemed as if you were the only two people in existence."
I stared at her after that, one brow quirked up. "You writin' a romance novel or somethin'? What are you studyin' at that college of yours?"
She smacked my arm. "Elementary school teaching, you ninny. But was it like that?"
My heart started beating faster at the memory of feeling those soft lips. I nodded. "Yeah. It was exactly like that."
Another squeal escaped her. She was a very giddy girl, too giddy for anyone I would want to be involved with. It was one of the reasons she was like a sister to me. But I liked her for her giddiness because it was very her.
"I bet it was for her, too! So? What happened after?" She grabbed my arm. "No, wait. Did she kiss you back? Please say she did."
"She did."
"Yes!" she exclaimed and fist-pumped the air. "And? Are you two a couple now? Golly, where is that mother of mine? She has to be a part of this conversation, too."
The memory of the night before came to mind. "Sandra..." I began sullenly, and the smile on her face deflated. "I had to leave right after it happened, but we talked last night, and... I told 'er that I love 'er, and she said the same to me, but... she said it's not a good idea. I pleaded with 'er, but... she's just scared of my image bein' tarnished, and she thinks that I'm still wired from just returnin' back from the army."
I kept my gaze on the carpet in front of me, and I knew Sandra saw my unhappy expression. "Hey," she said gently and snuggled next to me. "Those are all just excuses."
"But good ones. She's right about it all. The Colonel doesn't want me to be involved with 'er because he thinks image is everythin'. People wouldn't like me goin' on with my housekeeper who's a gal old enough to be my mother."
I glanced at my good friend and saw her purse her lips, her thinking hat on. "Elvis... you two are in love. You should be together."
"My fame makes it difficult. Now, how 'bout you worry about your own love life, huh? I heard that you got yourself a boyfriend."
She blushed at that. "Yes, I have, but we're not talkin' about me right now, we're talkin' about you and my mom. If you two stay apart, it's gonna make you want to be together more."
I knew exactly what she meant since, because of my work, I was away from my previous girlfriendsâfirst Dixie, then Barbara, June, then Anita. I missed Priscilla after I left Germany, but then Mary happened. "I get it, but still... it makes sense not to be together. Plus, really, it's insane for a guy my age to go on with a forty-three-year-old woman."
We heard footsteps on the staircase and looked to see Mary descending it, and she was in a dress that matched the color of her daughter's. I stared at her with longing in my eyes as she stepped off the staircase and into the entryway. Sandra immediately bounced up and went over and embraced her mother.
"Good mornin', Momma!"
"Good mornin'," she said in slight surprise. "It's about time you showed up. I tried callin' ya three times yesterday."
"Oh, really? I was in class and spending time with Jerry."
"I figured. How early did you get here?"
"Just an hour ago. I played the piano some, then Elvis came down, and we were just talkin'." They came out of their hug. "And you can guess what we were talkin' about."
I stood up as Mary looked over at me, and it was the same look I gave her as she came down the stairs. I stood there, hands in my pockets. "Good mornin', Mary."
She cleared her throat, and pink encumbered her fair cheeks. Her hair was up in its usual bun. "Good mornin'. So, Sandra, it's nice to have Elvis home, huh?"
She completely ignored what Sandra hinted about what we were talking about. "You bet. It's like he never left. Anyway, I'm gonna go get some breakfast and..." She paused. "No, I'll make breakfast, and the two of ya can talk."
"Sandra...!" Mary began to protest, but her daughter had already scampered out of the room and through the dining room to the kitchen. I took a few steps closer to Mary but was still maybe six feet away.
"Mary, look..."
"I don't think we have much to talk about, Elvis," she cut me off. "Enough was said last night."
"You said we could talk later, and it's later."
"Well..." She folded her arms, probably out of nervousness and being uncomfortable in this situation. That didn't make me feel any better. "I just felt badly because I made you feel bad."
"It doesn't have to be that way, you know."
"You know very well that it does."
The phone suddenly started ringing, and Mary promptly went to answer it. I stood there, watching her as she did so, and by golly, she was such a beautiful sight in that dress that hugged her torso. She wasn't making this situation any easier.
"Graceland Mansion, Mary speaking," she answered and listened for a couple seconds. Her eyes widened, and her mouth opened. "Oh, Earnest, hello!"
Now that couldn't have been worse timing. But, of course, that man would want to talk to Mary again. Jealousy pinched my gut as Mary listened to Earnest, and Sandra came out into the dining room. She mouthed at me, "Who's Earnest?"
We both got back to attention when Mary said, "No, it's not too early." A pause. "Well..." She looked over at me, and I saw the apprehensiveness in her pretty green eyes. "Yes, I would love to." A pause. "No, tonight at seven isn't too soon."
A date. They just made a date with each other. My chest pinched painfully, and I grimaced unhappily. I didn't know what else to do. I walked back up the stairs hearing Mary tell Earnest that she would see him at seven outside the front gate, and she hung up. Sandra was quick to come into the situation.
"Mom, how could you do that?! Elvis was standin' right there! Did you see the sad look on his face? You broke his heart!"
"I know, and it had to be done. He knows he and I can't work, and he knows that man Earnest has a thing for me."
"Who the heck is Earnest, anyway? Whoever he is, I don't like 'im."
"He's one of the men who brought Elvis's new television sets the other day. He's a furniture man, and he's a man a few years older than me, not eighteen years younger."
"So?! How could you go out with one man when you're in love with another one?"
"It's the way it has to be. Now enough of that tone, missy."
Sandra groaned, and I knew she said something as a response, but I became out of earshot. I stormed into my room and planted my hands on my hips. As was already said, Mary did that on purpose, and right in front of me so I could hear it. Who knew that sweet Mary could be so evil? I had to do something about this.
~ ~ ~
It broke my heart to pieces at seeing Elvis walk away with that look of anguish on his face. I knew what I did was mean, but like I said to Sandra as she was furiously reprimanding me for doing what I did, it had to be done. Elvis had to see that we couldn't work, and that we were just too different. He knew that. I heard what he said to Sandra before I stepped down the stairs.
While I was in the kitchen helping Sandra make breakfast, we both heard footsteps down the stairs. Sandra looked over at me from the stove as she made a pancakeâshe made three already. "Mom, aren't chya goin' to say goodbye to 'im?"
"Not after what happened."
She huffed and left the kitchen, and I had to watch her pancake. I heard her talking to Elvis in the entryway...
"Hey, you don't want breakfast?"
"Nah, I'm just gonna leave. The Colonel's gonna be here any minute, so I thought I would just wait for 'im on the front steps."
"But you haven't eaten anythin' yet."
"I'm not hungry."
There was a pause. "Hey... Mom's just upset with this whole situation. She really wants to be with you."
I wanted to plant a hand on my forehead. "That daughter of mine, honestly..."
"Let's just not talk about it anymore, okay?" Elvis suggested, sounding worn out and sad. "It was great seein' ya, Sandra."
"You, too. Have a good day."
The front door opened and shut, and Sandra came back into the kitchen, her mouth far from a smile. She said nothing and took over making pancakes.
She was angry with me. I didn't blame her. I was angry with me, too. Why couldn't I be younger? Or why couldn't Elvis not be famous and be around my age?
~ ~ ~
"Would this be appropriate for a first date?"
Sandra said nothing as she was sat on my bed, her back against the headboard, and her legs crossed. She flipped through a magazine. I planted my hands on my hips, over the pink dress I wore that hugged my body from my shoulders to my knees. I also had my hair down and wavy.
"Sandra, this is my first date with a man since my divorce. Could you help me out a little here?"
She put her magazine down and looked over at me. "You've already kissed Elvis, Mom. This date is moot since you're already in the middle of a romance. You shouldn't even be goin' on it in the first place."
"I am, regardless. Now..." I spread my arms out like a bird, showing her my outfit. "What do you say?"
"I say that Elvis would faint at the sight of you in that."
My arms dropped, and I huffed. "Really, Sandra, are you gonna be mad at me forever?"
"No, just until you stop this foolishness and go on with Elvis. He was so sad when he left this mornin'."
Again, my chest pinched, recalling that hurt expression as he walked away while I was still on the phone. "We've been through this already. Elvis and I... we can't happen. That's that."
Her lips lowered. She said nothing and brought the fashion magazine up in front of her face, intentionally hiding from me.
"Okay, then," I said in finality, then grabbed my purse and cardigan to match the dress. I put it on. "I'm gonna head out. Earnest is gonna meet me outside the front gates." She still said nothing. "Are you staying the night?"
"No, I'll leave shortly after you."
"Then, I'll see ya later. Love you."
"Love you, too."
"Make sure you lock the door on your way out."
"Got it."
She was very rote with her responses. Her attitude wouldn't change until I started a real relationship with Elvis and both Elvis and I were happy.
"Well, I guess my daughter will always be mad at me," I muttered as I came down the stairs. I left out the door into the cooling evening air and walked down the long driveway. Once out of the gate, I saw a white car sitting there against the curb. Earnest got out, and in the lowering light from the setting sun, I saw that he looked very handsome in a dark-blue suit with a lighter blue shirt underneath... one that probably matched Elvis's eye color.
"Hello, Mary," he greeted me with a big smile, and his age showed. "My, don't you look mighty pretty this evening."
I smiled sheepishly. "Thank you, Earnest. You look rather spiffy yourself."
"Thank you. Shall we?" He indicated his white car that looked like it came from the early 50s. Elvis had a few of those types of cars, the more rounded ones without the wings. I wasn't a car enthusiast.
I shook that thought away as Earnest opened the car door for me, and I got inside. My fingers clutched my black purse tightly as he rounded the car and got into the driver's side. Was this really the right thing to do? I felt horrible, but maybe that was just because I hurt Elvis earlier.
"Alright," said Earnest. "Do you like Italian food?"
"Of course."
"Great. Off we go."
We headed down the road and passed businesses and houses, as well as other cars going down the road. I really tried to focus my mind on what I was doing, but all I could think about was those blue eyes, black hair, rather attractive jawline and those lips that were on mine just the day before.
"So, you grew up here in Memphis?" I heard Earnest ask, and I had to jump out of my thoughts.
"Yes, I grew up here. Born and raised, actually, in the northern part of town."
"I see. I grew up in the southern part. We might've passed each other at some point in the past few decades, right?"
I liked that he didn't automatically assume my age by giving a set number of decades. It still irked me, though, that he had to say it. At the moment, I didn't like being reminded of my age. "We could've. It's very possible. Do your kids still live here?"
"Nah, they live out of the state now. My boy Rodger, the one I told ya about the other day, he's goin' to school up in New York at NYU, and my twin girls live Maryland with their husbands."
"Goodness, they're so far away."
"Yes, it's hard havin' 'em livin' far away, but they call all the time and update me on their lives."
"So you're an empty nester, just you."
"Indeed. But don't go thinkin' that I'm a loner. I got out with friends once in a while, and my parents live here in town."
"Same with mine. They're in a care facility a couple miles west of Graceland. My mother has health issues, and my father doesn't want to leave her side, so they're both in there. They've been married nearly fifty years."
"Ain't that somethin'? Yeah, my parents just celebrated their fifty-first. They always told me I'd get there someday, but... low and behold."
I nodded, understanding. "My parents said the same thing of me, but unfortunately, I only made it to nineteen." And the last five were the worst of them all.
The conversation dropped as we came to a restaurant called Giliano's, and Earnest parked in the parking lot that had several cars already in it. "Well, here we are. Don't move."
He came out of the car, rounded it, and opened the door for me. It reminded me of when Elvis did that for me whenever I was traveling with him somewhere. He always insisted on opening the door for me, his mother, or Sandra if she was with us. Ever the southern gentleman.
Blinking that thought away, I came out of the car, and we eventually walked into the busy restaurant that smelled of garlic, tomatoes, cheese and spices. We were guided through the crammed restaurantânot surprising for a Saturday nightâand we were seated in at a little square table on the other side of the restaurant, it seemed, since we walked for a good minute before the waitress stopped and motioned us to sit and take a look at the menu. Both Earnest and I agreed on white wine for our drink. The twenty-some-year-old skinny blonde waitress in a black dress much like the style of mine, but had a white apron around her waist, left us.
Oh, how I wish I could be that young again. I would be near Elvis's age. In fact, I looked like that girl when I was in my twenties.
"What would you like to eat?" Earnest asked. "And don't worry about the prices, of course."
It was really irritating that Elvis always popped in my head on this date. Why wouldn't he? "Alright. Let's see..."
I took up the menu and ogled at all the delicious dishes. It had been about five hours since I ate last, so I was very hungry. My stomach pinched just because of the smell of the restaurant. I eyed a lasagna dish that had four different types of cheese.
"Oh my goodness, I can't believe we just saw Elvis!" a female voice enthused behind me, and my heart jumped. I turned my head and saw a group of four young women, all with different colored hairâbrown, black, orange and blondeâand who all looked around twenty, sit down at the table nearest to us. I turned my head back and looked at the menu again.
"I know!" one of them squealed. "We're being blessed for living in Memphis."
"Didn't he look so dreadfully handsome, being fresh out of the army? Good gravy, I could eat him up!"
"I could eat him up back when he first became famous," another girl said, and I really tried to block them out, but it wasn't working.
"He's definitely more gorgeous now. I mean, he's skinner, more mature... and don't get me started on those legs and that jawline. Mm-mm."
My chest pricked with annoyance as those girls continued to talk about Elvis, and how they spotted him up close downtown but weren't able to meet him. They even mentioned Priscilla and wished that he had never met the girl. Admittedly, I wished that, too.
Earnest chuckled. "I bet you're used to all that."
"Excuse me?"
"People talkin' about Elvis everywhere you go. Comes with livin' in Memphis. I'm just curious as to how those girls would react if you turned around and told 'em that you..." He leaned in and whispered, "That you're his housekeeper."
And the woman he was currently infatuated with. "They would go crazy."
"That they would." He leaned back. "So? Made a decision?"
Those girls still talked about Elvis and things they read in the paper about his time in the army. This was a massive distraction, and one I really didn't want to have at the moment. "Um... I think I'll do the four-cheese lasagna."
"Alright. How 'bout desert? The brownies here are to die for."
"Then let's have that."
The waitress from before came back and served us our wine, leaving the bottle, and took our orders. Those girls still... Elvis this, Elvis that. I pressed my lips together, really wishing they would talk about something else.
"So, you've known Elvis since he first started out?" Earnest asked and sipped his wine from a tall wine glass. Elvis would be the topic of discussion now, apparently.
"Yes. I met 'im back in '54 after I made friends with his mother Gladys. My family and his have been good friends ever since."
"You saw 'im escalate into stardom, then."
I nodded. "I did. I was mighty proud of 'im, like it was my own child who was being successful."
"You see 'im as your son?"
Not anymore, I don't. "Yes, I do. I'm still so extremely proud of 'im and what he's accomplished, and especially since he's kept such a level head throughout his career so far. He became famous overnight, basically, but he never let his head get too big about it. He's an amazin' young man."
Earnest smirked. "I can see in your eyes that you care immensely for 'im." I gulped, swallowing the truth about just how I cared about him. I simply nodded. Earnest went on: "I read about what happened to his mother a couple years ago. I'm so sorry for your loss. Him, too."
Next to my divorce, losing Gladys was terrible. I recalled being in that hospital room with the Presley family as she passed, and Elvis arrived shortly after. The look on his face after seeing his mother deceased shattered my heart. I cried with him as he wept at her bedside.
"Thank you," I said to Earnest's sympathy, my throat catching. "Yes, it was hard, losing a dear friend."
Earnest's gaze was kind and gentle, and even though the rest of the restaurant was in a happy frenzy, the atmosphere at our table was somber. "I bet he's thankful to have ya around. You're like a second mother to 'im, right?"
Not anymore. "In a way, yes. We all were basically like family. Elvis, as girl-crazy as he is, never fell for my daughter Sandra, and she didn't for him, either. They acted like siblings right off the bat. They still do."
"Do you have a picture of Sandra on ya?"
"I do." I fumbled in my purse that was sitting on my lap and found my little book of pictures. I opened it and found a group photo of me, Sandra, Elvis and his parents before Gladys passed. I paused as I stared at it, eyeing Elvis's large toothy grin. I smirked, and my heart hurt in guilt. Earnest had no idea about my feelings for a young man who he thought was a son to me.
"I like that loving look on your face," Earnest commented, and I snapped out of it.
"What?"
"You have such a loving look on your face right now as you're starin' at that picture. May I?"
Loving. My expression was loving as I stared at Elvis's picture. Sandra was rightâwhat was I even doing, being on a date when another man was in my heart?
I extended the little book to him, and he took it. "Aw. Look at all of ya. Boy, don't let those girls over there see this."
"No kiddin'. That blonde girl there is my daughter. I don't have a more current pictureâthat one was taken before Elvis left two years ago. She's eighteen now, and her hair is down at her waist."
"I see. She's a pretty little thing. She takes after ya."
He handed me back the book. "Yes, she's the spitting image of me." I gazed at the picture for a moment, mainly eyeing Elvis. Those girls behind me still talked about him. I found myself almost telling Earnest that I was sorry, but the date shouldn't go on.
But nothing should happen with me and Elvis. That was already decided. I just had to move on, regardless of how difficult it was.
Earnest talked a bit about his twin girls, and after about fifteen minutes, our food arrived, and I tried to keep the conversation on his children. That thankfully continued on until we came out to the car as the sky was dark with night, and we headed on back to the mansion. This time, we went through the gate and on up the drive. Thankfully, there wasn't an extra car in front of the steps.
"Okay, here we are," said Earnest. "I'll let ya out."
I consented, and he got out and came around the car. As he was doing so, headlights could be seen going up the drive. My heart dropped. Elvis was home.
"Well, I guess I get to say hi to Elvis, huh?" Earnest said as we both stood by his car that was shut.
"Yeah, I guess so."
Of course, of all times for either of us to get home... I should've taken my time with that brownie.
I clutched my purse as the other car shut off, and only Elvis exited it. He must have taken his own car and met the Colonel wherever he was at during the day. He instantly saw us, and I could see the jealous look on his face. He forced it into a smile as he walked up to us, right near the steps leading up to the front door.
"Hi, there," he greeted us. "Looks like we came back at the same time, huh? Nice to see ya again, Earnest."
"And you as well, Elvis."
The men of a twenty-some-year age difference, yet both were interested in me, shook hands. Elvis looked at the car. "I like your ride."
"Thanks. She's a 1950 Bel Air, and she just received a new coat of paint last month. She was green before."
"Is that right? She's a beauty."
"Thanks."
This was typical for Elvis, ogling cars. He loved cars probably just as much as he loved music and women. His gaze went to me, and my heart jumped. From how his eyes widened, eyes that were shining from the lights from the front door, and how his mouth opened a bit, he was reacting to how I looked at the moment. He cleared his throat as I saw a bit of pink enter his cheeks.
"Well, I won't keep ya both. Sorry for interruptin'. See ya inside, Mary."
"M-hm," was all I could say to that, and Elvis left up the stairs and went through the front door. I watched as he did so and admired his long legs and the way he walked.
"Well, wait until I tell my kids that I'm datin' the housekeeper to Elvis Presley. I haven't told 'em about ya yet." He saw my eyes widen after my gaze went back to him. "Oh, sorry, I just assumed... Well, is there gonna be another date in the future?"
My mind pushed up the memory of Elvis kissing me in the backyard, and my heart started going faster. "Um... yes, sure. I think there will be."
He stepped closer. "So... what do you want me to do now? Should I kiss ya, hug ya, handshake...?"
Being on the safe side would be wise, at least until after the third date. "A hug would be alright."
"Okay."
We went in for a hug, and I could smell the restaurant, as well as his men's perfume. I was thankful that it smelled nothing like Elvis's. Earnest's strong arms held me tight... and held me for a little longer than a normal hug between two people who weren't in a relationship. He let go, and I saw his cheeks flushed.
"I'm sorry, but... I haven't held a beautiful woman for some time. It was just nice, that's all."
"It's okay," I said, a bit shaken up. "Well, goodnight."
"Goodnight. I hope to see ya again soon."
I only smiled at that as I ascended the steps to the door. Once in the entryway, I noticed that only one lamp was on in the living room. I went in there and saw Elvis sitting on the end of the white sofa, where I was sitting when I first talked with Earnest.
"Hey," he said when he saw me.
"Hi." I looked at the red curtain pulled back a smidge behind him, then I looked back at him, skeptical. "Were you spyin' just now?" He pressed his lips together, not answering. "Oh my Lord, really?"
He stood up, and I hated that he looked extremely handsome in that full black outfit. Again, the first two buttons were undone, revealing his chest a bit. "Can you blame me?"
"No, but... golly, Elvis..."
I put a hand to my forehead, not wanting to deal with this. I about said goodnight, but he said instead, "You look very stunning tonight."
My gaze went to his, and my bones about turned to goo at the look he was giving me. I really needed to leave him. "Thanks. Um... goodnight." I turned, my hand dropped.
"Hold on, Mary. Are you really gonna keep seein' 'im?
I remained turned around, facing the dark dining room. My throat caught. "Yes. I am."
He was silent for a moment, and I could imagine the look on his face. "I see. You don't wanna, though. You were thinkin' about me all night, weren't ya?"
Tears stung my eyes, and I forced them not to develop. I turned around and faced a soulful Elvis. Again, it hurt my heart. "You're very confident."
He took a couple steps up to me, and he said in low tone as his blue eyes bore into me, "Only because I know that you love me. You're doin' all this on purpose."
I was quick to respond. "Yes, and you should purposely move on."
"Not gonna happen."
He suddenly leaned in and pressed his lips on mine. My heart jolted when those soft lips moved a couple of times, making my head spin and hands tingle. He drew away.
"Elvis!" I hollered, cheeks flaming, and I covered my mouth with my hand.
"I wouldn't lead Earnest on. He's a nice guy. Goodnight."
He walked on to the stairs and ascended them. I remained standing there, feeling extremely conflicted, confused and bit frustrated. Elvis was taking advantage of our feelings for one another. Well, I took advantage of him standing there when Earnest called in the morning, so we were basically even. But still...
I went on a date with one man, and it ended by me being kissed by another.
What a situation I got myself into.