Chapter Seven: A New Beginning

Never in her life had Scarlett Butler been an early riser. It was something that had caused both her mother and Mammy many long faces. Even years ago, when Tara had been struggling and Scarlett had worked to keep everyone fed, never had she got up early. For Scarlett, the night time had always held more excitement, and the morning rarely had. So, she was shocked when she awoke the next morning as the sun was barely beginning to peek into her room through the thick fabric curtains on the window. She was even more surprised when she saw that Rhett, who had turned over and away from her at some point after their time together, was still in bed and fast asleep.

Scarlett moved carefully as she got out of the bed. She glanced at Rhett frequently as she moved around the room. He remained fast asleep. She pulled a wrapper around herself and went to wake the children and get them ready for the day. The funeral would be later that afternoon after Mrs. Butler's friends had a moment to come view her at rest in the main room. Wade and Ella woke easily, and Ella seemed to be better than she had been the day prior. When the children were downstairs eating their morning meal, Scarlett returned to her room to change, and was unsurprised when she noticed the bed was empty.

Rhett was nowhere to be seen for the remainder of the morning, and Scarlett has just enough pride left that she didn't dare ask the household staff. If anyone thought it strange that he was not in attendance at his mother's viewing, they didn't say it aloud.

When the afternoon came, the house moved to the cemetery. Rhett arrived just in time to walk over with Scarlett and the children. He was silent as he walked beside her. Wade walked on the other side of his mother and Ella reached out to grab Rhett's hand as they moved. Scarlett hazarded a glance in Rhett's direction, curious to see if she could read his thoughts from the expression on his face.

He looked straight ahead as they walked, not acknowledging anyone. At the funeral his face was motionless and expressionless. He placed a bouquet of flowers on his mother's coffin as they lowered her down but then moved into an upright position once again. Despite the solemn occasion, the people of Charleston seemed more interested in meeting Scarlett than she had expected. In the midst if the throng of people who were asking her questions and greeting Wade and Ella, Rhett disappeared.

When she finally got her way free of them, she ushered the children home and asked the house staff to begin packing their luggage. She found Rhett sitting alone in his study. She entered quietly, focused on him and he looked up at her, but not unkindly.

"Scarlett…"

"Rhett…" they both began at once. She smiled as she sat down across from him. "You first."

"I drank more than I intended last night and was quite exhausted." He began, sounding very careful as he chose his words. Scarlett could feel what he was going to say next, and braced herself for the rejection. "I don't remember much from last night, but I do know that I came to our room and apparently fell asleep in our bed at some point. I apologize for that."

Scarlett blinked once, and then once more as she processed his words. He fell asleep? That was what he wished to comment on? Did he truly not remember what had occured? Or did he simply want to forget it happened?

In the near year since he'd left, Scarlett had imagined their reunion hundreds if times and happening in equally as many ways. Even on the days she was absolutely furious with him, she'd still assumed that one day he would come back to her. The night before had been fast and urgent, two people coming together out of sheer need. It had been unlike anything she'd experienced, coming only close to their last night they had spent together. It seemed that they were only destined to share that type of passion when they were both completely distant or furious with each other.

Scarlett opened her mouth to speak and then closed it again, choosing to remain silent as she wrestled with her thoughts. Rhett didn't choose the same action.

"I heard the servants bustling around and readying your things. Thank you for at least staying to see my mother properly buried. You'll be returning today then?"

"Yes. As soon as everything can be arranged."

Rhett's eyes squinted, the tanned skin at the corners creasing slightly. He had expected more of a fight from her, he'd prepared for it. When he invited her to come to Charleston he had just known that she wouldn't leave without him making her. He vaguely recognized a feeling of disappointment but then suppressed it, unwilling to delve deeper into his thoughts on the subject.

"Where will you be going? Atlanta?"

"No, I'm done with Atlanta, or at least as much as I can be for the time being." She was returning to Tara and from there, she wasn't sure. It was operating better than it had been and it was easily going to be profitable this year. She no longer felt the need to stay and watch over everything.

With a bit of guidance, Will had really stepped into the running of Tara. He still didn't do things exactly as she wished them to be, but she found that it didn't concern her as much as it had at one time. As long as Tara wasn't running into the ground and was turning a profit, she felt she could step away from it.

Rhett didn't press her further. He assumed she would go to Tara. That place had the uncommon ability of bringing out her strength. He told himself that it didn't matter where she went, if only he thought she would agree to a divorce, they need never see each other again. The likelihood of that was slim, and for now the mere fact of being married hadn't stopped him from doing as he wished. It was a fight he wouldn't concern himself with now.

September passed into October and Scarlett sat in her room at Tara, completely bored with her life. The year since Melly's death had passed and Scarlett had abandoned the mourning clothes that she'd worn since Bonnie's accident. She supposed she should still be in mourning for Rhett's mother, but she was so dreadfully tired of black and had only met her that once. Mammy had scoffed at her, but didn't scold, for which she was thankful.

Rhett had wrote a letter to each of the children once in the last month, but nothing to her. His letters to Wade and Ella were deliberately vague about where he was, saying that he was traveling and would be by to see them in the next months. Their house in Atlanta on Peachtree Street was sold days before. Scarlett had expected to be sadder about it, but she found herself relieved.

Half of the money from the sale was wired to Rhett's attorney, who had somehow secured his signature despite Scarlett having no idea where to locate him. Scarlett hadn't wanted any of it, but Uncle Henry had insisted. Now, she was seeking another house and she found herself evaluating what she really wanted. When Rhett had given her carte blanche on their home, she wanted everything.

With the war so fresh in her mind, Scarlett wanted all the splendor she'd had before the war, and more. Rhett had taken her to opulent hotels in New Orleans, and she'd experienced finer things than she'd ever known existed, so when it came to building their home, she wanted all of it. He'd mocked her taste, but had continued to buy her whatever she wanted, and Scarlett had never been able to turn down having free reign. Now, when she considered her requirements for a home, she could see how much she'd changed. She still wanted nice things, but the gaudy fabrics and expensive details didn't give her the same pleasure as they once had. When the deal closed on the Peachtree Street house, Suellen had asked if she was going to go see the place one last time, and it surprised Scarlett that she had no desire to do so.

The servants bustled around her room, packing the last of her trunks as she was once again leaving Tara. While Uncle Henry wasn't happy about it, he'd supported her in choosing to move. After speaking with a few other merchants in Atlanta and other lawyers that Uncle Henry knew, she was taking a trip to Newnan to see if there was any houses or property that interested her. Uncle Henry was unable to come, so it was just her on this excursion, and she found herself content with the idea. Ella was staying with Suellen at Tara, and Wade was staying with his Uncle and Cousin in Atlanta. The sale of the Peachtree Street house was just what she had needed to spur Scarlett into action, and just maybe give her a new beginning.


A/N: This wasn't what I had planned for Chapter Seven, but as I wrote, erased, and re-wrote, I knew Scarlett needed to move. Tara is no longer struggling, and I can't imagine that living with Suellen for the last year has been sunshine and rainbows. I think it has brought the Sister's closer, but I think Scarlett isn't the type of person to share a house that long. I feel like Atlanta is in her past as well. Newnan is about 7ish hours away (by horse/carriage) from Atlanta and Tara, so it's close enough to return home for an emergency, but far enough away that maybe not as many people know her. Thanks for all of the reviews after my last posting: Romebeachgirl1981, Aunt Flora, gabyhyatt, Lov, and Guests!