The Housekeeper's Daughter [Elvis]

Chapter 16 - A Short, But Meaningful Letter

"Megan, why are you up so early?"

My heart jumped in alarm, and I flipped over the notebook I was writing in. I turned around from the vanity desk I sat at and saw Momma sitting up in bed, her brown hair long and tangled. "Um..." I scratched the back of my head, making my own long hair a little more messy than it was before. I didn't bother to brush it when I got up an hour ago. "I was just writin' a little somthin'. A journal entry."

Her brows creased in confusion. "You've never written in a journal before."

"I figured I would start one. A lot's happened since I came to this house."

"You got that right. And good thing not much has happened in the past three days we've been home from DC. I don't want any more drama." She got out of bed and stretched out her arms and yawned. "Well, you keep on writin'. I'm gonna shower."

"Okay. I'll shower after you." She left with her uniform in her arms. Once she was out, I turned to the desk again and turned over the notebook. I stared at the first few words I wrote at the top of the paper... Dear Memphis Times.

I pursed my lips. Momma didn't want any more drama. Well, this would probably cause some more if I had the guts to send it off. Plus, Elvis wanted me to keep quiet.

Maybe I shouldn't. Or should I?

~ ~ ~

That letter felt like a brick in the pocket of my maid's dress. It was sitting in there all day, constantly reminding me that I needed to decide if I wanted to send it off or not. Allison wasn't around to tell me if I should or shouldn't. She just got a job at a local beauty shop, so I couldn't call her during the day.

I stood in the living room and looked out the windows and gazed out over the property, over the green lawn and trees. There was a mailbox at the end of the drive, one that was used for us in the house. I should just go out there during my lunch hour and drop it in. I looked at the clock. Lunch was in twenty minutes.

Yes, I should just do it. The world should know what happened... but it could have serious consequences.

"I don't know..." I muttered in disdain and got back to dusting. I recalled earlier in the morning when the Colonel came and how he and Elvis didn't say much to each other at all. It had been like that since we came home from DC, and I was the only other person who knew what was going on, aside from those two men.

Noon came and I stood at the window again. Momma came up to me. "Hey, lunch is ready, Megan."

I nodded. "Okay." I turned to face her. "Momma, I need to go outside for a moment."

"Why?"

"Because I want to mail something, a letter to Allison."

"And why can't you just call her when she gets home from work?"

"Writing is more fun."

That was a dumb excuse, but Momma nodded. "Okay, but go and come back quickly, hm?"

"Okay."

She left and I went on out the door, down the stairs, passed the lions, and on down the long drive. The warm sun shone down on me as my heart hammered, and as I held the letter in my hands, crinkling it a bit in nervousness. This property was massive - it took a good five minutes to walk all the way down to the gates where the mailbox was. I eventually came up to the mailbox.

"Okay, should I really do this?"

"Do what?"

I let out a gasp and put a hand to my heart. I turned to find Hugh standing there, dressed in jeans and green short-sleeve shirt. "Oh my golly... you scared me, Hugh."

"Sorry 'bout that."

He came up to me and pointed to my letter. "Why are you writin' the paper for?"

He saw the address on the envelope. "Um, well... it's nothing."

"Hardly. Your face is all red, and I know it's not from the heat since it isn't too warm out here, and I also know it's not because of me since I'm old enough to be your daddy. What are you up to, missy?"

I hadn't told anyone about this obviously. Allison wasn't available, and Momma and Elvis were out of the question, so Hugh would be my next best person. "Okay, you caught me. I'm up to somethin', but... I don't even know if I'm gonna do this or not." I showed him the envelope. "I'm writin' to the paper about Elvis."

"I figured, but what are you spillin'?" My eyes widened, a question in them. He smirked, his eyes sly. "Megan, why else would you be writin' the paper 'bout Elvis? You're obviously tryin' to reveal somethin' and you know that it could cause a bit of trouble. That's why you're apprehensive."

Hugh was a wise man, and handsome for his age, with big green eyes and brown hair. His wife and three children lived in the city, and he would send them all of his pay. "Yes, I admit that I'm tryin' to say somethin', but the outcome won't be pretty. This is somethin' that needs to be said, though."

He nodded. "May I ask what the dirty secret is?"

"Will you promise on your life and everythin' that you have in this world that you won't breathe a word of it?"

He put his hand over his heart. "I promise."

"Okay, well..." I looked at the envelope and thought of the situation written on the letter inside of it. I commenced telling Hugh all of it. After, I asked, "Do you think that I'm a horrible person for wanting to send this? Should I send it?"

He let out a breath and came up to me. I stared at his green eyes. "Megan, if you feel that you should, send it, but keep in mind that it will have nasty consequences, regardless if what you're aimin' to do is accomplished or not."

I nodded and looked at the mailbox. I took one unsure glance at Hugh and then tossed the envelope through the slot. No going back now.