Absent

Rhett was sprawled negligently across the large leather couch in the office that had once been his fathers. To anyone who cared to observe he looked like a man at ease, taking his leisure when in truth he was anything but. His mind was whirling over a conversation he'd partaken in earlier that day.

He'd been having tea with his mother, basking in the last of the dull sunlight out on the wide veranda. Bonnie, finally, had been put down for her nap after a powerful tantrum that threatened to be heard all over town. Which had left Rhett to consider, among many other things, that perhaps he had spoilt his only child to the point where she was very nearly unmanageable.

They'd been silent for some time, each apparently at complete comfort though Rhett knew something was weighing heavily on his mother's mind.

Normally he would question her as to what was the matter because nothing disturbed him more than seeing his mother upset. But his own thoughts were such a myriad of confusion these days that he couldn't bring himself to attempt to unburden her. Besides, he thought as though he had an inkling as to what was worrying her and that inkling related a little too strongly to Rhett's own woes for him to pursue the matter himself.

Rhett lit a cigar and puffed on it, trying to relax into the silence which was becoming more and more uncomfortable the longer it stretched.

"Rhett?" his mother had spoken out suddenly and a little to loudly as though speaking had been a violation of her own self will and she really hadn't meant to say anything at all.

"Yes mother?" Rhett replied, sighing a little because he felt as though he knew what was coming.

Eleanor Butler straightened her shawl about shoulders and mustered together all of her courage and blended it with the motherly concern which she hoped would make this conversation easier. Certainly she had been overjoyed when her son had come to visit her and with him her darling grandchild. At the time she was not in the least perturbed that his wife had not accompanied him as at the time of his arrival she'd assumed the visit would be a short one and he'd be going home to Scarlett soon enough. And certainly she was happy when his visit had lasted longer than the customary three to five days they usually did. But it had been three months now and she been meaning to question him about it for the last two and a half months.

"Rhett, why did Scarlett really not come to Charleston with you?"

Rhett sighed again. So the moment of confrontation had finally come. He'd been wondering when his mother would finally pluck up the courage to ask the question which had been on the tips of all the whispering tongues of every Charleston matron since his arrival. He didn't want to tell his mother the truth. The truth was painful and his mother had dealt with a lot of pain in her life, and a lot of that pain, it grieved Rhett to recognise, had been caused by himself. Lies were less painful, lies could make an ugly situation pretty. And lies always came easily to the lips of Rhett Butler.

"I told you the day I arrived mother. Scarlett didn't want to leave Atlanta. She has her businesses to attend to and wild horses wouldn't keep her away from that store and those god forsaken mills."

Eleanor was visibly shaken by the coarseness of her son's language and the barely disguised vehemence she heard in his tone. But she had chosen this moment for confrontation and she wasn't about to back down easily, no matter what it cost.

"I'm sure if you'd asked her to accompany you…"

"What makes you think I didn't ask her?" Rhett cut across his mother a little too sharply aware he was making it keenly obvious that he was very much on the defensive, meaning that he had something he needed to defend.

Eleanor merely gave Rhett a stern look in response to his rudeness. It was a mother's look. One that every child recognises immediately. It was a look that said quite plainly 'I don't believe a word you're saying and I expect the truth without delay.

Naturally, Rhett identified his mother's look. And as the silence stretched itself into uncomfortable tautness he was aware that she was waiting, without much patience, for an honest response from her eldest son who, despite the pain that he'd caused her, she loved beyond reason.

But Rhett wasn't prepared to delve into the turbulent partnership that was his marriage. He couldn't see how it was anyone else's damn business. Even if the person interested had only his own best interests at heart. He was angry and without it being questioned he felt he could remain justified in his anger. But he knew the minute a calm, sympathetic, dutiful mind like his mother's began picking over the true facts she'd make him feel that he was in the wrong and that he was, although Eleanor Butler would never use such language, a downright cad. No, he didn't want to hear such things. He was more than happy with his own opinion of himself which was, that he was in the right and he did not feel like having that opinion challenged.

So, stubbornly, Rhett allowed the silence to distend, focusing on the lit tip of his cigar, studiously ignoring his mother's reproachful glare.

Finally Eleanor could take it no longer.

"Rhett." She said sharply, more sharply in fact than she had ever spoken to him in his life.

"I know very well the story you spun on the day you arrived here for what I had assumed at the time would be a lovely but short visit. And I also know full well that that story wasn't true. You've taken your child away from her mother for such a long time and all little girls need their mothers" She held up her hand to stop him interrupting her as she saw him spluttering indignantly beneath her reprimands.

" I heard you besmirch your wife's reputation to her own aunts under the guise of husbandly concern. I've noticed how you haven't received a single word from your wife since your arrival and I've noticed how you haven't made any attempt to contact her. I can't imagine what is going on between you but by hiding out here you are making me a part of it and I refuse to be so used by you, my own son, unless I know the reasons behind your actions." Eleanor did not want to present her son with an ultimatum but she was desperate enough to discover what was troubling him to make it seem like she was.

"I might be able to help you Rhett. That's all I want to do." She finished on an almost pleading note.

Rhett's scowl had deepened with each word his mother spoke. She was telling him exactly what he didn't want to hear.

"I appreciate your concerns mother." said Rhett coldly, desperately trying to keep his temper in check. "But I assure you they are completely unnecessary and unfounded. I have been nothing but honest with you and the reason I have been here for so long is because I had thought you might appreciate an extended visit from your son and grand daughter. But clearly we have overstayed our welcome. I beg you to excuse me now. I have arrangements to make for our immediate departure."

With that Rhett rose from his chair and started back inside. He felt terrible for lying to his mother. He felt terrible for treating her on such a cold manner. But he just couldn't bring himself to be honest with her. Because if he was honest with her, he'd have to be honest with himself.

So here he was now. Sprawled across the leather couch of his father. A man Rhett had vowed he'd never resemble but one whom he was, to his disgust, becoming slightly more like each day.

He had to leave Charleston now. He knew that. He couldn't bear another confrontation like the one he'd just had with his mother. And he could no longer go on lying to his mother in her own home. It wasn't fair.

But he couldn't bear to go home either, not yet.

So the question was, where to go? He longed to travel to London or Paris. A European trip might be just what he needed to clear his head. And Bonnie would clap her little hands with delight at the sights those great cities would lay before her. But he knew that he couldn't take Bonnie out of the country. Rhett would never admit it. But what his mother had said about Bonnie had stung him. Despite his own opinion that Scarlett was a horrible mother, there wasn't a single woman he had met who hadn't frowned slightly when told that father and daughter were travelling alone. And Bonnie asked for her mother every day. Maybe a little girl did need her mother? But everyone knew that Bonnie Blue loved her daddy best.

No he wouldn't take Bonnie out of the country. He'd take her to New Orleans he decided suddenly. It might be painful. After all, it was where he and Scarlett had shared their honeymoon and some of the only peaceful days of their hurricane union. But Bonnie would love the city and it might be healing for him. It was a better alternative to leaving the country. And a much better alternative to going home right now.

-

Scarlett woke the next day refreshed from a good nights sleep and with a plan of action fully formed in her agile mind. Never one to waste time when she was on the path to getting what she wanted Scarlett got straight out of bed and called for Mammy to come and dress her. She put on a plain crème coloured dress with a broad red sash and tucked her hair back neatly and simply into a basic hair net. She had a lot to do today and didn't want to have to bother about her hair coming out of the fussy pins and curls she usually adorned herself with.

If Scarlett had been less involved with the anticipation of her arrangements for the day she would have noticed that Mammy was wearing her trademark pout and look of suspicion in her eyes.

Mammy had known Scarlett longer than Scarlett had known herself and Mammy still fancied she knew her lamb better than Scarlett knew herself. And hardly ever in living memory had Scarlett risen early unless she had a motive to do so. And certainly Scarlett had never, ever requested to be dressed and have her hair done so plainly.

There was some mischief or some scheme a foot and Mammy was determined to find out what it was.

"Wats yo up to today Miz Scarlett?" Mammy asked nonchalantly hoping a casual tone would yield forth some information.

"I have some business to do in town today Mammy. I should be gone most of the day but I'll come back around noon to pick up the children and take them round to Melly's for lunch. Please make sure they are ready for me then. They can stay at Melly's for the afternoon and I'll pick them up before I come home for dinner." And with that Scarlett flounced from the room completely oblivious to Mammy's extended lower lip and dark mutterings under her breath.

-

Scarlett pushed open the door to her store and stepped inside the dimly lit but otherwise pleasant front room. The products were displayed attractively and neatly and it gave Scarlett a sense of pride to know that all of this was hers. It was something real. Something that mattered. In this small well organised room business was done. Business which produced money and put food in people's mouths and rooves over their heads. She knew she no longer needed the store, but it put an ache in her heart to know that she would be giving up the calming satisfaction of adding the long columns of numbers in the account books or the feeling of purpose she got from choosing which stock to order and laying it out appealingly when it arrived.

But she took a deep breath, lifted her chin and walked forward to greet Willie, the counter boy who took care of the store's transactions during the week.

As soon as Willie saw Mrs Butler enter the store he immediately set about making himself look as busy as possible resulting in him, in his fluster, spilling an open bottle of ink right down the front of his starched white clerk's shirt. His cheeks burned until they were as bright as Scarlett's sash. He was right scared of Mrs Butler and he hastily dabbed at his shirt with a rag trying desperately to come up with a plausible story for himself being covered in ink. But to his complete astonishment Mrs Butler merely smiled at him. A broad, amused, sincere smile.

"Why Willie what in heaven's name have you done to yourself?" She simpered with her Southern belle charm which was so ingrained in her being that she would never lose it.

"I..I..I'm terribly sorry Mrs Butler." Willie stammered. Confused at Mrs Butler's uncharacteristic good humour. "It's just a little accident. I'll get me a new shirt from the pile and I'll take the cost of it out of my wages I promise."

Scarlett smiled at him again. It really did astonish and, yes she had to admit, upset her how terrified some people seemed to be of her. She certainly didn't see herself as a bully. But, in accordance to her plan, now was the time to change that stigma.

"Don't be a ninny Willie. Just take a new shirt, you don't have to pay for it. I must have startled you bursting through the door as I did. I was entirely my fault. Please" she said picking a fresh shirt out of a pile of those waiting to be sold. "I insist."

Willie was astounded and began to stammer his thanks but Mrs Butler cut him off with a wave of her hand.

"Is Hugh in today Willie? I was hoping to have a word with him."

"He's out the back Mrs Butler. Would you like me to go get him for you?"

"That's alright Willie. You attend to yourself." She indicated to the soiled shirt. "I'll just pop out the back and speak to him."

-

'Well' thought Scarlett walking out the door of Kennedy's Emporium for what would be the last time in a long while. 'That wasn't nearly as bad as I thought.'

Hugh had been more then eager to take over the full responsibility of running the store. In truth Scarlett wasn't sure he was the best man for the job. He wasn't exactly the sharpest tool in the shed but at least he was trustworthy and besides, it would earn her point with that old cat Mrs Elsing. Especially considering the handsome salary she had offered Hugh.

Now there was that other matter she had to attend to. Scarlett climbed into her carriage and set off back home to pick up the children to take them to Melly's. She had the mills to deal with now and she had a feeling, given all that had happened recently, it would be wiser to discuss the situation with Melanie first.

-

Well here is chapter two. Thank you so much for the reviews they are most greatly appreciated. I hope you enjoyed reading this chapter. Let me know if you did, or even if you didn't. I welcome all kinds of feedback. Thank you for reading.

Annie