1957 // A.I (a.u)

Twenty

Velma // 1957

Thanksgiving day was spent making sure everything was well prepared and getting ready. Ashton said not to worry so much but being a good hostess comes with worry. As I fixed my dress for the fifth time, I saw him looking at me from the doorway.

"Is it too much?" I asked him nervously, he chuckled and shook his head no, instead he walked in and held me by my waist as I looked back into the mirror making sure everything was in place.

"You worry too much, you look amazing, stunning, beautiful, gorgeous, perfect. If they can't see that then they're blind now come on and lets go set up," He said kissing me before we left to the dining room. It felt like time flied because the door bell ringed and there was Etta with her date. I could tell Ashton felt odd.

"Etta James, don't you look as lovely as ever and you must be Leonard Chess, " I said giving Etta a hug which she happily returned as Ashton shook Leonard's hand.

"It's been a long time since I've visited you, so I decided to bring some dessert, hope you don't mind peach cobbler," she said with a small laugh.

"Sounds great, Ashton be polite say hello to Etta," I asked him

"It's fine, you said he was from Australia, must be no black folk round there," she said shaking his hand. I knew that he would be uncomfortable. I wish these laws and ideas of segregation didn't exist, but Etta is great company and she is a lovely person especially when Leonard is around. Then the door bell rang again there stood Marilyn with her date, he was also of a more caramel complexion.

"Marilyn, looking lovely as ever. This must be your date," I said hugging her briefly

"Yes, Calum this my friend and well daughter at heart, Velma." She told him as he shook my hand and entered, "he's also from Australia like Ashton. I met him there when I was shooting for a film in Sydney." Marilyn continued as we entered the dining room. As soon as Ashton saw Calum however, well lets say if looks could kill Calum would be dead.

"Ashton, honey, this is Marilyn's boyfriend Calum. He's also from Australia, small world right?" I said trying to lighten the mood as Etta walked up to Marilyn.
"Well, well, you're Marilyn Monroe. Hollywood sure does get along, don't it." She said to Marilyn.
"Now Etta, we're all here for the holidays." Leonard reminded her as Marilyn looked at me worried.
"Its alright, its a pleasure to meet you," Etta said shaking her hand.
"A pleasure to meet you too, I love your music," Marilyn said.
"We're gonna give you ladies some time to catch, we'll be outside having a smoke," Leonard said leading Ashton and Calum out.