A BUNDLE OF JOY
By ~La Letra Escarlata~
SUMMARY: A pregnant Scarlett's musings on pregnancy, motherhood, and her relationship with Rhett.
Although it was well past nine o'clock in the morning, Scarlett had absolutely no intention to get out of bed yet. She had nothing pressing to attend to today – no mills to go to, no business deal to close, no store to supervise, no clerk to yell at because of a misplaced order, no annoying customers to be nice to… She had never thought it possible, but she was quite enjoying being secluded at home because of her condition. It was surprising when one considered that she had been out and about town when she was expecting Ella, but, then, circumstances had been so completely different back then. Now that she was married to Rhett Butler she could well afford to stay at home without having to worry about money matters or how to feed her children. Yes, now she could relax and leisurely be at home with the children. Well, not that she was enjoying staying home with the children all that much, to be honest… Wade made her nervous, although now that he had Uncle Rhett around, he was not as needy as he used to be, constantly clinging to his mother's skirts. Ella, although a baby, was still the spitting image of Frank Kennedy and Scarlett found it hard to feel attached to this ugly, ginger-haired daughter who didn't resemble her at all. She only hope this baby she was expecting was more like her. Yes, she would really like that. A baby who would not remind her of its father but of herself.
Well, except for the children, she was thoroughly enjoying being at home. Not that she would confess that to Rhett – if she ever did, he would use her contentedness as the perfect excuse for having her have a new baby every other year. No, it was safer to nag and complain that she been for months already locked up at home but, actually, she was pretty satisfied. When she needed some fresh air, she could always walk around in their garden, often with Rhett in the afternoons. And Melanie visited her almost every day or took Wade with her, giving Scarlett a respite from his company.
Scarlett stretched herself in her enormous bed, lazily. Rhett had surely gotten up hours ago, not that she had heard him leave their bedroom. He was always so careful not to disturb her sleep and wake her up. Rhett's attitude towards her was being a revelation of sorts. He teased her, as he had done ever since they first met, but in a milder way, much better-humored than usual, his barbs not being as cruel as they used to be. She knew he was making an effort not to make her mad in her situation and she did appreciate it, in a way, although she was having a ball infuriating Rhett on purpose only to see him struggle to control his temper and bite his tongue. So far she hadn't succeeded in making him lose his temper so as to get engaged in one of their famous arguments but she was counting the days. Truth was, she needed a good quarrel with Rhett to add some excitement to her life – much as she liked, to her surprise, her current existence without having to worry over the mills or how much money the store was making, her days were at times a bit dull and bland. Yes, a good argument with Rhett would spice things up for a few days, all the more enticing with the prospect of a sweet reconciliation to make up.
Life with Rhett, so solicitous, so tender, so considerate, so eager to please her, so attentive, was a pleasure, she had discovered. If it weren't for the children, it would be like a second honeymoon. Rhett had taken to spending the afternoons and some mornings as well keeping her company and it was very much as it had been during the war. Scarlett loved spending time with Rhett when he was being civil and courteous and she could tell him whatever thought crossed her mind, knowing that Rhett wouldn't judge her. Yes, she liked this new Rhett infinitely better. They hadn't argued once in months and nothing ever came between them. Not even Ashley. She hadn't seen him in weeks because when Melanie came to visit with Beau, he was always working at the mills. The last time she had seen him was almost five weeks ago when Rhett had invited the Wilkes for Sunday lunch and even then she had hardly spoken to Ashley. Rhett had insisted on her not talking about the mills during the meal to avoid that she got too distressed. Honestly, Scarlett hadn't had any intention of questioning Ashley over the mills; she knew Rhett was keeping an eye on the ledgers and making sure Ashley did not drive them into bankruptcy.
She didn't think about Ashley all that much either. Actually, she had surprised herself not thinking about Ashley at all. Moreover, she had discovered, more amused than anything else, that she didn't even miss him. Not a single bit. It was strange realizing that, after pining after him for years, during the war and afterwards, when she was married to Frank while Ashley stayed in Tara, now she didn't even notice his absence all that much. It was certainly strange, but, again, she didn't mind.
'Isn't my lamb going to get up today?' Mammy entered the bedroom, opening the drapes.
'Oh, Mammy…'
'It's almost ten o'clock, my lamb.'
'But I am so tired all the time these days…,' she complained, pulling the blankets over her head.
'I'll bring your breakfast in a tray,' Mammy conceded, leaving her alone again.
Aware that further protests would be to no avail with Mammy, Scarlett sat and rested her head against the headboard.
'Come in, Mammy,' she gave permission a few minutes later after hearing a knock on the door.
'Can you make do with me instead?', Rhett said, carrying her breakfast in a silver tray.
'Let's see,' Scarlett answered, smiling.
'Good morning, my pet.'
'Good morning, Rhett. I thought you'd be busy in town.'
'No, I was just playing with Wade until you decided to wake up and come join us.'
'Oh.'
'Were you very tired?'
'Oh, I am fine, Rhett, just sleepy,' she said as she began eating her enormous breakfast. Mammy and Rhett were both seeing to feeding her food enough for a small army. Already, seven months along, she was bigger than she had been before. This baby was going to be gigantic if Mammy and Rhett got their way. She was going to end up as big as Mammy.
'Any plans for today, Mrs. Butler?'
'Oh, Rhett, please stop mocking me – I haven't been anywhere in months.'
'Then I'll tell you what my plans for today are.'
'Oh, and now you'll make me envy you your planes outside while I stay here with the children.'
'Would you stop interrupting me and let me tell you what my plans for us are?'
'Oh,' Scarlett replied, more enthusiastic now that it also concerned her. 'Tell me, Rhett.'
'Wade is on his way to Mrs. Wilkes to spend the day and Ella is sleeping in the nursery. And we, my dear Mrs. Butler, will have lunch in the veranda and then take a walk before spending the afternoon in each other's lovely company drinking coffee in the library. How does that sound to you, Scarlett?'
'Oh, it sounds just lovely, Rhett.'
'Then I'll wait for you downstairs while you get ready,' Rhett said, kissing the top of her head before leaving her to her breakfast.
Yes, though Scarlett as she called Mammy to help her get dressed, it was a lovely plan and she was having so much fun with Rhett these days… She was actually looking forward to this baby's birth. Then, everything would be perfect. Rhett'd be crazy about his firstborn, and, this time, without having to worry about the money, she'd devote all her attention to their child. She'd be the best mother in the world, the one she had always wanted to be but couldn't be for Wade and Ella because of lack of time and money and now they'd all be so truly happy. Rhett was being nice to her and she'd also make a deliberate effort not to ruin things. Yes, Rhett and she could be very happy together. Everything'd be perfect once this baby came, Scarlett told herself as she went downstairs to meet Rhett.
~~~To be continued~~~