The engagement party was absolutely the most fun that I've had in a while, even though it was only close friends and family it was so worth the trouble to prepare for.
After the party was over we retreated upstairs to turn in for the night. I had moved most of my things into Elvis's room per his request so we shared a room now.
"you okay?" he asked as I sat taking my strappy high heels off on the bed
"yeah, why wouldn't I be?" I asked confused as to why he was asking out of the blue
" I saw you flinch when johnny bumped into your side" he said hanging up his tux jacket
"he just hit my rib the wrong way" I shrugged it off not wanting to get into the story yet
"but you've never done that before" he pointed out and I knew I'd have to tell him rather than keep it in.
"he just bumped my scar, it's been sore today because I slept on it last night"
"it's healed isn't it?"
"it's healed but the scar tissue, it's still sore from time to time"
"it's where he stabbed you isn't it?" he asked softly
I just nodded as I stood up and walked into the closet to find one of his shirts and a part of shorts to sleep in
"D what really happened that day?" he asked as he leaned against the doorway before he caught my dress as I threw it out at him
"i really don't think you want to know" I said pulling my shorts on after putting his shirt on
" I thought I knew everything but then I asked mama and red and they both told me, it wasn't there place to tell me and I didn't think to ask at the hospital... so I'm asking you, what happened that day" he asked gently.
He deserved to know how I had gotten hurt so bad even if I didn't necessarily want him to know. I knew it wouldn't change his view of me but I knew it just might change the way he treated me... it might have added pity to the mix and I didn't want pity from anyone.
"he raped and stabbed me... I went back there looking for mom and he was drunk so he raped and stabbed me.. I didn't think he heard me come in and I was going to just leave and never look back but he caught me and slammed the door and ripped my clothes and raped me before he stabbed me... he was getting ready to rape me again when red busted the door down and got him off me." I explained as tears rolled down my face unchecked and I looked at the wall away from him.
"he was supposed to be my father but he raped me!" I nearly screamed.
I couldn't think of the right words to say so he wrapped me in his and held me until I stopped crying
"why didn't you tell me... or let me come with you?" he asked crying himself
"because I knew you would get in trouble than your career would be over. I knew you would kill him or you would be hurt and I didn't want you hurt because of me. I wasn't your problem, you didn't know to get involved" I cried
"you aren't a problem, you'd never be a problem for me. how did mama find out" he asked
"I'm a big problem. she knew... she felt it when It happened, she told me when she came to the hospital. she said she felt it when I was in danger.. just like you, she knew when you broke your pinkie... she felt it.... it also didn't help that Red told her what happened" I chuckled at the last part, i couldn't believe he had kept it from E the way he had over the past 4 years... but than again Red was a loyal man and everyone knew it.
"you are not a problem Della! I wish I had known! if I had known I would have never asked you to fly back and forth between Germany and Texas.. you should have been healing and resting! how do you not hate me?" he asked tilting my face up to look at me
"because it made me feel normal... it made me feel like nothing had to change just because I had screwed up. it gave me a reason to get back to normal and it took my mind off my own problems at that point... it may have caused me to wear even heavier makeup than I did already but it was okay. I learned to change bandages quickly in powder rooms in airports or train stations... it was exactly what I needed"
"i wish I'd known than. I would have found a way to come and been there at the hospital with you, like I was with mama" he kept me held tight in his arms.
"he was actually your dad wasn't he?" he asked
"it actually turned out he wasn't. he was my step dad. my mom had been married before him and I belonged to a sailor who was killed during pearl harbor" I explained
"that's a good thing... he didn't do any great damage did he?" he wondered
"no thankfully.. I can still conceive and birth babies... I asked at every appointment I had after the accident"
"I'm sorry I made you tell me... next time just tell me to shut my big mouth if it's hard to talk about" he said as he pecked my cheek before changing into his pajamas..
"no it's okay... I feel better now that I've talked about it and told you what happened.. I should have done it sooner, " I said realizing I did feel better after telling him. I thought it would have been better if he didn't know but... I don't think it was better for either of us.
" I feel bad because I kept it from you, " I said as I brushed my teeth
"i don't like that you kept It from me but I understand why you did... if I had been there I wouldn't have been able to help myself when I found him hurting you." he said as he brushed his own teeth.
"i know... I wanted to tell you so bad, I wanted you there that day but I knew it was better that you didn't know. I didn't want you in trouble because of me. you had enough trouble with Ann Margret and the others... you didn't need me added to the list" I said shoving a brush through my hairspray coated hair that stood about 6 inches off my head
"i understand. what matters is that I'm here now and I'm never going to let that happen again.." he slashed some water over his face as I washed the makeup from mine
"you baby.. you really don't need all that makeup" he said wrapping his arms around me after drying his face.
"but I like wearing it" I chuckled.
"if you like it than do it baby but just remember you don't need it" he smiled widely at me
"i love you" I grinned up at him, he really has made me happier than I've ever been before and for me that's something pretty special
" I love you" he grinned before he bent down and whisked me off my feet before carrying me to bed.
And no... we haven't done the deed and don't plan on doing it until our wedding night. we had agreed to it the night we got engaged.
The next morning he once again woke me up
"y'know baby if you keep waking me up so early like this I'm going to be pretty darn moody" I said with my eyes closed as he kept pressing kisses to my lips... honestly it wasn't a bad to wake up... honestly it was the way every girl dreamt of waking up
"sugar it's almost lunchtime" he laughed
"huh?" I asked with my eyes popping open
"yeah baby, I've been trying to wake you for the past hour but you just kept rolling over and going back to sleep" he chuckled thinking about it
"oh my gosh! I'm going to be an absolute wreck today" I sighed shoving my pillow over my face to have it pulled off and my hand taken in a pair of larger ones that pulled me to sit up .
"come on sleeping beauty" he laughed willing me to get up and I grudgingly complied even though I really didn't want too knowing I'd feel like complete crap today.
"i hate you" I sighed walking into the bathroom with him pushing me
"what are you pushing me so much for?" I asked getting ready to get in the shower
"i wanna take out somewhere for lunch" he said sitting on the sink
"sitting on the sink won't will me to shower any faster, why not sing me a tune or two" I said shutting the shower door as he asked what I wanted to hear. to which I answered anything.
Naturally he would pick a Christmas tune.
I led me out of the house and loaded me in the car very quickly for some odd reason, I had to admit he was acting strange today and I didn't know why... it seemed that he was all smiles and while he normally was, it was different today.. honestly he had me on each with his behavior today
I had asked his mom on the way out what he was up to and she just laughed and shook her head at me.
"what exactly are you doing?" I asked as he drove down the street, it was a quiet day at the gates, there were only a few people watching to get him on camera as he drove out.
"you'll see!" he just grinned.
About an hour later we pulled into the driveway of this big horse ranch and got out. it was colder than usual in tennessee today so I was bundled up a little more today as was E. we met at the front of my big white Cadillac and joined hands before walking over to the man by the corral
"Mr Jackson?" E spoke as we walked over to meet the man
"Mr and Mrs Presley! Welcome to the Blue DIamond ranch" he smiled as he shook our hands
"thank you sir! I believe we spoke on the phone yesterday" E said
"yes sir, right this way" Mr Jackson said as he waved his hand to follow him.
I was still slightly taken back by him calling me Mrs Presley, I loved the title but I wasn't Mrs Presley just yet.
We followed him to a big pasture behind the barn surrounded by a white fence with a beautiful big black Clydesdale horse standing in the middle with a bunch of others roaming around.
"which one do you like best baby, you can have anyone of them" he smiled
"except the black one... that's thunder, he doesn't like to be saddled" Mr Jackson said
"could I go in there?" I asked
It was something about that black horse that called me... that's the one I wanted.
Mr Jackson let me inside the pasture and Elvis followed me in, the others came towards us but thunder stood watching me with curious eyes.
I slowly approached him as he did the same.
"could I use a saddle? I'd like to try my hand" I asked as I ran my hand down his nose
"sure but I'm not sure what good it'll do you" Mr Jackson said as he went to get a saddle from the barn.
Thunder let me put a saddle on him along with a bridle, I mounted him with a little help from Elvis and sat in his saddle.
I rode him around a little before coming to a stop by the fence
"I've never seen him let someone saddle him let alone ride him" he said shocked
"you could say Della has a way of doing things" E chuckled at me
"could I have him?" I asked
"well it was never my intention to sell him but he came here by chance and we couldn't do anything with him so if he's the one you want, then he's yours" he said and I leaned down to hug thunders neck as Elvis held the reins.
"we'll take him!" I smiled as Elvis grinned offering his hand to help me down. thunder really is massive.
"will you bring him down to Graceland or do we need to come and pick him up?" E asked as he wrote him a check for the agreed price
"whatever you prefer Mr and Mrs Presley" he said taking the check as he shook Elvis's hand
"we'd like him delivered please. and Call me Della please" I smiled holding E's hand
"when would you like him delivered today?"
"if possible.. Please Call me E or Elvis"
After making arrangements to have thunder delivered today we headed home to Graceland and hopefully a pit stop for some food on the way
" I love you, I love you, I love you!" I smiled as we sat at a drive in
"i love you too baby.. whats all this?" he asked chuckling
" thank you for buying me that horse.. it's beautiful" I said happily.
"your welcome. he's beautiful but your way more beautiful than he is" he smiled
"i can't wait to marry you" I said tracing the outline of his face
"would new Year eve be too soon or you?" he asked
"not for me. but that's just a few weeks away... are you sure we can plan a wedding by then?" I asked
"i think we can plan something small by then, we didn't want anything big anyways did we?" he asked
"not if you didn't.. I don't really know anyone to invite" I laughed, he could practically read my mind as I could his.
"a Memphis wedding?" he asked
"i think we could manage that, have the reception at Graceland and maybe the ceremony at the church?" I said thinking out loud
"that sounds perfect" he grinned
"lets get home and get it planned" we headed home.