Chapter 7

Nassau, Bahamas
After several days on the ship the sea became calm, they became low on supplies and headed back into the port at Nassau. The city had suffered minor damage, but the Victoria Hotel had flooded, lost part of its roof and had most of its staff abandon their positions to secure their own homes. They had word from James that their cottage on the small island had been leveled. Relieved that they had made the right decision in taking the boat out to anchor during the storm, Rhett and Scarlett gave each other a knowing look. As they docked in the harbor Rhett gave James a list of necessities they would need and sent him on his way. Scarlett, always worried about too much sun, had on a giant hat and lightweight summer dress as she sat out on the deck. The baby in her arms was swaddled in a light muslin blanket, and Wade played with a toy sailboat at her feet. Rhett reappeared after going over plans with his men, shirtless with trousers on, his tan, hard body absorbing the sun. His hair was pushed back but for one piece that hung over his eyes, and as he climbed out of the crew's quarters he looked very much like a pirate. He ruffled Wade's hair as he walked over to them and gave Scarlett a quick peck on the cheek before taking the baby out of her arms and standing in front of her rocked the child in his arms. He had never felt more content in his life.
"My love, the storm has left much destruction to the island and there is a food shortage in town. I think its time we cut our plans a bit short and head for home".
"Home? But where is home, Rhett? Can we go to Tara?", she asked excitedly.
"I did promise I would take you back there, didn't I? " he chuckled. "Well, we need to decide where we want to live and what we're going to do. I've given it a lot of thought and I don't want to go back to Atlanta".
As she started to protest, he cut her off sharply, "Atlanta will never accept us. The old cats will never get over me running away with the widow Hamilton and I was never one of their favorite people to begin with. Toss in the fact that I didn't serve in their precious war will only further remove us from polite society. Now, while I don't care what they think of you or I, I don't want our children judged on our previous actions. I've made enough money to buy our way back into polite society, but I don't think Atlanta would ever accept us. Charleston is even more rigid than Atlanta, so I'm assuming that is not a possibility either. Savannah, perhaps? You being a Robillard would hold some position for us." He paused for a moment as if stuck thinking about Charleston and continued. "The South is a wreck right now Scarlett. Although the war has been over for several weeks, there is something going on called 'Reconstruction', and our southland is filled with Yankee Carpetbaggers trying to turn a vote or a dime where and when they can. I am going to try and get word on the status of Tara and its occupants. It's hard to send wires from the island Scarlett, but I am going to try to send some out this afternoon. I'm going to be honest with you; I've heard many of the plantations around Jonesboro suffered much damage. I am willing to put as much money as you need into restoring Tara to her former glory. I'd like to send James out there once we get back in the States and have him check on it and see what needs to be done. Should it still be standing I can put him to work at getting it restored. Would that work for you, my pet"?
"Oh Rhett, you really are too good to me", she exclaimed.
"There is one thing I want to tell you though, I do not intend on us living at Tara. I don't want to live on a farm."
Scarlett was quiet for a minute and felt slightly wounded. Not want to live at Tara? Maybe after he saw how beautiful the land was he'd change his mind. How could he think he was too good for Tara?
Seeing the hurt on his wife's face he spoke softly to her, "What I was thinking was that we would spend our summers at Tara. The children could get a chance to run around, ride horses, climb trees and go fishing. If you want to give your cotton crops another go you may do that as well. We will keep the house fully staffed and operational, but it won't be our fulltime residence. It will be something to leave to Wade and a place for us to go and unwind".
He was right she thought, and with his money- their money, they could have a grand house in any city. Or maybe they would travel? Rhett had always spoken to her about London and Paris and she'd like to see them one day too.

Augusta, Georgia
When they finally arrived in Augusta they were met with thousands of other refugees, a lodging and food shortage and a panic in town with the nearness of Sherman. With fistfuls of cash, Rhett was able to find them a hotel room and told the man at the desk that they were siblings headed for Charleston and would need a large suite. Although he signed them in under a ficticious name Rhett was met with many blank stares as it wasn't common to see a healthy, adult male with all his limbs that wasn't in uniform- on either side.
The three of them were exhausted and glad to have clean rooms and a tub. "Our biggest and most luxurious suite", the bellboy had said. Scarlett bathed Wade as soon as they got upstairs and dressed him in his nightclothes. It was early evening and they didn't have much in the way of clothes, but the room did come with plush robes. Rhett bathed and put one on. Looking at her in a funny way he said, "it may not be proper, but neither have the past few days and I have been in the same clothes for two nights straight. I'm sending my clothes down to get cleaned. If you could lose your modesty for a minute we could get yours cleaned as well". She couldn't stop looking at his dark, muscular legs as he sat in the chair on the other side of the room, and he even caught her a few times, but their eyes never met as she would quickly look away.
Scarlett had a hot bath drawn for herself, shut and locked the door and soaked her tired body. "Oh, how will tonight be?" she wondered. A million thoughts went through her head. He had asked her to be his mistress once, but was in jest? Could he have feelings for her? As much as Rhett could infuriate her he had been a complete gentleman the past few days and as she thought of his warm arms around her in the wagon last night she felt her heart flutter. "Could he be in love with me?" she wondered. "Or does he just feel sorry for me? " She closed her eyes and basked in the warmth of the water. "Could I be in love with him?" She entertained the thought for a minute and dismissed it as every inch of her body ached.
When she got out she quickly dried off and put on her other dress Rhett had tossed into the wagon the night they fled from Atlanta. She hurriedly got dressed as she had left Wade in Rhett's care and didn't want to burden him any further. When she stepped into the living area of their rooms she saw that Rhett decided it best to have room service delivered so they could relax. She spread out a blanket on the wood floor of the room and told Wade they were having a picnic. Rhett had paid top dollar for two bottles of wine and they ate tea sandwiches and cookies for dinner. They laughed and told silly stories through dinner. Rhett told Wade about a dolphin he saw in Charleston and he animals he had as a child growing up there. Wade hung onto his every word. Rhett refilled her wine glass twice and his own as well. Scarlett could feel her face getting flush and her head was already spinning from the wine. Rhett picked up Wade and sitting him on his lap began to tell him a story about a pirate. Wade sat wide-eyed on Rhett's lap absorbing his every word. He leaned back comfortably against him and after a while closed his eyes.
"Rhett, this boy is going to get too used to this. You're very good to him. You know I do appreciate it, don't you? He's never had a father around". She stumbled on her last sentence and he cocked his head and looked at her.
"Why Scarlett, are you insinuating something, my dear?", he mocked.
"No, why, I was just… You know what I mean. You've been very good to him and I know you can't stay, and we're going to, I mean, he's going to miss you and, and …." She trailed off and gently picked up the sleeping boy. She carried him into a small study with a large couch that housekeeping had set up as a little bed for Wade, laid him down and quietly shut the door.
She came back into the main room after a few minutes and grabbed her wine glass noticing Rhett had refilled it and his as well. The sun had set by now and Rhett lit the two lanterns on the tables and walked over to the window and looked down. The streets were filled and people were scurrying around everywhere. The room had a warm glow to it and she felt very cozy there with him.
Then he turned and faced her. His large, hulking body seemed huge all of a sudden and his eyes had a black menacing look that she almost shrunk away from him at first before composing herself, squaring her shoulders and looking at him head on.
"Well, I guess the situation with Mrs. Wilkes makes life easy for you now? There is no one standing in your way anymore. The way I see it, this is all working out in your favor isn't it? You can move right in and go from playing the grieving friend to the new wife. I guess the only real variable is IF Mr. Wilkes makes it home alive himself", Rhett hissed.
"Rhett, how dare you!", Scarlett's shrill voice ripped though the room. "What is wrong with you that you could even insinuate something so soon after-".
He quickly cut her off, "Yes, my dear. I apologize. She did just pass away. Maybe it would be better if I brought up how you're going to sink your teeth into him in a few months time, would that be more appropriate?", he looked at her through slanted, unfriendly eyes.
"How can you even say this, after the time I've spent with you, the things we've been through, the-the way you held me last night…. I've even let my son get close to you", she pleaded.
"Yes, my dear your son. Why this probably the most time you've ever spent with the poor child. And that's only because you've no servants and are forced to"- a sharp crack broke his rambling as Scarlett's open hand smacked him across the face and finally silenced him. He grabbed her hand and pushed her backwards against the wall. His hot breath was on her face and he smelled of tobacco, horses and whiskey. Familiar smells, comforting smells. His lips were on hers before she could realize what was happening. His kiss was deep and he pushed his whole body into her. If only he would stop, if only he would never stop. Scarlett melted in his arms and found herself passionately kissing him back. As his lips traveled from her mouth down her neck she felt herself go weak in the knees. She grabbed his head and brought him to her lips again as their tongues dueled for power over each other. He pulled away from her and looked into her eyes, "Tell me you love me Scarlett. Could you love me? For I love you. Despite what I said on the porch that night, I love you Scarlett. With all of my heart I love you". He kissed her again gently this time.
Her head was spinning a million miles an hour and she thought for a minute she misunderstood him. Did he just admit that he loved her? Why it all made sense now. The visits to Aunt Pitty's, staying close to Atlanta when his ships were nowhere nearby, the small tokens, the jibes at Ashley, bondng with Wade, and picking up the pieces of her broken life. Her heart was beating so fast she felt that she could feel it in her ears. For once in her life she needed to be honest with him. She was willing to put her guard down as he had. She knew she had nothing to lose.
"I do love you Rhett. I love you so much I cannot see living life without you. You make me feel so safe and warm. I do love you", she trailed.
He backed away and a coldness fell between their bodies. Scarlett wanted him to wrap his arms around her again and she reached out for him. He slowly dropped to one knee.
"Marry me Scarlett. I love you and don't want to live life without you. " he drawled.
She smiled as she looked down at him, nodded yes and kissed his forehead gently.