Jonas continued to visit Melanie on a regular basis, taking her on picnics, nature walks, and even to see the occasional play. Beau was always included, and the three of them always enjoyed their time together. On one such outing, Jonas led the young widow to a lovely grove of peach trees, where they sat together in the shade, watching Beau at play.
"Um...Melly, I just want you to know that I've come to care for you very deeply, and..." he began.
Melanie listened to his fumbling words with a quickening heartbeat. Her woman's intuition told her exactly what he was about to say, and it both thrilled her and filled her with dread. She knew that it would only be fair to tell Jonas her secret; that in fact, she probably should have told him long ago, yet every time it had crossed her mind, her courage had failed her.
"Did I say something wrong?" Jonas was instantly alarmed.
"No, not at all!" Melanie quickly assured him. "It's simply that...you see, I almost died when Beau was born, and Dr. Meade warned me never to have any more children. He said it would kill me."
"Oh." Jonas was unable to hide his disappointment, and when Melanie saw it, it pierced her soul. "Well..." He looked at the ground, unwilling to meet her eyes, not wanting to see the pain in them. "To be honest, I've always longed for a son to carry on the family name, or a sweet little girl to coddle and spoil." He watched Beau in silence for a few minutes. "Your son is a fine young man, and I've come to love him as my own."
"But can't you see?" Melanie was near tears. "It means I can never have marital relations."
Jonas cleared his throat. "I see." He was silent for a long time, during which Melanie watched him with pleading eyes. At last he heaved a deep sigh. "Well, if that's the way it has to be, then I suppose we can't do anything about it. I still couldn't bear to lose you and Beau. I love you, Melanie Wilkes, and I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Will you marry me?"
She cried with happiness as she clung to him.
They were married a short time later in the same church in which Rhett and Scarlett had wed. All Melanie's friends and relatives came, and a few Yankee soldiers, friends of Jonas', who stood in a group together in the very back of the church, wearing civilian clothing.
After the ceremony, everyone came over to hug and congratulate Melanie. India, Honey, the Tarletons, and the Calverts all wished her well, although all of them, especially India and Honey, were still a bit puzzled over Melanie's choice for a second husband, as she was the last person they ever would have suspected of breaking with tradition.
"I can't believe she went ahead and married that Yankee!" Scarlett hissed to her husband.
"If he makes her happy, who are we to judge?" Rhett replied.
In the meantime, the newlyweds were preparing to leave on the train. Beau accompanied them.
"I've never ridden on a real train before!" he exclaimed.
The three of them climbed aboard the passenger car and found an empty seat. The car itself had rows of wooden planks extending its length. Two rows of seats wide enough to hold several passengers each lined either side, with a window at each end. Beau begged to sit beside the window, and the adults nodded their approval. Melanie sat beside her son, and Jonas sat beside his bride with his arm around her.
"Are we truly going up North?" asked the excited little boy.
"We're going to Massachusetts, to meet my family and friends," Jonas told him.
"So I'm gonna meet some more Yankees?"
Jonas laughed. "That's right!"
As the train's wheels began to move, Melanie felt her heart quicken in anticipation. She'd never before left the South and couldn't help but feel apprehensive about what was in store for herself and her son. Would they be ridiculed and shamed by Jonas' friends and relatives? If so, how would Jonas react?
Beau's steady chatter provided a welcome distraction as the train journeyed on, and Jonas seemed not to have a worry in the world. After riding for several hours, it was time to go to the dining car for dinner. Beau looked around with wide eyes at the rows of tables covered with white tablecloths and glassware, and Melanie laughed, enjoying her young son's wonder at his luxurious surroundings.
"We're gonna eat like rich people!" he exulted.
Melanie's mind turned to her own childhood, the sumptuous dinners, the grand parties, the constant presence of the dark-skinned servants. The opulent lifestyle her son would never know.
"Are you all right, darling?" asked Jonas.
She nodded. "I'm just tired."
That night she got Beau settled in a sleeping compartment, then climbed in herself. A moment later, she felt the mattress sink as Jonas joined her, the warmth of his body pressed against hers, the comfort of his arm around her, holding her tight.