Chapter 3
"You So Nearly Died Elvis"
Georgie sat down on the bed this time. But she did not make eye contact with Elvis. He studied her face and said, "Talk to me." He reached up to gently touch the side of her face, gliding his thumb across her cheek. He gazed at her with sadness etched on his features. Georgie kept her eyes downcast. She was trying ever so hard to keep from crying but her will power was quickly fading. Elvis felt a knot forming in his stomach. He said gently, "Georgie." She squeezed her eyes shut and sniffled, inwardly chiding herself for seeming so weak. Elvis pleaded, "Georgie, please, look at me." His hand moved to splay his fingers in her hair. Georgie kept her head low but raised her eyes to look at him. What she saw almost broke her. If she thought Elvis was emotional on that balcony – this was a man whose soul was shattered. The pain and remorse she saw reflected on his face startled her and she thought for an instant that he mirrored her own devastated heart. She slowly lifted her head and swiped at the tears now streaming down her face. Elvis could barely speak and cleared his throat. As he intently watched her reaction he said, "Georgie, I'm sorry. Please believe me. I made the worst mistake of my life when I didn't show up, and worse, that I didn't allow you to make your own decision." His heart was pounding and he was deeply worried about her. Georgie began to feel lightheaded and dizzy. He was saying the same things that Spanner told her just moments ago.
"If you love him, tell him…" She did love him.
"If not…" No! She does love him.
Her eyes maintained a steady gaze with his as she leaned her head into the warmth of his hand, slowly rubbing against it. She reached up and put her hand over his, holding it there. "Oh Elvis…" she all but whispered. "I'm a mess," she said as he tilted his head and pressed his lips together trying desperately to maintain his composure. "Let me help you," he said. Georgie just looked at him. She felt exhausted. A part of her wanted to run away, but another part held her fast. Her mind reeled, "why does this feel so right and everyone else will think it wrong?" After her night with Elvis in Mombasa she thought she truly had gone mad because she actually thought she had forgiven him then. But as morning approached she became frightened. Her family would never stand for her to have Elvis in her life again. The shock of him being shot and the possibility of losing him permanently just about threw her over. It was too much. She could hear herself saying, "You so nearly died Elvis." She now felt like she was trying to punch her way out of a sack. She needed air. Georgie pushed his hand away and reached for the box of tissues on the stand. She pulled several out and stood, then walked away from him to clear the tears away and her raging emotions. Elvis watched her, clearly exhausted himself. With a tone of resignation in his voice he said, "I understand." After a few moments Georgie turned toward him clutching the tissues in her hands. "How can you understand Elvis, when I don't understand?" she said quietly. Elvis had his eyes closed. He could not bear to see her so distraught. He let out a sigh, not certain if he could continue to navigate the cloudiness in his mind. "I don't know Georgie," he said honestly. "There's nothing more I can say or do." He opened his eyes then and looked at her sadly, "The only thing I do know is that I love you. I'll do anything I can to help you." His mouth quirked into a half smile, "For some reason you sought me out in London to tell me you thought you were seeing Abu. You trusted me enough then." Georgie stood there chewing her lower lip. He was right. At that time she knew Elvis would understand what she was going through in ways her family could not. She did not feel comfortable talking to Jamie or even Captain James about it. It seemed natural for her to go to Elvis. She needed to go to him then. Georgie stared at nothing. She felt panicked. Her mind played back their wedding day…. Seeing him in the helicopter….. Kicki in her arms bleeding and dying…. Elvis lying on the ground unconscious after taking a bullet for her! Georgie blinked several times, trying to calm her breathing. She then moved to sit back down on the bed. Elvis closed his eyes briefly and took in a halting breath as she reached for his hand. "Elvis," she finally said, "I,…I need you."
