Graceland Beginnings [Elvis]

Chapter 10 - Heated Contentions Arise

Elma and Eddie couldn't separate themselves from each other, and from the stage, I grinned as I saw him with his arm around her. I was so happy for the two of them. It reminded me of my first girlfriend back what I was fourteen, the one who told me she liked someone else and broke up with me. That broke my heart. Hopefully those two wouldn't have their hearts broken when they just started something. If they did, I would feel partially responsible since I was the one who pushed them together in the first place.

I finished up singing "Too Much" and people clapped and cheered. This was my fourth song since I came back to the stage after my talk with Grace near the pond. I looked over and saw her with Lucy at the bake sale tables. She hadn't left that area, but I knew she could hear me singing and playing my guitar. It would be no surprise to me at all if she was rattled by what I told her. I knew she wanted me. It was so obvious.

"Thank you, ladies and gentlemen!" I shouted over the crowd. "Now, I think I'm gonna let someone else have the stage, okay?"

There came many complaints after I said that and as I stepped off the stage and leaned the guitar against it. How flattering it was to hear complaints from me stopping my performance. Several people complemented me, including Elma and Eddie. I patted Eddie's shoulder, silently telling him great job for doing something about his feelings for Elma. I left them and went on to the bake sale and stopped at the table Lucy and Grace were at. Grace saw me approach, but she didn't say anything. Lucy then saw me.

"Oh, my, Elvis! We heard you singin' and playin' for an hour straight over there! You must be so tired."

I shrugged. "I'm alright. I'm used to singin', playin' and dancin' for two hours at a time, so it's nothin'."

"You were very good. We heard everythin'. Wasn't he divine, Grace?"

I met gazes with her, and her cheeks flushed. "Um, yes, he was. Well, done, Elvis."

"Thank you, Grace, and..." I leaned in closer to her and whispered, "It was all for you."

I leaned back and saw that her face had gained more crimson, and she cleared her throat and turned herself around. I smirked. She really had it bad for me, but she was too headstrong to show it. Or she was just scared to.

A few people passed the table and patted me on the shoulder, complimenting my performance. I thanked them, and my gaze followed them and caught the potato sack race. I could race Eddie's friends again, since they were over there trying to push each other down again. I looked back at the ladies.

"Well, I think I'll roam over to the potato sack racin'," I said. "I'll see you ladies later."

"Yes, and remember that we leave in two hours," Lucy said.

"Yes, ma'am. Noted."

I left them, and I heard Lucy mutter to Grace, "If you weren't promised to Nathan Howard, I would say that Elvis is a fine match for you. He's polite, a hard worker, and he sings and plays guitar rather well. Not to mention that he's rather handsome. Nevermind that he doesn't have a penny on 'im."

"Mother!" Grace protested, and I laughed. At least Lucy liked us as a pairing.

Someone suddenly grabbed my arm as I was near the gazebo, and they pulled me around it and away from the rest of the party going on. "Whoa, hold on, what are ya... Liza?"

She let go of my arm as we were well out of sight by anyone, other than the horses that were hooked to carts and grazing. Liza's whole face was as red as a strawberry. "Finally, I got you alone. You've been so busy with singin' and minglin' that I couldn't find a chance to grab ya for a little talk."

"Yeah, you literally grabbed me," I remarked and massaged my arm where she had held it. "You could'a just asked to talk to me, you know. You didn't have to drag me like a dog on a leash."