Chapter 1: Picking up the Pieces
Scarlett O'Hara Butler peered through the windowsill and internalized a deep feeling of satisfaction mixed with grief. The rain was paddling close enough for her to see the visually distorted world through the dew drops. Her delicate fingers characteristically traced the wet path each rain drop left upon disappearing from her sight. She heaved in a heavy sigh as she recanted all the happenings that have transpired within the past week—Belle dead and Tara burned to the ground.
Tara, her beloved Tara. All of its white walls, rich red earth and beauteous magnolia trees are gone; burned by the arsonist Isiah Watling.
She closed her eyes tightly to keep the tears from rising up. Life in Atlanta was as busy and as confusing as ever. Never in her dreams did she ever imagine herself seeking refuge in Aunt Pittypat Hamilton's home again. The place emitted memories long gone. Scarlett was here in mourning her first husband, here during the siege where she birthed Beau Wilkes and saved Melanie Hamilton Wilkes' life, here during her marriage to Frank and his untimely death. Now, she was here again mourning the loss of Tara, not wearing an inch of black clothing, but donning every ounce of it on her soul. The loss of Tara weighed more heavily than anything or anyone she ever loved in this world. She looked across the room she usually occupied and wondered if the ghosts of Melanie and Charles wandered the halls of this house. She pondered if Frank's ghost was still hovering around her as he always did; but all she saw was Rhett Butler; her husband, in all his glory.
Scarlett eyed him meticulously as he lay in bed breathing steadily; he, who was her light and happiness, he who was the only person she loved left. When everyone withered away, died, and even left her, he endured, being her pillar of strength; more than she cared to admit. If there was a boon that arose from the fall of Tara it would be the untimely unison of herself and her estranged husband.
She languidly walked over to bed and draped the white linen coverlets over her tiny frame, eyes still fixated on her husband. 'I'll think of this tomorrow.' She finally thought pushing Tara aside.
Rhett naturally awoke upon her nestling beside him again, "Mrs. Butler." He said groggily, managing to smile at her face greeting his. "It is too early to be awake, honey. What's the matter? Not another nightmare, I hope?"
Scarlett looked into his black eyes and her resolve began to crumble. "Oh…Oh, Rhett." She painfully wept.
Rhett immediately embraced her and stroked her hair, "There, there, my pet." He said flourishing her with gentle kisses.
"What will we do?" she said sobbing into his chest as he comforted her.
Rhett reached to light the lamp, "This week in Atlanta must have been suffocating you, my pet." He began, "I believe a change of scenery must be in order for you, and me."
"Oh but Rhett, we simply cannot leave everybody here. What will become of us now that Will is dead too?"
Rhett continued to soothe his troubled wife, "My pet, we have no choice but to rebuild your precious Tara." He said with an almost definitive tone to himself. "I have been thinking…" he began
"About what?
"Maybe Suellen would like to visit Rosemary's home in Charleston, that place is dying of the little pitter patter of little girls again." He said sully. "Aunt Eulalie and I were in correspondence before..." Rhett did a cautionary pause, "Tara burnt"
Words escaped Rhett's lips but Scarlett hardly heard his last few utterances. She instead drifted away and remembered the painful death of Rosemary Butler Ravanel's first born, Meg. Rhett never mentioned her passing. When Rosemary and she became acquainted, she shared her pain as it was barely a year when her own Bonnie passed away too. Remembering Bonnie sent Scarlett into another crying jag.
"There, there, honey." Rhett said soothing his wife to no avail.
Scarlett gathered all her strength to look up at Rhett. She noticed an uncontrolled sense of grief upon looking at his dark eyes; they had a gleam of poorly disclosed self-loathing within them and a resolve so broken, so shattered he held on to her as if she was the only adhesive keeping him from falling apart. Scarlett felt more comforted knowing that someone in this world was also experiencing the same hurt and loss, and that they needed only each other to remedy the pain.
"Oh we couldn't burden Rosemary to go back to her haunted house." She said remembering all the pain Rosemary had to go through. "And she and Suellen were never fond of each other." Scarlett knew in that hardly anybody ever favored Suellen O'Hara Benteen except for their youngest sister Careen.
"Then I suppose Aunt Eulalie will have to make do with keeping Suellen under her roof" He continued with a sigh, defeated. "You must rest now, my pet. We shall discuss this tomorrow."
"Hold me, Rhett." She said clasping herself towards him tear-stricken and heartbroken. "What of our burned home in Atlanta?" she cried, "Oh, please sell it, Rhett! I can't bear to see that place again without our Bonnie!"
Rhett embraced Scarlett tightly upon hearing her mention Bonnie's name, "Yes, my pet. We will, we will, and we will use the money to rebuild your precious Tara." He said kissing her gently, "Tomorrow I will speak to you about another business prospect."
"What's that?" she said slowly drowsing into slumber.
"Belle's Saloon, it is now yours." He said without reserve.
Scarlett's eyes looked up at him in surprise, "Rhett!" she said searching his eyes wondering if it was one of his ill-bred and inappropriate jokes. But all she saw was a jaw set with determination, and eyes though always teasing peered through her soul in utmost seriousness.
"Tomorrow, my love." He said finally, turning off the light enveloping Scarlett with deep kisses and arduous caresses.
Scarlett awoke to Rhett dressing himself quietly with his back facing her. She took in the familiar sight of his taunt muscles, well chiseled features and deliciously tanned skin. Why it took her half a decade to discover the glory of her husband, she will never know. All Scarlett O'Hara Butler knew that he belonged to her, and the many restless nights of him ravaging her small body made her blush shamefully.
"Wife, you musn't make it a habit to stare." he said fastening his trousers not looking back at her.
"Whatever do you mean?" she lied, giggling with the faintest blush.
Rhett turned around and flopped on the bed beside his wife and eyed her from head to toe. If there was a human that matched anyone in the form of a goddess it would be Scarlett. Her prized magnolia colored skin, and pale green eyes always set her apart. Rhett reached to tuck the strands of her black hair behind her dainty ears and managed to kiss her gently, "I have business to attend to my dear, but first, I must gather some of my belongings left in New Orleans and speak with Tazewell."
"Rhett you're not serious about handing over the Girl of the Period Saloon to me?" Scarlett said mouth half open. "And what of Suellen and Aunt Eulalie?" she said irritated at the fact that Suellen was adding stress to her already troubled mind and recently strained marraige.
"My pet, Aunt Eulalie is a very gentle soul and the willfulness of Suellen prostrate in dyer grief has proved to be too much for her. I was wondering if she would like to stay in Rosemary's home, or in Tazewell's place in New Orleans just for herself and her children to breathe. I have been in correspondence with both of them and they seem to be amicable to the terms until Suellen is able to mourn properly." he said grabbing his vest and tucking in his blouse ever so skillfully. "And Belle would have wanted me to keep the saloon, it makes a mighty amount of money and I am not about to trust anyone else with it besides you, my dear"
'Money.' Scarlett thought, if there was anything else in the world that was just as sacred to Scarlett O'Hara Butler it would be money. She quizzically gaped across the room counting the figures she could earn for herself in a year. The thought of it made her head spin.
"Damn that Suellen! Isn't Aunt Eulalie's home good enough for her? I can't stand her and her precious airs!" she snapped out of focus and faced Rhett, eyebrows raised, almost daring him to speak. Scarlett grew irritated and clenched her fists. How dare he consult with Suellen behind her back without speaking to her first. Why, she was the head of the house at Tara when Will passed! If there was anything she couldn't stand it was making Suellen feel like she had the upper hand, "Well, looks like you don't need my approval at all! Seeing as you've made it a point to handle everything on your own!" she said arms crossed above her chest.
Rhett smiled, quite amused, "Darling, Aunt Eulalie can hardly breathe with Suellen's constant destructive nature and all her children running around in that household. We couldn't bring them here too, what with Wade and Ella already sleeping on the parlor rug without space, or clothes of their own since it all got burned—"
"Ours got burned too!" Scarlett interrupted
"Yes my dear, which is why I must make a trip to New Orleans and salvage whatever clothing and necessities I have left in Tazewell's possession. He and Rosemary are our only living relatives that can accommodate Miss Suellen and her children lest we leave them to Aunt Eulalie in Charleston or your grandparents in Savannah?" he said brows raised.
Rhett watched as Scarlett's face softened in a perplexed frown. Rhett knew his wife was spoiled beyond repair but she was no stupid fool. Scarlett could see sense no matter how angered or irritated she was, he would give her that much credit. Scarlett knew Suellen would only cause a storm in Charleston with Aunt Eulalie being am incompetent host and constant leech towards the Butlers and the O'Haras. She also knew that their grandparents in Savannah would never be kind to her. Why should she care about Suellen and her sniveling brats? True, she was indebted to Will Benteen, just thinking about him made chills run up her spine. She debated and thought feverishly. If she was consenting to this it was only because she was fond of Will and nothing more.
"Oh fiddle-dee-dee!" she exclaimed exasperated, "I told you Rosemary's home is not to be considered! You may bring Suellen to New Orleans. But I will hear no outrageous demands from her! Not one single penny is to be spent on her giving herself airs."
"I will be firm, milady" Rhett teased bowing and approaching his wife to give her a kiss on the forehead, "I love you." He said kindly.
Scarlett looked at him with surprise and smiled unconsciously, "Why, Mr. Butler, I love you too." she said proudly being able to reply to her husband and finally mean it.
Rhett left the room as light as feather almost radiating happiness that was so giddy Scarlett felt so adored. As soon as he left, a million and one thoughts came crashing into her consciousness. What will become of Tara? What of her new ownership of Belle's Saloon? She kicked herself out of bed and called in Cookie to help her dress for today.
She was going to Belle Watling's place and express ownership. Oh, won't Atlanta be scandalized again.
To be continued