RETURNING

Chapter 1: "Man of Action, Determined Woman"

This is officially an independent story but it could be read after my other story, "Love Is So Short, Forgetting Is So Long." I may end up putting them all together, but, for the time being, let's see them as individual, free-standing stories. Chapter 2 of this story is already in the works.

Rhett Butler certainly was a man of action. Actually, he prided himself as one. It was his cool head and his steel determination that had saved him from a number of situations in his life, during his blockade running days during the war, in his days as adventurer during the California Gold Rush, during his time as a professional gambler in his now remote youth… But as much as he still liked to keep that image of himself as a ruthless adventurer, always ready for danger, never failing to meet his destiny face to face when destiny came knocking at his door, nothing he had ever faced before did not match his present circumstances. What would the intrepid Captain Butler have to say about this middle-aged man who was standing at his home's door, unsure whether to come in or not? Probably he would heartily laugh at his stupidity. Come on, Rhett Butler, the high and mighty Rhett Butler, are you afraid of entering your own home? The man who had met his equal in pirates, ruffians, unsavory characters of all sorts… Was he now afraid of a tiny woman, his own wife, come to that? What was wrong with him? What had happened to his old self? It was just Scarlett, the woman who had driven him crazy for the last twelve years… Resolutely, trying to project an external image of self-confidence he was very far from feeling, Rhett Butler opened the door to his Peachtree Street house, feeling a queer mixture of dread and anticipation.

Scarlett O'Hara, suffering an annoying cold, had decided to stay today at home, breaking her usual custom of going to the store daily to check on her unruly and unreliable employees. Not that they were bad salesmen – only that they never got to do things in exactly the way in which she wanted them done. Was that so difficult to accomplish? It baffled her why people had the annoying tendency to do things in their own way, not in hers, which was indeed more simple, logical and better for the business. And, anyway, wasn't she the boss? Her word should be law, at least in her own store.

Although she had had the ledger brought home to her, she was finding it hard to concentrate on anything due to an impending headache. That Wade and Ella made so much noise playing in the nursery did not help either. Couldn't they be a little bit quieter? She had already reprimanded them twice but to no avail. She was very much tempted to go and yell at them again, only that if she did, Ella would be tearful during dinner and Wade would be sullen, which would make of the meal a sorry affair. No, it would be better to let them get some steam off. And, anyway, today she was not going to get much work done. The ledger was fine and there was nothing pressing to be taken care of today, she resolved, closing the book and standing up.

She moved to the window, while the children's voices became louder. What were they playing that they were so noisy? Not one to pay too much heed to her children's activities as long as they were safe and not too loud, against her better instinct, she paid attention to what they were saying. Uncle? Were they playing uncle again? She hoped not or Wade would hear her. They usually played uncle until Wade made Ella cry for hours afterward. No, listen, no, it was "Uncle Rhett" what they were saying in the midst of their joyous cries and their shouting. Was it Uncle Rhett? Scarlett quickly ran to the door, knowing full well that she was acting stupidly. Most probably, they would only be arguing over the ownership of a given storybook bought by Uncle Rhett, hence the mention of his name. She would feel so silly if she went running only to see them tearing at some stupid book or another. But, if Rhett was home (and it was about time that he made good on his promise and came home for a visit, no matter how short it was!), she did not want to miss any single minute of his stay. She needed to get him back, for herself and for Wade and Ella's sake, who missed him terribly, and for that plan to work, she needed to be around Rhett as much as it was possible, so that he fell in love with her again. Hadn't he eventually admitted that he fell for her the very first time he met her? Surely, if now they spent enough time together, with her new dresses, he would be reminded of how lovely she looked. She only needed a chance to lure him back home and to them. Rhett, could he be home? Waiting for him was so painful…

Panting, Scarlett got to the nursery's room. The door was ajar and there, yes, Rhett was holding Ella in his arms while Wade tried to catch his attention by pulling at his sleeve. He looked better than he had when he left; his face was not so puffy by the alcohol abuse and though still fatter than when she first met him, he was not as broken as a few months before. He looked good, she decided, though there were still dark circles under his eyes.

'Rhett,' she said, a bit louder than she had intended, still out of breath.

'My dear Mrs. Butler,' he said, barely turning to face her. 'It's good to see you again though you look rather pale.'

Damn him. Not one minute together and he had already managed to insult her. Yes, she knew she was not looking at her best today. Because of her cold she had not paid as much attention to her looks today as she should; even her dress, considering she planned on staying at home the whole day and nobody ever called on her anymore, was not new, but an old one that she had bought when she and Rhett were first married. And, of all the men in the world, if there was one to pay attention to those things, it was, of course, her husband.

'I think I am coming down with the flu,' she said, approaching him.

He planted a kiss on her forehead.

'How very inconvenient because Wade, Ella and I were counting on going to the park tomorrow morning, but it will be better that you stay at home then.'

Damn him a million times. He had done it again! Only a minute at home and he had already maneuvered to leave her behind. And, to make matter worse, she could not help but notice the barely suppressed joy in her own children's faces at the prospect of spending the whole morning with Uncle Rhett and without Mother around to spoil their fun. Her own children! She had always known that they loved Rhett better than her but she had believed that, during these long months without Rhett, they had gotten closer. She had listened to their incredibly boring and detailed accounts of their uneventful school days, she had lent an ear to Ella's silly stories about her dolls, hadn't she? Yet, obviously, they had not gotten close enough to compete with Rhett's love.

'We will go anyway, won't we, Uncle Rhett? Even if Mother cannot come with us…,' Ella begged.

Scarlett restrained herself so as not to hit the silly child. Who was going to read her fairy tales when Rhett left again? Scarlett certainly was not, given her appalling behavior today. And to think of the make-believe tea parties she had shared with Ella since Rhett left. Well, there had not been that many, but once or twice she had actually gave in and played with Ella. And this was all the recognition she got! Fuming, Scarlett excused herself and called for Prissy to help her get into a new dress, one especially bought in preparation for Rhett's visit.

As Scarlett got into her massive bed, with a slight headache and a running nose, she went over the dinner in her head. It had definitely not gone the way she had pictured a million times how the first dinner with Rhett back at home would be. To begin with, Cookie had been so excited about the master's return that she had managed to overcook or burn all the dishes with no exception. That Rhett, who was always so fastidious with his meals, had such a welcome home, was inexcusable. It reflected very poorly on her ability managing their household. Without Mammy at home, Scarlett could never get Cookie to cook anything as she wanted her to. Wade and Ella had been unruly, kicking each other under the table, making a fuss over everything… not the well-behaved kids Scarlett aspired to present Rhett with. No wonder Rhett wanted out; if dinner went like that every single night, she herself wanted to leave for good. How was she going to keep Rhett put at home and feeding him meals not fit for animals with the children behaving like little monsters? She had to cope with them, she was their mother, but Rhett had not to.

And she had never had the chance to talk to Rhett alone. They had barely spoken to each other during dinner because of Wade and Ella's talkativeness, and then, Scarlett's comments were just to corroborate or correct whatever the children were telling Rhett about their school duties or their friends. Ella had even told Rhett about the disastrous birthday party that Scarlett had organized for her, making her mother feel like a complete fool because of Rhett's outrageous laughter. Had Rhett been home, he would have been able to tell Scarlett that such a lavish and extravagant birthday party for a little girl was socially inappropriate. Instead, he had a great time hearing Scarlett's foolishness and more when he saw the mortification visible in her face.

How long would Rhett stay this time?, she wondered. If she were lucky, Rhett would stay permanently but if the dismal dinner was anything to go by, her luck was running thin. How many more days did she have to make Rhett change his mind? Her persuasive powers were not what they used to be when she was fifteen and the belle of five counties; not that they had ever worked particularly well with Rhett. If she had at least two weeks… But something told her that that was being overtly optimistic; ten days, maybe? A whole week? How long did she have? Her overexcited mind began to make plans: what she would wear, what she would order for dinner tomorrow night, what she would tell Rhett, if she would send Wade and Ella to Ashley's during the weekend, if she should stay at home or if she could make a quick visit to the store… It was not till several hours later when, finally, her exhausted mind found all her plans to her liking and sleep found her.

~TO BE CONTINUED~