One more chapter for your weekend reading….

Chapter 26

Scarlett knew it was no good to fudge her answer to Rhett's question about the way he'd felt after she'd gone to Ashley instead of him when Melanie was on her deathbed because he could always tell when she was lying. She also knew that if she spoke the truth, it could drive him away for good, but she was determined to remain strong as she scanned her brain for the right words to speak. Unfortunately, her heart overtook her brain and beads of tears began to trickle down her porcelain cheeks as she finally began to speak.

"Rhett, you once warned me I was throwing away happiness with both hands and how very right you were!" Scarlett said softly as tears continued to flow from her emerald eyes. "I'm afraid we both know this is more about than what happened that evening when Melanie was dying. I know you won't believe me, but I was extremely happy that day you proposed to me and I remained that way all through our honeymoon and when we returned to Tara. Looking back, I'd say I started to drift after Bonnie was born."

"I recall that event," Rhett responded sternly. "Why do you suppose that was?"

"Because you and I had created a child together and in some way that meant the fantasies I had of Ashley could no longer be so real since I'd given birth to another man's child. The closest thing I could do to keep that fantasy alive was stop having any more children with you. No matter what you decide to do today Rhett, I will carry the shame of that to my grave. "

Rhett looked at her and remained silent while Scarlett continued to speak. "I can tell you though I do recall the first time I was truly aware I was in love with you was the night before you took Bonnie to London."

"Oh?" he asked skeptically. "Why pray tell did you keep that secret to yourself?"

"Rhett! I was devastated when you announced you were going away the next day. I keep looking back to those moments and wondering why you didn't notice how happy I was to see you that morning after our intense night of passionate lovemaking – even Mammy noticed the joy on my face when she brought me in my breakfast. But I guess you were still convinced I'd had some dalliance with Ashley at the mill the day before and you wouldn't have listened to me anyway," she commented despondently. "Had you met me halfway, our love would have been sealed, but you didn't so I went back to nursing my immature fantasies of Ashley in order to have something to hold onto. By the time Melanie was dying, I couldn't hang on to them any longer because I had to admit that what I thought could been with Ashley only ever existed in my imagination once I finally realized she was the only woman he ever loved. I also finally figured out that he and I were as different as night and day and I would have been absolutely miserable if I'd ever ended up with a dreamer like him – you knew that and even my own pa knew that. "

Rhett sighed, so far he was unconvinced that Scarlett wasn't trying to use him as a replacement for Ashley, but he was still so intoxicated with her that he decided to see if she had it in her to redeem herself and prove him otherwise. "My pet, I believe you hit the nail on the head when you referred to your fantasies of Ashley as being immature. I still love you, but I am not going to stay in a marriage if you consider me your last alternative. Life is too short to be trapped with someone who doesn't truly appreciate you and I've already invested quite a few years in this relationship – if that is indeed is even what it truly was."

Scarlett dug down deep in her soul. She knew Rhett had every right to feel as he did, but she also knew her love for him was very real and that she did not consider him as a substitute for Ashley. "Rhett, it's taken me so much time to realize that as different as Ashley and I are, you and I have so much in common like you tried to tell me for so long. I don't think any other man in this whole world would ever understand me the way you do – or appreciate the real me the way that you did. Darling, Rhett, what I long for right now more than anything is that we resume our marriage. Right about now I am recalling that last special night we had together. You once invited me on a second honeymoon. Why don't go on one now? It'll be like starting over again or even like going back to those happy days in the beginning of our marriage when you bought me that great big diamond ring so everybody could be pea green with envy that I was your wife!"

Rhett looked deeply into Scarlett's eyes. As she repeated back to him various things he'd say to her over the years, he was heartened to see that on some level she'd actually been listening to him. He thought about her suggestion to take a second honeymoon and one half of his brain was intrigued and the other half was suspicious that she was trying to tempt him with her body to avoid proving whether or not she really did love him or was just using him again. He thought momentarily about her proposition before he responded and realized it did not have to be an all or nothing equation. "My dear, that is a lovely idea; however, I suggest we use this 'second honeymoon' as a trial basis to see if we are truly compatible enough to remain husband and wife. Where would you like us to go for this experiment?"

"Well, I know it won't be to Asheville!" Scarlett huffed as she stamped her feet defiantly.

Once again Rhett threw his head back into a throaty laugh and commented, "I guess it's a sign that we still care about each other since we both have the capacity to be jealous of other people. Before we go any further, I guess it's my turn to talk so I can clear the air about Rebecca and Asheville.