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Disclaimer: I do not own, nor am I affiliated with “Gone With the Wind”, its characters or the storyline. All characters are copyrighted Margaret Mitchell. All such characters and their likenesses are copyrighted by Margaret Mitchell’s estate. The beginning of this story is loosely based on Alexandra Ripley’s novel, “Scarlett” and Rhett’s line, “The blockades are waiting,” is from that novel, and can be found on page 884. This is merely the work of fan fiction, no copyright infringement was intentional, and no profit was gained, except the enjoyment of continuing the greatest love saga imaginable with my own version of “what-if”.
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Scarlett O’Hara looked out the tower window and sadly surveyed the damage of what had been Ballyhara. Her beautiful home, her refugee from the harsh world, had been destroyed by the very people she had worked so hard to help. Superstition and ignorance had wrecked havoc on Ballyhara, the same way hatred had destroyed her childhood home. Somehow Scarlett knew that this was for the best; she had never been comfortable in the role of caretaker and Ballyhara had required extensive involvement on her part. No matter how inevitable the loss was, Scarlett still mourned. Last night had brought the black clouds of death swirling over the beautiful green lands of her ancestors. She had lost friends on both sides of the battle; men who died fighting for what they believed in, never thinking of the ramifications of their violent actions. Without even searching through the ruins, she knew instinctively that Colum was dead, another causality to add to the Fenian death toll. Tears rolled down her pale cheeks and Scarlett turned away from the window, unable to look at the desolation anymore.
Strong arms enveloped her tiny waist, causing Scarlett to break into a weak smile. She spun around until she was facing her captor, waves of familiarity and safety washing over her. Green eyes sparkling, Scarlett took in Rhett Butler, his rugged features softly illuminated by the early morning light. He released her, moving his tanned fingers to her face. Lovingly, his thumbs wiped away the tears that trickled down her high cheekbones. Scarlett smiled as she gazed lovingly at Rhett; he would die to protect her from the evils of the world. She felt a pang of guilt, thinking back to all the pain she had inflicted on him, starting years ago in Clayton County and ending in Ireland. “I’m so sorry Rhett,” Scarlett whispered, fresh tears filling her eyes. Rhett regarded his former wife in amazement; after all the hell had put Scarlett through, she was apologizing to him. “Don’t be sorry, my pet. We’ve both made our fair share of gaffes,” Rhett drawled, his voice husky with emotion. Scarlett nodded slowly, absorbing Rhett’s words and allowing them to penetrate into the dark recesses of her heart.
As the clouds rolled by, all the pettiness that had marred their union drifted away, like wisps of smoke. Scarlett cupped Rhett’s face in her hands and pulled his face down to hers for a kiss that was neither chaste nor reserved. Rhett tightened his arms around her and moved his lips upward to kiss Scarlett’s forehead. “I love you,” he murmured. Scarlett smiled and replied, “I know,” eliciting a chuckle from Rhett. The tender moment was interrupted by Katie Colum O’Hara, as the little girl pulled on Rhett’s pants leg. The four-year old had just woken up from her slumber on the stone floor and was blissfully unaware of the emotional current that was engulfing her parents. She fixed Rhett and Scarlett with a stare that pierced through both of them and defied her youthful innocence and naivety. “Cat wants to go home,” she said, shifting her gaze from Rhett to Scarlett, both transfixed by their beautiful daughter.
Rhett scooped his daughter up into his arms and said to Scarlett, “I believe Cat’s right, it’s time to go home. Are you ready my pet? The blockades are waiting.” Scarlett laughed and she took Rhett’s proffered arm, “I’m always ready to be swept away by you, Rhett Butler.” His eyes pierced through her and Scarlett could tell that he was reading her in a way that was so uniquely Rhett, so familiar that it sent chills down her spine. No one else in the world could make Scarlett feel so exposed but for the first time, she reveled in the attention. In that moment, Rhett wished he could just wipe away all the mistakes he had made, all the sorrow and heartache he had knowingly put Scarlett through. This time I’ll do it right, Rhett thought, I won’t let her slip away like before.
The ladder was heavy in Scarlett’s hands as she dragged it from beneath the sea of blankets in the corner of the tower. Rhett regarded his wife with pride, Scarlett lacked neither fire nor passion and she continued to surprise him with her fierce independence. He chuckled as she dropped the ladder at his feet and met his ebony eyes with her emerald orbs. “Are you going to stand there all day Rhett, or are you going to do something with this…ladder,” Scarlett asked, punctuating her disdain for the tool with a slight push of her foot, moving it closer to Rhett. Cat looked at her father with a wisdom well beyond her years and whispered in his ear, “you should drop the ladder Poppa. I don’t think Mommy likes being up in my tower for too long.” Rhett chuckled and passed his daughter to Scarlett, bowing slightly before he picked up the ladder. “Who am I to argue with my girls,” he teased, his black eyes dancing with amusement.
It took several minutes for the Butlers to flee their self-imposed prison. Scarlett was the last to climb down, carefully testing each rung of the ladder before she was swept into Rhett’s muscular arms. She turned to him and kissed his sensual red lips with years of suppressed passion, oblivious to the impressionable eyes of their daughter. Rhett swung Scarlett down to the ground and said, “lead the way, my dear. This is your home, after all.” Scarlett looked at him, her gaze melancholy, “no, it isn’t my home anymore,” she choked out, “a place without you could never be my home. I belong with you Rhett; I’ve always belonged with you. Home is with you and Cat…I don’t care where that is, as long as we’re all together.” Rhett kissed her cheeks and wrapped his free arm around her waist, while clasping Cat’s hand with his other. “Then, I suggest we leave Ireland for somewhere more familiar. Not Charleston or Atlanta, there are too many memories and skeletons to dodge there. What about somewhere new, perhaps New Orleans?”
Cat and Scarlett flashed him identical smiles of pleasure as the Butler family set out on their new adventure. After so much time apart, both Rhett and Scarlett were determined to settle down and enjoy their time together. Carefully they began to weave their way through the wreckage of Ballyhara, as a light rain began to extinguish the smoldering piles of rubble.
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The warm sun beat down on Scarlett and Cat as they watched trunk after trunk disappear into the vast underbelly of the Bonne Mere. Cat tugged on her mother’s sleeve and asked, “Are those our trunks?” Scarlett smiled and replied, “a few are ours and the rest belong to all the other people who are going to be on the ship with us.” Her daughter nodded, absorbing the information, her eyes darting around the port in an effort to memorize every detail of the bustling place. It was so different from the quiet countryside of Ballyhara, yet the child was excited about the prospect of starting a new life with both her parents.
The ship was enormous and Scarlett was confident that it would get her family to New York. Rhett had negotiated with several of his nameless acquaintances and was somehow able to book passage on this exclusive passenger ship in a matter of days. From the port in New York, they would take the train to their new home, minimizing the time at sea. Scarlett hated the feeling of being out in the open blue expanse of the ocean, with no reference point of forward and backward. They would be on board for a few weeks and then rest in New York before setting off to New Orleans.
Rhett stood next to his wife and daughter as they stood, captivated by the beauty and majesty of the Bonne Mere. He wrapped his arm around Scarlett’s shoulders and whispered in her ear, “are you happy, my pet?” Scarlett spun to face her husband, “of course I’m happy Rhett. I just feel like it’s all been a whirlwind. Five days ago, I was masquerading as a widow and now I’m married again, and my daughter finally has her father.” Rhett chuckled as he nodded his head in agreement with Scarlett.
They had been re-married in a simple ceremony by the same judge who had legalized Cat’s adoption by Rhett. In a matter of days, Scarlett and Katie Colum O’Hara had become Scarlett and Melanie Katherine Butler. The name change was an effort by Scarlett to put the darker parts of her past behind her. She did not want Rhett’s relationship with his daughter to be marred by Scarlett’s own selfish behavior and pigheadedness. Cat had adjusted well to both decisions, commenting that she “needed to have the same name as Daddy,” an observation that sent her parents into fits of laughter at their precocious child.
Scarlett turned back to her husband, a slight apprehension flickering across her delicate features. “How long with this journey take, Rhett,” she asked in a low tone that was out of Cat’s earshot. “Seventeen days, my dear, but they’ll fly by,” Rhett assured her. Scarlett nodded, she couldn’t shake the uneasiness that had been mounting in the back of her mind for days. As the eve of departure had neared, the nervousness had developed into an almost tangible premonition. Scarlett plastered on a wide smile, not wanting to dampen the lively spirit of the trip. “Shall we go, Mr. Butler,” she asked coyly. Rhett nodded and guided his family aboard the ship.
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Time passed quickly aboard the vessel and soon the Bonne Mere was three days away from New York. Scarlett was pleased that the trip had been uneventful and she was anxious to dock and get off the boat. The Butler’s cabin was dimly lit by the setting sun when Rhett and Cat returned from their latest exploration of the ship. Scarlett lay on the bed she and Rhett shared, a wet rag on her forehead as she attempted to rid herself of a splitting headache. The duo slipped quietly out of the room, careful not to disturb her. Rhett turned to his daughter, “would you like some supper, Cat? We can bring your Momma some back afterwards. Maybe by then she’ll be feeling better.” Cat’s dark curls bobbed around her head as she nodded in agreement.
As the last rays of sunlight dipped below the horizon, leaving the sky in brilliant shades of purple and pink, the Bonne Mere continued its journey towards the ports of New York. Rhett and his daughter made their way to the dining room, on one of the upper levels, taking their time to admire the beauty of nature. Cat paused for a moment to look at the golden reflection of the sun in the water and pointed to the horizon, asking her father, “where’s that?” Rhett followed his daughter’s finger to the edge of the horizon where the sky and the water met to form a seamless line and shrugged his shoulders casually. “I don’t know Princess, somewhere far away, maybe up near Canada.” Cat screwed up her face in confusion, “Canada,” she repeated. Cat’s faint Irish accent added an extra syllable to the name, causing Rhett to chuckle in amusement. “No, not Ca-na-da. It’s pronounced Cana-da,” he corrected the little girl. “That’s what I said,” Cat insisted, and Rhett could not argue with his daughter. Her temper was purely Scarlett but the stubbornness was a combination of them both, making Cat a handful to correct.
Despite the early hour, the dining room was crowded and they had to wait a few minutes to be seated. Rhett smiled appreciatively at the maitre de as he pulled out a chair for Cat. The little girl had become fidgety having to stand still for what had felt like an eon. Grudgingly Rhett had admitted to himself that Cat was much better behaved then his precious Bonnie. Although he had adored Bonnie, Rhett knew that Cat was a different child, one who would require him to forget the past and move on. She was full of surprises, just like Scarlett; the resemblance between mother and daughter was much deeper than the superficial. They were alike in both temperament and mannerisms. There were times that Cat would fix Rhett with a gaze that was purely Scarlett and he would laugh at the similarity.
Their dinner was simple but delicious, with Cat scraping her plate in an effort to savor every morsel. Rhett had to hold his laughter in check; Scarlett had done the same thing during their honeymoon in New Orleans. As Cat swirled her vanilla ice cream around the bowl, Rhett sipped a cup of coffee and studied his daughter. She was a beautiful child, sparkling green eyes providing sharp contrast to her lightly tanned skin. Black brows cut across her face, the same shade as her ebony curls. The light violet dress flattered her coloring and Rhett saw so much of Scarlett’s beauty in their young daughter. Cat interrupted his musings by tapping his arm, “Can we go back to Mother now?” Rhett smiled and replied, “of course, Cat. I’ll just arrange to have her dinner sent down.”
Gentle waves lapped against the hull of the ship as father and daughter made their way across the deck. Cat clutched Rhett’s hand tightly, her short legs taking two steps for every one of his strides. She yawned loudly and Rhett paused, bending down until he was at her eye-level. “Are you tired, Princess,” he asked, his voice soft and soothing. Cat nodded and Rhett scooped her up into his arms, carrying the little girl back to the cabin. The cabin was dark when he swung the door open, the hall lamps casting eerie shadows into the main room. Without pausing to light an interior lamp, Rhett went straight to Cat’s room, tucking the little girl securely into bed. After making sure that she was truly asleep, he closed the door and began to illuminate the cabin.
His forehead fell into familiar lines as Rhett reached for a cigar, hidden in the deep recesses of his jacket. A glass of brandy soon found its way into his hands as Rhett sat, blanketed in shadows, lost amidst his thoughts. All of the excitement and activity of the last few weeks had not allowed him the time to reflect; time that he valued highly. Unbidden the image of Anne Hampton assaulted him, her homely features illuminated with love. She had loved him to the very depths of her soul, a love Rhett could never understand nor reciprocate. His life seemed to belong to someone else, as though he was watching someone else marry this plain creature in a vain attempt to forget the woman who had left marks on both his psyche and his heart. Anne had deserved better than he had given her; Rhett felt insurmountable amounts of guilt over her death, knowing he had killed her. He used her and his selfish pride and arrogance had killed her, the same way that Scarlett’s independence and stubbornness had killed Frank Kennedy.
Rhett wanted to believe that he had done nothing wrong, but the guilt weighed on him just the same. The brandy burned his throat as he drained the glass, willing himself to forget Anne. In the bedroom, Scarlett awoke with a feeling of nausea rising in her throat. Her hands trembled violently and her forehead was slick with perspiration as she stumbled blindly towards the washbasin. Falling to her knees, Scarlett retched into the ceramic basin, weakness coursing through her body. Her throat burned as her body betrayed her, leaving Scarlett in a limp heap on the plush carpeting. The minutes passed slowly as she lay on the floor, willing the feeling to pass. Finally, Scarlett rose shakily to her feet, bracing herself on the edge of the bed before standing up. Dizziness overcame her and she fell onto her back, sinking into the soft comforter of the bed.
Extinguishing his cigar, Rhett turned towards the bedroom, concerned at Scarlett’s prolonged silence. Her headache had persisted throughout the afternoon and he had never known her to miss a meal. I hope she’s alright, he thought, moving across the spacious quarters. He placed the lamp on an end table, casting dim rays of light throughout the room as he surveyed the room. Scarlett lay on her back on the bed, her feet draped over the footboard. Rhett knelt beside her and smoothed damp tendrils of hair away from her clammy skin. “My darling, are you alright,” he asked, his voice shaking with apprehension. Scarlett’s eyelids fluttered and she licked her dry lips, “I’m alright Rhett. I just felt a little ill, that’s all.” He nodded, still not completely satisfied with her answer, but not in the mood to press Scarlett further. Climbing into bed, Rhett pulled Scarlett towards him, holding her in his lap like a child. He rubbed slow circles on her back until she finally fell asleep; her head heavy with sleep, tucked against his shoulder.
As the sunlight poured into the bedroom, Scarlett shifted slightly against her pillow. Inhaling deeply, she smiled at the scent of Rhett—expensive cigars and good liquor mixed with a unique muskiness. Her limps ached with weakness and her stomach growled, reminding Scarlett that she had not eaten in nearly a day. Rhett’s black eyes smiled down at her when she looked over at her husband. Swallowing over the dryness of her throat, Scarlett croaked out a weak, “good morning.” Her husband smiled and stroked her raven hair affectionately, “good morning, my pet. Are you feeling better?” Scarlett nodded despite the coppery taste that refused to leave her mouth, no matter how much cologne she gargled. Her nerves were wreaking havoc on her, with armies of butterflies ambushing her stomach and a thousand doubts parading through her head. There was no sense worrying Rhett with silly little things when they were almost back home in America.
Cat knocked on the door, cutting short the conversation before Rhett could press Scarlett for more details. “There’s breakfast outside,” she proclaimed before scampering into bed next to her mother. Rhett chuckled as he went to bring inside the food that the kitchen staff had delivered. Scarlett moved over towards Rhett’s side of the bed to make more room for her daughter, drawing Cat close to her. “I love you Kitty Cat,” she said quietly, kissing the top of her daughter’s head. Cat giggled and kissed her mother’s cheek, “I know Momma. I love you too.”
The bedroom door swung open again and Rhett appeared with a large breakfast tray in his hands. He placed the tray over Scarlett’s legs and scooped Cat up into his arms. Depositing his daughter at the table next to the bed, Rhett left to go get the other two trays. Cat tucked her feet under her, allowing the little girl to see over the edge of the table. Scarlett smiled at her daughter, ignoring the food that threatened to cause another rebellion in her stomach. She pushed the tray aside and reached for the coffee, stirring sugar and cream into the black liquid. Rhett reappeared in the doorway and placed his tray opposite Cat’s on the table. The little girl eagerly dug into her grapefruit, spraying droplets of juice all over the room.
Rhett took an appreciative swig of his coffee before turning back to Scarlett. “Not hungry this morning,” he asked, careful to keep all mockery out of his voice. Scarlett could be a terrible morning person before her first cup of coffee and Rhett did not want to provoke her into a fight in front of their daughter. Scarlett shook her head, “not really. All this sloshing back and forth on the boat is really getting to me.” Rhett nodded sympathetically and steered the conversation back towards Cat. “How’s the grapefruit, Precious,” he asked. The little girl smiled at her father and nodded enthusiastically. “Yummy,” she replied before wiping the rest of the juice off her chin. The corners of Rhett’s eyes crinkled with amusement, “why don’t you go play with your new doll, Cat? I have to talk to your Momma for a minute.” Cat considered this for a moment, “alright,” she agreed, “but will you come to have a tea party with me?” Both Rhett and Scarlett nodded and watched as their little girl hurry out of the room.
Alone in the bedroom, Rhett moved away from the breakfast tray and sat opposite Scarlett on the bed. He moved her tray off to the side and took her hands, porcelain white flashes disappearing inside deeply tanned palms. Rhett looked at Scarlett, his dark eyes searing holes through Scarlett’s face; her green eyes were marred by dark circles and the hollows of her cheeks were clearly visible. “Scarlett, what’s wrong? I know something’s bothering you, but what is it? Tell me what it is, my darling,” he pleaded gently.
Scarlett avoided his gaze, not wanting to tell Rhett the truth. It was her own insecurities that were haunting her; Scarlett was afraid that once they stepped off the boat that her world would come crumbling down around her. She feared the ostracism of her daughter as a result of her foolish actions. She dreaded the hatred and loathing of polite society. Scarlett despised the prospect of starting over in another town, with more rules that she could never understand. She was so afraid that she was going to do something to jeopardize Cat’s chances in life; that somehow she was going to make her little Princess an outcast, like Wade and Ella before her. Most of all, Scarlett was afraid that she wasn’t the right one for Rhett. She was petrified that one morning he was going to wake up and cast her off, the same way he had abandoned her so many years ago, leaving Scarlett to fight the uphill path that had become her life.
A single tear rolled down her cheek and Scarlett licked her dry lips. As the boat neared America, her fears had intensified, leaving Scarlett an emotional wreck. Every day that passed meant that she was leaving the safety of Ireland and traveling back to a land where she felt awkward and out of place. Rhett’s forehead puckered in concern, his eyebrows meeting together in a V, casting dark shadows down his cheekbones. Scarlett’s mouth opened and she tried to think of what to say to explain her trepidation. Emotion overwhelmed her, leaving trails of tears coursing down her face and a string of unintelligible babble falling from her lips.
Rhett let out a forlorn sigh and gathered his trembling wife in his arms. Scarlett resisted him, pushing away the warm embrace she had once found such solace in. “I’m sorry,” she pleaded, angry with herself for not being able to articulate her feelings and frustrated that Rhett could not comprehend the depths of her pain. Slowly Scarlett opened her heart, pouring out the sorrow that had been plaguing her. “I’m so scared I’m going to chase you away again…that one morning you’re going to wake up and hate me for everything I’ve done. You were right when you said I was a child, Rhett…I don’t know how to be your wife. It was always so confusing before; I never knew what to say or do, for fear that you were going to turn everything into one of your cruel jokes. Now there’s Cat and she’s everything to me…but what if I make the same mistakes I made before? She’ll turn towards you, just like Bonnie, leaving me all alone. It’s like everything I touch turns to stone and crumbles away like the ruins of Rome.” Rhett’s lips twitched in a smile at her reference but he remained silent.
Scarlett bit her lip hard, to the point of drawing blood, uneasy with the conversation. How she desperately wanted Rhett to say something; to do something, anything, to allay her fears. All he did was sit and stare at her, reading her like an open-book, his black eyes impassive. “I just don’t want to make you hate me,” Scarlett whispered softly, fighting back the tears that burned the back of her eyes. The corners of Rhett’s mouth dropped down and he regarded his wife with genuine pity. He silently cursed himself for being so self-absorbed; Scarlett was falling apart in front of his eyes and he had continued to dwell on the pain of his recent past. “I could never hate you Scarlett,” he began, not meeting her puffy eyes in an effort to collect his thoughts. “The things I said to you, what I did, the way I treated you…it was inexcusable. I was wildly jealous of Ashley Wilkes and every other man who looked at you. I know it’s just a flimsy excuse and I know that I behaved like a cad. I wanted to own you, to hold every part of your soul in my hands, like a child clings to a toy. I wanted to tell you how much I adored you, but every time I tried, there was something in the way…We didn’t have a marriage, my darling, we had a power struggle. Each of us was too afraid to open up to the other for fear of losing control.”
A slender white hand passed over Rhett’s lips, temporarily silencing him. Scarlett gazed into his eyes, her tears replaced with loving pity. A multitude of emotions flashed across her delicate features, making her look gentler in the early morning light. Scarlett licked her lips, astounded at her own ignorance and at Rhett’s foolishness. “We’re quite a pair,” she teased, her voice trembling slightly, “emotionally closed off from everyone. The person we’re supposed to be closest to, in the whole world, is the only person we’re truly afraid of.” She trailed off, allowing her gaze to travel towards the bedroom door, looking at something in her mind’s eye. The silence was deafening and guilt hung heavy in the air, like humidity on a summer’s night.
Rhett broke the stillness, his heavy drawl slicing cleanly through the thick air. “You’re right, my pet. You’re exactly right. I hid so much from you during our marriage; made life a living hell for you whenever it suited my own purposes…I’m sorry I hurt you Scarlett. I do love you…I’d die if I didn’t have you in my life; you’re everything to me. You’re the sunlight in the center of my self-involved universe, the reason I get up every morning with the strength to face the day. I need you Scarlett…please say you’ll forgive me for being such a bastard.” Scarlett broke into a smile and cupped Rhett’s face in her hands, pulling him close for a kiss. “I forgive you,” she whispered, “if you’ll forgive me for being so wicked.” Rhett nodded and kissed Scarlett again, desire evident as their tongues dueled wildly.
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A light rain was falling when the Bonne Mere arrived in New York. Scarlett clutched her husband’s arm tightly, thrilled to be leaving the ship but nervous about entering the land of the Yankees. Cat was perched on Rhett’s other arm, holding onto her father’s neck with a unyielding grip, surveying the sights before her. “What’s America like,” the little girl asked her parents for the hundredth time, forgetting that they gave her the same answer countless times before. “Well Princess, it’s not that different from Ireland,” Scarlett began, “except the people talk faster and it doesn’t rain as much.” Cat’s green eyes met her mother’s, her small face puckered in confusion. “But it’s raining now,” she countered, eliciting a throaty chuckle from Rhett.
Turning to his wife, Rhett said in a conspiratorial whisper, “she is most definitely your daughter, my pet.” Scarlett let out a cry of mock anguish and gently swatted Rhett’s shoulder with her palm. “I believe the argumentative trait is from her father’s side,” she added with a giggle before turning back to her daughter. “Well, Precious, I was just giving you an example. You’ll see soon enough what America’s like. I know you’ll like it, Kitty Cat.” Satisfied with this, Cat turned her attention back to the city before her. To the child, New York looked dirty, a sharp contrast to the lush, green hills of Ireland. Not wanting to spoil the joyous mood of her parents, Cat remained quiet, her eyes darting across the skyline, try to commit every detail to memory.
Two hours later, a handsome carriage pulled to a stop in front of Atlantis, one of New York’s most prestigious hotels. Rhett stepped down from the carriage, extending his arms to catch Cat before she flung herself onto the pavement. The childish enthusiasm seemed to be contagious, as Scarlett’s smile broadened to reveal all her pearl-white teeth. She clung to Rhett’s arm, “I can’t believe we’re here already. This feels like a dream…I never imagined I’d be standing in the middle of New York City. It seems like a thousand years ago that I was back in Georgia, cursing the nameless Yankees for wrecking havoc on my life.” Rhett patted her arm reassuringly, amazed at how much Scarlett had grown up. She had become insightful during their time apart, a quality he never dreamed Scarlett capable of.
Cat wriggled in her father’s arms, anxious to get down and explore the curious cobbled streets. She had never seen roads that were not covered with dirt and framed by grass or trees. Scarlett caught her daughter’s hand, whispering that there would be plenty of time to explore after they got settled in the hotel. Stepping into the massive entranceway, Scarlett inhaled sharply. The beauty of the building was not lost on her, as Scarlett took in the gold-leaf ceilings, the rich wine and cream colored carpeting with matching draperies hanging over the tall windows. Rhett chuckled softly, “is this up to your standards, my pet?” Scarlett did not reply, she merely nodded her head, lost in the lavish surroundings.
Their feet sunk into the plush wine-colored carpet as the family made their way up the winding staircase. Swinging open the door of their suite, Scarlett’s jaw dropped as she took in rooms that made the lobby look garish. The main living area was massive, with four windows spilling maximum light into the room, reflecting off the thick white carpet and the delicate lace curtains. Sturdy oak furniture covered with pale mint fabric dotted every available space, giving the room a soothing aura. The bedrooms were equally gorgeous; the master bedroom trimmed in peach with gold and dusty rose accents, while Cat’s room painted a cheerful yellow with splashes of purple throughout.
Several trunks sat in the master bedroom, filled with enough clothes to hold the family until they arrived in New Orleans. Rhett had arranged for the rest of their belongings to be shipped directly to the new house. Scores of servants had already been hired and they had been instructed to get the house into shape. Scarlett was anxious to see New Orleans; it had been years since her honeymoon and she could hardly remember any specific details about the magical city. Rhett assured her that the house was gorgeous; he knew the previous owner, a businessman who had recently moved out to Colorado. He told Scarlett that she could decorate it however she wanted—the house was a blank slate waiting for her to create a masterpiece.
While her parents collapsed into the overstuffed furniture of the main sitting room, Cat curled up contentedly on her bed. A smile played across her lips as she drifted off to sleep. The child’s dreams were filled with visions of her with her parents, living in their new house like the families from her picture books. Scarlett poked her head into the room shook her head ruefully when she saw her daughter tucked into a ball on the bed. After covering Cat with a light coverlet, Scarlett placed a gentle kiss on her forehead and slipped out of the room.
“She’s asleep,” Scarlett stated as she reentered the living room, “the poor baby’s been through a lot.” Rhett nodded in agreement as he puffed on a cigar, lounging on the settee, his jacket draped over an armchair. Scarlett crossed to the settee and raised her eyebrows expectedly, waiting for Rhett to move his feet so she could sit down. Rhett had different ideas as he extinguished the cigar and pulled Scarlett into his lap. She smiled contentedly, pulling her feet up so she was braced against the back of the settee with her feet under Rhett’s right leg, arms wrapped firmly around his neck. Through her skirt, Scarlett could feel the thick ropes of muscles in his thighs. She rested her head against his well-defined chest, feeling the beat of his heart against her magnolia white cheek.
Rhett kissed the top of her head, inhaling the scent of roses and vanilla that was uniquely his wife. “I love you,” he whispered against her raven tresses, savoring the feeling of her wrapped up in his arms. Scarlett lifted her head and smiled coyly. “I know” she said confidently, “what did I do to deserve you?” Rhett remained silent, his face impassive but his eyes smoldering ardently. His lips nipped at her bare neck and he whispered in her ear, “you’re so beautiful…have I told you that recently?” Scarlett raised herself from his chest, meeting his gaze, eyes dancing with yearning as she leaned in to capture his lips. Their kisses were electric as husband and wife leaned into the settee, hands twisted in hair, arms and legs tangled in a heap.
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The sunlight was weakly streaming into the master bedroom when Cat threw open the door with flourish. She crossed the room towards the four-poster bed and stood beside Scarlett, watching her mother sleep. After a few moments, the little girl tapped Scarlett’s bare white shoulder. “Momma, it’s time to get up,” she said softly. With a start, Scarlett opened her eyes, instinctively pulling the white sheet up higher to cover her upper body. Meeting the green eyes of her daughter, she smiled, “good morning Kitty Cat. Don’t tell me you’re all ready to go to the zoo…we still have to wake your father up.” Rhett had decided to take Cat to the zoo to allow Scarlett some time to go shopping. Initially apprehensive about leaving her alone in New York, Scarlett had allayed his fears by promising to be careful and reminding him that she had lived alone for several years. In the end he agreed and had informed Cat of their plans to visit a large zoo in the center of the City.
Scarlett traced the side of Cat’s face with sleepy fingers. “Precious, why don’t you go play for a while in your room while we get dressed.” The little girl nodded in agreement as she scurried out of the bedroom. Scarlett turned back towards her husband, studying Rhett’s face as he slept. She was amazed at his ability to sleep through any interruption, never waking up to Cat’s early morning wake-up call. In sleep, Rhett looked so innocent, the harsh contours of his face melting away, leaving only his strikingly handsome and aristocratic features. Gently she nudged his bare shoulder, planting soft kisses along his collarbone. “Rhett, darling, wake up. You have to get dressed.” In an instant, his eyes were open although he remained motionless. “It’s too damn early,” he protested good-naturedly. Scarlett smiled as she swung her feet over the side of the bed, padding towards her trunk in search of a chemise. “She’s your daughter,” Scarlett reminded him with a smile, as she wriggled into the garment.
An hour later, Scarlett hugged Cat tightly as she adjusted the little girl’s jade green coat, making sure that all the brass buttons were fastened correctly. “Have fun at the zoo, Precious,” she said with a smile. Cat nodded and pulled on Rhett’s hand as he paused in the doorway. “Last chance to join us,” he offered with a devilish grin. Scarlett kissed him firmly and laughed softly, “I wouldn’t dream of ruining your fun. I’ll see you when I get back. I love you.” Rhett smiled broadly as Cat pulled him out the door, “I love you too, my darling.” Scarlett watched them leave, staring at the closed door for several minutes before moving from the overstuffed couch. She sighed deeply, unable to shake the feeling of uneasiness that had taken up residence in the pit of her stomach. “It’s just surreal,” she said softly, “not having to worry about Cat every second…knowing that Rhett’s here to take care of her. To take care of both of us.”
Absently Scarlett trailed her hands down the comforter of their bed, a smile playing across her lips. I need to get going, she thought as she grabbed a heavy woolen cloak and a small purse. The navy cloak provided a sharp contrast to her butter-cream colored dress. The gown was simple, a tight bodice that flowed into an enormous skirt with thin gold threads creating intricate patterns. Tiny golden beads adorned the bodice and trimmed the long bell-sleeves that covered her tiny hands. A thin gold chain and her wedding ring was the only jewelry Scarlett wore, adding to the simplistic air of the outfit. She smoothed the cloak over her skirt and closed the heavy hotel door behind her, as she began the descent downstairs.
The sun was shining brilliantly through the clouds as Scarlett made her way through the narrow streets, pausing only to peek inside the shop windows. Having left her carriage a few blocks away, she relished the freedom of walking through the city, idly swinging her purse beneath the folds of her cloak. The shopping had thoroughly relaxed Scarlett and she was not paying close attention to her surroundings. She stopped suddenly, looking around wildly, not sure where she was. To her dismay, the neighborhood had changed from upscale to slightly rundown in a matter of moments. “God’s nightgown,” she swore, “what have I gotten myself into?”
Tall buildings blocked out the sunlight and Scarlett trembled with the realization that she was lost in this strange place. I’m just being a goose, she thought anxiously, I’ll just turn around and go back the way I came. She bit her lower lip nervously as she began to walk back in the direction of the carriage. All the streets looked the same to the former Southern belle and she did not recognize any of them. Shadows began to settle around Scarlett as the sun dipped lower in the sky, painting the horizon with brilliant lavenders and pinks. She tucked the cloak closer, dashing through the streets, oblivious to anything except the desire to get back to Rhett. Her trek over the cobblestones was cut short when a rough hand grabbed the edge of her gown, yanking Scarlett backwards.
She opened her mouth to scream but a large hand with grimy fingertips covered her mouth. A raspy voice sounded in her ear, “don’t scream and I won’t hurt you. You understand?” Trembling violently, Scarlett nodded frantically, praying to God that this man would honor his word. The hand covering her mouth moved and she resisted the urge to spit and wipe away all traces of this barbarian. In the shadows of the alley, Scarlett assessed the situation; the man was tall, much larger than Rhett and was dressed in tattered clothes. His hair was greasy and his eyes had a queer light to them. “What do you want,” she whispered, using every ounce of self-control to keep her voice steady. Greedy eyes raked over her silk-covered body before the stranger answered, “money would do. Unless you’re offering more. I ain’t never seen a lady near as pretty as you.”
Icy fingers held out her gold and cream purse, offering it to the man, as Scarlett prayed that she would live to see tomorrow. Tears burned her eyes but she refused to let herself cry in front of this animal. She was an O’Hara, descended from the Kings of Ireland; she would not allow some petty thief the pleasure of seeing her psyche break down. Dirty hands clutched the purse, searching inside, counting the gold coins ravenously. He gripped the back of Scarlett’s neck, his filthy face inches from her pristine white skin. Yellow teeth gleamed in the fading light as his hot breath assaulted her lungs. “Such a pretty lady,” he repeated. Scarlett writhed in his grasp, pushing her captor away. “Let go of me,” she snapped, backing away from him. He reached out for her skirt but Scarlett had already taken off in a dead run, dashing like a madwoman through the shadowy streets.
Her lungs burned for oxygen but she was too afraid to stop, not knowing if he was close behind. When the need for air outweighed her ability to run, Scarlett pressed herself against a brick wall, hiding behind the porch of the adjacent building. She peeked her head out and let out a sigh of relief when she could not find the thief. “Now, I have to get back to the hotel,” she murmured, her hands shaking with fright and fatigue. She was so preoccupied that Scarlett did not notice the poor condition of the sidewalks. Large cracks marred the surface, making walking a difficult task as every other step was a pothole or piece of raised stone. One loose piece of stone caught her dainty slipper and sent Scarlett flying across the sidewalk, her head hitting the cobblestones with a resounding thud. The world seemed to slow as she slipped into the inky blackness of unconsciousness.
~~~~~~~~~~~
Back at the hotel, Rhett Butler was pacing wildly across the living room. Scarlett was not back yet and an inquiry to the man at the front desk had been useless. No one had seen her since the morning when she left to go shopping. The carriage Scarlett had hired had waited for her for over three hours before turning back to the hotel. It took all of Rhett’s self-control to not throttle the ignorant driver. What kind of fool left a woman unattended amidst the chaos of New York, he wondered. He had only agreed to this trip because Scarlett had promised to stay near the carriage at all times. Now it all seemed so trivial, so futile, compared with the prospect of never seeing her again. The police had been useless, telling Rhett that they would do everything possible to find his wife. However, Rhett knew that the longer Scarlett was missing, the less likely it was that the officers would find her. No one knew where she had been last and it was difficult to start looking for someone in the middle of a city.
He reached for a glass of whiskey, welcoming the burning sensation that shot down to the pit of his stomach. Tears burned his eyes but Rhett blinked them back, not wanting to cry in front of his daughter. “Momma will be alright,” Cat assured her father, her child’s mind not comprehending the severity of the situation. Cat believed that nothing bad could happen to Scarlett, her mother was stronger than anyone and her father would always be there to protect them both. Rhett absently patted his daughter’s head as he tried to suppress the fear that was steadily engulfing him. “That’s right Princess, it’ll be alright,” he reassured Cat, “we’ll find your mother.”
~~~~~~~~~~~
Sunlight beat down on Scarlett’s face and she turned her face away from the offending brightness. “Ooh,” she moaned, reaching up her hand to touch the large lump on her forehead. Scarlett’s entire face felt swollen and bruised, her tongue was thick in her mouth and her eyes refused to adjust to the light. “Where in the world am I,” she asked hoarsely, racking her brain for any clues as to her whereabouts. A shadow blocked the bright light from her eyes as a young woman peered over her. “Well now, she’s awake. Look now, the poor darling has finally woken up. Are you alright dearie? We were so worried that you were just going to be out forever.”
With the assistance of this woman, Scarlett sat up gingerly, attempting to loosen the stiffness from her limbs. “Where am I,” she asked, her voice stronger this time. The woman laughed, a high-pitched giggle that pierced the air, “why darling, you’re in New York.” Scarlett looked around, taking in her surroundings, trying to orient herself. Her companion had blue-black hair and dark blue eyes that twinkled cheerfully despite the tatters that marred her threadbare dress. “I’m sorry, I don’t understand,” Scarlett sputtered weakly, “why am I here? Who are you?”
The young woman holding Scarlett’s arm smiled, her round cheeks pink in the chilly air. “You must forgive me, I have a tendency to just prattle on without any rhyme or reason. I’m Nora and this is my sister, Moira. We found you in the alley, a few blocks away and brought you back to our house. We’re originally from France, but we’ve been living in New York for a little over six months now.” For the first time, Scarlett noticed the third woman in the room. She was tall and slender, her black hair pulled back in a thick braid, icy blue eyes glittering above sculpted cheekbones.
Scarlett looked at Nora and her sisters with a blank gaze. She opened her mouth and licked her dry lips, “I’m…” Her brow furrowed with confusion as she searched for the right words, trailing off when she could not complete the thought. “I don’t know,” she mumbled, “I don’t know who I am. I don’t remember.” Her eyes filled with tears and a lump grew in her throat as panic began to overtake her. “I don’t know who I am,” she whimpered, tears falling rapidly down her cheeks. Moira crossed the room and perched on the edge of the bed, patting Scarlett’s hands gently. “There, there, it’s alright. It’s going to be alright. You just got a bump on the head, that’s all. Once that goes away, I’m sure you’ll remember who you are. Until then you needn’t worry, we’ll take care of you.” Scarlett nodded, she felt safe with them and it was reassuring to know that someone was going to look out for her.
~~~~~~~~~~~
Looking out at the shadowy city, Rhett’s eyes filled with tears when he thought of his darling Scarlett. She’s gone, he thought bitterly, I just found her and then I lost her again. As the day faded into darkness, Rhett knew that his beloved was truly gone. Cat needed him now and Rhett needed to be strong for her. She was devoted to Scarlett and this was going to be the most painful conversation of his entire life because it would tear the little girl apart. He blinked rapidly, shivering in spite of the warm air, his thoughts focused on Scarlett. “I love you darling,” he whispered into the air, hoping against all odds that she would somehow hear him.
It had been a little over a month since Scarlett had disappeared and Rhett felt himself slipping away. The police had told him that it was fairly hopeless; it would take a miracle to find his wife, if she was even still alive. Secretly the officers thought that it was impossible for a wealthy country-bred woman to survive one night in the city, much less weeks. Rhett closed Scarlett’s trunk, listening to the creak of the hinges as they snapped shut, sealing her beautiful clothes from the world. He had made arrangements to go onto New Orleans with Cat. They needed to go somewhere else, New York held too many sad memories for them. He knew that’s what Scarlett would have wanted; she would hate for him to stay locked up amongst torrid emotions and morose thoughts.
~~~~~~~~~~~
The weeks passed quickly, warm days giving way to chilly mornings and frosty nights. Nora and Moira welcomed the nameless woman with wild green eyes into their home and their hearts. She was called Rose, a tribute to her gentle beauty that reminded the romantic Moira of a delicate flower. As the weeks slipped by, Scarlett O’Hara was forgotten as Rose became a part of the Tule family. Nora Tule had buried her husband, Robert, three years ago and had moved from her native France to America. Moira had left home a year before, at the age of sixteen, searching for adventure in New York. Scarlett soon fell into the comfortable, routine way of life, forgetting at times that she was not a part of this family. The busy boarding house where the sisters lived was comfortable, a perfect hideaway from the harsh realities of the outside world.
Christmas was five weeks away and the boarding house was buzzing with activity. The Dagla children, whose family owned the house, were all stringing garland and bits of evergreen throughout. Mrs. Dagla had been saving up food for weeks, in preparation of the feast that would take place on Christmas day. Everything was started far in advance, with the decorating beginning the last week in November. The three Dagla children were abuzz with excitement as the holiday approached. Each child was eagerly anticipating the arrival of Santa Claus with brightly wrapped packages for them. Despite the poverty that plagued many of the boarders, the spirit of Christmas was contagious. Soon, the entire house was glowing with activity in preparation for the joyous festivities.
“Rose, where are you darling,” Nora called as she kicked open the door to their small flat, trying to balance three baskets. One was filled with food and bright swatches of fabric; the other was overflowing with more fabric piled atop tightly folded dresses. Nora’s third basket held bits of ribbon and decorations that jingled as she moved across the foyer. Scarlett came out from the kitchen, wiping her flour-covered hands on the front of her apron. Moira had been teaching her new “sister” how to bake Christmas bread; she was amazed with Rose’s progress as the meager sack of flour gave way to several plump loaves. The girls had fallen into a comfortable silence as wooden spoons swirled lumps of dough in large ceramic bowls and small hands shaped the powdered mounds. Now, there were two loaves rising on the kitchen table and one more baking in the small oven. Tiny raisins adorned the loaves and steam rose off them, filling the rooms with a delicious aroma.
Nora’s blue eyes sparkled as Rose took the bolts of cloth from her hands. “Thank you,” she said cheerfully, “Mrs. Mardev decided that I didn’t have enough to carry, so she plopped this fabric into my hands. There so much here, I’m sure we’ll be able to get something out of it. She sent several dresses over too, saying we needed them more then she did. Sometimes it’s terrible to go there every day and watch her parade around in those expensive clothes while we traipse through life in rags…But here I am, prattling on again…She really isn’t a bad employer, it’s just that those children of hers get vexing after a while.”
Rose nodded her head slowly, running her porcelain white hands over the dark red cloth that was on the top of the pile. Nora could talk for hours and her constant chatter was confusing for Rose’s mild-mannered brain to comprehend. “This is a beautiful color,” she told Nora, who nodded eagerly. “Isn’t it though? It’s a scarlet red and I know it will look beautiful with some white lace.” She continued on, talking about dresses and how wonderful Christmas was going to be, oblivious to Rose who stood cemented in the hallway. Something Nora had said had triggered something within her, and her mind was miles away, searching for the forgotten thought.
She shifted the fabric in her arms, replaying the conversation in her mind. “Scarlet,” she whispered to herself, “why does that sound familiar? What does that mean?” That word meant something to Rose but she couldn’t place it. “Maybe it’s something from my past,” she murmured, a faint glimmer of hope growing in her heart, “something I remember from before…” She trailed off, unable to finish the thought. Her musings were interrupted by Moira, who was holding her sister’s shawl, making her way towards the coat hanger. “Rose, what are you doing there, just standing like a lump,” Moira teased, “come on, we’ll put the cloth in the sitting room. You needn’t hold it forever.” Laughing, the two girls made their way to the small den that had been transformed into a sewing room with space for unpacking all the decorations.
As she unpacked the basket, Rose reflected on her newfound family. Nora worked as a nanny for a wealthy woman on the other side of town, spending countless hours chasing after her small children. Moira had worked as a teacher but until she found a position, the young woman made money by selling her sewing. Rose helped Mrs. Dagla with household chores in return for her part of the rent. Even though the sisters didn’t have much, they shared wholeheartedly with Rose. They had all been so kind to her, never pressuring Rose to hurry and remember who she was. Despite their kindness and acceptance, she still prayed every night that God would return her memory. There were so many blank spaces in her memory, so many clues that led to deep ends. The scar on her abdomen, for example, she had no idea what it was from. Also, her accent was neither American nor European, leaving no clue of her heritage. Coupled with her memory loss, Rose was a mystery, left to make her own life in the small boardinghouse with the help of her new family.
Nora opened the window of the sitting room, pushing back the lavender curtains, allowing bright light to spill into the shadowy room. She knelt beside Rose and kissed the top of her head, “how are you darling,” she asked. Tear-filled green eyes met cobalt blue and Rose whimpered softly as the sobs began to escape her. Nora pulled Rose to her and softly rubbed her back, treating the woman like a small child. “It’s alright, darling, it’s alright. Don’t cry my darling, it’s going to be alright.” Rose looked up, her white skin red and splotchy from crying and stared at Nora with wide eyes. “I’ve heard that before,” she whispered, “my darling…I just don’t know who said it…a man with dark hair.” She shook her head, unable to complete the memory, frustrated with herself.
“Maybe it was your husband,” Nora suggested gently, trying to jog Rose’s memory. She pitied Rose, a beautiful woman without her memory; lost without a family or a home to call her own. Ruby lips moved slowly, the words rolling across Rose’s tongue, but no sound coming from her mouth. “Captain,” she said, her brow furrowed in concentration, “I remember a man with black eyes like coal and tanned skin. I called him Captain…and I loved him, or I do love him, or something. He was the one; he called me ‘darling’ and something else.” Her eyes roamed the room wildly before settling on the bolt of red fabric that sat idly in the corner. They widened as the memory assaulted her, a single thought pounding through her brain. “He called me Scarlett,” she said, her voice growing stronger with each passing second, “he called me Scarlett. My name is Scarlett.”
Tears fell from her eyes as she repeated the name, familiarity washing over her like waves breaking on the shore. “My name is Scarlett,” she exclaimed, meeting Nora’s blue eyes with a joyful smile. Nora hugged the woman tightly, pleased that she was finally regaining her memory. Moira entered the room at the sound of Rose’s laughter and asked, “what’s happening? Darlings, are you alright?” Nora nodded and smiled, “her name is Scarlett. She’s starting to remember. This is Scarlett, not Rose, Scarlett.” Moira smiled widely, hugging her sister and Scarlett; overjoyed that their lost friend was beginning to remember the way home. As much as the Tule woman loved her, both knew that she had a family and a life somewhere else. She had been with them for three months and this was the first real breakthrough of memory that she had experienced.
~~~~~~~~~~~
Scarlett soon began to experience more breakthroughs, slowly piecing together bits of her life. She still had many holes in her memory, but she was beginning to develop a vague idea of who she was. It was three weeks before Christmas and the snow was falling steadily outside as she pulled the blankets around her. She shared a bed with Nora, the small room home to all three girls, with Moira sleeping on a small sofa. The sisters were buried underneath layers of warm woolen blankets, warding off the chilly air, as they slept peacefully. Scarlett lay awake, her mind working furiously, trying to fill in the gaps of her life. “Who am I,” she whispered into the still night air, before turning on her side and drifting off into a deep sleep.
The fog was heavy around her and the damp air cut straight through Scarlett’s thin nightgown. She was standing in a grand entranceway, surrounded by dozens of people, faces that seemed familiar but cloaked in mystery. “Where am I,” Scarlett asked, licking her suddenly dry lips. A man with blue eyes and thin blonde hair stepped forward, “You’re home, Scarlett O’Hara. Don’t you remember?” She shook her head sadly and the man stepped back amidst the other people. A young woman with a heart-shaped face stepped forward and took Scarlett’s face in her hands. “Yes you do, Scarlett. I know you remember. You’re strong my darling, I know you’ll find your way home. Just try, Scarlett darling, try for me.” Her heart was pounding so fast that Scarlett was afraid it was going to break through her chest. Tears filled her eyes and she grasped the hands that held her face. “Melanie,” she choked out, her voice shaking with emotion, “is that you, Melly?” The woman nodded and kissed Scarlett’s cheeks, “yes, Scarlett darling, it’s me.”
Scarlett clutched Melanie’s arm and looked around the circle of people surrounding her. One stood out from the others, a tall man with jet-black hair and tanned skin. She moved towards him, her arms outstretched, tears spilling down her face. “Rhett,” she cried, throwing herself against his chest, the sense of safety and security filling her soul. He held Scarlett close and kissed her passionately, kisses that left her head spinning. When the kiss broke, Scarlett stared at his in wonder. “You’re my husband,” she whispered, “Rhett Butler. My husband.” He nodded and kissed the top of Scarlett’s head, “I knew you’d remember my pet, I knew it.” Scarlett looked at her husband, anguish written plainly on her face, “I was so afraid, Rhett. I was afraid I had lost you forever.” His swarthy features lit up and white teeth flashed beneath a black mustache. “You’ll never lose me Scarlett. I’ll always love you.” As the words left his mouth, the fog overtook the people and they began to fade away. Scarlett clutched Rhett’s arm tightly, not ready to let him go.
Her cheeks were wet with tears when Scarlett woke up in a cold sweat. She was shaking visibly and the heavy blankets did little to subdue the chill was seeping through her body. “Scarlett Butler,” she whispered into the darkness, “my name is Scarlett Butler and my husband is Rhett Butler. My daughter’s name is Melanie Katherine and she’s Rhett’s daughter. He’s from Charleston and I’m from Clayton County. We were married years ago and we lived in Atlanta in that big house. Then poor Melly died and I moved to Ireland…because I was hiding from Rhett. I didn’t want him to know about Kitty Cat. But he found me and that’s why I was in New York. We were going to our new house in New Orleans.” Her breath was ragged as Scarlett attempted to calm the furious beating of her heart and quiet the flood of memories that were assaulting her. A smile danced over her face as she repeated silently, “I remember who I am.”
She lay awake for hours until the sun finally cut through the darkness that enveloped the room. The snow had tapered off, leaving the entire city covered in brilliant white powder. Against the bright sunlight, everything seemed to glow as Scarlett looked out over the neighborhood she had called home for several months. “It’s time to go home,” she whispered to herself, her Southern accent thick with emotion. The thought jolted her, no one knew she was still in New York, “they must all think I’m dead,” Scarlett thought sadly. “I have to go home now; I need to be with Rhett. Why, he’s going to fall on the floor when he sees me. But how am I going to go home? Moira! I need to talk to Moira. She’ll know what to do.”
Comforted by the thought that she was going home, Scarlett padded down the hall to the small kitchen. Moira was bending over the stove, scowling at a pot of water that refused to boil. She smiled warmly at Scarlett and gestured to the stove. “This blasted contraption is damn determined to deny me a cup of tea this morning.” Moira pushed pins into her mass of blue-black hair to keep back unruly tendrils as she pulled out a chair opposite Scarlett. “What’s the matter,” she asked, taking in the fire that emanated from her companion’s emerald eyes. “I remember now,” Scarlett said happily, “I remember everything, who I am, why I was in New York in the first place. My name is Scarlett Butler and my husband’s name is Rhett. We were going to New Orleans with our daughter, Cat. I have to find them, I have to get back to Rhett, but I don’t know where he is. He probably thinks that I’m dead…I don’t even know where to begin.” Moira clutched Scarlett’s hand and squeezed it gently. “Sit down here, darling, and I’ll help you. We’ll get you back to your family, don’t worry. I know some people in New Orleans and I can make some inquiries. We’ll find them, I promise.”
~~~~~~~~~~~
The gray winter sky looked ominous as Scarlett descended from the carriage. Her hands were shaking as she took in the train, massive and ominous, the maroon exterior dark against the worn gold trim. In five days, Moira had located one Rhett Butler living in New Orleans with his daughter and had booked passage for Scarlett on the train which would arrive at the station on December 20. Using some unheard of connection, Nora had secured a carriage to meet Scarlett and take her to Rhett’s home. Scarlett turned to Moira and kissed her cheeks affectionately before turning to Nora. “How can I ever thank you both for what you have done,” she asked the sisters, “you saved me and now you’re sending me back home. I don’t know how to thank you enough.” Nora smiled and squeezed Scarlett’s hand, “just go home and be well, ma cherie. We were just doing what was asked of us. You were sent to us for a reason and now it’s time to send you home. Good luck, my belle Scarlett.”
As the train pulled out of the station, Scarlett waved until she could no longer make out Nora and Moira amidst the throng of people. A lump formed in her throat when she thought of leaving the safety and security of her home in New York. She was apprehensive about venturing into the unknown jungle of New Orleans, but Scarlett pushed these doubts to the dark recesses at the back of her mind. She loved Rhett and he loved her; the important thing was for them to be together. Turning away from the window, she closed her eyes, hoping that sleep would not elude her. The small carpetbag held her three dresses and several other things she had acquired while in the boarding house. Everything else would be in New Orleans, Scarlett was sure that Rhett would not just throw away all of her beautiful clothes.
Across the ocean, Rhett Butler was attempting to balance a large pile of gifts and open the door to his house. As he fumbled with the door knob, Jessie, one of the maids opened the wooden door. “Mister Rhett, why didn’t you knock,” the young darkie chided him gently, “I would’ve opened this here door for you.” Rhett didn’t answer her; he just nodded and walked into the foyer, depositing the packages on an end-table. The house was about the same size as his former home in Atlanta, but it was full of windows that spilled light everywhere. Even though Rhett and Cat had lived there for four months, the house still felt empty.
He had ordered furniture to soften the vast emptiness, but the house longed for a woman’s touch. Although he refused to admit it, Rhett was waiting for Scarlett to walk through the front door and take charge. Cat had shut down after hearing the news that her mother was presumed dead, refusing to accept that the light in her young life had vanished. The little girl was distant, her green eyes listless and her smiles forced. Rhett had done everything possible to draw out the lively child he had met at Ballyhara, but he knew that she needed to mourn Scarlett in her own way.
Unable to confront Wade and Ella with the disastrous news, Rhett sent letters to them, detailing the incident. Neither child had responded to the news, presumably withdrawing into their own grief. The only person who had responded to his letters was Ashley. Scarlett’s childhood friend had offered his sympathy and expressed his desire to help Rhett in any way possible. Although the two men had never agreed on anything, they were united now in their grief over the loss of Scarlett. Rhett had kept Cat out of all the letters, not wanting to fuel the gossip that was swirling throughout Atlanta and most of Clayton County.
Sometimes it felt surreal to Rhett, like the last few months had been a bad dream. He woke up at night, reaching out for Scarlett, praying for one more moment with her. His daughter interrupted his thoughts as Cat scampered down the stairs and into her father’s arms. “How is my Cat,” Rhett asked, forcing his voice to sound cheerful and upbeat. This Christmas would be difficult for them both, but he was determined to do his best at easing Cat’s emotional turmoil. The little girl nodded solemnly as she clung to Rhett’s neck. “Fine,” she replied softly as she buried her face in his shoulder. A pang of sorrow ripped through Rhett; Scarlett always buried her face like that, drying her tears on his crisp shirts and expensive jackets.
Rhett shifted his daughter in his arms and walked up the stairs, taking in the wide hallways, devoid of any decorations or furniture. I need to decorate this place for Christmas, Rhett thought, I’ll start on it tomorrow. “I need you Scarlett,” he whispered as he passed his bedroom door on the way to Cat’s playroom. In his heart, Rhett doubted his ability to make it through the coming weeks without her. Cat’s presence was a comfort to him, but nothing could take the place of Scarlett.
~~~~~~~~~~~
Sunlight beat down through the tall windows of the train as it pulled into the station. Stepping onto the platform, Scarlett tucked her shawl tightly around her slender arms and searched the crowd for any familiar faces. Her heart beat quickly and her hands shook with excitement. After an uneventful trip, she was finally in New Orleans and her heart soared at the prospect of being so close to Rhett. “Time to go home,” Scarlett whispered to herself as she joined the group of people who were steadily moving along the platform.
A young man with jet-black hair and blue eyes approached Scarlett hesitantly. “Excuse me, Madame, but are you Mrs. Butler,” he asked in a thick French accent. Scarlett’s face broke into a wide smile, “yes, I am. And you’re Moira’s student, John, am I right?” The young man nodded, “Oui, madame that is correct. My name is Jean and I’m here to take you to your home. Is that right?” Scarlett nodded and followed Jean to his carriage, climbing carefully onto the freshly polished seat. The coach was small but clean, a vast improvement over the clanking and dusty train. Inside her white gloves, Scarlett’s hands were covered in sweat and she wiped them carelessly on the underside of her dark blue dress.
It felt like hours later that the carriage pulled to a stop in front of a large brick house. It appeared to be two stories high with a large front porch, accented by four thick white columns. Windows were everywhere, reflecting the bright sunlight into Scarlett’s eyes as she took in the magnificent structure. Rhett had described the house to her so many months ago, but his description scarcely did it justice. It felt like a lifetime ago that they had sat in their stateroom on the Bonne Mere, discussing their new home in New Orleans. She had had so many plans for the house, a combination of Tara and her old home in Atlanta. Now all those plans seemed like idle dreams, remnants of memories left over from someone else. At that moment, Scarlett could care less about her home; a shack would be acceptable as long as she was with Rhett and Cat.
“Thank you,” Scarlett told Jean as she pressed several coins into his hand. “Just leave the carpetbag on the porch, we can get it later,” she instructed, not wanting to make a grand scene in the entrance hall by arriving with luggage. Scarlett smoothed the front of her dress and turned to make sure that Jean and his carriage were well out of view before she knocked on the door. She took a deep breath, feeling the air fill her chest, expanding without encountering the cage of a corset. Licking her dry lips and pinching color back into her cheeks, Scarlett swallowed over the massive lump in her stomach and lifted the ornate gold doorknocker.
The sound echoed throughout the nearly empty house, without furniture to absorb some of the noise, the knocker sounded loudly. It startled several of the maids who had not been informed that Mister Rhett was expecting company. In the library, Rhett was fighting with the Christmas tree, attempting to make the large pine stand straight with the help of his coachman and the cook. He ignored the knock at the door, confident that one of the maids would take care of it.
Anna, a young servant of nineteen scurried to the door and swung it open to reveal a beautiful woman, dressed in a simple indigo gown. She gawked at the visitor, who was a vision in the dark fabric; her porcelain skin offset by the thin silver trim that accented the high neckline and the bell sleeves of the gown. The dress was simple but elegant, obviously crafted with care. Despite the plain dress, the woman was enchanting as she stood in the door way, her red lips turned up in a smile. Her raven colored hair was piled atop her head and her emerald eyes sparkled in the sunlight.
“Hello,” Scarlett drawled with a wide smile, overlooking Anna’s awestruck gaze. The young girl shook her head, bringing herself back to the present moment and out of the clouds of daydreaming. “May I help you,” Anna asked as she gestured the woman into the foyer. Scarlett nodded, “I hope so. I’m here to see Mr. Rhett Butler. Is he at home?” Anna nodded, “and who may I say is calling,” she asked, her tone guarded yet polite. During her few months of service, no female visitors had come to see Mr. Butler and Anna did not want to anger her employer by allowing this woman to walk in unannounced. Scarlett’s smile faltered, she hadn’t thought of what name to give. Her homecoming was supposed to be a surprise, she didn’t want to give it away so soon. “Just tell him…that his sister is here to see him. And say that this time, she spared the curtains.” Anna tipped her head, puzzled by the cryptic message; nevertheless, she showed Scarlett into the study and left to give Rhett the message.
Scarlett looked around the study, puzzled at the room’s emptiness. Everything in the house seemed to be in various stages of disarray, as though Rhett was waiting for someone to come in and take control. There were two overstuffed chairs, covered in ruby fabric that provided sharp contrast to the walnut legs and back. “Scarlet red,” she whispered, rubbing her hand affectionately over the surface of the chair. Several walnut end tables and coffee tables dotted the perimeter of the room, each covered with its own unique collection of figurines and other dust collectors. It was such a change from the small rooms she had lived in for so many months. The boardinghouse was nowhere near as large as their new house and for the second time that day, Scarlett was so thrilled to be home again.
She walked across the room to the large bow window and looked out over the grounds of the estate. It was so nice to see something other than cobblestone streets and carriages careening wildly. The country air smelled sweet and welcoming as she surveyed the scene displayed before her. Even in December, the beauty of the landscape was not lost on Scarlett. Trees lined the property and she was sure that it provided a picturesque background in the spring and summer when all the flowers were in bloom and the green grass contrasted the bright blue sky.
In the library, Rhett stepped back from the evergreen and studied it critically. He addressed the cook, “Toby, we need to secure that tree to the walls with some strings and a few hooks. I don’t want the blasted thing to fall down, after all the work we went through to put it up straight.” Toby nodded and wiped his sweating brow with a large hand. “Yes sir, Mister Rhett,” he said, the words melting into one long breath. Toby and Jim turned their attention back to the tree as Jessie entered the library and hesitantly approached Rhett. “Mister Rhett, there’s someone to see you,” she said timidly. He turned and looked at the servant questioningly, only a few people knew where he lived and no one had mentioned that they were coming. “Who is it,” he asked. Jessie shook her head apologetically, “I dunno sir. She didn’t give her name, she said that she’s your sister. And she said to tell you that…that this time….she spared the curtains. I dunno what that means though, sir.”
Under his tan, Rhett’s face turned pale white as he faced Jessie, his hands shaking visibly. “What did she say about the curtains,” he pressed the servant, his voice low and urgent. Jessie cleared her throat and repeated the message. “Where is she,” Rhett asked, his stomach turning flips in anticipation. A dress made of curtains, he thought, Scarlett wore that when I was in the Yankee jail. It was green and she looked so gorgeous, he recalled. “But that was years ago,” Rhett murmured to himself, “who else would know about that?” Jessie broke his trail of thoughts, “she’s in the study, sir.” Oblivious to the blank stares thrown at him by the servants, Rhett dashed out of the library.
As he approached the study, Rhett paused before the door that was slightly ajar and smoothed his white shirt down and pushed his jet black hair away from his face. He wiped his suddenly sweaty palms on his black pants and took a deep breath, willing his heart to stop beating so loudly. All of his self-control vanished when he swung open the door and was confronted with the vision before him. She was standing with her back to him, silhouetted against the window, the sunlight spilling into the room, casting a soft glow about her. Sensing another presence in the room, she turned slowly to face him and Rhett’s breath caught in his throat. For a moment he thought he was dreaming, with the light shining down on her, she looked like an angel. “Scarlett,” he choked out, willing her to be real, hoping against hope that his wildest dreams had come true—that he had been given another chance at love.
Scarlett broke into a wide smile as she crossed the room in three steps and pressed herself into Rhett’s arms. Frozen with shock, Rhett stood cemented to the spot for a moment before wrapping his arms around her slender waist. Time seemed to stop as Rhett savored the moment, not caring if this was a dream or a hallucination, only focusing on the woman in his arms. Scarlett took a step back and looked into Rhett’s eyes, the same ebony pools she had been dreaming about for weeks. His eyes were so dark, she could get lost in them and tears spilled down her cheeks as she reached her shaking hands out to his face, craving more physical contact. Her delicate fingers slid down the striking contour of his cheekbones, over the thin veil of stubble that cast shadows on his chin, before entwining themselves in his thick black hair. She devoured every detail, replacing the shadows of her memory with the images in front of her.
Rhett’s arms tightened around Scarlett’s tiny waist and his mouth opened and shut, unsure of what to say. His mind was in conflict; this woman looked like his Scarlett, but his wife was dead. He knew she was dead, it had been too many weeks, yet something told him that this was Scarlett. Rhett pulled her close to him and buried his face in her hair, his tears falling into the raven locks as her tears spotted his shirt. “Scarlett,” Rhett breathed, afraid of shattering this moment. He was scared that if he held her too tightly that she would slip away, leaving him to face the world alone. “It’s me,” Scarlett said softly as she kissed Rhett’s cheeks, “I’m here, my darling, I’m here.”
The emotions were too much for Rhett as grief battled with joy and loneliness fought against adoration. His knees buckled and they sank to the floor of the study, cradling each other, allowing the tears to fall so freely until neither could tell which tears were their own. It may have been hours or minutes that they remained like that, both afraid to ruin the moment, scared that it was merely a figment of their imagination. “But how,” Rhett asked as he looked into the eyes of his beloved Scarlett, drinking in the green orbs he had longed to see for so many months. “It’s a long story,” Scarlett said, “but I promise I’ll tell you.” Rhett nodded as he clutched her tightly, never wanting to let go of Scarlett for fear that she would slip away again. The moment was interrupted by Cat who had left her playroom in search of her father. Their green-eyed daughter stood, gaping at the door as she took in Rhett laying in a heap with a dark-haired woman. Cat’s eyes narrowed and her mouth dropped in amazement.
“Momma,” she screamed, tearing across the room and into the waiting arms of her mother. Scarlett broke into fresh tears as she cradled her youngest daughter in her arms, rocking back and forth, saying a silent prayer of thanks to God for protecting her family. “I’m here Precious, I’m here. Momma’s here. Everything’s going to be alright.” After several minutes, the little girl looked up at her mother indignantly, “why did you go away,” she asked simply. Scarlett stared at her daughter for a moment before answering, “I didn’t want to go away Kitty Cat, but I promise I’ll never do that again. Momma got a bump on the head and she had to get better before she could come get her little Princess.” Cat studied her mother with a solemn expression before nodding in agreement. “Cat understands,” she replied before burying her head in Scarlett’s skirts.
~~~~~~~~~~~
Hours seemed to pass in a blink as Cat acquainted her mother with every inch of the house. Scarlett could not understand why Rhett had left so much of the house bare until she saw the library. One of the two rooms that he had decorated, it was truly beautiful. Two portraits hung above the fireplace, both of Scarlett; the left one was in her blue velvet dress from their home Atlanta and the other was her in a white dress from the Big House in Ireland. The library was filled with hundreds of books, the spines bright spots of light illuminated by several large windows. All the furniture was light brown oak with thick green velvet fabric.
Scarlett turned to her husband, her eyebrows raised in questions, “Where did you get this fabric? It looks just like the curtains from Tara.” Rhett chuckled and nodded solemnly, “Suellen found them in a box in your attic. She sent it a few weeks after…after your disappearance. I thought it was a fitting use for them. I hope you don’t object, my darling.” She shook her head, “no, I don’t mind, it’s just like a combination of my past…Tara, Atlanta and Ballyhara, all put together into one room.” A smile lit up Rhett’s face, “that was my intention. I wanted to preserve as much of you as possible. After all, we thought you were dead, and I didn’t know what else to do.” Scarlett laughed, the high-pitched sound cutting through the heavy emotions that enveloped the room. “Now I get a room designed for the sole purpose of enhancing my vanity. Considering that I am back from the dead,” she concluded saucily.
Ruefully, Rhett shook his head, “my pet, you are indeed full of surprises. I never imagined we’d overcome so much when I met you all those years ago.” Scarlett turned her back to Rhett and tossed over her shoulder, “was it worth it?” In an instant, his warm breath was upon her neck and his husky voice was in her ear. “Of course,” he murmured, as he trailed kisses over her exposed skin. Scarlett turned and captured Rhett’s lips with hers, allowing her kisses to express the longing she could not seem to put into words. Cat stood and watched her parents, knowing enough to let them have this moment. Her child’s brain could not comprehend what was happening, all she knew was that Momma was back and that Daddy was smiling again.
Somehow Rhett and Scarlett managed to make it through dinner without letting too many emotions slip out in front of their daughter. As the moon shone brightly against the inky black sky, Scarlett climbed the stairs, Cat asleep in her arms. Rhett walked close beside his wife, still amazed that she was beside him again. After so many sleepless nights, all his prayers had been answered when Scarlett walked through the door and back into his life. They stood silhouetted against the doorframe of Cat’s room, watching the little girl sleep for several long moments, until Rhett gently pulled his wife away.
He lead her to their bedroom and the couple perched on the edge of the four poster bed. The only light in the room came from a bedside lamp, casting eerie shadows on Rhett’s hard features and bathing Scarlett in a soft glow. Unsure where to begin or what to say, Rhett cleared his throat nervously, but Scarlett intervened. She clasped his hands in her lap and looked deep into his eyes, allowing herself to get lost in the passion and desire contained just below the surface. “I know you have questions,” she said, her voice faltering at times, “and I know there’s so much we need to talk about. It’s been a long time and I know it’s been hard on both of us. We need to take this slowly.” She paused and inched closer to Rhett, tears glittering in her emerald eyes, “but can’t we just skip that part? Can we skip the talking and can you just love me?” The question had just fallen from her lips when Scarlett was silenced by Rhett’s firm kisses.
Scarlett wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled herself against his body until no light could pass between them. Rhett grasped her waist between his arms while his hands worked the small buttons that lined her spine. With amazing deftness, he freed Scarlett of the prison made of cotton and lace, leaving her exposed before him. Breaking the kiss for a moment, Scarlett looked quizzically at her husband, “you’re wearing too many clothes,” she whispered. Rhett chuckled as he moved to loosen the buttons of his shirt, but Scarlett moved his hands back to her waist. With his support around her petite frame, she slid the linen shirt off Rhett’s broad shoulders, revealing an expanse of tanned skin. “I love you, Rhett,” Scarlett proclaimed as she admired her husband’s chest, leaving a trail of kisses across his collarbone. Rhett gently dipped Scarlett back onto the bed, allowing her to sink into the feathery softness of the mattress. “And I love you Scarlett,” he replied, “I’ve missed you my darling. I’ve missed you so much.” Scarlett nuzzled her face in the hollow of Rhett’s neck as he fell beside her, wrapping his muscular arms around her, determined to never let her go again.
~~~~~~~~~~~
Rain tapped at the windowpane, rousing Scarlett from her light sleep. She disentangled herself from underneath Rhett’s arm that was tucked possessively around her waist. Slipping quietly from the bed, Scarlett picked up her wrapper and hugged it over her thin frame. Her bare feet padded over the wooden floors, curling slightly in response to the chilly floorboards. Stepping into the carpeted hallway, Scarlett moved towards her daughter’s room. She paused in the doorway to take in the picture her youngest daughter made. Kath lay asleep in her bed; her long black hair spilling over the pillow as the nineteen-year old buried herself beneath the bright-colored blankets.
Scarlett rested her head against the doorframe, content to watch her daughter sleep. Tears stung her eyes as she took in the dress, waiting in the corner of Kath’s bedroom, covered securely by several bags. Inside that bag was her daughter’s wedding dress, a beautiful creation of white silk and lace, accented with hundreds of crystal beads. Licking her lips, Scarlett smiled wanly, knowing she had to let Kath go. However, she still needed to cling to the vision of her green-eyed daughter as a little girl, running through the fields of Ballyhara.
The sun was shining brightly over the fields as Scarlett looked out from her office, smiling at her success as Mistress of Ballyhara. Rosaleen Fitzpatrick bustled in from the hall, yielding a tray filled with the preparations for afternoon tea. “Now Mrs. O’Hara,” she began, her thick brogue cutting through the silence, “you need to step away from those books and come have a cup of tea.” Scarlett nodded, although she was deep in thought. These thoughts were broken by Cat, the little girl ran into the office and was seated in her mother’s lap before Mrs. Fitzpatrick could pour out a drop of tea. Green eyes sparkling, Cat looked up at Scarlett, “may I have tea with you, Momma,” she asked. Scarlett shook her head, “no Kitty Cat. Tea is for grown-ups and you’re not a grown-up. You’re my little girl, isn’t that right?” Cat pondered this for a moment before burying her head in Scarlett’s shoulder, “I’ll always be your little girl,” she whispered softly.
Blinking back tears, Scarlett brought herself back to the present moment. “I wish you were still my little Kitty Cat,” she murmured, crossing the room to kneel by her daughter’s bed. “But somewhere along the way you grew up, my beautiful Kath. Now you’re a lady, ready to go out and start your own life and have children of your own.” Sighing, she brushed a stray tendril back from Kath’s face, causing her daughter to stir slightly. Careful not to wake the bride-to-be, Scarlett crept from the room, holding the door so it didn’t slam shut.
“Now, what to do,” Scarlett asked herself as she made her way downstairs, taking in the beautiful decorations illuminated in the pale moonlight. The entire house had been decorated in preparation of Kath’s wedding to William Renerd. A light in the study caught Scarlett’s attention and she turned towards it. “Rhett, what are you doing in here,” Scarlett whispered, careful to keep her voice down. He gestured for her to close the door and replied, “I couldn’t sleep. It seems my beautiful wife has taken to skulking around our house at all hours of the night and I’m out of the habit of sleeping alone.” Scarlett smiled and sat on Rhett’s lap, weaving her hair through his hair, now generously shot with silver. “Is that so,” she cooed, eliciting a chuckle from Rhett who encircled her wrists with his one free hand.
Turning his attention back to the flickering lamp, Rhett turned the conversation to the upcoming day. “Getting nervous, my pet,” he asked with a sly smile, knowing full well that Scarlett was heart-sick over the thought of losing her youngest daughter. “You’re incorrigible, Rhett,” Scarlett snapped, a smile softening the harsh tone, “of course I’m nervous. She’s my little girl…she’s only nineteen. And don’t give me that speech about how I was only sixteen the first time I got married…it doesn’t change anything. Kath will always be my little Kitty Cat, no matter how old she is.” Her husband nodded; he too would miss Kath, the house would seem so empty without her omnipresent energy and youthful vitality. “We better get back to bed, my pet,” Rhett said as he swung Scarlett up into his arms. Even in his old age, Rhett had not yet lost all his former strength and it was still an easy feat to lift his tiny wife. She sighed, “I know, today’s going to be a long day.”
~~~~~~~~~~~
Scarlett Butler smiled at her youngest daughter as Kath stood atop the central staircase, awaiting the appropriate signal from Nora to begin her descent. The wedding was taking place in the Butler’s home at Kath’s insistence and William was only too eager to oblige the woman he loved. Cat-shaped emerald eyes danced beneath the layers of white lace that made up her elaborate veil. The white silk dress pooled around her feet, the train extending over the landing. She was a vision in white, the bodice of her dress sparkling with little pearls and crystal beads, which caught the light from every angle, sending tiny sparkles all over the room. With her raven hair piled atop her head, Kath was truly her mother’s daughter, an image of Scarlett in her younger day.
Rhett took a deep breath as he looked at his only daughter and tugged nervously on his waistcoat. A few feet from the foot of the stairs, William was waiting with the minister, surrounded by hundreds of guests. People had come from as far as New York, filling up hotels within a ten-mile radius around the Butler’s home. Looking through the crowd, Scarlett could see the blue-black hair of Moira Tulle as she stood amongst the relative and well-wishers. Nora had been living with the Butler family for years as Cat’s nanny and later as Scarlett’s confidant when the little girl began to grow up. Now, it was truly time to let Kath go, a thought that saddened everyone who knew her.
Kath stood on the landing, her white slippers crushing the ivory carpet, as she peered over the crowd. People were taking up every available inch of space, a sea of brightly colored dressed and tailored suits. Straining her eyes, she could make out Moira Tulle, standing next to her husband Henry, trying to peer around Maybelle Picard’s enormous green hat. Harriet Kennedy Wilkes had her back pressed against the wall, her eyes filled with adoration as she watched her husband. Ashley was oblivious to his wife, attempting to keep from falling asleep as he urged the coffee to take over his sleep-deprived brain. Kath suppressed a giggle when she thought of him drifting off during the rehearsal dinner while three-week old Audrey slept peacefully in her mother’s arms. Today, the five youngest Wilkes children joined ten other children at Old Mrs. Monre’s house, under the watchful eye of several servants.
Wade adjusted his waistcoat as he locked eyes with his wife Elizabeth, sharing a secret smile. He leaned in towards William and said something that made the groom’s shoulders shake with silent laughter. Ella stood opposite the two men, shooting them a disapproving smirk, willing them to be serious. Internally she was thrilled to see her little sister getting married to the handsome and charming William. A fellow teacher in Atlanta, Ella was convinced that William and Kath were a perfect match, the day she met him.
Kath turned away from the crowd amassed before her and locked eyes with her mother. Scarlett’s green eyes glistened with unshed tears and she nervously twisted her pale hands. Ashley and Rhett looked at each other knowingly, smiling in spite of her distress. As much as Scarlett complained about losing Kath, she adored William and could not have imagined a better husband for her daughter. Soft piano music filled the air and Scarlett adjusted her daughter’s veil one last time. She squeezed her hand gently before turning to descend the stairs. “I love you Kitty Cat,” she whispered, fighting back the tears that were threatening to overflow. Her daughter fought back her own tears and whispered, “I love you too Momma.” The young woman had the personality and disposition of her namesake, Melanie Wilkes and Scarlett wished that Melly could see this wedding. Nora cleared her throat and Scarlett began her descent, followed by the bride.
The music swelled, filling the house, as Rhett’s eyes met Scarlett’s. Slowly she and Ashley made their way down the long aisle. When they reached William and the minister, Ashley stepped to the side to watch his goddaughter enter the enormous room. Scarlett moved to the left, lacing her hand through Ella’s, tears falling as her youngest daughter stood in the doorframe, a radiant smile on her lips. Everyone turned their heads up to the landing, watching Melanie Katherine Butler sail down the steps on the arms of her father. Kath seemed to float up the aisle, oblivious to the throng of people surrounding her; she and William were lost in their own world, with only eyes for each other. Pausing in front of the minister, Rhett carefully raised the veil and gently kissed his daughter’s cheek. He took her hands and placed them in William’s, a look of understanding passing between the two men. Rhett had given away his daughter to another man, it was now William’s responsibility to love and care for Kath, a task he was eager to embrace.
Rhett moved next to Scarlett, who transferred her grip to his hands as they sat in the front row of seats. She smiled as the minister began the ceremony, his silky voice gliding through the filled room. She leaned over and whispered in her husband’s ear, “they look so happy.” Rhett nodded in agreement, “he’s a good man, he’ll take care of her.” His wife was silent and he pulled her closer to him, thanking God once again that his beautiful Scarlett had been returned to him, so many years ago. The minister pronounced the couple in front of him as man and wife. Gently William raised the veil, the same way Rhett had, so many years ago. As the ceremony ended and the newlyweds made their way outside, where the reception was to be held, Scarlett held Rhett back for a moment. “Someone once told me,” she began, “that marriage could be fun.” Eyes twinkling, Rhett looked down at the woman he loved and asked, “was he right?” Scarlett brought her lips up to Rhett’s for a kiss and before their lips met, she whispered, “every day is better than the next.”
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Very good Julia! Thank you for participating in the contest. I was hoping Necole would have a little "competition" and you have done just that. Now if we can just get others to join in, ahem hint hint.
Thank you again.
Susan
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(no login) 144.138.94.101
I enjoyed that very much
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January 13 2003, 12:18 PM
That was interesting. Look forward to read more stories that you write.
Cheers
Tabitha
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This was a GREAT story! I was so happy that they were reunited! And THANK YOU for changing Cat's name! I always hated Katie Colum! I was so happy when she remembered everything!! And Cat getting married, was great! A complete circle of sorts!
Three cheers for a wonderful story!
Necole
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Lilly (no login) 66.120.242.78
That was a nice story!
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August 6 2003, 5:23 PM
Was there some kind of time forwardment? Like fifteen years? Sorry I read it kind of fast!
Lilly
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I read it kind of fast!