Chapter 2. A Regrettable Past

Savannah – November 1878

He sat on the rock, resting his head on his hand. No one disturbing him anymore. The fall breeze was chilly as the sun had slid below the horizon. But he was numb.

Wade. Ella.

This was the first time he saw them since he walked out of their home in Atlanta that gloomy fall five years ago. They grew up so much. How he had missed them!

And Scarlett… a half and three years had passed, he still saw her pale cheek, closed eyes, and lifeless body. And how she had fainted in front of him!

Scarlett O'Hara Hamilton Kennedy Butler Wilkes … The same sharp vicious pain stabbed his heart more mercilessly.

And Beau Wilkes. And Cat.

Cat? Katie Melanie Wilkes!

Cat, Cat, a girl with green eyes, three years old… His mind was tumbling and rumbling… Cat, three years old. And her three proud little fingers.

Three years old… She had her birthday cake last month. He could see her big smile. October.

The end of October?! Oh, God, February!

He had taken Scarlett on the beach on that raining February day of 1875…

Oh, the Lord! He screamed.

Cat... Katie... she was his daughter. She was his!

She was his!

…

Charleston – June 1875

"Miss Scarlett O'Hara, you finally decided to make known of your presence," said he nonchalantly. He was standing at the door, ready to take a run from Aunt Eulalie's parlor, if Scarlett came closer to him.

"Rhett, please," she said wearily. Her lips were trembling, her face was pale, even her chignon was not as tidy as it used to be. She looked so small and so tired, covering with a thick traveling gown burying in a large armchair.

"Please? Why… why do you bother to come back after four months absence?"

"Rhett, I come back as soon as I could."

"Then where have you been, Scarlett? Enlighten me!" He scorned.

"I went to Ireland with my cousin, to see Pa's hometown. When I received the news you were divorcing me, I boarded the next steamship coming back to you. No, Rhett, I didn't desert you..." Her voice broke down, "You asked me to leave… so I left …" she sobbed.

"You disappeared for four months, without telling anyone where you were, where you were going." His jaws clenched, he said angrily, "You deserted me in the eyes of the judge! No one knew where you were. Mother was worried sick when you disappeared, she could not eat, could not sleep, asking me repeatedly why you left without notice."

She looked at him through tear covered lashes, "No…no… I left a letter to her. I love Miss Eleanor so much, I wouldn't leave without telling her."

"Don't lie, Scarlett. Mother never see a note from you. It is too late to lie about it."

"No… Rhett, I left a letter to Rosemary. Miss Eleanor went to church, but my aunts wanted to leave for Savannah immediately. I gave my letter to Rosemary… I left my letter to…" She sobbed soundlessly. "… That is why you never came to me. I waited in Savannah, hoping you come to me… but you never came…"

Her broken murmuring broke Rhett's heart. "But why you didn't tell anyone you went to Ireland? At the time I went to Savannah, you're already gone, disappeared again!"

"I thought I would return very soon. When I saw the divorce announcement, I wired you immediately, telling you that I was coming to you. I boarded the steamship the next day… You can't divorce me, this can't be done…" Her voice was broken and exhausted.

"When did you wire to me?" He asked watchfully.

"Two weeks ago, before I boarded the ship," she said softly.

"No, no, Scarlett…." He said slowly, "That is impossible, I never received any wire from you, never!" He was horrified and terrorized, for such a big mistake too huge for him to make, too enormous to be burdened.

"Yes… I did… You must believe me, Rhett… I kept a receipt from the post office…" she said as she was sobbing. And she was searching in her reticule frantically. "Rhett… you can't divorce me, this can't be done…" she repeated again and again.

Finally, she pulled out a piece of folded paper, presenting to him.

No, no, everything was wrong, all the timing was wrong. It could not be his wrongdoing. It could not be his fault. No, he could not accept that piece of paper in her hand…

"No, it is too late." He avoided her tearing eyes, declared with an even tone, "I have married Miss Anne Hampton a week ago."

"No… no…" Her scream was soft, weak and heartbroken. After a long soundless gasp, she fainted. That piece of paper flew out of her hand.

"Oh, no, Scarlett, Scarlett!" He cried. Swiftly he was beside her, lifting her from the chair, laying her on a long sofa.

"Scarlett, darling!" Pauline and Eulalie rushed into the parlor, to Scarlett's side.

Eulalie turned to him, "Mr. Butler, you shall leave now!"

"Please let me stay with her," he begged.

"It is improper for you to stay here, Mr. Butler. You are not her husband anymore. You must leave."

He picked up the paper lying on the floor, and then he was pushed out of the house by the determined Eulalie.

He stood outside the Robillard's house, staring at the piece of paper in his hand. It was indeed a receipt from the post office, the wiring content in Scarlett's neat handwriting.

"Rhett, wait for me. I am coming to you. Love, Scarlett."

…

Devastated and distraught, he returned home to confront his family, his sister and … his wife. Then he deserted his Charleston home, the second time and ever.

But Scarlett had already left Charleston when he reached her aunt's house again, one step ahead of him. Thereafter she left Atlanta with Wade, Ella, and … Beau and Ashley, one day before he arrived Atlanta.

He never saw Scarlett again.

...