Falling in Love with a King [Elvis]

Chapter 18 - Last Day on the Set: She's My Little Honeybee

I had just finished my scene in the talk show, and the crew and music production people were making everything ready for the concert. I stood there near the stage, staring up at the man of my dreams as he wore jeans from top to bottom, aside from his black shoes. He took glances at me now and then, smiling as he did so, as the crew and Kal were speaking with him. He winked at me, and I grinned, touching my curly brown hair that was up in that Daisy style. I was also wearing a lavender dress with white trim.

His parents were going to be in this scene. This would be the first time that I would meet Gladys and Vernon Presley. My nerves tickled me, but according to what Elvis told me, they were the most wonderful people I would ever meet. He spoke of them so fondly, especially his mother. He said that he had always had a special bond with her, ever since he was born. He had a twin brother that was lost, and because of that, Elvis and his mother created that special bond. It was a sad and tragic story, but oh so sweet.

Elvis's face suddenly lit up as he looked off of the stage and into the rows of seats that were occupied by the extras being in the movie, Alice being one of them, who met Elvis an hour before and almost fainted when she did.

Elvis excused himself from the stage, hastily went down the stairs leading up to the stage, and then he went up the aisle in between the rows of seats. He came up to two middle-aged people, one tall man with gray hair and in a grey suit and a heavier woman with dark hair and wearing a light-blue dress.

"Daddy, Momma!" he shouted and bombarded his father first. I put a hand to my heart as many other watched the tender scene of Elvis greeting his parents. A camera came close to them as he hugged his mother and kissed her on the cheek. He spoke with them for a few seconds, and then he looked over at me. My heart jumped when he beckoned me over with his hand.

I smiled and walked over to them, all eyes on me and everyone was in a ruckus. As I came closer to the people responsible for Elvis's existence, I could see that he truly took after the both of them—he was basically the younger version of his father, and he had his mother's smile.

"Daisy, meet my parents, Gladys and Vernon Presley," Elvis said as he has an arm around my shoulders, and I came up just above his shoulder as I wore my heeled pink pumps.

"It is an honor to meet the both of you," I said, and I first shook his father's hand, then his mother's. "Elvis has told me so much about the two of you."

"It's an honor for us, dear," said Gladys. "We both were so tickled with excitement to meet the girl our boy is nuts about."

Elvis smiled sheepishly at that. Vernon said, "It's true. Every time we spoke with 'im on the phone, he would be sayin' 'Daisy this' and 'Daisy that'. We could hardly get anythin' else outta 'im."

I smiled, flattered at that and gave Elvis a quick loving glance. "Well, it's the same for me as well when I call my parents."

Gladys said, her eyes kind, "I bet they are so proud of you, being a working woman."

"Yes, I'll be working full-time in the film industry now."

"Good for you, Miss Miller," Vernon said.

"Thank you."

"Will you sit with us?" Gladys asked. I knew that Kal had Elvis's parents' seats assigned. He told me I could sit anywhere.

"I would be delighted to, thank you."

We sat in our seats, me sitting next to Vernon as Gladys sat in an aisle seat, and as Elvis went back up onto the stage and still made glances. He looked so darn happy. It warmed my heart.

"Miss Miller," I heard and looked at Vernon. "You were a reporter before this?"

"Please, call me Daisy. And I yes, I was. I am not ashamed to admit that I gave up that job to be with the man I love." I looked up at Elvis again. "It was worth it."

"I admire you for making such a bold move. Our boy up there almost did the same thing."

"Yes," agreed Gladys. "That boy of ours is passionate in anything he sets his mind to. He has a large heart for music, yes, but when it comes to a girl, he could risk everything."

I nodded, recalling Elvis's and my past conversations. "Yes, we both were tempted to do that. I feared that he would, but it turns out that I was the one out of the two of us who quit their job. If Elvis did that, there would be so many disappointed and broken-hearted people all over the country. I didn't want him to do that."

"And neither did we," said Vernon. "Thank you for keepin' 'im straight."

I shook my head, smiling. "No, I just told him that being together shouldn't do any harm since I'm already famous from my articles and my relationship with a star. And it all started with a broken wrist."

"Yes, and I am so sorry that happened to you, dear," said Gladys, eyeing my wrist still in a cast.

"Yes, but again, it was all worth it. When it comes to that amazing man up there, it's all worth it."

Elvis glanced over at us again, smiled, then went back to being instructed on what to do by Kal. Tony stood afar off. I heard girls squeal when Elvis smiled. Boy, was I a lucky girl!

"Daisy," said Gladys, and I leaned forward so I could see her kind and grateful eyes. "I am so happy that Elvis found a great girl, and not one who will throw herself at him. You are a special young lady."

My throat tightened, so much was I touched by words coming from Elvis's mother. "Thank you, that really means a lot."

She gave me a smile, then leaned back in her seat. We watched as the crew prepared the scene, and soon, it became time. Kal instructed the full audience to act as they would normally do at a concert, but not to go too crazy. He also instructed the band behind him and those three women who played the upset parents on what to do.

"Alright, let's have a go at this!" Kal shouted, and everyone got ready. Elvis came on stage and did his number. Mesmerized, I watched him sing and dance and heard the crowd go crazy, clapping with him. Elvis exited the stage and came up close to us and smiled right at his parents and at me as he sang, danced and clapped.

Oh, how proud they must be of him!

The number ended, but it has to be taken another four times before Kal and the producers were pleased. I could see how tired Elvis was.

At the end and all was done, he came up to his parents and me, his hair falling over his forehead and sweat beaded over his brow.

"Great job, son," Vernon said and hugged Elvis.

"Thanks, Daddy."

He went over to his mother and held onto her. "You were wonderful, Elvis," she said. "You never cease to amaze us."

"Thank you, Momma. Honestly, it was the two of you who kept me goin' today."

"Not this great girl of yours?" she questioned as she held him out in front of her and gave him a sly look. He smirked and looked over at me.

"Yes, Daisy kept me goin', too. She always will. She's my little honeybee."

In front of his parents and all who were there, he took my waist and pulled me to him, and I slammed into his front. He wrapped his arms around me and kissed me. Cheers erupted from the crowd as I responded and wrapped my arms around his neck, and I barely heard Gladys tell her husband that Elvis better keep me around.

I hoped he would. He was the best thing that had ever happened to me, and it all started with me just wanting to get that interview so I wouldn't get fired. My persistence paid off.