Chapter 21

Mrs. Walker called for a nurse to bring some smelling salts and a nurse quickly brought them. She worked fast to bring Scarlett around. Slowly Scarlett came around. She groaned as she opened her eyes. She looked around as she realized where she was. Mrs. Walker was rushing around trying to help her up and asking a million questions and not giving her a second to answer them. Finally she was back on her feet staring on two almost exact replicas of her little Bonnie. She tried to fight the feeling of Nauseous that was coming over her in waves. Rhett must be the father she thought but no he wouldn't do that to me no matter how angry he was at me. Scarlett thought.

"Mrs. Butler are you ok?

"Yes Mrs. Walker I'm fine now just a bit of shock. You see my husband and I had a little girl but she passed away a couple of years ago and these babies look just like her."

"I'm sure it is just a coincidence."

"Do you know who the parents were?"

"Yes just let me look at their records here." picking up a chart she read. "Ah yes their mother was a Lenora Smith and the father was a Mr. Rhett Butler."

Scarlett stared at the woman as if she had seen a ghost. Tears started to flow down her cheek. This hurt. She had always known that Rhett had never been truly faithful to her even when they were living together but she never expected this. She would just have to get over her shock. Melanie needed a baby. And maybe just maybe two would make them even more happy. She must put her pain behind her and do what she must for Melanie.

"May I hold one?"

"Of course you may"

Scarlett lifted one small baby from their bassinet and cradled the little body. I would love this baby just as much as Melly. She thought as she held her closer to her. Softly she hummed an old lullaby that mammy had sung to her as a child. Yes she would be taking these two little ones home with her. But the question on her mind would she be able to give them up when she got to Atlanta. Yes she would give them to Melanie. She would not be selfish this time. She would be like her mother and think of others first.

"Mrs. Walker when could you have the paperwork drawn up for me to take these two babies to Mrs. And Mr. Wilkes?"

"I have most of it done when we sat down earlier I just have to sign them and have you sign transport papers."

"Good lets get that done. Another question If They can't take both how do I go about adopting one?"

"After they are out of our care you may have your lawyer draw up adoption papers. Of course both you and the Wilkes will need to be going to a judge to have them finalized in either case."

Scarlett and Mrs. Walker went back to her office where she prepared the paperwork for the babies and Scarlett signed the transport papers. Mrs. Walker went to the nursery to have the nurse prepare the babies for departure. Scarlett called out to the driver to go pick Esther up from her aunt's house to help bring the babies home and to shop for baby things that Scarlett hadn't thought about bringing. Mrs. Walker and one of the nurses brought the babies into the office. They were still in their bassinets. Scarlett asked if it was alright for them to wait in the lobby for her carriage to return with her maid to help take the babies home. After Mrs. Walker gave the affirmative she gave Scarlett a cup of tea and left to go do her rounds checking on the children.

Scarlett kept looking anxiously out the small window for her carriage when finally it arrived she saw Esther rush out the door and up the walk. Scarlett quickly opened the door and directed her to take one of the babies while she took the other. With some difficulties they managed to get into the carriage and decided to go get the things they had forgotten to bring with them for the babies. When they arrived to the store Scarlett got out of the carriage after handing the baby she was holding to Esther. She decided to run in and do her shopping after all it would be quicker. She bought a small baby carriage that would fit both babies easily for right at present. She also remembered to by extra diaper material. And a few bottles. She finally finished and took her purchases out to the carriage after fifteen minutes of maneuvering they finally got it loaded. Finally they were on their way home to Aunt Pauline's.

Scarlett was tired. She forgot how tiring it was to have newborns in the house. But Aunt Pauline and Esther helped her as much as possible. It had been two days since she had met with the Bishop. Scarlett was beginning to be her old impatient self that she was trying so hard not to be anymore. She got up that morning with a slight headache from not getting enough sleep. But she was to stubborn to allow a little head ache keeping her from her duties of caring for the children. They had finally learned how to use the bottles and when she went down stairs Aunt Pauline and Esther was sitting in the parlor each with a baby in hand feeding them. Scarlett went to the kitchen and made three cups of tea for them and carried them back to the parlor where the two women were just putting the babies down to sleep. They each took a cup and as Scarlett took a seat a knock on the door was heard. Esther rose and went to the door.

"I have a letter here for a Mrs. Scarlett Butler."

"Thank you sir." Esther said taking the large letter from him. "Mrs. Butler you have a letter." she said handing Scarlett the envelope. Scarlett looked it over and read the address. It was from Uncle Henry. "I believe I will take this upstairs and read it." She told them as she walked out of the room. She ran up the stairs to her room and ripped the letter open. It was quite thick and was definitely more than one page.

Dear Scarlett,

I had no idea that things have become so bad between you and Rhett. He sent these to me days ago and since I have no idea as to when you will be returning home I have sent them to you. Please think hard before you sign these papers. It is a divorce agreement while it is completely fair terms he offers you would be amiss not to think of the results for your children and yourself for that matter. Please do not sign them until after we can speak in person.

Yours cordially,

Henry Hamilton

As she read the last line of the letter she dropped the papers. She knew that someday she would get them but she had no idea it would be so soon. Her legs felt like rubber and would no longer support her shaking body. She fell to her knees her body riddled by muffled sobs. "Oh God I can't lose him" she thought "I love him why didn't I tell him so before he left with Bonnie. Why didn't I treat him nicer. Why was I such a child. He wouldn't have left him if I had been a lady."

She cried for what seemed for hours when she heard a knock on her door. "Just a moment" Scarlett called out as she washed her eyes out at the basin. She opened the door to find Esther standing there with another letter. "A letter from the convent. Ma'am." she said giving it to Scarlett. Scarlett opened the letter right away and sighed in relief. The catholic church had decided that they did not want a share of a plantation that was barely making a profit. They asked for a reasonable amount and Scarlett could telegram Uncle Henry to wire her the money right away at the bank in Savannah. She wrote out the telegram and asked Esther to take it right away for her. Her headache was coming back and she would lie down for a bit.

Scarlett slept very little and her head felt like it was going to explode. She didn't get up for supper which worried her aunt very much. She came up to check on her that night and found her in so much pain that she sent for the doctor immediately. While waiting for the doctor she stumbled upon Scarlett's letter from Uncle Henry. She knew that she should not read it as it was private but she couldn't help herself. In shock she read every word. No she would not think badly of her niece this time. Scarlett may have been many things but no woman deserved to be abandoned and then there was the babies down stairs. They looked just like Rhett and Scarlett's little girl that had died. She didn't need long to figure out their connection to Rhett. Poor Scarlett to have such a shock to her system and then the divorce papers. No wonder her head hurt her so.

The doctor soon came and gave Scarlett some tonic to help with the pain. He gave Pauline some extra just in case that the pain continued. Scarlett fell into a dark dreamless sleep.

When she woke up the next morning her head was still a little foggy but the pain was gone. She stretched and got out of bed. She called Esther who helped her get ready for the day. She needed to go telegram India about the babies and then she had to go to the bank and see if the funds were wired yet and if they were she was heading off to the church. She rushed through breakfast and her aunt only stopped her long enough to make sure her headache was gone. Pauline wanted to discuss Rhett with Scarlett but didn't want to cause a fight between them. They were getting along so well. It was almost like having her sister Ellen back even if it was her niece.

Two hours later Scarlett arrived at the church. She entered it and said a quick prayer of thanks. She found Father Finnegan and asked him if the Bishop was there still. After learning that he was in fact still there she went to the offices. An hour later she had the deed to Tara in her hands and was ready to leave for Atlanta the next Saturday. She should have been happy but the letter was still running through her mind. "Well I'll just have to think this over and I'll talk to Uncle Henry when I get back. Maybe if I can just see Rhett again maybe I could figure out how to fix this." Scarlett was lost in thought as she arrived back at her aunt's. She announced that she would be leaving that Saturday. Hopefully Melanie would have the nursery ready by then she had sent another telegram to India before arriving back there.

The rest of the week went by fast while they packed and bought things for traveling with two babies and themselves. She was taking so much more back with her then she had brought.

Finally they found themselves all loaded on the train to Atlanta. Scarlett settled down to sleep for a while before the babies woke up. It was going to be a very long trip.