Chapter 1 - A Warm Welcome

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Hello, my fellow Elvis fan friends! Here's my eighth Elvis story! I've written about Elvis falling for his housekeeper's daughter, but what about the housekeeper herself? Enjoy!

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Being home was numbing. I stared up at the tall white columns to my Graceland mansion, knowing that I would never be able to have the life that I had before I left for the army. My body could physically feel her absence, and it was incredibly saddening. She wasn't there to greet me and welcome me home, just a slew of reporters and the housekeeper.

Someone slapped a hand on my shoulder, and I met the blue eyes of my father. I knew he saw my discomfort. "It's just another interview, and then you can rest a bit."

I nodded, feeling that I had no other option but to go through with the interview, maybe the twelfth one since I stepped off the train. Daddy kept his hand on my shoulder as I ascended the steps up to the front door. It was a comfort having my father there in Germany with me for a time, but he had to come home early to do things for my homecoming, meaning working with my manager Colonel Tom Parker to set up interviews scheduled for right after my return, and later, record making, meetings with various people about upcoming events, such as TV shows and movies I would act in.

The front door opened without me needing to touch it, the door on the inside of the black outer gate to the door. That opened as well to reveal a woman, a woman I hadn't seen since before I left—the middle-aged housekeeper Mary. Her gleaming green eyes and graying blonde hair tied back into a bun were a welcomed sight.

"Elvis, welcome home," she said as I stepped through the threshold and into the entryway. It was relieving to see the interior my home, living room and dining room, but it still felt empty.

"Thank you, Mary," I said and leaned in for a hug. "It's so great to see ya again, and it's great to be home."

I took her into my arms, and immediately, I felt something, something warm, comforting and soothing. I didn't want to let her go because of it. She patted my back as I took in a flowery perfume, along with some type of cleaning chemical. She was cleaning before this.

"I'm so glad that you're home," she said. "This place felt a little lonely the past two years."

Tears burned the backs of my eyes as I still hugged her. I knew she was referring to Momma not being around.

Mary let me go, but she took hold of the tops of my arms. She stared up at me since she was about half-a-foot shorter than me. Her eyes made the same proud look I had seen on Momma before, and it tugged at my heartstrings.

"Wow, look at you..." she enthused. "The army took some baby fat off of ya, and I have to say, it made you so much more handsome and grown up. You're taller, I swear it."

I smirked, touched, and rather liking her southern drawl. I had it, too, but hers sounded better. "Thank you, Mary. And you haven't aged a day."

Pink appeared on her cheeks as she smiled. "You've always been a charmer." She let go of me. "Now go on and do that interview of yours. The reporters are back there now, waiting for ya. I'll be busy makin' you a large welcome home dinner, with a cake to go along with it afterwards."

My stomach rumbled at the thought of good ol' American food, not the German army food. "Thank you so much. I look forward to it."

She smiled again, making the corners of her eyes crinkle a little, the same as what they did on Momma. Her hand lifted and touched my left cheek, and I could feel the slight roughness of the tip of her fingers and see the kindness in her eyes. "Welcome home, Elvis."

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