Disclaimer: None of the characters are mine. Without Margaret Mitchell, this work would not exist. I do not own any part of Gone With The Wind and no money is being made from this story.
Chapter Two: A Passel of Visitors
Atlanta, Georgia was a young, bustling little town. The growing city was not even fifteen years old when the war between the states erupted in the spring of 1861. Before the war, its small population had been mostly made up of merchants and railway employees, not the planter aristocracy of other Southern cities. It was partially for this reason that most of the south looked down upon the city and its people. It lacked the history and charm of places like Charleston or Savannah.
However, the war had succeeded in turning it into a bustling, and important location for the Confederacy. With several railroads connecting to it, supplies and soldiers were all flowing through Atlanta before proceeding to various theaters of war. The industries in and around Atlanta were also of assistance to the army. Warehouses housed supplies that would become integral to the Confederate war effort. Cannons, pistols and the armor plating for the glorious ironclads were all made in Atlanta. No one could ever say that Atlanta was not doing its part to aid the cause.
The numerous hospitals in the city also meant that many wounded soldiers and their families moved through the city. The streets, on this early summer morning, were full of soldiers enjoying themselves before having to return to the front and the deprivations of the war. Other soldiers were less exuberant; those were probably the men returning to battle. The train station hummed with both military and civilian activity.
Scarlett, however, barely noticed all the activity around her and missed many of the lustful stares directed at her by the young soldiers. Normally she would have innocently flirted with them but this morning found her mind otherwise occupied. She was too busy thinking about what she would say when she came face to face with her mother. Her father Gerald would not be the problem; her mother was the issue.
She hardly noticed when Melanie lightly touched her arm, as the train made its way into the station.
"There's the train, dear," Melanie said loudly above the cacophony of noises.
Scarlett couldn't breathe. She had trouble swallowing. Part of her hoped that her parents had either missed the train or decided to not travel to Atlanta to see her. It was actually easier, she admitted, to imagine her mother's disappointment than to see it in person. Ellen O'Hara's good opinion and love meant the world to Scarlett and to see the disappointment on her mother's face would wound her deeply. Why couldn't she be more like her mother?
Within minutes of the train coming to a complete stop, Scarlett saw her father descend and offer her a quick wave before turning to help her mother.
Gerald O'Hara was short and compact and boisterous. No one would ever mistake him for an elegant, sophisticated Southerner. He was too loud and too opinionated. He was an Irishman first, and even after all these years in America, he was proud of that fact.
As a child, she had loved to sit and listen to him tell her stories of his childhood in Ireland. Her younger sisters, Suellen and Carreen, would sit and listen to their father, but they didn't seem as enamored with his stories as Scarlett was. He made her feel safe and loved, but above all, he spoiled her with his attention. Her rather rambunctious behavior as a child, Scarlett guessed, was the reason why he loved her as much as she did. She was, as her mother liked to remind her, similar to him in so many ways.
She had only been in Atlanta for a few weeks but it wasn't until just that moment that Scarlett realized how much she missed her father.
When Ellen O'Hara was safely on firm ground, Scarlett watched her father offer her mother his arm. With her mother's arm tucked safely under his, they walked the short distance to where she was standing with Melanie.
Ellen O'Hara was a beautiful and distinguished looking woman. She was, in Scarlett's eyes, the perfect Southern lady. She was taller than her husband and held herself proudly. She was charming and kind and deeply loved by everyone she came into contact with. She was a Savannah Robillard and carried herself in a manner befitting her family; even if she had married an Irishman.
Where her father was loving and let Scarlett get away with certain unladylike behaviors, her mother had tried to raise her daughters to become fine, respectable Southern ladies. She was also not very happy at the moment, Scarlett noticed. Her mother tried to look detached but Scarlett knew the truth. A true lady did not show her true feelings in public, especially not anger, annoyance or disappointment. This was something that Scarlett had been unable to master.
"Now, Puss, give your father a kiss. I've missed you a great deal." Being close to her father always made Scarlett smile. He smelled of horses and the country in a soothing way.
"Scarlett," Ellen said in greeting. Her mother was unquestionably upset and doing her best to hide it.
"Mother, you look well. I hope you had a good trip. You must be tired," Scarlett said nervously. While she loved her mother, Scarlett felt that she had to seem more reserved when she was around Ellen.
"The trip was lovely," Ellen turned to Melanie. "How are you, my dear?
"Very well Mrs. O'Hara. Welcome back to Atlanta. We're so glad you could come to see us. Our darling Scarlett speaks of you often," Melanie said, clearly delighted to see the older woman.
As Scarlett watched, her mother and Melanie began discussing Melanie's husband Ashley and how he was faring in the army. Melanie's face lit up as she spoke of her beloved husband. Scarlett scowled openly.
Scarlett wanted to scream. How were they having such a calm and dignified conversation? Her world was about to fall apart and both her mother and Melanie were catching up like old friends who had no other obligations and all the time in the world. She would never be able to see Ashley if she was living back at Tara.
"I must thank you and your Aunt for your hospitality in allowing Scarlett and Wade to stay with you," Ellen said.
"Scarlett is my family, and Aunt Pitty and I have loved having her and Charles' little boy with us. Mrs. O'Hara, you should see how he's grown. He looks more and more like my dear Charles every day. It is a comfort having Scarlett and Wade here now that Charles is gone," Melanie said calmly.
Scarlett hoped that Melanie's words would show her mother just how much she was needed in Atlanta.
"I can't wait to see my grandson." Ellen's statement seemed genuine to Scarlett. She hadn't realized that her mother might miss the fact that her only grandchild lived too far away to see him more on a more regular basis.
"Uncle Peter will see to your things and then we can return to the house and get you all settled in. I was hoping that we could all take tea together," Melanie said, looking towards Uncle Peter who was waiting to load any baggage.
"That will have to wait, Mrs. Wilkes. We are not quite ready to proceed to your Aunt's. I was told that the train from Charleston would be arriving shortly after ours," Ellen said, looking from Melanie to focus on her eldest daughter.
"Charleston? Mother, why do we need to wait for the train from Charleston?" Scarlett was confused.
"Didn't I mention it in my letter?" Ellen asked.
"Mention what, Mother?" The letter had only contained two lines and Scarlett was quite sure that her mother had not made mention of Charleston, let alone a train from Charleston.
"I must have forgotten to tell you but your aunts Pauline and Eulalie have decided to come to Atlanta to visit and my being in town made it that much easier. You know how they hate to travel. I haven't had much time to spend with them recently, so we all agreed that this would be the perfect opportunity. They should be arriving shortly."
A wave of terror hit Scarlett. Her aunts. From Charleston. This couldn't be happening. She had believed, until that moment, that she had had a chance to convince her mother to allow her to stay with Melanie in Atlanta but this development made it infinitely worse. Her aunts would know all about Captain Rhett Butler and would be more than happy to inform their sister of all his indiscretions. She may as well go home to pack.
"It will be so lovely to meet them, Mrs. O'Hara. We can all go back to Aunt Pitty's and get to know each other over tea. I'll just ask Uncle Peter to arrange another carriage." Melanie moved away leaving Scarlett alone with her parents.
Scarlett wanted to reach out and grab Melanie's arm to prevent her from leaving her alone with her parents. However, her upbringing prevented her from carrying out such a gesture. There was an awkward silence. Her mother's Savannah upbringing meant that anything that needed to be said would not be said in the middle of a crowded train station. Gerald O'Hara had probably already been told that his wife would take care of the situation. Scarlett took the opportunity to study her parents. In the few weeks since she had last seen them, they both looked tired. The war seemed to be taking a toll on everyone.
Scarlett was grateful to see Melanie returning to stand beside her. She was barely listening as Melanie spoke quietly with both of her parents. Melanie was probably recounting a story about Wade. Wade was only four months old but Melanie was already infatuated with her nephew. Since her arrival in Atlanta, Scarlett had scarcely had to care for her infant son. Whereas at Tara, Ellen and Mammy had insisted that Scarlett care for her newborn son, in Atlanta Melanie and Aunt Pittypat had effectively taken over the care of the infant. This arrangement suited Scarlett.
Unlike Melanie, Scarlett tolerated her son. Wade Hampton Hamilton was a reminder of the man she had married and lost. A man she had never loved but who still continued to influence her life. All Wade seemed to do was cry, sleep and need to be changed constantly. Scarlett did not see what all the fuss was about. She liked the attention Wade brought her but, in her limited experience, babies were a nuisance. Maybe once Melanie had a child of her own she would understand but maybe her sister in law was one of those people who genuinely loved babies.
As she watched both her mother and Melanie, Scarlett was amazed at how similar they were. For a moment she wished she could be more like Melanie, only because it would mean that she could be just like her mother. It was one of the things that Scarlett wanted most in life. She wanted to be a great lady and there was no doubt in Scarlett's mind that her mother was a great lady. Melanie Hamilton Wilkes was also a great lady; a great lady who just happened to be married to the man that she, Scarlett, was in love with.
A great rumbling sound interrupted Scarlett's thoughts. There were hissing and screeching sounds as the train slowed, making its way into the station. Once again the platform was busy with people emerging from the train and greeting awaiting loved ones. Scarlett scanned the passengers looking for her two aunts. She had recently spent time in Charleston both at Aunt Pauline's isolated plantation and at the Battery house of her Aunt Eulalie. All she remembered was the monotony and frustration of her time in Charleston. Atlanta society might be difficult but Charleton was downright tedious and rigid. She had hated every moment of her visit to her aunts and had returned home within a month of her departure.
"There they are, Mr. O'Hara," Ellen said to her husband, in the same instant that Scarlett's eyes fell upon them.
Scarlett watched as her aunts approached. Both her aunts were several years older than her mother. Ellen Robillard had been the youngest daughter and had come as somewhat of a surprise to both her parents. As Scarlett watched her mother and aunts greet each other, she considered how different they appeared. Even though her mother and aunts were all attired in fashionable traveling outfits, her mother looked elegant and her aunts appeared matronly.
Scarlett greeted her aunts and then stood aside as they were both introduced to Melanie.
She did not, however, register the fact that two additional women seemed to be standing just off to the side of their group on the busy platform. The first looked older than her two aunts and the second was most likely a few years older than her. Both women were well dressed. They appeared to be mother and daughter and were clearly both well off southern ladies. Scarlett glanced at them with interest. There was something remarkably familiar about them.
"My goodness, where are my manners?" Aunt Pauline exclaimed, turning to the petite woman and her daughter.
Linking arms with the older woman, Scarlett watched as her Aunt Pauline looked at Aunt Eulalie and then at her mother. The younger woman approached as well.
"I am honored to introduce you to our dearest friend Mrs. Steven Butler of Charleston and her lovely daughter Miss Rosemary Butler," Aunt Pauline said, smiling widely.
God's nightgown! It couldn't be. Was this Rhett's mother? And sister? What were they doing in Atlanta?
The four older women exchanged a look as more personal introductions were made. Scarlett intently studied Rhett's mother. For some reason, she was fascinated and confounded by her presence. Scarlett's introduction to Eleanor Butler and her daughter came last. As she made eye contact with Rhett's mother, she found herself looking into eyes almost exactly like Rhett's, down to the same sparkle or twinkle. The only difference was the warmth that she found in them.
"So you must be the young lady I've heard so much about," Eleanor Butler said in the same soft low country drawl as her son. Oh dear. Had news of the events of the other night already reached Charleston?
Scarlett didn't quite know how to respond.
A.N. First of all, any text in italics after the first chapter comes directly from the brilliant Ms. Mitchell. I couldn't have said it better, so I won't try.
Secondly, I couldn't resist bringing Rhett's mother to Atlanta. I contemplated changing his mother's name but I can totally see Margaret Mitchell naming her Eleanor. Ellen, Ella, Eleanor. It works.
Lastly, I'd like to thank all of the lovely readers out there, especially COCO B, Aunt Flora, Scarlett Rhose, Aethelfraed, gabyhyatt, whoknows3, Truckee Gal, breakfastattiffanygs and Guest. You have no idea how much I appreciate your reviews and pms.
