The young nursemaid approached her employer. Grace near about leapt from Penny’s arms into her mother’s lap startling Scarlett. Through the corner of her eye Scarlett saw Uncle Henry staring at the exchange in front of him. Scarlett chose to ignore him; she could not make eye contact with him, not yet anyway. She gave Grace’s full rosy cheek a gentle stroke with the back of her hand and placed a light kiss on the child’s nose before handing her back to the nursemaid. Scarlett instructed Penny to the location of their berth and to settle Grace in for a nap. She watched as the two girls exited the dining car before she worked the nerve up to face Uncle Henry. She straightened her back, held her chin high and turned towards the old man.

She met his eyes dead on. “No, Henry there is no shame in anything that has occurred between Rhett and me.” Scarlett paused, “Unfortunately only regret.”

Scarlett quickly began to speak again, hoping that if she monopolized the conversation Henry would not have an opportunity to ask questions.
“I guess you are curious as to what kept me away from the South for so long and I suppose you have your answer now.” Scarlett exhaled the breath she had been holding, “After I left Charleston, I went to Grandfather Robillard’s in Savannah. I stayed there for a while, hoping that Rhett would come for me, that we could reconcile; but he never did. That is when I decided to go to Ireland. My initial plans were to visit my O’Hara kin for a bit and get away from my life for a while. After a short stay I planned to return right back to Charleston. I thought perhaps, well…absence makes the heart grow fonder they say, but then I received the divorce papers from Rhett while I was in Ireland. And I gave up hope all together when I later learned that Rhett had remarried.” Scarlett leaned forward towards the attentive man. “I was devastated Uncle Henry you have to believe me.”

Scarlett watched as the old man nodded in agreement. “I loved Rhett. Well, truth be known, I still do.” She whispered softly.

Scarlett sat back against the leather chair, her shoulders sagged. “I had the baby in October. She was not due until November but I guess you can never be certain when a baby will decide to make its’ entrance. It was a very difficult birth and that evening I almost lost someone else that meant the most to me in my life; first Rhett and then my daughter. But by the grace of God we both pulled through.” Scarlett smiled, “That is her name Grace. Cecelia Grace. I don’t call her by her first name but by her middle; like my Pa called me.”

Uncle Henry gave Scarlett a reassuring smile and wink upon seeing her face light up at the mere mention of the child.

Scarlett felt as though a sack of grain weighing a hundred pounds was finally being lifted from her shoulders. It felt so liberating to finally speak the truth. “So, I haven’t been back since. I was afraid to come home with Grace knowing that Rhett had remarried. You know how he is about children?” Uncle Henry nodded. “Well, if I came back home with Grace, he’d surely have taken her from me; and he will never get his hands on this child.” Scarlett spoke through clenched teeth and fist.

The man sat in silence for a few moments taking in all that he was just privileged to learn. “Well why now? Why come back now then?” Uncle Henry asked confused.

Scarlett explained. “Grace is turning a year old in a few days. I felt it was time that she saw her family. That is her family at Tara. I am not stopping in Atlanta, but going right on through to Jonesboro. I hoped that by traveling straight through we’d make it to Tara without meeting up with anyone.” Scarlett laughed lightly, “Well, I guess the best laid plans…” she trailed off.

Scarlett suddenly realized that Henry could spoil all her plans. “But you won’t say anything Henry? You’ve always been very good to me.” She cast her eyes down into her lap, “better than I ever deserved.” She said before looking back up into the old man’s soft brown eyes; eyes so similar to Charles.

Uncle Henry shook his head slowly, “No, Scarlett you needn’t worry about me. I would never let on. Even if you do decide to inform other family” he paused for effect, “or Rhett” he said with raised brows, “I would never say I knew.” He reached for Scarlett’s hand covering it with his own. “You can always depend on me. No matter what you will always be as dear to me as Charles.”

Scarlett smiled sweetly before standing and placing a kiss softly on Henry’s cheek. “Thank you. And if you’ll excuse me I’d better tend to Grace.”

Henry stood as Scarlett made her leave and watched her walk away. He sat slowly, still in a bit of a daze. His mind still reeling from all he just heard. He sat pensive for a moment. A thought quickly entered his head. Something that would change everything, “Oh good Lord!” he said aloud. He sprang from his chair and threw open the dining car door. The sudden noise startled Scarlett who was just a few paces beyond it.

She snapped back startled, “Uncle Henry? Is everything alright?”

Henry approached the young woman slowly and silently. Bending his tall frame nearer to Scarlett he whispered, “One question Scarlett about the child.”

Scarlett stared at him her brows furrowed. “Yes, what is it?” she asked.

“The child. Grace. Did you know were due to expect her before Rhett divorced you?” Henry asked.

Scarlett nodded, “Yes. I realized when I was in Savannah staying with Grandfather Robillard.”

Henry continued, “And you never told Rhett about the child; before or after the divorce?”

Scarlett stared at the man worriedly before shaking her head “No”

Henry could sense that he had made Scarlett uneasy with his questions. He did not want to cause her any undue worry until he was absolutely certain that what he believed was true.

He dismissed himself with a light chuckle. “Well, no worry my dear. I just couldn’t recall that bit of the story and did not want to put my boot in my mouth should I ever run into Rhett. I told you my faculties were slipping.” He winked playfully.

Scarlett placed the palm of her hand tenderly on the elderly man’s cheek, “Nonsense Henry! I think you are as handsome and quick as any man half your age. And I’ll never understand how so many women let a fine catch like you get away.” She teased before walking away.


~**~

Two days later the train stopped in Atlanta at the station in Five Points. Scarlett watched from the window, looking out onto the city streets that were once so familiar to her. Now she felt as if she was looking at them for the first time. Tracing a path with her finger on the pane of glass a short distance from the station sat the general store she had owned at one time and traveling a few blocks east from there sat the house she had once called home. Her eye was caught by the sight of Uncle Henry standing in the clay-colored street holding his black valise in one hand and somberly waving goodbye with the other. She gave a slight wave and then Scarlett placed her fingers lovingly to her lips and blew the man a kiss. She watched Uncle Henry walk up Peachtree Street towards his law office until he was out of view and the train jerked forward.

Scarlett heard the porter in the hallway, making his way through the train and announcing, “Next stop, Jonesboro.” Scarlett closed her green eyes, bit her bottom lip and said a quick prayer asking God for strength and protection. She opened her eyes, exhaled deeply and looked over towards her daughter sleeping peacefully in Penny’s arms. She met the nursemaid’s eyes and gave her a quick smile. “Well” she thought, “there’s no turning back now.”

This story keeps on getting better and better as I keep reading! I can't wait for you to post more.