I look out my spare bedroom window to embrace the daylight. The sun and heat reflecting of my face makes it feel as if God has kissed it. I blow a kiss back to the sun as I feel it is only polite to do so. The creek's rushing water feels in tempo with my happy anticipation of the big barbeque we are to have very soon. The birds swooping down around Twelve Oaks chirp happily and whistle merry tunes. I can't help but whistle along with them. Everything around me feels happy and I too feel happiness.
My sense of peace is disturbed with the sound of maids bustling about trying to make this house especially clean. I like to observe them working. Their darky faces look so hard and determined as they wash, scrub, and dust whatever it is that needs special attention. I think they are so special. I would never really tell anyone that, it's just my own little secret. To tell the truth, I don't understand why people treat these poor people so but I keep quiet. Ladies shouldn't question, they should accept; that's what Mother would say. God bless you, Mother, I say silently to myself.
My attention quickly draws away from the help and back to the window. The sound of horse's feet and buggies buslte in my ears and make me feel excited. While I look out, I notice all of the people and can't believe my eyes. It's already looking like Mr. Wilkes done invited everyone in the county! The gentleman all look so handsome and the ladies look ravishing in their best dresses. I laugh with a bursting delight. This is going to be one of the best days of my life.
I practically skip from the room and down the now empty hallway. I take a sharp turn onto the stairs not realizing my Ashley is atop those very stairs! I almost knock him over.
"Oh, my darling, I'm so sorry," I say grabbing my arm to steady him.
"It's quite, all right, my love," he says with a quiet chuckle. I don't feel so bad anymore. I look down and realize all the people pouring in. I'm very thankful they didn't notice our little episode. Everybody is so wrapped up in everybody else's company at the moment and it makes my heart happy.
Arm in arm, we begin to make our way down the stairs. Everyone turns to stop and stare at us. They smile with glee and I can only do the same.
"How do you do," I say making as much eye contact with everyone as I go step by step.
"How do you do, Miss Hamilton?" A nice southern gentleman whom I never met before asks as I finally make my way down.
"This is Rhett Butler, darling," Ashley introduces him as Rhett take my hand to kiss it. "He is from Charleston."
"Oh, how nice," I say smiling at him as I turn away to make time for greeting all the other fellow guests. There is all of a sudden a great commotion as a group of girls make a spectacle of a new arrival. From the sound of things, they are not pleased at all. I wonder who they could be conversing about?
That was when I saw Miss Scarlett O'Hara make her way into the house. All eyes are on her the moment she walks in. She is just a magical person like that. She's pretty at best but her personality more than makes up for everything. I always secretly wished that whatever was inside of her was inside of me also. I want some of her magic.
We converse for a little while but it's not long before Ashley comes in and pretty much takes over. I will never understand why Ashley is so uncomfortable around Scarlett. He has never behaved that way with any other woman; not even me. Again, it may be the magic of Scarlett O'Hara and I can't help but to stand in awe of her.
After Scarlett makes her way onto other places and people, Ashley takes me by the arm once more. I love the feel of his arm around mine. I feel like nothing in the world can take away the security of him. I consider myself a very lucky woman. Though it seems like the people of his county consider me "the good woman." I think I can be both. Good and lucky.