Scarlett O'Hara walked over to her daughter, Bonnie's, bed. Bonnie was sleeping peacefully her black curly hair sprawled out all over the silky pillow. Scarlett brushed a few hairs away from Bonnie's face. Rhett had come by earlier to deliver Bonnie after taking her away from Scarlett for weeks. Scarlett hadn't had the nerve to tell him that she was with child again. She wanted to so badly, but he was so cruel to her when he had arrived home. She was sure he was off to Charleston or some Yankee city sleeping with every slut on the Eastern coast. She knew he would be back though to see his daughter. She just hoped he wouldn't be back too soon. She wanted to make him feel horrible for leaving her pregnant and alone. She hoped that he never found out about the child until it was too late and the child loved her and not him, but she knew that was highly unlikely. She wanted this new baby so horribly. It was a chance to start fresh to finally have someone who loved her unconditionally and that she could love back. Scarlett sighed and walked over to Ella's bed. Her hair had changed into a beautiful strawberry blonde and her eyes were remarkably similar to Scarlett's. Scarlett touched her daughter's delicate snow white hand.
"Ella, darling," said Scarlett knowing that her daughter was not really sleeping but had been reading before Scarlett came in. She had felt the book under Ella's tiny hand.
Ella opened her eyes fear emblazoned in them. Scarlett knew how much her children were afraid of her, but it hurt to see it just the same. "Yes-yes mother," she stuttered.
"Don't stutter, Ella," she snapped but smiled to smooth over her harsh words. "How would you like to go shopping with mother tomorrow you, Wade, and Bonnie and me? We can get you a whole new set of dresses and some new shoes. I'd also like to start redecorating this house. I can't stand how dark and dreary it is. Would you like to help, mother, redecorate it. I think it's about time that you had your own room. Don't you think?"
Ella's beautiful green eyes brightened at the thought of a shopping excursion with her mother and siblings. "Really? Could we have tea with Aunt Melly too," said Ella.
"Why that's a wonderful idea. I'll have Prissy take over a note to ask Aunt Melly to tea."
Ella smiled.
"Good night, Ella. I love you," said Scarlett the words seemed foreign to her tongue. She sighed. I'll just have to practice saying them more.
"I love you too," said Ella sitting up and giving her mother a hug. She went to lay back down when Scarlett didn't hug her back immediately, but Scarlett caught her and hugged her and placed a kiss her on the forehead.
"Sweet dreams." She glanced over at Beau he was softly snoring and she didn't want to disturb him. She walked back to the door of the nursery and blew out the candle. She smiled triumphantly. Rhett will be so jealous when I've won them all over. And I don't want my children to hate me anymore. Her smile softened to a more sincere one as she watched her children sleeping peacefully. She closed the door softly behind her.