The Housekeeper's Daughter [Elvis]

Chapter 2 - Can't Take My Eyes Off Her

My cheeks ached from smiling so much. How wonderful it was to be home. The people around the table, aside from Dad, weren't related to me, but they were family. Really, the main reason why I hired some extra workers was because this large house was lonely with just me and Dad. Yes, the house should be cleaned and I didn't have time to do it myself, and I would if I could, but it was just nice to have some extra people in it.

What a sight, sitting at the dining room table with all six seats filled and all the occupants smiling and chatting away as they ate Mrs. Brighten's pancakes, sausage and eggs. I missed this American food while I was away in Germany.

I sat there silent, listening to everyone talking about this and that, and enjoying it. I would only speak if someone addressed me.

My gaze went to my newest employee. My, what a pretty sight she was. Her brown hair was up in a bun, but from the few hairs dangling near her cheek, I could see that she had curly hair, or maybe just wavy. I didn't think that Mrs. Brighten's daughter would be such a beauty. Of course, no one could match a certain beautiful girl named Priscilla that I met while still in the army. Things became rocky between us when rumors started flying around that I was involved with Nancy Sinatra, daughter of one of the best singers of this century. I tried to explain to Priscilla through the phone that all the rumors were false, and she believed me, but her parents were still not thrilled about a much older guy going after their fifteen-year-old daughter. An older guy who was famous.

Megan laughed at something our hard-working gardener Hugh Snow said. I eyed her face, her soft features. She was graduated from high school, so she had to be at least seventeen. Maybe eighteen. That was older than Priscilla by a good two or three years.

But why was I thinking about that? I had high hopes that Priscilla and I would work. I shouldn't be distracted by my very pretty new employee.

"Son, when did you say that this movie of yours is gonna come out?" I heard my father ask me from the seat to my left as I sat at the head of the table, the chair facing the large window showing a very green bush outside.

"The date that is set is November 20th of this year, but times may change dependin' on schedulin' and puttin' the shots together."

"I'm lookin' forward to this one," said Bernice, one of the maids that worked along with Mrs. Brighten and Megan. "I have a son over there in Germany. I would like to know what it's like for 'im, at least a little. His letters home don't say much."

My interest suddenly piqued. "You've never said that your son was in Germany, Bernice."

"It's recent. He was just deployed last month. Scared to bits, that boy was, but his first letter home told me he was alright."

I smiled at that. "I remember bein' scared out of my boots, too, when I was first sent over there. But everyone welcomed me with open arms and treated me like one of 'em, not the star that I was."

"And that says a lot about those men," said Mrs. Brighten. "Willin' to see you and only you."

"The army is no respecter of persons," said Hugh, and I smiled at that, liking the scriptural reference.

"Just like the Almighty," said Bernice.

"Amen," I said, and several at the table smiled at that, including Megan, and what a smile it was. If she were to walk onto the bases I was on in the army and while filming G.I Blues, all the men would gawk. I would be one of them, admittedly.

"I'm lookin' forward to hearin' the music from the movie," said the very girl my thoughts were encumbered with, and I loved her drawl. "How many songs are there goin' to be in it?"