Thank you's are in order for my awesome chapter 20 reviewers: ScarlettlovesRhett, CherryBlair, Ghostwriterextraordinaire, Davismomsva, and of course imgonewiththewind! You all were so thoughtful to leave your thoughts and I appreciate them! And Davismomsva, I enjoyed reading all your different scenarios...that made me smile as I felt the same way as you about everything you wrote but I already had my plan in mind so hopefully you'll like what I've done!
And to imgonewiththewind: As always, you've made me feel like a rock star and made my day while, in the end, pushing me to work very hard and very fast to get this update out 2 days earlier than planned! I'm glad you could see the humor in what I was trying to convey and to somewhat paraphrase Rhett, I guess it was your persuasively charming reviews (hee! hee!) that tempted me into getting this done so fast, so I'm dedicating this chapter to you!...LOL! :D
And as always, I really and truly appreciate any and all reviews and it only takes a minute if you have the time to spare! Reading what all of you have to say about this story really gets me motivated to keep the updates coming in on a timely, weekly basis too! :)
And last but not least, there are some 'adultish' moments in this chapter but nothing too overly descriptive and smutty. I just wanted to let you know beforehand, though!
Disclaimer: I don't own the rights to any of these characters! I just like to write about them for fun and, sadly, not profit! :)
Everything around him was all a blur while time seemed to be at a standstill. Upon realizing Scarlett was in extreme distress, Rhett's concerned eyes instinctively honed in on her abdomen then further lowered below her waist after noticing bright red blood stained across the ivory-colored muslin chemise she wore; the glaring streaks of red marring the perfection of Scarlett's creamy white legs. Immediately, Rhett knew she most likely was suffering the beginnings of another miscarriage. "Damn it!...Not again!…Not this baby!" He cried out in a panic as his hands ran wildly through his hair, his mind all in a jumble, all thoughts of anger towards Scarlett from only a few moments ago instantly gone and now replaced with the intense, urgent need to get her to safety, hoping beyond all hope the security and strength she always seemed to gain from Tara would somehow end their current nightmare and everything would be alright in the end once they got there.
Feeling his adrenaline suddenly kick in and without a further word, Rhett immediately picked up Scarlett, carrying her in his strong arms towards their nearby blanket on the ground, his heavy breath tickling her ear. Looking all around, he spotted her delicate French cambric drawers on top of the pile of discarded clothing from their earlier lovemaking and, after gently settling her down on the soft blanket, he tightly rolled up the undergarment, gently placing it between her legs in order to absorb the slow trickling of blood. Looking deep into Scarlett's frightened eyes with his arms firmly wrapped around her waist, Rhett kept his emotions tightly controlled in his attempt to remain strong for both their sakes. "Listen to me, Scarlett! We are not going to lose this baby!...Good God, we can't!...I won't let it happen to us again!...Not this soon after everything we've been through!" He adamantly admitted, haphazardly throwing on his clothes before carrying her off towards the mare.
After what seemed to be an eternity, they finally arrived at Tara, the horse frothing at the mouth, biting hard on the bit as a result of Rhett's forcing it to gallop at an extreme pace the entire way there. Stopping directly in front of the verandah, Mammy was the first to hear the commotion their sudden arrival caused and came rushing out the front door just as Rhett raced towards her and the shelter of the house, carrying Scarlett in his arms. "Mammy, get Doctor Fontaine over here now!" He forcefully commanded, his face rigid, hard, utterly determined in his desperation to whisk his wife off to the safe environs of their bedroom upstairs, the current task at hand the only thought in his otherwise numb mind.
Hearing the loud ruckus downstairs, Suellen raced out of her bedroom with her infant daughter cradled in her arms in order to see what was going on and watched as Rhett hurriedly raced past carrying Scarlett clad in only her thin chemise undergarment. "Rhett, what happened?...Where are all of Scarlett's clothes?" She asked with a bewildered expression as he unconsciously ignored her. Watching as he kicked in the bedroom door in order to allow his entrance, a feeling of dread immediately came over her. Quickly settling the baby into Prissy's arms, Suellen followed Rhett inside the bedroom, watching as he gently rested her hysterical, crying sister on the bed then gasped out loud after having noticed the blood soaked cloth between Scarlett's legs. "Let me help you!" Suellen spoke out, immediately meeting Rhett's panicked eyes with her own. "I'll go and get some water for the wash basin. Has Doctor Fontaine been called for?" She gently asked, genuine concern for Scarlett's well-being in her soft spoken voice.
"Yes, I told Mammy to get him here right away…Dear God!...We can't lose this baby, Suellen!...Not after Bonnie and the miscarriage! Not again!" Rhett cried out as he sat on the bed tenderly cradling Scarlett as she sobbed into his shoulder. Watching as they grieved together amidst the uncertainty of the situation, Suellen was instantly struck with the realization as to how much her sister and Rhett truly and deeply loved one another, a love she never allowed her own hardened heart to fully open up to when it came to Will. Witnessing Scarlett's vulnerability, her desperation, her deep primal need to be comforted and loved in her current moment of distress, Suellen finally understood how her sister was not the unfeeling, unloving person she had always thought her to be after all. "I'll be right back with that water, then I'll get Scarlett cleaned up a bit before the doctor arrives." Suellen announced before quickly rushing out of the room in her eagerness to help.
Less than an hour later, Pork arrived in the open carriage with Dr. Fontaine. Though now partly retired, the elderly, white-haired man in his mid-80's was the only country doctor in private practice for miles around, still sprightly and his mind sharp as a tack despite the persistent rheumatism that had pestered his body for years. Entering the bedroom after slowly, painstakingly climbing the staircase on his way upstairs, the doctor's alert eyes immediately narrowed in on Scarlett as she lay resting quietly on the bed, her blanket-covered knees drawn up and Rhett holding her hand as he sat next to her. "Doctor Fontaine, I presume?" Rhett asked after turning his attention away from Scarlett, his deep voice pained with agony as it cracked. "Yes, and you must be Scarlett's husband, the infamous Captain Butler I've heard so much of through the years." Dr. Fontaine politely greeted in response before facing Scarlett and immediately noticed the panicked look in her red, teary eyes. Gently speaking out in a calm, soothing tone, he spoke, "Suellen told me you're newly pregnant and are now bleeding quite a lot. Can you describe for me exactly what happened to you, dear?"
Trying to hold back her emotions, Scarlett slowly explained the story how her and Rhett were enjoying a picnic lunch together when she spotted their horse quite a long distance away and immediately sprinted off as fast as she could in pursuit of it. When describing how she felt the first trickle of blood course down her legs shortly afterwards, tears instantly fell from Scarlett's sad eyes before she lost all control, her persistent sobbing cutting deep through Rhett's already terribly wounded heart. "Captain Butler, if I may, I'm kindly requesting for you to now wait outside for a short while. I'll need to do a thorough examination of your wife in order to accurately assess the situation," the doctor remarked as he opened a black leather satchel containing his medical implements. Quickly getting up off the bed, Rhett leaned over to wipe away Scarlett's tears before kissing her on the forehead. Squeezing her hand gently, he spoke to her as if they were all alone in the room, "I'll be right outside the door, my darling!...No matter what the outcome, I want you to know how much I love you and as long as we're together, everything will always be fine!" Turning away to leave, Rhett hid the true state of his nervousness behind a tightly controlled smile, giving Scarlett one last lingering look before firmly closing the door behind him as he left the room.
Slumped down on the wide oak plank floor of the upstairs hallway, his back against the wall next to the bedroom door, Rhett sank his head to his knees as a sudden, overwhelming feeling of unbearable guilt overcame him just like the first time Scarlett miscarried. Hearing footsteps approach, Rhett's teary eyes looked up to meet Suellen's after she noticed him sitting there all alone. Earlier, after gently cleansing Scarlett's blood-stained legs, Suellen had remained by her sister's side, compassionately having decided to reminisce over the fun times they had together with Careen in their early childhood in order to keep Scarlett's mind and fears off of the current situation. After leaving for a short time to nurse her baby before the doctor arrived, Suellen now desired nothing other than to continue offering comfort towards her sister and Rhett in their moment of need, knowing she'd desire the same if she were to be in Scarlett's place instead.
"I assume Doctor Fontaine's examining Scarlett now?" She asked, sinking down on the floor next to Rhett, holding him close as he quietly sobbed in her arms. "I should've been more careful, Suellen!...It's all my fault the mare got away!...Why didn't I realize the rope wasn't tied as tight as it should have been?…And then Scarlett running off the way she did and now, the baby!…" Rhett cried out, the desperation in knowing there was now nothing he could do to help Scarlett clearly evident in his voice.
"Rhett, stop it!" Suellen firmly commanded, instantly attracting his undivided attention. "I know you and my sister have had a horrendous year, what with Bonnie and Melanie Wilkes' death and then Scarlett's miscarriage more than a year ago but sometimes things happen for a reason and if this is God's will, there is nothing you can do other than to be there for my sister and continue loving her like I know how much you do!…One way or the other, everything will somehow work out for the better, you'll see!"
Facing Suellen's gentle eyes with an incredulous look, Rhett blurted out in frustration, "How can you even say that?...Have you lost two children in such a short period of time and then a third as it seems Scarlett and I are now about to do?...And I went through all of that with the one person in this entire world who I love more than anything and almost lost for good too, several times over!...And then to continue go on believing that's just God's way of doing what's best!...How is all of that for the best?" Momentarily taken aback, Suellen calmly took a deep breath, gripping Rhett's hand as she truthfully admitted the basic tenets of the Catholic faith her mother had ingrained in her and that which she still firmly believed, deep in her heart.
"Because Rhett, Mother long ago taught me the only way to fully live life is to always have faith, hope, and love as the basic foundation for it and in having faith, that means accepting how only God knows what's best for us, even though at the time it may not seem that way when going through a difficult moment such as yours and Scarlett's right now. But without having a strong faith in Him, you'll always be disappointed when experiencing the everyday struggles in life as well as the major ones, continually finding yourself lost and alone and bitter with the world and with what has been thrown your way."
Pondering the insightful wisdom found in Suellen's words, Rhett wanly smiled as he kissed her cheek. "Thank you Suellen, for your kindness and for being here with me right now!...I know you and Scarlett don't care for one another very much but I certainly hope someday soon you can take your own advice so that you two can leave the past behind and become true sisters again!" He admitted just as the door opened a crack and Doctor Fontaine stuck out his head. "Captain Butler, I'm through with your wife's examination. Can I see you inside here for a moment?" He remarked with no expression on his ancient, highly wrinkled face in which to offer any indication of his findings regarding the baby.
With his heart beating wildly, his pulse racing, Rhett sprang to his feet as he quickly entered the bedroom, softly closing the door behind him. Following Doctor Fontaine over towards the bed, Rhett's sharp eyes immediately searched Scarlett's face for any sign as to what the news regarding the baby contained as she remained in bed under the warm bed covers. Instantly struck by a faint sparkle in her eyes, Rhett's heart leaped in his chest, desperately hoping all was not yet lost. Sitting on the bed next to Scarlett and taking her soft hand in his own, Rhett turned to face the doctor, waiting impatiently for him to speak.
"Captain Butler, I'm quite happy to inform you that your wife has not suffered a miscarriage, nor does it appear she is about to do so!... So you can rest assured that your child is still quite healthy and safe!" Doctor Fontaine calmly admitted with a smile. Grinning wildly as a flood of warmth overcame his entire body, Rhett let out a deep sigh of relief as he leaned over towards Scarlett, deeply kissing her on the lips over and over again before the doctor loudly cleared his throat in order to continue on. Hesitantly pulling away, Rhett exclaimed, "Doctor Fontaine!...That is great, great news! And thank you very so much for your thorough attention in regards to my wife!" Rhett remarked with a radiant smile as his eyes remained fixed only on Scarlett and her own similar expression. With another thought weighing heavily on his mind, Rhett decided to further inquire. "I must know, however, what caused the bleeding in the first place and has it stopped?"
Nodding his head, Doctor Fontaine continued on, "To further explain your wife's situation, I must tell you how it's a known fact for the more observant, experienced doctors such as myself how, within the first three months or so in a pregnancy, intense bursts of exercise that a woman's body is not already used to experiencing on a frequent basis can cause a rapid influx of blood to flush through the uterus where the baby is growing before finally passing out of the body. I know it can cause quite a scare as most excessive, prolonged bleeding during a pregnancy is typically associated with a miscarriage, but Scarlett's particular situation is definitely not an uncommon one, to say the least!…Initially, the fact that the expelled blood was bright red, not dark nor containing any clots or fetal tissue was my first indication that all was well. The internal examination confirmed my initial assessment as your wife's cervix is exactly as it should be at this point in her pregnancy. As for the bleeding, it has already slowed dramatically, probably even stopped completely by now."
"So you're telling me that this entire situation was caused only by Scarlett's running off so fast in pursuit of our horse and could have been prevented if only she hadn't exerted herself so much?" Rhett asked in confirmation at figuring out the best course of action to take with his wife for the future. "Yes, that's correct!…If Scarlett's body had already been used to running such a far distance and at such a fast pace on a frequent basis before her pregnancy even began, she most likely wouldn't have had this occur to have caused your worry!...Like I said, it is rare but it does happen more often that you'd ever realize and early pregnancy is obviously not the time to start a new form of exercise, even though including some on a regular basis is very highly recommended for both the health of the mother as well as for the child...Whatever form of exercise Scarlett currently enjoys is certainly fine as long as she doesn't overdo it!" Doctor Fontaine explained before another thought came to mind. "Oh, and by the way, she happened to mention you were returning home to Charleston tomorrow afternoon. I suggest you allow her an extra day here in order to rest and fully heal before putting her through the tiring rigors experienced when traveling so far."
After packing his satchel, Doctor Fontaine turned towards Scarlett and added, "Please remember what I told you earlier in that you need even more rest and nourishment than what you're now getting in order to keep that baby of yours growing strong!...Do you have any further questions before I leave?" Glancing over towards Rhett, Scarlett smirked as she bravely asked the unspoken question on both of their minds. "Since everything regarding the baby is fine, is it safe to say that it's alright to resume intimate marital relations with my husband and as soon as possible?" Coughing repeatedly in reaction at having been asked such a bold question by a woman, especially one whose own birth he had attended to, Doctor Fontaine finally calmed down enough to quickly answer her question in his haste to make a speedy getaway. "To be completely honest, you are perfectly safe for that sort of thing as of right now. However, I recommend waiting a few more days, about three or four in order to be perfectly safe, before resuming any activity of that nature. Good bye Scarlett!...It certainly was good to see you again after all these years, even under the circumstances."
Shaking hands, Rhett finally escorted Dr. Fontaine downstairs, waving from the verandah as Pork set off in the small carriage to return him home. Turning around quickly, Rhett came face to face with Mammy, Dilcey, Prissy, and Suellen as they stood directly behind him in the foyer, worried expressions on all their faces. "Scarlett's fine!...The baby's perfectly fine too!" He laughed out with excitement, turning to face Mammy. "Please see that a warm bath is drawn for Scarlett upstairs in half an hour!" He added before happily racing up the stairs.
Entering the bedroom, Rhett immediately flew over towards Scarlett where she laid in bed nervously waiting for his return, her wide eyes showing the obvious signs of her fear at not knowing what his reaction would be towards her now that they were all alone. Assuaging her fears, Rhett immediately leaned over to tenderly kiss her parted lips before removing his shoes. Climbing under the covers, Rhett held Scarlett close, massaging the area below her navel where he knew their baby was resting while raining delicate kisses alongside her neck.
"Scarlett, I can't bear for you to be frightened of me!...I think what I spoke of earlier when you ran off after the horse goes without saying and I'm not going to chastise you any further. I've decided that from now on I'll just have to watch you even more intently in making sure you're not exerting yourself too much during the rest of your pregnancy," he gently explained in a soft-spoken voice before suddenly taking on a firmer tone as he continued on. "Luckily today you and I dodged a very large bullet with this scare of ours and if there's a next time, we may not be as fortunate!...So in conclusion, I am telling you right now so my thoughts are very clear for you on the matter… I am going to be watching you like a hawk watches its chosen prey and if I think even for a fraction of a second that you're going above and beyond the acceptable limits of allowable physical activity, I will punish you, and this time around I guarantee you will not be enjoying the particular punishments I already have in mind!"
Swallowing hard, Scarlett slowly turned around to meet Rhett's narrowed eyes with a flirtatious smile, fluttering her long eyelashes before sweetly asking, "What type of punishments, Rhett dear?" With his answer already prepared after knowing her well enough to know she'd ask, he truthfully answered, "Why honey, I'd keep you locked away in our bedroom in Charleston in order to keep you out of trouble, just like Rapunzel in her tall, exitless tower!...But only until you safely deliver our child, of course!" Letting out a deep sigh, Scarlett smiled for the first time in hours after thinking his punishment wasn't so bad after all. Moving in closer towards Rhett as she gently caressed his chest, she admitted, "Well, that certainly doesn't sound like a punishment to me!...You know, I would love that, but only as long as you were there too!"
Laughing at Scarlett's very predictable reaction, Rhett went one step further in admitting the plans even he hoped wouldn't be necessary to someday enforce. "Of course I know how much you'd love that, my pet! But that's just the thing…You would be locked away there in the confines of our bedchamber for months on end until the baby came and by then, your intelligent mind would most likely have deteriorated as a result. So to remedy that unfortunate situation, I have a ready-made plan I will immediately implement if I deem further punishment is necessary after all." With slight trepidation after now realizing the serious tone behind Rhett's gentle threat, Scarlett's nervous voice simply asked, "What would you do?"
Grimacing, Rhett effectively concluded the conversation when he truthfully admitted, "Of course you already know how I had been forced to closely study every major literary work and play by William Shakespeare thanks to my father when I was in my teens…So my pet, in order for you to become as knowledgeable as your very intelligent husband when it comes to the classics as well as to keep your bright mind preoccupied, I will make sure you read each and every volume in that very large, very expensive collection my mother was thoughtful enough to give you for your birthday. Then, I will have you write me a very long, very detailed essay for each of them in which the entire synopsis and an in-depth character analysis will be required from you, and all of this before the baby arrives!...So what do you have to say for that punishment, my dear, darling Scarlett?"
With a shocked expression and all color gone from her face as she thought over his well-thought out plan, Scarlett finally blurted out, "Rhett, I swear to God Himself, I'll be good!"
A short while later, Mammy's hard knock at the door signaled Scarlett's bath was ready in the tiny bathing room down the hall. Hesitant to leave the close comfort of Scarlett as he held her in his arms, Rhett slowly untangled his fully clothed limbs from hers, quickly buttoning his shirt as he called out to Mammy. "Alright Mammy!...We'll be right there!" Turning towards Scarlett, Rhett smiled at the familiar look of contentment he had become used to over the past few months since they had made a new start at life together. "My darling, I'd like to bathe you now in order to remove all further traces of today's horrid event," he admitted while gently helping her from the bed. Removing the cloth from between Scarlett's legs, Rhett grinned after discovering the blood flow had completely stopped and, after throwing her blood stained drawers into the fire, walked towards where she remained standing next to the bed, immediately taking her into his arms for a passion-filled kiss.
"You know Rhett, the tub is roomy enough for me to sit on top of you, if you'd like a bath too!" Scarlett remarked as her hands toyed with the waistband of his trousers after their kiss ended. Meeting his cold, glaring eyes, she inwardly shrank back as if stung by a hand slapping her across the face. "Are you kidding me?" His raised voice spoke out. "Do you think that after the serious threat to our child's life that we had today I am even entertaining any thoughts whatsoever in regards to having my way with you?...Until I know you are completely healed like Doctor Fontaine stated and there is absolutely no physical danger at all to both you and our son, I promise you, Scarlett Butler, I will not be seeking your pleasurable, intimate charms in any way!" He explained before noticing Scarlett's crestfallen expression. Feeling the sting of tears in her eyes, she blurted out, "But Rhett dear, Doctor Fontaine did say how I need some exercise, as long as I don't overdo it!" Deciding to add one final thought in conclusion, Rhett smirked as he added, "I'll tell you what...Tomorrow, if I determine you are fine and if it's safe enough for you and the baby, we can take plenty of walks together around Tara so you can get that exercise!...Besides, it'll be good for us to abstain from one another's charms for a short while so you'll definitely realize I'm remarrying you because of how deeply I love you, not just for the amazing sex!"
Almost an hour later, Rhett's formerly stiff, stressed body was on its way towards becoming thoroughly refreshed as he soaked in the now lukewarm bathwater of the bathing room's small tub. Earlier, after gently washing away all further traces of dried blood from Scarlett's lower body, he quickly worked lathering the rest of her with a sea sponge and a bar of rose-scented glycerin soap before he could be fully aroused. Having noticed the tenseness in Scarlett's muscles as he bathed her, Rhett inwardly sighed then set to work while firmly massaging her achy back and shoulders, causing her to unconsciously moan out loud in pleasure.
Almost immediately, Rhett felt the unwelcome rise of his most basic, primal male urges as a warmth spread throughout his groin, inwardly swearing to keep his distance from Scarlett before his body betrayed his mind's determined resolve. Opening one eye, Scarlett was instantly made aware of Rhett's current state of inner turmoil after noticing the physical proof in his trousers as he hovered nearby. Stifling her laughter, Scarlett tugged on Rhett's leg, drawing his instant attention as she pulled him closer.
"Rhett dear, I think I've enjoyed enough back rubbing and shoulder massaging for a while. Let's take turns…How about helping me with my wrapper and then I'll massage you?" She innocently asked. Knowing Scarlett was up to her old, familiar tricks, Rhett raised an eyebrow and was just about to firmly turn her down when she quickly blurted out, "You seem a little…tense!...And it's been a very rough day on both of us! Please let me help you feel better so you don't get all grouchy on me again later…I promise I'll be good and I did already mention I'll have my wrapper on not off!" Realizing she was right and he did feel quite tense which would inevitably bring on a bout of brooding moodiness later, Rhett sucked in a deep breath before assisting Scarlett out of the tub, being overly cautious to ignore the shapely curves of her perfect feminine form as best as he could while drying off her silky smooth skin with a plush bath towel. After she was safely ensconced in her red velvet wrapper, she eyed him suspiciously as he stood there watching her intently while still fully clothed.
"Don't worry Rhett, I'm not going to bite you!...But if you expect me to massage you through a linen shirt and trousers you are sadly mistaken!" Scarlett laughed out as she moved closer in order to help him undress. "I've got it, Scarlett!...I'll handle it!" Rhett muttered out loud as he backed far enough away from her reach, knowing how her sensual act of undressing him instantly raised his intense desire to have more of her. Inwardly sighing, Rhett realized how in a matter of mere seconds her delicate yet firm hands would be sending sparks shooting all throughout his body when touching his bare skin and made a firm decision to remain strong no matter what. Quickly unbuttoning his shirt then his trousers, Rhett finally and completely removed all articles of clothing from his body, carelessly tossing them off to the side near the door.
Standing in front of Scarlett in all his firmly muscled, naked glory, Rhett met her sparkling, appraising eyes and sly grin and immediately felt his firm resolve begin to slip away. "No dirty little tricks, Scarlett!...I mean it!" He remarked as they stood there staring at one another. "I'll just get in the tub now so you can massage my back, like you promised," he muttered as he walked over towards the tub and plunged a foot in, startled when Scarlett grabbed his arm, holding him back.
"Wait!" She practically shouted, meeting Rhett's eyes as he narrowed his gaze suspiciously, trying to guess what Scarlett's intentions now were. Looking all around her, she found a couple of extra towels and carefully spread them out on the floor. "Over here Rhett!… I want you to lay down first and that way I can massage your lower back where I know you get so stiff after riding too long on a horse, like you did earlier today…It's hard for me to reach there when you're in the tub, especially when I'm not there too!" She explained in her attempts at persuading him to go along with her plan. Simply nodding, Rhett lay face down on the towels, gasping out loud after feeling the pleasurable weight of Scarlett's body planted on his unclothed rear just as the delicate strokes of her fingers moved across his tense skin. After thoroughly tending to his back for a long while and gaining his further trust, Scarlett motioned for Rhett to turn around in order to minister to his front side.
"Remember what I said earlier, Mrs. Butler!" He warned before resting his hands behind his head and allowing Scarlett full rein of his unclothed torso. Letting out a deep sigh as her soft hands kneaded away the tenseness in his chest and shoulders, Rhett slowly closed his eyes and with a smile on his face, rested quietly as she continued on with her pleasurable caresses.
Within a matter of minutes, the moist warmth of Scarlett's mouth on his lower groin instantly alerted Rhett to the fact that he had been easily tricked, yet again, by his seductive temptress of a wife. Completely stunned, his eyes flying wide open, Rhett met Scarlett's bright eyes and held her gaze as she continued on, immediately noticing the triumphant gleam in their heavenly green depths while she happily pleasured him with her mouth, teasing him with her tongue, her hands stroking his most delicate, sensitive areas gently, thoroughly, then firmly when she realized he was reaching the end of his tightly regulated self-control. With his fingers tangled in her silken tresses as he pressed her on for more, Rhett finally let out a low moan, his body shuddering as he reached his final breaking point.
Holding Scarlett close in his arms there on the floor as all coherent thoughts and senses slowly returned, Rhett angrily spoke out, "Damn it, Scarlett!...That was absolutely fantastic and I enjoyed every second of it, obviously! But now I want to return the favor and I just can't and won't!…At least not for a few more days until I know you're completely fine and well rested!" Breaking free from Rhett's grip around her waist, Scarlett positioned her head on his chest and looked right into his darkened eyes. "Well quit your complaining then, Rhett Butler!...It sure seems to me as if you're being a mighty ungrateful husband!" She teased, playfully tousling his hair before continuing on."You see, your very thoughtful and generous wife has taken it upon herself to make things a little easier for you over the next several days, at least until our other favorite forms of exercise can fully resume!...Of course, I'm repeating myself here but since Doctor Fontaine did happen to mention how important it is to get regular exercise and for me to continue on with what I was already doing before I got pregnant, well, I thought I'd take it upon myself to not only follow through with the doctor's orders but, of course, I certainly would never wish to exclude you from all the fun!" She explained with a smug look. "Besides, didn't I happen to warn you that I would remain fully clothed in my wrapper?...I do believe I also promised to be good, and after the predictable reaction I got from you at the end of my fun little entertainment, I'm assuming that I really was!" As an afterthought, Scarlett added, "And, of course, in keeping with the new Butler tradition, you of all people Rhett Butler, should know how I always mean exactly what I say!"
Laughing at Scarlett's highly intelligent, well planned deception for his benefit, Rhett paused for a few moments in quiet reflection, finally speaking out after thinking through her explanation as well as having a final observation of his own. "You, my pet, are certainly the most amazing wife who's ever lived and I'm telling you right now, if any other man ever found out exactly how highly capable and eager to please you truly are, let's just say I would be the most envied male on the entire face of this earth!...And another thing, if all wives could be just like you, every brothel that currently exists would immediately be put out of business!"
Later that evening after having had a dinner tray sent up to the bedroom, an unfamiliar knock at the door sounded, and Rhett, wearing only his velvet robe, quickly traversed the room's distance and opened it. Standing there in the hallway just outside was Suellen with a friendly smile on her lips. "Hello Rhett, is Scarlett still awake?" She shyly asked with a look of deep concern in her pretty cornflower blue eyes. Waving her inside after he fully opened the door, Suellen entered and immediately walked over towards Scarlett where she was sitting up in bed still wearing her wrapper, a fan of poker cards in her hand, and an impressively large quantity of poker chips scattered all around her on top of the bed covers.
"You still remember how to play poker so well after all this time? I'm impressed!...I'm sorry if I'm interrupting your game…Of course, everyone downstairs has already heard the good news about the baby and I just wanted to say how happy Will and I are for both of you!" Suellen remarked after sitting down on the bed next to Scarlett. After a few moments of awkward silence, Scarlett's intuition kicked in and she called out across the room to Rhett where he had been busy stoking the fire in order to give the sisters some semblance of privacy.
"Rhett dear, would you please be a honey of a sweetheart and allow my sister and I a few minutes alone?...We can finish our game a little later if you don't mind, but I'm sure you won't since you're losing your third hand to me anyway, am I right?" She asked, smirking at him as he approached the bed. "Of course, in regards to both questions, my darling!...And as long as Will doesn't mind my current state of undress, I think I'll go downstairs for a short while and sample another glass of his homemade whiskey!...You know, at first it's absolutely horrid but after having had the past several days in which to continually sample it, I have to admit it's become quite an acquired taste of mine and I'm now actually enjoying the stuff!" Rhett laughed, kissing Scarlett on the forehead and Suellen on the cheek before exiting the room.
Once they were completely alone in the silence of the bedroom, Suellen immediately spoke up, "I really like Rhett and its obvious how deeply he loves you! Sadly, I never cared enough before to want any type of a brotherly relationship with him but since you've been here for the past few days, I've not only discovered he's not the scoundrel everyone has always made him out to be, but I've also grown to really admire him as well!" Surprised that her sister was actually being pleasant for a change, Scarlett reveled in the sudden, unexpected breakthrough and replied in her honest, forthright manner. "Thank you for saying that, Suellen… It means a lot to hear it coming from you, actually! Truth be told, I love Rhett more than anything or anyone I've ever known in my entire life, but sadly that wasn't always the case!"
At that precise moment, a silence fell over them once more and Scarlett suddenly realized with perfect clarity something profound had somehow changed between them and their relationship as sisters. Suellen's decision to be with her at that very moment, her tender care in acting as a personal nurse earlier in the day, and her comforting of Rhett during his stressful time of uncertainty when it was thought all hope regarding the baby was most likely lost, all flooded through Scarlett's mind in an instant.
"I want to thank you for what you did today in helping not only me, but Rhett too! It was very kind of you and Mother would be so proud to know how you, at least, seem to be following in her footsteps!" Scarlett admitted with a warm smile, unconsciously reaching out for Suellen's hand and holding it tight. Shaking her head, Suellen suddenly blurted out, "I'm so sorry, Scarlett!...I've deceived myself for years thinking how much I've hated you when that's no longer the truth!" Shocked at Suellen's sudden change in subject as well as her unexpected, heartfelt admission of guilt, Scarlett uttered, "Great balls of fire!...Are you trying to tell me you actually like me now?"
Quickly continuing, Suellen faced Scarlett's bewildered green eyes head on as she spoke. "Let me start off here: Remember how when we were younger, Careen and I used to actually get like and along with you?...Well, that all changed once you got to be a little older and all the available beaux in Clayton County suddenly discovered who you were. And so it happened that my own sister was the one girl the rest of us loved to hate with a bitter passion, as you had become our chief rival for all the boy's affections!" Suellen explained, then got up from the bed and slowly began pacing the floor as she continued on.
"Scarlett, you had to have known how you were the most flirtatious, most outgoing, prettiest girl at the time and with that flawless white skin, your raven black hair, gorgeous green eyes, and the tiniest waist in all of three counties, you just drew in all the beaux like flies to honey!...I guess what I'm trying to say is how that's when all this anger and bitterness I've had for you all started and I now understand that it was nothing more than deep jealousy on my part!" Suellen slowly explained, glad to have somehow found the courage to get the truth out into the open after so many years of letting it eat away at her. "There's more, Scarlett!...My jealous feelings only grew deeper after watching how you flaunted yourself without caring one bit for propriety or even doing what Mother taught us in regards to behaving properly as a lady should!"
"Fiddle dee dee!...Of course you and I both know I've never cared to act how a proper lady should have!...But are you now trying to tell me that your uptight, ladylike attitude was all a show and you'd rather have been more like me?" Scarlett replied, completely taken aback that after all these years, Suellen was now eagerly admitting her true feelings of a secret, sisterly admiration for her. Smiling as she shook her head at Scarlett's slight misunderstanding, Suellen further explained, "No, Scarlett, at the time it wasn't all just for show!…I honestly believed I was the one who was right in acting properly as Mother expected, and I believed the way you behaved, earning your 'fast' reputation among all our acquaintances in the process, was terribly wrong! But now, I've suddenly realized some things that have helped in changing my mind, to make me realize the proper ways are not always the best ways."
Enthralled at the new change in her sister's attitude as well as highly interested in hearing the finer details, Scarlett leaned in closer, prompting her on. "Please, do go on!" Suellen smiled, glad for Scarlett's eagerness to hear more, and truthfully admitted, "For years I've watched you live your life without any regrets, the way you freely show who you are on the inside instead of holding yourself back like I've done while trying to live up to the high standards taught by Mother!...Instead of enjoying my life in the way you have always done, I spend all my time obsessively thinking how bitterly disappointed she would be with me for so many little things as I go about each and every day as the mistress of this home."
As they sat there on the bed thinking through Suellen's honest truths, both felt as if a heavy burden had finally been lifted as they began the healing process for too many years of harsh feelings and disappointment towards one another. Eagerly embracing her sister, Suellen felt the warm prickle of tears in her eyes as she further admitted some other truths. "I've never had the courage to be like you even though I now wish I could have been!…Your strength in stopping at nothing when it came to finding food to feed all of us here at Tara, harvesting cotton like a slave in order to secure money for the future, and then later in saving our home from Jonas Wilkerson was simply incredible! Though at the time I hated you for making us work so hard and, of course, there's the matter regarding Frank, I now can see how without you, our home would no longer be ours and quite honestly, I'm not sure how any of us here would have gone on surviving without you having done what you did!" Suellen explained, the semblance of a smile on her lips.
"Suellen, you don't even know the half of it, but having to survive after the war completely changed the way I think about so many of the things we were taught when growing up but, then again, I've always been different in that I never cared one fiddle dee dee to be proper!" Scarlett laughed. "But truthfully, Rhett loves me because I'm not a lady and not afraid to admit it! Through the years he has taught me so much in that I can experience so many wonderful things and enjoy my life so much more if I don't completely live by what is dictated for me by society!" Scarlett candidly explained, the words flying from her mouth as she spoke. "But getting to our other issues at hand, I was so afraid what I told you the other day when we were out walking would turn you even more against me and I am deeply sorry for having told you those truths, even though I still think you needed to hear them. I meant every word I said in that I think Will is a fine husband for you and Frank would not have made you very happy in the end. If you remain offended at that, I apologize, but it is the truth nonetheless." Scarlett explained, intently watching Suellen for a reaction after having pulled away from their hug. Smiling as her eyes suddenly filled with tears, Suellen faced her sister, simply saying, "Scarlett, I know!…You were right!"
Momentarily shocked, all Scarlett could do was stare at her sister. Laughing, Suellen decided to further explain. "Oh don't look so surprised at me for agreeing with you on something for once! It's taken me years of grieving over something I never had, thinking I'd never get over Frank after you stole him away from me, but that's just the thing, Scarlett!…I've finally realized I was never in love with him at all!" Instantly struck with the ironic similarities between her own long-term obsession with Ashley Wilkes and Suellen's relationship with Frank, Scarlett's thoughts turned towards the memory of her similar-sounding conversation with Rhett the day Melly died. "Well you certainly gave a damn good impression of it, that's for sure!" Scarlett joked.
"Scarlett!...Watch your tongue! What would Mrs. O'Hara think?" Suellen giggled after having imitated their Pa. Laughing together, Scarlett suddenly realized she hadn't felt so good being with one of her own flesh and blood sisters since they were children, their only mission at that point in life was having innocent fun while running free on the land within Tara's boundaries, not acting as bitter, scheming rivals for the attentions of the local boys.
Calming down a bit, Suellen unconsciously straightened her posture before further explaining her surprising viewpoint. "It would seem as if I did make a pretty good impression of it but, to be honest, even though for years I truly believed I did love Frank and my interest towards him at the time was real, I've recently come to the conclusion that back then, I was much too young to truly understand what real, lasting love is and what I had with him was a more of a relationship based on mutual fondness and friendship, not a true, deep love like you have with Rhett." She admitted, turning to meet Scarlett's smile after hearing the mentioning of Rhett's name.
Continuing on, Suellen further explained, "I think Frank liked having someone to coddle and fuss over and, of course, at the time I loved every minute of it and did expect him to marry me...But lately, after thinking over the past, all the little things he should have done if he really loved me have come to mind." Surprised at hearing her sister's impressions, Scarlett remarked, "What things? It sure seems to me that he really cared for you, Suellen!"
"Yes, I guess that it would appear to be the case but after watching you and Rhett together earlier today as well as how you two have behaved towards one another over the past several days, I've come to the conclusion that what Frank and I had definitely could not be considered as having been real love. For instance, at the Twelve Oaks barbecue, even though he was my beau, he constantly left my side to cater to your every whim!...The fact that he lacked the courage and it consequentially took him so long to ask for my hand in marriage always bothered me, though I wouldn't care to admit that to anyone until now. Of course, years later when you lied to him saying I married one of the Fontaine boys, as mad as I was with you afterwards, the truth still was right there in front of my eyes the whole time if only I made the effort to look, that if he really had loved me, he would have known better than to believe you and rush into your hasty marriage!...Besides, he had been my beau for years and, at that point, had already proposed marriage to me!... Looking back on all of it now, however, it was fortunate that he believed your lie and married you in the end because not only did you singlehandedly save Tara, but I am now married to Will who I know loves me deeply as I do him, I just haven't made much of an effort lately at showing it to him!...Of course, there's the children too and nothing I now have in my life wouldn't be here at all if Tara ended up in Jonas Wilkerson's possession!" Suellen remarked.
Pausing for a moment in further reflection, she suddenly decided to add another thought. "I don't know what's been wrong with me but ever since the baby was born, I just haven't been the same in regards to certain things in my marriage with Will. The baby is so colicky and hardly sleeps so I find whenever Will wants time alone, I usually choose to ignore him. Seeing how lovingly you and Rhett act towards one another has made me realize how deeply Will has loved for me for all the years we've been married and also made me understand how much he means to me too!…So you see Scarlett? The other day when I shouted at you and ran off in anger, you had been right the whole time and I knew it!…I was just too prideful to admit to the truth, especially when I was hearing it from you."
Knowing how the truth would only continue strengthening their new-found sisterly bond even further, Scarlett decided it was best to admit some truths of her own. "Suellen, I'm so glad we've had this conversation and now that we've turned this new page between us, it's my turn to tell you a few things," she softly spoke, pausing for a deep breath of air to aid in clearing her head before she could begin.
"I'm sure you've already heard, as it was no big secret back in Atlanta, but Rhett and I had some extremely rough times in our marriage, not just with Bonnie's death and the miscarriage, but also regarding my foolish longing for years and years for none other than Ashley Wilkes!" Scarlett started explaining then stopped when Suellen gasped out loud. Meeting her sister's shocked eyes, Scarlett further explained, "Yes, it's true!...For some reason, I never got over my well-known girlish crush on him...I don't want the truth of this to ever leave beyond this room, especially since I know many people back in Atlanta speculated as to that fact the whole time Rhett and I lived there, do you understand?" Watching her sister nod as she agreed with the idea, Scarlett continued. "I thought what I felt for Ashley was love. However, it was anything but that, it was more like a longing for the carefree, easier days of our youth, which he somehow came to symbolize for me, so you're not alone with your similar feelings towards Frank Kennedy in that regard. Let me just get the truth out right now that nothing untoward or improper towards Ashley and me ever happened other than a brief kiss years ago before I was even married!" Scarlett explained, purposefully leaving out the delicate fact that at the time of their kiss, Ashley had been married to Melanie Wilkes.
"Rhett finally left me after having had enough of my foolish behavior only a few months ago, even though I had finally realized it was him I loved not Ashley, and even though I told him so the day Melly died, but it was too late!...It truly was a difficult lesson to learn and I thought I'd lost him forever when I watched as he walked out the door, leaving me behind!... So I left Atlanta to come here and think things through for a week, which is when I arrived here so unexpectedly with Mammy. I couldn't tell you of all people at the time, especially since I thought you hated me then, but Mammy knew when I left here I was going off all alone in search of Rhett in Charleston and let me tell you, she was quite upset I was going there unchaperoned but happy for me to do so all at the same time!...In the end, I'm so glad I went and if I hadn't, I can't imagine how different life would be for me right at this very minute!" Shuddering with the horrible thought of a life without Rhett by her side, Scarlett quickly pushed the thought away and moved on. "Our marriage now has never been better and our love is even stronger after thoroughly analyzing and explaining every little mistake on both our parts after I arrived there! And now that we're having another baby, both of us feel as if we're being given a new start at life together, which is why Rhett asked me to marry him again!...Careen is going to be so mad at me that I'm going to become an Episcopalian and won't be a Catholic anymore but I just don't care!...Without Rhett in my life, nothing else matters! "
"Oh Scarlett! I'm so happy for you and Rhett and don't worry about Careen, she'll be really mad at you for a long time but she'll eventually get over it!" Suellen cried out. As soon as the conversation ended, Scarlett immediately reached over, clinging to her younger sister as they embraced for a long while, the steady flow of light tears flowing from both their eyes. Finally, Suellen was the first to pull away, wiping her eyes and tear-stained cheeks with the back of her hand before meeting Scarlett's eyes with her own. Their long-overdue discussion had suddenly empowered her with the decision to ask one final question in her attempt to fully understand a very important and relevant detail regarding hers and Scarlett's respective marriages. Noticing the questioning look in her sister's suddenly shy eyes, Scarlett finally was the first to break the companionable silence between them when she asked, "Suellen, what is it?...I can tell there's something else on your mind, isn't there?"
Understanding how the current moment they were in could be the only chance she'd ever get in which to get an answer her highly improper thought, Suellen finally blurted out what had been weighing heavily on her mind all day ever since she secretly had been a witness to it. "Scarlett," she shyly began, lowering her eyes to the bed. "Earlier today, I had been a quite a mess after the baby spit up milk all over me and in my search for a fresh towel in which to clean my soiled dress, I happened to notice the bathing room door had been left unlocked," she carefully explained, her eyes fixed on the poker cards nearby on the bed, not noticing Scarlett's eyes had flown open wide after realizing how her pleasuring of Rhett had been secretly observed. With a long pause in which to summon up the courage to continue on, Suellen finally broke the increasingly uncomfortable silence when she asked, "I know Mother would kill me if she only knew what I was about to ask of you, but can you explain for me in detail how to do to Will what I saw you doing to Rhett earlier today on the bathing room floor?"
Late that evening after having resumed their card game, Scarlett and Rhett lay together in bed fully awake, limbs entwined and uncharacteristically fully clothed. The loud sounds of Suellen's and Will's lovemaking traveled to their bedroom from across the hall, instantly waking Scarlett from a deep slumber after having had fallen asleep during their tenth round of poker, the events and stress of the day completely draining her of all energy. "Damn it, Rhett! You started this mess!...Can't you please go over there and tell those two to stop it already?" Scarlett begged, now sitting upright in the bed, her hands covering her ears and cringing after hearing her sister call out Will's name repeatedly. "Doctor Fontaine did say I needed lots of rest and with those two going at it like this there is no way I'm going to get any sleep tonight, at all!"
Chuckling, Rhett kissed Scarlett's forehead, cheerfully admitting, "No way am I going over there to stop them!...I'm just glad they're finally having some fun together!...Besides, let's just say this is probably their revenge on us for our first several nights here!" After covering her head with a feather pillow in her attempts at muffling the noise, Scarlett let out a loud groan in frustration before secretly admitting how delighted she was that Suellen had taken her expert advice to heart, as apparently had Will in regards to Rhett's.
The extra day's stay at Tara had been an unexpected bonus. Listening to the soothing sounds of raindrops as they pitter pattered against the plate glass window near the cozy bed, Scarlett slowly awakened feeling refreshed and perfectly happy not to be leaving the comforts of her old home just yet. Stretching her arms high above her head, the rest of her body like a cat after a long nap, Scarlett's searching eyes looked all around after alerted to the fact Rhett had left the bed and quickly spotted him across the room, his back turned to her as he worked to build a fire in the hearth while wearing only his black velvet robe.
Tingling from head to toe with excitement with a sudden thought, Scarlett grinned, holding back her laughter as she quickly peeled away the high-necked, long-sleeved heavyweight white cotton nightgown borrowed from Suellen. Returning to the bedroom shortly after the conclusion of the O'Hara sister's long-winded, deeply intimate personal conversation, Rhett quietly whispered something into his sister-in-law's ear right before she left the room, only to watch her return a few moments later. Watching as Suellen then handed over a garment of some sort to Rhett who was still standing at the door, Scarlett balked after realizing Rhett's intelligent foresight in making sure his resolve wouldn't be further tempted for the remainder of the night.
Now, after stashing the nightgown under the bed, Scarlett drew up the covers all around her and lay back on her pillow pretending to still be sound asleep. Listening intently as the sounds of Rhett's movements signaled his approach, her heart wildly skipped a beat when he sank down on the bed next to her then slipped under the silken bed covers. Instantly feeling his warm hands on her bare skin, Scarlett held her breath and remained perfectly still, afraid to give up her little charade while Rhett's hands firmly caressed away the tension in her lower back.
Gasping out loud after Rhett's fingers suddenly began gently touching the sensitive folds between her legs, Scarlett immediately spun around and met Rhett's grinning face. "What's wrong, my pet?...Are you going to tell me that you won't allow your husband to touch you there anymore?" He teased and watching her stunned expression, continued on, "Don't worry, I do have much more self-control than what I've showed you over the past few months so I won't be having my way with you just yet!...However, I am going to punish you as best as I can under the present circumstances for removing that horrid old nightgown from your sinfully tempting body!" He laughed before kissing Scarlett hard on the lips. As their kiss grew more and more heated with each passing moment, Rhett finally rested Scarlett's head on the large pillow behind him before carefully climbing on top of her, his hands all over her responsive body, his mouth quickly searching out her perfectly ample, pert breasts as she writhed beneath him.
Not hearing the quiet knocking at the door, Rhett continued on with his pleasurable punishments, neither he nor Scarlett noticing Mammy as she eventually entered the room to set a breakfast tray down on the dresser. Rolling her eyes as she boldly stepped closer, Mammy cleared her throat loudly, finally having Scarlett and Rhett's full undivided attention as she pointed over to the tray. "Miz Scarlett, you is gwine ter eat eve'y moufful of dis en den Miz Suellen wants you to meet her upstairs en da attic for some'thin," she firmly demanded while inwardly laughing at the look of utter shock on both of their reddened faces, watching as Rhett slyly pulled up the covers hoping to hide Scarlett's nakedness from her eyes. Directly facing him with a narrowed, dark stare as she spoke, Mammy chastised, "Now you is gwine ter mak sure mah lamb eats right away!...Oh, and Mist' Rhett, you control yo'seff!...You's her husban'…You'll be seein' it all fer a long, long time!"
After their initial embarrassment wore off, both Scarlett and Rhett had a good laugh over Mammy's earlier intrusion as they ate their breakfast in bed together. First helping Scarlett dress, Rhett then threw on his own clothes, giving her a lingering kiss before escorting her up the narrow, wooden stairs leading to the attic. "I'll wait for you downstairs in your mother's study unless one of the children, in their rainy day boredom, come find me to play with them first!...Promise me you'll be extra cautious up there, Scarlett!...I still don't like this idea of leaving you in an old, dusty attic, you know!...I can just imagine you tripping on something or falling down these stairs…" Rhett explained, grimacing as the sudden memory of watching Scarlett helplessly tumble down the staircase in Atlanta rushed through his head.
Gripping his arm, Scarlett met Rhett's nervous eyes and with a calm voice, said, "I'll be perfectly fine up there and am only planning on staying for a few minutes anyway, so don't you worry about me for another minute!...This overprotective thing is going a little too far, you know!" Pecking his lips, Scarlett rushed up the stairs before he could offer up any further objections and opened the creaky, wooden door to enter.
"Scarlett, over here!...Look what I found for you!" Suellen excitedly called out from across the dim, dusty old room. Carefully walking over the wide planked oak floorboards, she spotted the familiar portrait of her mother and two aunts from when they were young girls and made a mental note to have Rhett return for it later. Nearing Suellen, Scarlett called out, "I'm quite mad at you right now, you should know!...It's good Rhett and I are leaving here tomorrow morning so he and I can finally get a good night's rest!" Finally reaching Suellen who was laughing at her comment, Scarlett stuck out her tongue after meeting her sister's bright, happy eyes then looked down to see a rectangular ivory-colored garment box unopened on the floor at her feet, covered with a thick layer of grey dust.
"I thought the Yankee's had taken this when they came through here!" Suellen started explaining before the dust got to her, instigating a round of unrelenting sneezing Finally ending a minute later, she continued right where she had left off. "Just this morning, only a short while ago, Susannah got bored playing in her room with her dolls and since the heavy rain looks as if it will be keeping her and Willy indoors for the remainder of the day, I thought to come up here with Pork for the Tara dollhouse from Pa after suddenly having remembered it was still up here!...And that's when I found this box hiding behind where the dollhouse was sitting on this crossbeam, and I wanted to give it to you!"
Carefully opening the lid, Scarlett laughed as she lifted up her mother's outdated wedding gown with the leg-o-mutton puffed sleeves, the same one she had worn to her wedding with Charles Hamilton many years ago. "Suellen!.. I hated that gown when I wore it for my wedding with Charles and though I haven't had a new one made just yet, Rhett would die laughing at me if he saw me in this!" Scarlett remarked while trying to remember any little detail of the marriage ceremony, as even back then it had all been a blur. Adding another thought, she simply asked, "Are you expecting that I would want to wear this horrid thing, again?" "
After laughing out in response, Suellen shook her head then explained her true reasoning behind offering the gown to her sister. "Scarlett, your first two marriages, in my opinion anyway, don't count as I know how you didn't love either Charles or Frank. Your third marriage to Rhett was not a good one either according to your brief explanation to me last night…But at least that time you managed to marry the right person for you!...However, now that you're recommitting yourself to Rhett, why not ensure that your marriage stays solid for good?...I know Mother never believed in superstition and this idea may be new to you, but I think a little added luck couldn't hurt when it comes time to take the plunge again on New Year's Eve!…So what do you say?"
Knowing her sister was attempting to further bond after their honest discussion the previous evening, Scarlett knew her only choice was to say yes. Watching Suellen as she waited patiently for an answer with an eager look in her bright eyes, Scarlett finally blurted out, "Okay, yes!...I don't know what you're up to, but I'll go along with it. Besides, like you said, a little added luck is always a good thing, especially since I used up a bunch of it after the little scare I had yesterday in regards to the baby!"
After giving Scarlett's arm a gentle squeeze, Suellen further explained her original intentions for the use of the gown. "I wasn't expecting you'd want to wear this, I know I certainly never would either, but look at the beautiful panels of expensive French Alencon lace all around the hemline, bodice, and down the back. I thought maybe you'd like to take this gown with you to Charleston and have your dressmaker there fashion something new while salvaging what you could from it. That way you have your very first part in making sure your new marriage with Rhett is always a happy one. It's a new bridal tradition I heard about when I went to mass over in Jonesboro and a wedding had just ended and it goes like this: Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue, and a silver six pence in your shoe."
"That's pretty clever, Suellen and you know what?...I think I'll be happy to follow through with all of the different parts, too!" Scarlett enthused before she suddenly grew quiet as her thoughts turned inwardly reflective. "I already have an idea for the 'something blue'; a royal blue hair ribbon I saved that was Bonnie's...I'd like to somehow use it so I have a part of her with me on my very special day when I remarry her father!" With tears in both their eyes and memories of the beautiful yet utterly spoiled little girl at the forefront of both their minds, Scarlett knew it was time to quickly conclude their conversation and head back downstairs to find Rhett. "Thank you, Suellen!...Your idea is truly meaningful and perfect and I'm so happy you remembered knowing about it so that you could tell me!"
Suellen leaned in close, giving Scarlett a hug as she honestly admitted, "You're welcome Scarlett, and I'm really glad I could be here to help you too because that's what sisters are for!"
Author's note: I hope you were happy with this chapter!...I knew right from the start I couldn't bear to kill off the baby but having all of you out there think that made for a good cliffhanger, right? :) Plus, I wanted to be able to show a softer side to Suellen which I hope I've accomplished in this chapter.
I do want to say that the situation in my story that Scarlett went through with the sudden, excessive bleeding is an actual thing and it happened to me exactly as I described! Fortunately, all worked out in the end and my daughter was born months later, perfectly fine!
Now, as always, if you have a moment or two, I'd love to read your thoughts! :)