Scarlett sat on her balcony, thinking of Rhett and his children... and Silvia Romero.
Why had he never told her about his children? It was not unusual for men to have sired children outside the bonds of wedlock, and Scarlett had always known Rhett was anything but a saint. She had trouble admitting, even to herself, that it did bother her. Oh, the poor children that had drowned caused only an ache in her heart for her husband. But little Joseph Romero. Miss Eleanor had said he was eight years old. That meant he had been born in '64. The year Rhett had left her on the road to Tara. At that time, she was certain he was in love with her. However, if he fathered a child by that…that… woman then how could he have loved Scarlett? She rubbed her temples. Her jealousy was unfounded. Certainly, Rhett had had no reason to suspect they might, one day, end up together. 'How would I react if Joseph were to come stay with Rhett and I?' she asked herself. 'Would I be able to deal with Ms. Romero in my life forever?' Her eyebrow rose. She had been a bit hasty in judging Silvia, but something about the woman irked Scarlett to no end. She sighed and leaned back in her chair.
It was a beautiful day in Charleston. The sun was shining like a massive jewel in the clear blue sky. The sea was sparkling blue and green, the waves uninterrupted except for the occasional school of dolphins breaking surface. The scent of jasmine and magnolias wafted in from the gardens, mixed with honeysuckle and lilac. Scarlett smiled. A day like this could make one forget all unpleasantries in their life.
She heard light footsteps approaching and was pleasantly surprised to see Ella's auburn curls and ivory face peep up at her. "Hello, Mama." She greeted, seating herself on a wicker bench near Scarlett.
"Hello, Ella. What have you and your brother been up to?" Scarlett replied, her sharp eyes taking note of the torn, cream colored lace, green stain, and mud on Ella's pale blue frock.
Ella looked at her hands. "Wade and I were talking. . . in the garden. I wondered….well, Wade and I wondered if perhaps we could take a short vacation?"
Scarlett raised a black brow quizzically. "We are on vacation, Darling."
Her young daughter scrunched up her lips, as she did when contemplating something of vast importance in a six year olds world. "Well, yes, we are. But you see… Charleston is an awful place! So very busy and bustling. Why Mammy took us for a walk the other day and all there is here is roads, dust, and too many people! It is different from the hills of Tara."
Scarlett was surprised. She was not aware that her children were so fond of her childhood home. "You like Tara then?"
The child nodded eagerly. "Oh, yes, Mama, we love Tara! Aunt Sue is not the nicest but there is always something we can do to escape her. Wade says we're country folk, but I don't much care for the sound of that."
"Hmm…. Alright, Ella, as soon as Uncle Rhett returns, we'll see about taking a vacation to some place more open."
The child grinned, revealing two perfect dimples, so like her mothers. "Thank you, Mama!" her tiny arms clung to Scarlett's neck and she kissed her cheek. "I knew you'd want to go as well. Wade said you'd be angry we don't like Charleston, but I told him he was wrong!" She grinned one last time and scampered off; presumably to inform her brother of his err in judgment.
Scarlett watched her ginger haired daughter joyful retreat and chided herself. 'It's so easy to please her, and yet I have never even cared. No wonder Rhett did not tell me of his children- I was a rotten mother to my own, he was probably afraid I would be worse to his.'
She gazed out at the sea, noting the sailboats dotting the blue water with pinpricks of white.
Tessa saw her mistress looking so peaceful on the balcony.
She held an envelope in her hands, an envelope that for some reason gave her a bad feeling inside. She considered throwing it into the fireplace, but dismissed the notion. Whether the news was horrible, as Tessa was sure, or good, Miss Scarlett would find out eventually. The sooner she found out, the sooner she could heal.
The young servant ventured onto the veranda. "Miss Scarlett, this came for you today." She said, holding out the tan paper.
Scarlett reached for the envelope. "Thank you, Tessa." She replied, somewhat hoarsely. "Please see that I am not disturbed."
"Of course miss."
Scarlett traced the letters of her last name. It was Uncle Henry's handwriting. Rhett's divorce papers had come, what this envelope contained had the ability to change her life forever. She took a deep breath. 'One, two three….." The paper was torn open and a note fluttered into Scarlett's lap.
'Scarlett,
I need not tell you how a divorce would affect your family- my family. Do everything you can to change Rhett's mind and I will do what I can from my end. Whatever the case do not sign these papers until you hear from me again.
If, for some reason, you do not succeed in changing his mind, I would advise you not to accept his offered settlement. It would be far easier to paint you as the victim if you do not.
My regards to the children----
Henry Hamilton, ESQ'
'That meddling old man!' Scarlett thought fondly. If anyone could help her with this, it was Uncle Henry. She tossed the note to the side and scanned the legal documents.
Rhett had made a generous offer. She would be permitted to keep the Peachtree Street house, with all bills for its maintenance to be forwarded to him, as well as ½ his net worth when they married. She laughed bitterly. The last couple of years Rhett's wealth had more than tripled, she knew that for certain. Nevertheless, it was a most generous offer, especially when he did not have to give her a dime. Her greedy little heart was what it was and she could not stop it from racing at the thought of having all of that money to herself. But then another thought occurred to her. If Rhett was willing to give her so much, he must want rid of her very badly. Her chest constricted. She'd do what she could to stop this, but her confidence was more than a little shaken in her ability to do so.
She leaned her head back and closed her emerald eyes as she felt liquid heat pricking at the corners. Ella and Wade wished for a holiday in the country- Rhett was at Dunmore. She impatiently flicked her eyes and nodded her head. She would take them to Dunmore. Then, if Rhett still decided he did not want her, he would be the one to tell the children. Mammy would come with her; she needed her old caregivers strength and support now more than anything else- except Rhett's love.