Truth Is Like the Sun

Chapter 20

It was the first time in more than a decade that Louann Riley had left the safety of her home, all by herself, in order to visit an old friend in Nashville. It had been rather strange the first few days, but Carol Ann was already finding herself getting used to the arrangement. The house was strangely peaceful now and as awful as it was to think such things, Carol Ann certainly wouldn't mind if things were to remain this way.

There was no one there to complain or pull faces when Elvis called at night, no one to bring down AJ when he expounded about everything he had done at Graceland after school. Carol Ann had to work still, so Vernon Presley had offered to pick AJ up from school and bring him straight to Graceland until she could pick him up.

Driving to Graceland seemed as though it was part of her routine, as if she had done it every day for years upon years. The guards waved her truck through without second guessing now and the screams of the fans no longer bothered her in the slightest.

She drove down the all too familiar driveway, bringing the vehicle to a stop in front of the house, where a cluster of cars belonging to Mafia members and employees stood already.

The wind was boisterous today, battling with the sun in some kind of war. The haze was cooler than it had been in quite some time; fall had finally come and would be followed by winter all too soon. Before she could so much as knock on the door, it was thrown open by her beaming son.

"Hey buddy." Carol Ann found herself smiling back at him.

"I did my homework and mucked out."

"You did?" Crossing the distance between them, she wrapped him into a hug. "So you had a good day then, huh?"

"Uh-huh. And Dad got me a book too."

"He's home and awake too?"

AJ nodded. "Yeah. Come in." He grabbed his mother by the hand and proceeded to drag her into the house. Carol Ann spotted Elvis the moment she walked in. He had that smile on his face; the one that always made her knees weak. A thousand questions jumbled her brain, teasing at her tongue as he stepped forward to plant a kiss on her mouth.

AJ rolled his eyes in the background. "Do you have to do that all the time?"

"Yes," Elvis said firmly. "Now tell Mama to stop working at the factory."

Carol Ann gave him a slight smack in the arm. "Elvis, just don't-"

"You had a good day?" Elvis changed the subject.

"Why yes, honey, I did."

Elvis turned toward his son. "You wanna ride some while I talk to Mama?"

AJ didn't respond verbally but took off toward the door instead. Elvis palmed the side of Carol Ann's quizzical face, relishing the instant lean of her cheek into his touch.

"So our little boy is going on a camping trip," Elvis stated with a soft laugh. "He told me today."

"Yeah, with the scouts," Carol Ann confirmed.

"So this is gonna be the first time he's ever gonna spend a night away from you."

"Don't you remind me of that."

"Well, you can spend time with me..."

"Do you got the time on Saturday?"

"Sure. I was gonna go to the Memphian with the Mafia but I'm just gonna be telling em that I got different plans."

A tiny frown graced her face. "Oh boy, won't they love that."

"They'll live." Elvis pecked her on the lips. "And we're gonna be doin' whatever you want to...as long as I can do it," he added reluctantly, wishing that he could just be normal for a bit.