AUTHOR'S NOTE: Sorry for being late again, but I had a writer's block. Seriously, I got totally derailed about how to go about this story. But, anyway, back on track, and working on the next chapter right now. And, also I would really like to know if you have any ideas about this story, because of late, I have had very few reviews per chapter, and I was wondering what has gone so wrong with the story. So, ideas, comments anything- just post in the reviews. Thanks :)
Wade nervously rapped the edge of his desk, his attention far from the papers he was trying to read. His mind kept shifting back to Scarlett's letter. The Fenians, the Irish revolt- Mother and Cat may be in danger, if not today then anytime soon. But his immediate pressing concern was that Rhett knew. He wondered what to expect, as he waited for Rhett to come, to sign some papers for Broughton.
Almost as if answering his thoughts, there was a brisk knock on the door. Wade cleared his throat and asked the caller to come in. When Rhett walked in, his face was like a clean slate, from which Wade couldn't read anything.
"Good morning" Wade spoke, a little unsure.
"Good Morning, Wade." Rhett said, sounding a tad tired. "Did you draw up the papers?"
"Uh.. ye-yes." Wade handed him a sheaf of papers. "You have to put a sign at the bottom of each page."
Wade twiddled with his own pen as Rhett casually signed the papers. Wade could clearly feel the resentment, but he was not particularly sure why it was bothering him. For one thing, it would probably put a stop to Rhett's interference in his life, which was what he had wanted from the start. Yet, he felt a little shifty. Nevertheless, he was not going to start a conversation where there was none. As Rhett got to the bottom of the pile, Wade spoke up, "I... won't be able to visit Broughton next three weeks or so. But I will go later this week to give the instructions and everything to the staff... Besides, it is almost end of May, so there isn't much to do about at the plantation, except for regular watering and... " He trailed off, realizing he had run out of excuses to talk.
But Rhett did not respond, and was going over the last document, unperturbed. Wade thought he had not listened. He cleared his throat again, and started to speak. "Mr. Butler, I was saying..."
"I heard what you said." Rhett's voice was domineering. "Don't try to start conversations, Wade. You are mighty lousy at it."
Wade felt a tingling sensation in his cheek, and hoped he was not blushing.
Rhett signed the last document and set it down. Wade wondered if he was going to make any comment, as he always did. However, Rhett stood up, and gave him a curt nod, and made towards the door.
Wade sighed and thought sourly if this was their first encounter after the revelation, how awkward things would get in time.
But with his handle on the door, Rhett paused for a moment, then turned back.
"Don't go so hard on yourself, boy." Rhett's voice was not rough, but Wade still felt like he was being chided.
"I.. I am not sure what you are talking about." Even so, he was unable to make eye contact with Rhett.
"You understand very well what I am talking about!" Rhett's voice was rising, and he checked himself. "I just want to say that I don't blame you. It is in your nature to do what you are told, and that is exactly what you did."
Wade did not know if the words were intended that way or not, but they sounded like dimes thrown at a beggar- alms covered in pity. Suddenly, a hot anger shot through Wade.
"Well, what I do or I don't is my personal matter and none of your business."
Rhett smiled, that callous, self-assured smile that Wade wanted to knock out of his face.
"Of course, of course. In O'Hara family it never occurs to anyone that certain things they guard so jealously as their personal matter might be of some concern to others too."
Wade stood up. "Please don't start with that, Mr. Butler. I am sure I could point a few personal businesses you have carried out, which might have concerned others. Or shaken would be a better word."
Rhett stood straight, but it was inevitable that it would come to this, and they could no longer keep running around in loops around the invisible topic of their confrontation.
"Since when did you know?" Rhett's voice was demanding. But Wade was not giving in, today he was someone else.
"Why does that concern you?"
"Since when did you know?" Rhett's voice was getting stronger.
Wade's nostrils flared, but he did not answer. He was not going to tell him- he had sworn to his mother. It didn't matter how much he knew, he was not going to enlighten him further. Besides, it was strangely satisfying to see, for once, Rhett Butler was begging someone to know something, though his attitude was still that arrogant. To see him come off the high horse. To see him lose his temper, and tear off that mask of composure.
"What do you hold against me, Wade? Tell me seriously." Rhett's tone was negotiating.
"I think that is quite a foolish question to ask, for someone like you."
"I know it is natural for you to think the way you do, Wade. But…there are two sides of a coin."
"Look, Mr. Butler, you are wasting you time and mine, asking all this. I am not going to feed you any more information of Mother."
They stared at each other for a few moments. Then Rhett shook his head, dejectedly.
"All I want is a chance to put things back the way they were."
The corners of Wade's mouth curled up in a vicious smile. "As far as I can remember, Mr. Butler, you were never the one to patiently pick up broken fragments and glue them together. That is what you said, didn't you?" Wade's eyes twinkled menacingly- the table had turned, it was his turn to be mean.
Rhett seemed transported back to the night he had uttered these words. "You..."
"How can the children forget the very words which wrung the life out of their mother, Mr. Butler? The very words that ripped their lives apart?"
Rhett just looked on, without saying anything.
"What amazes me, Mr. Butler, is that you are not sorry. At least, you are not sorry that it had wrecked our lives. You are just sorry that, for once, you cannot pounce on something you want right away. But, you know something, Mr. Butler? The only one you should feel sorry about is you."
"Oh, that I do, Wade. That I do." Rhett's said, ruefully.
"Well, all the better for you. God knows, you have caused misery to many people. Any man worth his salt would be drowned in self-pity, if he were you. But you won't, Mr. Butler, you won't. People who cannot see beyond the distinct perimeter of their own interest, very seldom do."
Rhett's face broke into a sad smile. "Yes, you are quite right, Wade. I am one of those blackguards, who only seek to fulfill their own needs. The only problem is, that this blackguard did a very hateful sin. This blackguard fell in love. Love in all colors of jealousy, spite, dishonor... you name it. Only this blackguard has lost so much, he no longer belongs anywhere. He is like the reformed criminal who jumps at the slightest opportunity to prove that he is a changed man- only no one believes him."
Rhett and Wade's gaze locked together. Rhett's glance was full of remorse; Wade's was seething with bitter satisfaction of revenge.
Wade finally spoke through his gritted teeth. "You are a closed chapter of our lives, Mr. Butler. Water under the bridge. I do not care enough to hold anything against you. As my mother might have mentioned, it is quite unnecessary for you to come and reopen another painful era in our lives. If that is all, then I would rather you left."
When Rhett left the room, Wade slumped back in his chair, and hid his face in his hands. He had never felt so shamed at his behavior, yet somehow he had also never felt so liberated before.