Part 3
Melanie returned an hour later with the smiling Wade with her. She had taken him to the park, hoping that he would have some time away from the bleak house of Aunt Pittypat’s. The house was very quite, almost ghostly. There had once been some laughter in the small brick home and now there was none, nothing but the echo of her light footsteps.
She put Wade down for his afternoon nap and quietly walked over to Scarlett’s room across the hall. Scarlett was sitting at her desk, her brows knitted in frustration, absentmindedly twirling the pen with her ink stained fingers. Upon hearing Melanie enter the room, her head shot up suddenly. Quickly, she set down her pen and ledger down, and rose, giving Melanie a faint smile.
“Hello, Melly. Is… everything all right? Wade isn’t hurt is he?” Anxiously, she looked past Melanie towards the open door.
Melanie smiled, walking gracefully over to her sister in-law and giving her a quick kiss on the cheek. “No, darling. He is in the nursery, taking his afternoon nap. I took him to the park for a while. I hope you didn’t mind…”
“No,” Scarlett briskly replied, her shoulders hunching with relief. “Of course not, Melly. I wish I could spend more time with him. I just have been so busy…” She made a gesture towards the ledgers. “I don’t know what I’ll do. The debts are piling up, ever since Frank…” She broke off with a sigh and tiredly sat down at her desk, rubbing her aching temples.
“Darling!” Melanie cried, quickly walking over to Scarlett. “There’s no need for you to worry so. Why don’t you go to Tara and hire another person to help with the ledgers. I had always hoped you would rest; this is too much work for you. You should be resting and spending time with Wade and Ella.”
“Don’t tell me what I should and should not do!” Seeing the shocked look in Melanie’s soft brown eyes, her eyes softened. She grabbed Melanie’s hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze. “I’m sorry, Melly, I don’t know what’s come over me. I would love to go to Tara, but I can’t, not just yet. I need to get everything settled first… And then, maybe I’ll go for a week or two.”
“Of course, dear. You need your rest. Why don’t I take Wade home with me?”
“No! Melly, Thank you, but I want to have Wade here… with me,” Scarlett finished with less conviction. She wouldn’t have Melanie taking care of her children. She was a perfect enough mother, she assured herself, and not even all of these debts would make her show otherwise.
“All right, dear,” Melanie quickly agreed, her brow still puckered in worry. But she knew how Scarlett loved Wade and Ella and didn’t want to cross her. Seeing Scarlett’s tired appearance, she quickly made haste to leave.
After giving orders to the cook and seeing to the preparations that Scarlett’s lunch was fit. She quietly made her way back to Scarlett’s room, the lunch tray in hand. But upon entering, she noticed she was fast asleep, with her shoes and dress still on.
With ease Melanie removed Scarlett’s soft satin slippers and lightly placed a few sheets over her, since the weather was still humid. With one last kiss to her sister’s forehead, she was off, with Wade and Ella in tow.
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