Chapter 2 - Recriminations and Reconciliations
After arranging Scarlett in a room to sleep for a while, Rhett took the opportunity to speak with his mother and tell her the truth, She sat in her favorite chair in her parlor doing her needle work, when he sat down.
"Mother, I really don't know what to do." He began.
"About what dear?" she asked not looking up from what she was doing.
Rhett sighed deeply and began. It was either now, or later when Scarlett would be trying to defend every single word…
"I know I told you that Scarlett didn't want to leave her store, and that is why I came back by myself, and I know that's what we've been telling people, but the truth is I left her."
Rhett paused and waited for a reaction from his mother,,,
Eleanor wasn't surprised by this information, in fact, she already had an idea. Should she tell Rhett that she knew already? No, then he would want to know how she knew… mother's intuition… NO, definitely she decided to go along with his confession. She might get further with him… She believed under no circumstance should a couple divorce…
"Really Rhett…you…left your wife…" she said making sure not to sound too surprised nor too unsurprised, Rhett could hear the slight disapproval in his mother's tone, but was thankful that there was no scolding…yet.
Eleanor placed the needle work in her lap and gave her son her full attention,.
"I had to mother, it meant my life."
"I think you are being over dramatic Rhett." She said trying not to smirk.
"Over dramatic? Well let me put it to you this way, when I was with her, I drank in excess, I hated being home, so I was usually out. I didn't want to eat… I was killing myself."
"Well you seem okay now…" she said just a bit mockingly.
"Why do you mock me mother?" he asked truly puzzled.
"I am not mocking you my dear. I truly understand. I stayed with your father when it truly did mean my life. He would come home drunk and he would be in such a destructive mood. I would keep him from beating you children, by placing myself in his line of fire. Then I would have to make it so I could go out in public perhaps the next day. Sometimes though I had to wait a few days for the bruises to go away. It drove me to drink, to obsess over other men and daydream about what my life could have been like. But I stayed with my husband. Because that is what I said I would do. For better or for worse. And that is what you promised to do. Does she beat you?"
Rhett could not believe what he just heard, and how calm she was about it, nor the question she just asked.
"No! of course not!"
"Well then, my dear, try to make it work. I'll tell you what, give her until the end of the season to try to make it work. If not, I will ask that she return home and you should go with her, whatever you decide to do, will be up to you, but I must insist that you try."
"Well… let me think about it. But she will need to keep her own room. We have never shared a room. She was…taken advantage of before in her life and since then has always required a separate room."
Rhett told his mother this, knowing that only part of it was true. She had a separate room in their Atlanta house, yes, but that was at her request because she still loved Ashley. Now that she claims that's over, she may not want it. But that's too bad. She's not going to win that easily…
Scarlett appeared from behind the door much to everyone's surprise.
"Rhett, we should talk." She began.
"It's okay my dear," Eleanor said, "we are finished, you may come in."
"No Miss Eleanor, I would rather wait, I am still very tired, I just wanted to let Captain Butler know that I wanted an audience with him a bit later, that's all."
Rhett looked at his mother and then again at Scarlett…"an audience? Where are we, in England?" he said mockingly.
"I beg your pardon Rhett, I was trying to be polite. If we could speak later, I would appreciate it!" She said and went back upstairs in a huff.
"Rhett was that necessary?" Eleanor scolded. "She's just been through the most traumatic experience that a person can go through. You could be more feeling Rhett."
"I'm sorry mother." Rhett said, like a little boy.
"It isn't me you should be apologizing to, its your wife." She said sharply.
"Call for some tea for her please."
Rhett took the tea up himself when it was prepared. He knocked on the door to hear her reply.
"Who is it?"
What should he say? Rhett… your husband…me? "Rhett" he finally decided.
"Come in." She said from her dressing table.
"I brought you some tea Scarlett."
"Thank you," she replied "please, set it over there."
"You wanted to talk to me?"
"I did, but it's not important. On the other hand, something that is important. I know I showed up unannounced, I'm sorry. I had no where to go, and the grief is too much for me to bear."
"What happened?" he asked.
Scarlett began to tearfully recount the telling of the series of events after Melly's funeral. At the end of her story, silent tears were pouring down her face. Rhett moved over to comfort her some more, he did feel a bit sorry for her in this state. So much so that he made a decision without thinking much of the consequences. "Scarlett, you wont have to go through it alone. Mother and I would like you to stay here with us for a few months, till you feel better. Actually for the duration of the season. Being around people will be good for you. The season starts in a couple of months, so you will have time to grieve then rejoin society." he said with a bit of joy in his voice, trying to cheer her up.
"Rhett, I have nothing to wear."
"You, nothing to wear?" Rhett chuckled.
"Will you come with me and help me choose appropriate attire? You know how I always prefer the " extravagant." Scarlett smiled a touch, which was most becoming.
"Of course my dear." he said and hugged her close.
Perhaps it wouldn't be so bad to play house after all.
They went to go see Millie the dressmaker in order to fix up a wardrobe for Mrs. Butler.
"Miss Sally this is my wife Scarlett. You know my mother of course." Rhett introduced.
"Yes of course, Mrs. Butler it is an honor to make your acquaintance. Let me say it is a pleasure. I am glad to see that the lumber business is well enough off that you could come join your husband." she said trying to make small talk. Scarlett not sure of what she was talking about simply said, thank you and gave Rhett an odd look. Rhett was mortified. He hadn't told Scarlett the cover story yet. Thankfully she went along with it for the time being.
They chose fabrics and patterns. Most of which bored Scarlett to tears, so Rhett consented to one fancy dress for some other occasion but under no circumstances for Charleston. But it was his gift since he knew how much she hated the drab clothes she would be subject to wear. Although she was looking forward to wearing the dress for the final ball, it was going to be simply beautiful. Actually all of her season party dresses were nice.
After the seamstress, they headed back home, since it was an exhausting day, (just imagine if they had to actually make their own dresses…)
On the walk back they stopped at the shoemaker to pick up some boots for Scarlett, since she didn't have any and she was used to carriages, but here in Charleston they didn't use them except for special occasions or if you were a scallywag. Miss Eleanor stopped at a few other shops along the way. Scarlett took a moment to ask Rhett what miss Millie was talking about.
"Rhett, what did miss Millie mean when she said what she did about the lumber business?"
"Oh, that, sorry Scarlett. That is what I told people instead of the fact that we separated." Rhett said evenly.
"What?! You told people that I refused to be with you, and that my business was more important?"
Scarlett said in a hushed, furious tone.
"What would you have preferred that I told them the truth? And that it drove me to drinking, women and insanity?" Rhett said almost silently next to her.
Scarlett was livid. "Can we please finish this at home, and not in the public eye?" She said hot with anger. Kissed him on the cheek and walked away.
'Scarlett one to keep up appearances?? Wow, will wonders never cease…' Rhett thought to himself…
Scarlett walked her way home holding the tears back. Knowing she was wrong in so many ways. She had to prove to Rhett that she was different now and that she could fit into his world. She had to. Everything depended on it…