THE LONG, ROCKY ROAD THAT WILL TAKE YOU HOME

Chapter 4: "Repairing Burned Bridges"

Had Rhett Butler, then agonizing over the dismal state of his marriage while on his trip with his daughter, a living memento of his wife, been told that he would again enjoy a happy luncheon with Scarlett, he would have considered his "wizard" of sorts a lunatic. And, yet, here they were, having lunch at the Atlanta Hotel restaurant and, on top of that, without Bonnie's reassuring presence! But then, it had not seemed to him such a crazy idea when it had first occurred to him. After all, he had been working the whole morning at the bank and needed to have lunch and he knew, because she had informed Bonnie of that, that Scarlett would be in her office at the store because she intended to check the ledgers of the store and of the mills now that Ashley was about to leave. So why shouldn't he drop by and pick Scarlett up to go for lunch? She was his wife, after all.

Was it really so unusual that he felt this way about his wife again? Wasn't it ironic, to put it mildly, that he now enjoyed spending time with the very woman he had run away from just a few weeks before?

But so was it. And, so as to convince himself of the soundness of his newly discovered feelings for Scarlett, he knew that Bonnie was benefiting enormously from this change. She looked happy and joyful and sensed that the tension that used to dominate her parents' relationship had, if not totally dissipated, somehow been eased off.

Rhett had no way of knowing it, but Scarlett's mind was running pretty much along these very lines these days. Of course, Scarlett wouldn't tell him but the thoughts that crossed her mind were very similar to her husband's. She had also been feeling far more comfortable with Rhett than she had had since Bonnie's birth. It was strange feeling this good with your own husband? Certainly, she had enjoyed Rhett's company throughout the war, when he was the only one she could talk openly to and he had still been her confidante after she had married poor, old Frank and everybody had her as a money-grubbing, heartless Scallawag. The first times of her marriage to Rhett had been fairly good, too, but it was so long since they had had the easy-going rapport they were having now.

Scarlett wondered if this change had something to do with her pregnancy – was she, in a way, sweet talking Rhett to later appease him when she finally broke to him the news about the baby? Was she trying to win the baby's father's heart so that he accepted their unborn child more easily? Or was it simply that, during their absence, she had missed Bonnie and Rhett so much that she had learned o appreciate their company more?

Whatever the case, not one to reflect much on things she couldn't really change or control, Scarlett decided to happily accept the current situation and take the days as they came.

Scarlett winced as Mammy tightened her corset a further inch. In the mirror, she saw Mammy scowling.

'Nothing of this would be happening if you had already told Mr. Rhett by now, she repeated for the tenth time this morning alone.

'I know, Mammy, I know.'

'So what are you waiting for to tell Mr. Rhett, my lamb?', Mammy insisted, never one to drop a topic easily, especially if she believes, as she did now, to be on the winning side.

'Oh, I don't know, Mammy. I guess I'm just waiting for the right moment, so don't press me, Mammy,' Scarlett tried to plead with her but the older woman's scowl just grew deeper and more disapproving.

'Never knew any woman who took so long in telling her husband. As if it was of any importance when to tell him… He has to know and the sooner, the better.'

Scarlett remained silent at this, admitting to herself the truth in Mammy's words. After all, she had broken to Rhett the news of her pregnancy when she had been excepting Bonnie quite unceremoniously and as soon as Dr. Meade had confirmed her her situation. So why was she fidgeting so much now? She had dreaded that Rhett may never come and decided then and there that she'd tell him as soon as he crossed the threshold and here were they, two weeks into Rhett and Bonnie's return and she hadn't told him yet. What was she waiting for? Whatever Rhett's reaction might be, whether he took it with grace or got mad at her, he would have to resign himself to becoming a father for the second time.

Yes, she had to tell him, she made her mind at once. And today would be the day, she decided. Whatever happened today, whether they had a pleasant day or, God forbid, they had another quarrel, she would tell Rhett today. When she went to sleep tonight, she would have already told Rhett. At least by tonight she would go to bed having learned of Rhett's reaction first hand, not with this disturbing uncertainty she had lived with so far. Yes, she would tell Rhett today, she resolved and with this comforting thought she joined Rhett and Bonnie for breakfast.

'Would you care to have lunch out with me today, Scarlett?', Rhett asked her after breakfast.

'Oh, I don't really know, Rhett… I was thinking of going to the mills today.'

Rhett winched, which Scarlett couldn't help but notice.

'Ashley should be leaving in two weeks, Rhett, you know, and I want to make sure everything is all right. It's going to be an awful lot of work once he leaves but it would have been even worse if he were to stay.'

'Would you like me to go with you, Scarlett?'

'Oh, could you come, Rhett?'

Rhett was touched by Scarlett's genuine delight at his suggestion. He had asked more out of courtesy than or real willingness. It was not that he didn't want to go with Scarlett if she needed him, but he never thought that Scarlett would have wanted him to go. Scarlett, always so proud and independent, wanted him to go to the mills with her!

'Sure.'

'Won't it be too much of an inconvenience for you? Aren't you needed at the bank today?'

'Nothing that can't wait till tomorrow, Scarlett,' he reassured her. 'What about going to the mills first and then lunch at the Atlanta Hotel again?', he suggested.

Scarlett beamed, feeling a burden was being lifted off her shoulders. She wouldn't have to face Ashley alone because Rhett would be with her today. She knew she had many things to say to Ashley and she dreaded it but with Rhett with her she felt much better.

'It sounds good to me,' Scarlett agreed.

The meeting with Ashley went so horribly wrong and was so exhausting that Scarlett felt drained of all energy after it. So poorly was she feeling that Rhett judged it better to go straight home and have lunch quietly with Bonnie instead. Scarlett was touched by Rhett's gesture, putting her comfort before any other consideration.

'Thank you so much, Rhett,' said Scarlett as she sat down on the library sofa and covered her legs with a woolen blanket Mammy had brought her. Bonnie was peacefully sleeping her nap upstairs, happy for the treat of having her parents having lunch with her.

'It doesn't matter,' he said, sipping his coffee.

'I don't know what came over me but I felt so wasted…'

'All in all, I'd say that our little interview with Mr. Wilkes went all right.'

'Would you, Rhett? I felt so bad…'

'You aren't having second thoughts, are you?'

'Oh, no, I don't regret firing Ashley at all but it was so hard, nonetheless.'

'Well, it's over now, Scarlett.'

She smiled. Yes, that was true and it made her feel instantly relieved. Which reminded her that she still had another pending affair.

'So, have you decided if you're taking over once Ashley leaves?'

'Oh, I think I'll have to hire another overseer.'

'Really? I thought you'd prefer doing it yourself to make sure everything is ok.'

'It is hard work…'

'That has never stopped you before, or are you getting lazy now, Mrs. Butler?', Rhett teased her.

Now or never, Scarlett told herself.

'Rhett, I won't be working much… I want to spend more time with Bonnie and also, well, Rhett, I… I am expecting a baby, Rhett,' she stumbled with the words.

'My, oh, my, leave it to you to give your husband a surprise,' he cheerfully teased her.

Scarlett waited for Rhett to elaborate.

'So, Rhett?', she prompted him.

'So what? It seems that Bonnie will have to get used to sharing her parents' devotion and unconditional love with a brother or a sister in a few months' time. It is going to be interesting to see the little princess having to share the kingdom,' he laughed.

'And what do you think about the news, Rhett?'

'Well, I told you before that I didn't care if we had one child or twenty. There are rooms enough to house fifteen more children, at least.'

'Aren't you happy, Rhett?'

'Are you, Scarlett?'

'Actually, I am, Rhett. It was a surprise at first but yes, I am really happy now.'

Rhett nodded, at a loss for words to add.

'And when should we expect the arrival of the new Butler heir?'

'Oh, Dr. Meade says that it will be in five months and a half. And what makes you think it's going to be a boy?'

'A wild guess, I supposed. Also, we already have Bonnie and I don't think she'd take it very well not being the only girl at home.'

'I thought you said you didn't want to have a boy,' Scarlett laughed.

'I thought you said you didn't want t have any more children,' Rhett retorted.

Scarledd winced, in pain, as if Rhett had slapped her.

'Sorry, Scarlett,' Rhett said, going towards her and holding her hands in his. 'I am really sorry, I shouldn't have said this. It was cruel and totally insensitive of me.'

Rhett would have kicked himself for his rudeness. What was wrong with him? Couldn't he be civil with his wife for a change? Scarlett was making an effort to bridge the distance between them. He had at first thought it was just another ploy of his scheming wife to make him feel terribly guilty for his desertion but now he had to admit, at least to himself, that Scarlett was working hard to make their marriage work. And there he was, insulting her and when he had no reason to. Scarlett was behaving just as he had always wanted her to, taking care of Bonnie and attending to all their baby's needs and, on top of that, she had fired Ashley, which was something that did not feature even in his wildest dreams. That was enough of a change by itself but, even better than that, Scarlett was pregnant now. the thought that she could have been pregnant had never occurred to him, although his mind had certainly wandered back to that night many times. But it had happened, out of that night of raw passion a baby had been conceived and now Scarlett was happy of being carrying a child of his! And he paid her back by taking the very first change he got to insult Scarlett and to be cruel with her!

'I am really sorry for having said that, Scarlett.'

'It's ok, Rhett. old habits die hard, right?', she asked, half smiling.

'I guess so. Life is going to get interesting from now on.'

'More like hectic, I'd say. This is not the right moment for being without a manager at the mill but I will see to hiring a new overseer before I have to get confined here.'

'May I help you, Scarlett? I wouldn't mind taking care of everything while your state prevents you from going to the mills.'

'Would you do that for me, Rhett?'

'Yes, of course,' he answered, startled not only because Scarlett had not yelled at his suggestion but because she had accepted his offering.

'It'd be just temporary, Rhett, only after the baby is born and I am back,' she warned him, afraid that he take over.

'It'll be temporary, Scarlett, I promise you,' he said, understanding the root of her fears. 'I very much prefer to work in the bank than in your dusty mills, believe it or not,' he joked.

'I want that in writing,' Scarlett teased him.

'Mother, Mother, Mother!', Bonnie came shouting, with her curls a mess after her nap and putting an end to her parents' conversation.

~TO BE CONTINUED~