Author's note:
This is my Ficathon entry:
Family business
The day was clear and sunny, quite unnatural in mid April, especially in London. The birds were chipping and jumping from tree to tree. All the people were enjoying the beautiful day, knowing that it could take months to have another sunny day as that one. Rhett was sitting in a park's bench, enjoying the sun without any worries. He felt relieved of not having anything to worry about, because he knew that in the night he would not be able to sleep or relax by any chance. In his sleepless nights, all he could think of was her; he spent his nightly hours remembering her body, her scent (a rare mixture of soap and lemon verbena), her green eyes, her tempting lips…
He shook his head; he was in London for business and, if it was possible, to get some fun. But it was hard to don't fall in the same routine and do not think about Scarlett. She was the only woman who could possibly drive him crazy. She could infuriate him to no end and make him burn with desire at the same time. Gosh! He loved her so much that it felt as a physical pain.
He looked around and his eyes fell on a blond little girl. The girl was with her father or with who he supposed was his father. She was tricking the man to buy something for her and, of course, the man was falling in the little girl's trap.
"That little girl looked just like… like … like Michael's child, like Michael's annoying child" he thought.
He wondered if the little girl was not her relative. She looked certainly like her. Maybe her hair was not strawberry but the girl could be Michael's granddaughter. He shook his head, thinking about Scarlett was better than thinking about the girl. However, the little girl's scene had opened the gate of his memories and they were flowing everywhere. He remembered his father and a bitter taste came to his mouth. Gosh! How much he hated that man!
"He was a real bastard." Rhett thought bitterly.
He remembered all the things he had done to get his father approbation but the man had never said anything good to him or about him. If Rhett got an A in school, his father would have said that everyone could get an A. if Rhett got an F, he was the most stupid child in the world.
No, for Richard Butler, Rhett was a constant source of disappointment. First, his son had his grandfather's looks. Instead of dark blond hair and hazel eyes, he had black hair and dark eyes. Second, he had the same strong personality and obsession for control than he himself had. Third, Rhett had his mother's full adoration. Someone who had Robert Butler's looks, the family's distinctive strong personality and charm; someone who could easily make his wife contradict him; was, without doubts, Richard Butler's worst nightmare. It did not matter that this person was his own child, he would never tolerate him. On top of that, his luck did not improve with the rest of his children. All of them had inherited their grandfather's physical appearance. His second son was a slight improvement. Ross was always ready to do whatever to satisfy his father but he lacked personality and ambition whatsoever. And his daughter, Rosemary, she was like his eldest son, a big disappointment, but she was a girl so she could never disobey him or try to fight back as Rhett had done.
Rhett only knew one person who could manipulate his father. Thinking about his father and Michael's child brought to his mind the memories of his English relatives. Through all his childhood and adolescence, Rhett had suffered the visits of some part of the English Butlers who liked to spend time in America and visit their American relatives. In Rhett's opinion, the English part of the family was just a bunch of snobs with an awful accent and he dreaded their visits, especially the ones involving his father's cousin John. John was the jolliest and humblest of all the Butlers but he was always accompanied by, at least one of his sons and Rhett hated those kids. He did not hate the kids per se; they were excellent people, always ready to having fun and enjoy life. But their father loved them deeply and dotted them and Rhett simply could not stand it. John's children were a constant reminder of something that Rhett did not have.
When Rhett was seventeen, one of John's brothers came to Charleston. Michael was the only Butler he could stand. He had visited a couple of times and Rhett liked him. Michael Butler was, in Rhett opinion, the kind of person that everyone loves and he wanted to be like him in many aspects. Michael had taught him to play poker and the art of not losing even if you have a bad hand. Due to him that Rhett had started to smoke and drink whiskey. It was Michael the one who had taken Rhett to a 'house of pleasure ', after finding out that Rhett's father was not taking care of his son's 'education'. Michael had taught him the good part of been a gentleman. And Rhett had been waiting for his visits eagerly, however, in one occasion he had not come alone. He had brought his little daughter with him. The girl was five and looked like a small china doll. She had strawberry hair, big blue-green eyes, milky white skin and a tiny red mouth. In only a few minutes, she had charmed everyone but Rhett was no easy fooled by smiles, dimples and courtesy. The girl had something that he could not explain and he did not like it. His aversion had only grown bigger when he saw that his father had fallen in the little girl's spell.
Rhett had always enjoyed freedom. His father did not like him to have him close so Rhett was able to come and go as he pleased. He had expected Michael's visit anxiously and when he was finally there he was too busy with his daughter to spend with him all the time that Rhett was used to. If Rhett was planning to go out with his cousin, no matter what, it must be after dinning and putting the girl in bed; and only if the girl fell asleep quickly. The worst part was when Michael took the kid with them and they spent the entire day at the mercy of the annoying child. Rhett could not stand the maddening girl and the girl knew it so she followed him wherever he went.
When Rhett came back home to dinner one night, while he was closing the entrance door Eleanor Butler came rushing towards him.
"Rhett I'm glad you came… have you see your cousin Natasha?"
"No, mother, I haven't seen her. Why?" he answered.
"Oh! She left to nobody knows when and we can't find her." His mother said worriedly.
"She is probably hidden in some place. Don't worry mother."
"No, she isn't. We have looked everywhere. Michael is dying of worry. She is not the kind of child who runs away. He and your father have been looking for her."
"Ok mother, I'll try to find her." Rhett promised after seeing how worried her mother was.
Rhett took his coat and he was ready to leave when the door opened. Michael came in followed by Richard who was holding the little girl in his arms.
"Oh! You find her." Rhett's mother exclaimed. "Where she was?"
"Close to the 'The rose and the tiger'" Richard said dryly.
"Oh!" Eleanor said blushing.
"She was following someone and she got lost." Michael said staring at Rhett with a disapproving look.
"Now, everything is ok" Eleanor said. "I will take Natasha to her room and I'll clean her up." Eleanor added while she took the girl from Richard's arms.
"Thank you, Eleanor. You are very kind. "Michael said. "I think I need a drink badly"
Rhett stood there, watching the whole scene. Natasha had followed him and his father knew it. He looked into his father's eyes and he could almost feel his anger and hear his heated words.
The dinner went tense and after the coffee, his father called him to his study. He was just starting to lecture him, when suddenly the door flung open and Natasha ran into the room. She was crying and desperately told Richard that everything was her fault. She begged him to forgive her cousin saying that she was the one to blame. Richard kneeled, took the girl in his arms and told Rhett to go. He could hear how his father soothed the child and that made him mad. Richard had never comforted any of his children but he was doing it with somebody else's. Rhett went out of the house and did not come back until the next morning, completely drunk.
The next day, after he had slept half a day away, he was alone in the garden when Natasha came near.
"Hello" she said. When he did not answer, she asked "Are you mad at me?"
First, he thought of not answering back but he realized that the girl would keep on asking until she'd get an answer.
"Of course I'm mad at you. Could you stop following me?" he said
"Hmmm… no, but I can promise not get lost next time" she said smiling. "You're welcome, by the way."
"What?!"
"You're welcome." She said nonchalantly.
"You think I will thank you for saving me of something you created?" he said losing his cool.
"You knew I was following you. By the way, you were planning to stand the punishment? "
"Of course, I'm a man."
She was quiet for a few minutes, up to the point that Rhett forgot about her. Suddenly, she touched his arm and when he looked at her she said:
"Well to be a man you really are a dumb one." Then she simply turned around, entering the house and leaving Rhett without the opportunity of answering back.
During the rest of the visit, his cousin did not follow him any longer; actually, she spent all her time with Rhett's father and her own. Michael did not say anything about the incident but he did not bring the child with him anymore.
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Now sitting in the park, watching the people enjoying the day; Rhett remembered that he had promised himself never falling for any woman, no matter her age or how charming she was. However, he had fallen miserably for Scarlett. Rhett sighed and after thinking of it for a while, he decided to visit Michael. Maybe he could distract him so he could not think about Scarlett.
Rhett strolled though London's streets until he reach his destination. He knocked the door and looked around. Michael lived in a mansion but even though the house was enormous it still looked stylish. When the butler let him in, he noticed that all the classic decoration and all the fair colors…white, peach and sky blue reined the indoors view.
Michael came in to the room and after greeting him, he led him to his study. In there they chitchatted until Michael said:
"What is wrong Rhett?"
"Nothing is wrong Michael. Why?"
"I can see that you look different so … who is the girl?"
"I don't know what you are talking about." Rhett said avoiding the topic.
"Rhett, I'm 62 and I'm not a child anymore… damn! I have a son of your same age. I know that you are lying to me." Michael said looking straight into his eyes.
"Michael, there is no girl"
"Right. There is no girl…" Michael said sarcastically "that's because she doesn't love you back?"
For first time in his life Rhett could not look the other man in the eyes. He opened his mouth to deny it but he closed it without saying anything. The man was right.
"So tell me, how is she? Is she pretty? Of course … I could never expect anything less from you."
Rhett bitted his lips; he was ready to blurt everything out but he found himself unable to do so. After so many years of keeping his feelings to himself; opening his heart to someone else was a hard task. Fortunately, Michael realized about it and guided him little by little until the gates were open and Rhett told him everything about Scarlett and his relationship with her.
Michael listened patiently, when Rhett finished his story, he took a few moments to think about what he had just heard.
"Do you want my opinion Rhett?"
"I guess so."
"When I got married, I did it because I thought that I was old enough to get marriedand have a family. I found a beautiful girl and I settled down… my wife gave me 8 children and now that I'm old I can say that I have a good life, a pleasant life. But if I could change something of it I would ask for love, for once in my life I would like to know what is like to be in love. What I'm telling you, is that you should swallow you pride and tell her how you feel. If she rejects you, well at least you've tried"
Rhett was ready to reply but Michael cut him short.
"Come on Rhett! Don't tell me that you are a coward. I could give anything to do it myself. I don't regret my choices but maybe I should have waited a little more. You have a great opportunity in your hands don't blow it" He was about to say something when a knock on the door interrupted him.
"Come in." Michael said and a young woman entered the room.
"Michael, my mother is asking for you, she said that it was urgent… something about a dinner and grandma."
"Oh Gosh!" Michael cursed under his breath. "If you excuse me…" he said and left the room. The girl looked at Rhett and lifted an eyebrow.
"Hello" Rhett said looking at her.
"Hmmm… hello." She answered after a while. Then she smiled devilishly "so, do you remember me or you are simply too old for that?"
Rhett tried to look like he did not remember her but he could never forget that strawberry haired devil.
"I wish I could say that I don't remember you but you are still annoying." He said finally.
"Thanks" she said grinning "I work really hard to annoy people in many ways."
"I don't doubt it… so why you are here, are you visiting your parents?"
"No… I live here"
"You are an old maid?" he asked arching an eyebrow clearly amused.
"Me? No way! I was married but I'm not anymore."
"So congratulations, to your husband, of course. He got rid of you, he is a happier man now" he said grinning.
"Probably…if someone can be happy in hell"
"So, how he died?" he asked. This dead husband issue was making him feel curious.
"I killed him" She said serious
"I don't doubt it." he said trying to look serious.
She did not reply, she just shrugged her shoulders.
"Is he really dead?" Rhett asked
"Who?" She asked looking at him questioning.
"Your husband..."
"Oh! I don't know" she answered nonchalant.
"You were married…?"
"Yes, I was married. I already told you that." She said avoiding the topic.
"So … Where is your husband now?"
"I don't know… he might be in hell for all I care" she replied coolly "so, how is she? I want to meet her." She said changing the topic.
"How is who?" Rhett asked
"Scarlett" Natasha said matter-of-factly.
It only took a few seconds for Rhett to realize that his cousin had overheard his conversation with Michael.
"You were eavesdropping" Rhett stated.
"Of course, have you never heard that the one who eavesdropping always hear the most interesting things?" She said grinning.
"You did not answer me" he said trying to avoid the topic, he was used to have the upper hand in the conversation and the idea of Natasha knowing his secret love for Scarlett was not appealing.
"I don't know where my ex-husband is and I don't care either" she answered
"You divorced him?" he asked pushing the issue.
"I divorced him, I left him, I walked away from him, call it whatever you want." She said evading his eyes.
"A sore spot, right?"
"Like Scarlett is for you…"
"Touché" Rhett said.
Natasha was about to say something when Michael came into the room.
"I'm sorry Rhett but my wife was planning a dinner party for my mother-in-law's birthday. I don't know why she wants me to participate in it; everybody knows that Evelyn hates me."
"Grandma does not hate you; she simply does not appreciate your delightful presence." Natasha said sarcastically.
"The woman simply hates me; she calls my children 'her Dubois infants'; Natasha is her jolie Natasha; and I'm always a petit more grosse and so age... at least she could say it in my face." Michael said ignoring Natasha's comment.
"She's always said it in your face; the last time she pointed your belly too, in case you didn't realize about what she had said." Natasha reminded his father.
"She never says anything in plain English; she is always talking with that awful mixture of English and French." Michael said excusing himself for his lack of reaction.
"I know but the important part here is that I'm jolie" Natasha said laughing. "Mother must be looking for me; she knows how much I love grandpere and grandmere... it was nice to see you again, Rhett" she added before leaving the room.
"So… what are planning to do, my boy?" Michael asked after the door closed.
"About what, Michael?" Rhett asked with fake innocence.
"You will keep running, right?"
"It is nothing I can do, she doesn't return my feelings and I won't give her my love for her to use it like a whip over my head." Rhett said. He was getting tired of the topic.
"Promise something before and I'll drop the subject… for now." Michael said feeling Rhett's apprehension.
"What you want me to do?" Rhett said glad because Michael had decided to change the topic.
"You will go back to Atlanta; you will talk with the lady and calmly and without any hurtful words, you will listen to what she thinks about you, even if she tells you a lot of unpleasant adjectives, and even if a lot of them are true." When Rhett tried to reply, Michael raised his hand and added "Maybe you will find that she doesn't hate you after all and maybe, just maybe, there is some hope. Is it a promise?"
"All I have to do is to listen to her… I won't admit anything right?"
"I don't want you to promise me that you will open your heart to her… Damn! I wouldn't do it myself why I should ask you to do it. And I know that you won't do it even if you promised to do so…"
"I think I can do it" Rhett said finally giving in to his cousin insistence.
"Good! Now we can change the topic…"
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This is the first chapter… probably on Wednesday I will add the second one. In total will be around 6 chapters.
Sorry if it is a quite setting chapter but I need it. I will post my prompt in the next chapter so R and R, please. Feel free to leave a review criticizing my typos, grammar and way of writing. I appreciate any review or comment about it. Feedback helps me to improve. (Especially because I'm not a native speaker and some structures that I can consider grammatically correct for a native speaker sounds awkward)
Disclaimer: I do not own Gone with the Wind or any of its characters. (I wish I could own them but I don't) Except Natasha and Michael who are my OCC.
Blame my lateness to my awfully lazy beta… I mean my lovely sister Gaby.