Truth Is Like the Sun

Chapter 6

The images blurred, cleared, then blurred back into a mix of colors and memory fragments. Elvis bolted upright in bed, soaking in so much sweat it left him shivering despite the mild night. The soft breeze drifting in from outside did not do him any favors in that department. A whimper escaped his lips as he closed his eyes, forcing them to open again when pieces of the nightmare came floating back into his mind.

Memories ran through him like flashes of bright light that numbed his brain and stung his eyes. Carol Ann the last time he had seen her before the break up, tears glittering in her eyes. AJ the first time he had seen him, the unrestrained suspicion with which he studied a man who should be more familiar than any other to him. Little Lisa Marie the last time they said goodbye, sobbing into his neck for she did not know when they would be together again. Priscilla when she told him that she was going to leave, that she loved Mike instead of him.

His children, his own flesh and blood and the women who had given birth to them. What kind of failure was he, hurting the ones he was meant to protect? He couldn't escape no matter what he did. The past held him captive. It was like a roller coaster he had no choice but to ride out.

Elvis dragged himself out of bed and put the soaked blanket to the side before stripping out of his pajamas. He was already halfway to the bathroom, staggering slightly due to his dizziness, when he remembered who was here at the ranch with him. Considering that it would take just as long to get to the bathroom than it would to get back, Elvis simply went on, making sure that the door was locked properly once he had made it.

He hit the light switch, bracing himself for the burning sensation in his eyes that always came before one adjusted to the change in lighting. Elvis shimmied out of his underpants and wasted no time stepping inside the shower. The scalding water cascaded down on him, washing him clean of everything.

He didn't know how much time had passed when he slipped out of the shower and toweled himself off. He didn't have anywhere to go tomorrow, so he could sleep except that he couldn't because Carol Ann and AJ could be up by 9 a.m ready to eat breakfast and make plans for the day. It would be rude as well as a waste of their precious time to leave them to their own devices until late noon.

Once dry, Elvis wrapped a towel around his waist and headed back to the bedroom. He took three steps toward his destination before crashing head first into Carol Ann. His reflexes kicked in just in time to grab her by the shoulders to steady her. The towel around his waist chose this exact moment to become loose and slip down his legs. Elvis took a step back to ensure that they did not butt heads before scrambling to pick it up. He simply held it in front of his manhood instead of trying to tie it in place, a task he knew he would be hopeless at now.

"Sorry." Carol Ann's voice broke the silence. All he could see was the weak outline of her features. His stomach dropped when he found himself wondering if there was any underwear underneath her flimsy nightgown.

Elvis shook his head to try and banish that thought. "S' fine, honey. You need...the bath?"

"No. No, I just couldn't quite go to sleep."

"Yeah, I was sweatin' in bed so I thought I'd wash up. I...do you want..."

"Let's go back to bed."

And with that they went off in opposite directions. 

♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪

"Where's the boy?" Elvis asked when he walked into the kitchen to find Carol Ann behind the stove sans AJ, the smell of the sizzling french toast filling the air.

"Outside with his horse. He's really takin' this thing serious right now."

"That horse was a real good idea," Elvis said, a smile stretching his features. A slight twinge of guilt tinted his mood.