The Colonel's Daughter [Elvis]

Chapter 5 - The Secret Has Been Revealed

The above picture of Elvis and Charlie Hodge in the army. There aren't very many pictures of Elvis and Charlie together shortly after they met.

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It felt as if there was an even bigger empty space in my heart. Losing Momma was the worst thing that had ever happened in my life, and that left a gaping hole in my heart, but now, that hole was huge. I didn't want to go anywhere, do anything, just lay in my suite, staring out at the tree outside my window. My thoughts wondered, my heart wounded.

There was knocking on my suite door, and I grimaced. I got up out of bed, only dressed in black sweatpants and a white t-shirt. I knew my hair was disheveled, but I didn't really care all that much. I opened the door to reveal my father.

"Mornin', son. Did you just wake up?"

I walked back into the room, and he followed me. "Mornin' to you, too, Daddy," I said dryly. "And I've been awake for the past couple of hours. I really don't wanna do nothin' today."

I sat on the edge of my unmade bed, and Daddy sat next to me as my gaze was on the tan carpet. He took my shoulder and shook it a little, a deep crease in my brow. "Hey, I know, but we gotta get going in half-an-hour. That film waits for no one, even the star of it."

Hot, stinging tears started to well in my eyes as my chest tightened and throat caught. "My heart hurts somethin' awful, Daddy. It's been like this for a week, since Anita and I ended it."

He squeezed my shoulder and gave me a sympathetic look. "I know, son. Just look at the bright side of things, okay? Isn't Charlie coming today?"

My heart jumped, remembering. I was so lost in my sorrow that I forgot that my best friend from the army was arriving soon. "Hey, yeah, he is! Man, what good timin'. I miss that guy."

"One of your army friends that became your best friend. You two couldn't leave each other's side on the way to Germany, could you?"

I recalled the higher-ups, like the sergeants and officers, that wanted me to bunk with them on the ship, but I wanted to stick with Charlie since he was more down-to-earth. We hit it off instantly as we chatted and played guitar. "He's one of the few people in the army who treated me like I was one of them, not just a famous guy in the army."

"I'm glad that you found yourself another good friend, son. So, I'll meet ya in twenty-five minutes out in the hallway. Get yourself ready."

He patted my back, and he left the suite. I finished getting ready twenty minutes later, and twenty minutes on the dot, there was a knock at the door. I snickered. "And Daddy calls me impatient sometimes?"

I went to the door after I had my hair fixed, and I opened it to see my best pal Charlie Hodge, grinning at me. "Hey, EP!"

"Charlie!" I hollered and rammed him in a hug, and the negative feelings I was feeling because of my ended relationship with Anita vanished, at least for now. "How ya doin', man?! It's great to see ya."

We patted each other's backs as he said, "I'm amazing, and it's great to see you, too. Missed ya, soldier."

We let go, and my face was straining from my grin. "Hey, it's not soldier anymore. Hasn't been for a few weeks."

"Force of habit. You look good. Being home for a little while is suiting you."

"Tell me about it. It was so nice to get back into the swing of things, especially eating all that I want to and jumpin' back into making films. How's bein' back treatin' you?"

I shut the door behind me, and we stood out there in the hallway. I was finished getting ready, anyway, and I had my wallet and pen, in case of autographs. Charlie said, shrugging, "It's been alright. I've been home for a couple days, and I spent one of them with the family, and then I just had to see you."