The Journey Home


Chapter Twenty Eight

Changes

The next morning, when Darcy joined Scarlett for breakfast, Scarlett told her they would be visiting Aunt Pitty. Scarlett took in Darcy's appearance and decided that she needed a new dress and something done to her hair besides the long, blonde braid. She invited Darcy into her room and began sorting through the clothes in her massive closet.

Darcy sat uneasily on the bed and kept her hands clasped in front of her, taking in the ostentatiousness of Scarlett's room. It was obvious the woman had never been in a place like it in her life and Scarlett didn't know whether to feel sorry for her or secretly be envious. Perhaps if she herself had never suffered the way she had during the War. If she had not nearly lost everything, even her very soul it seemed at times, then perhaps she wouldn't have felt the need to hoard things and then display it for everyone to see. She had wanted the world to see that she wasn't defeated and the more she acquired, the more she wanted and the more she wanted, the more she had to have. It was a vicious circle, one she couldn't seem to break… until now.

As she looked over at the young woman sitting so uncomfortably on the bed, she felt a sudden smack of conscious. Who was she to tell her she needed to change? But, at the same time, wasn't it her duty as a friend and a lady to help her realize her true potential? As Scarlett thought about this, she saw a dress that just might fit the bill. It was an older dress of hers, one that she rarely ever wore, mainly because it was plainer than her tastes had grown to. As a matter of fact, it had been her intention to give it Melanie before… well, before everything happened.

Would Melanie be proud to see the way she was trying to change? Would she be proud to see her taking Darcy under her wing and showing her kindness, something she had never done for anyone? It was a bitter pill to swallow, knowing that she had always been so selfish and shallow and yet in spite of that, Melanie loved her. If she could do it over, she would appreciate Melanie and never take for granted her kindness and love.

She lifted the dress from the closet and smiled, knowing that somehow Melanie would approve of what she was doing. She brought it out to Darcy and laid it out for her to inspect. It was a light blue linen with dainty white ruffles on the collar, the cuffs and the hem. It was exactly the kind of dress Darcy could wear without conviction and Scarlett could see it would go strikingly well with her skin tone, much more than her own.

"Oh Scarlett, how lovely, but I couldn't," Darcy shook her head.

"Don't be silly, Darcy. I want you to have it."

"Scarlett, I simply couldn't. You're being too generous."

"Darcy, take the dress. I want you to have it. We're going visiting today and you want to look your best don't you?"

"Well, yes," Darcy nodded hesitantly.

"Trust me, I will never wear it and besides, I can see from here it's going to look better on you than it ever did on me."

Darcy laughed. "I sincerely doubt that, Scarlett. You're the most beautiful woman I've ever seen and even a sack cloth would look good on you."

Scarlett huffed, but smiled as she brought it over to her. "Thank you and here, take it and I don't want to hear another word about it."

"If you're certain you will never wear it," she took it from her and gently rubbed the material.

"I won't, so go on back to your room and Essie will help you get dressed."

She stood and held the dress to her. "Thank you, Scarlett. You really are a good to me."

And then suddenly, Darcy hugged her and thanked her again before leaving the room. Such affection was still uncomfortable for Scarlett, it wasn't easy being even the slightest bit open with someone else. It was her nature to distrust, be on guard and never let anyone inside. But somehow, this spit of a woman had wormed her way into her affections and she found it wasn't so bad having a friend, a real friend. As a matter of fact, it felt good and for the first time, Scarlett realized she could change, she really could change


"Oh Scarlett, I'm so glad you've arrived!" Aunt Pitty exclaimed upon seeing her come into the parlor.

"Hello, Aunt Pitty," she said sitting across from her. The older woman's mouth puckered in a pout when she saw Darcy join Scarlett.

"Scarlett, you didn't tell me you were bringing company. Oh my goodness, whatever were you thinking? I wasn't prepared for anyone but you."

"Aunt Pitty, this is Darcy Olson and she's staying with me for a little while."

"How do you do, Miss Pitty," Darcy gave a slight nod to her.

"She's a very good friend, so don't worry about everything being proper," Scarlett assured her. "I want her to feel comfortable and I know you will do that, won't you?"

"Well," Aunt Pitty considered this. "If you say so, Scarlett. But, I simply must discuss Henry with you and it is private family business, you see."

Scarlett sighed and turned to Darcy. "Do you mind to step out on the porch for a moment?"

"No, I don't mind," Darcy stood and left the room.

"Now, what's so important that you called me from Tara? What's happening with Henry?" she said once she heard the click of the door.

"Oh my goodness, it's just awful, I know it is! He's been ill and he won't answer my letters. He's the only brother I have and he could be dying!" her little pudgy hands dabbed at her eyes with her kerchief.

"Aunt Pitty, if you're so concerned then why haven't you gone to see him?"

"Oh dear, I couldn't," she shook her head, sending her curls into motion. "You know Henry and I haven't spoken in years."

"That's exactly why you should go see him," Scarlett replied a bit too tartly. "You both are too stubborn for your own good."

"Oh dear," Pitty's eyes widened and her mouth puckered again. "But, I couldn't possibly do that, Scarlett."

"And so, what do you want from me?"

"To go see him, of course. I simply must know how he is. He's my only brother, you know."

Scarlett reigned in a sigh of frustration. "Why haven't you sent India? I know she lives with you now."

"India! I wouldn't dare ask her to do something as personal as this. No, it has to be you, Scarlett."

"Very well, Aunt Pitty, I'll go," she relented finally. It would do no good to keep on with her, she wouldn't go see about Henry even though she was worried sick about him. She glanced around the small room and saw India's handiwork in a dreadful sampler hanging on the wall. "Speaking of India, where is she?" she asked, although she could have really cared less. If she never saw India Wilkes again in her life, it wouldn't give her the slightest bit of concern.

"Oh dear, I really don't know. As soon as you arrived, she disappeared."

Scarlett nearly laughed out loud. So, she was running like a scared little church mouse, was she? Well, never mind her. It was just as well she didn't see her. She didn't think she could refrain from getting nasty and India would certainly bring her down to that level.

"Give her my best, Aunt Pitty," she nearly smirked and bent to kiss her fat, round cheek. "I'll go see Uncle Henry now and I'll let you know as soon as I know anything," she told her.

"Oh thank you, Scarlett! I knew you would do it, I don't care what anyone says about you," she said and then realized what she said and how it must have sounded. Her eyes widened again and she covered her mouth with her kerchief.

Scarlett's eyes narrowed for only a moment. So, the old cats were still wagging their tongues about her, eh? Let them talk, it didn't bother her before and it bothered her even less now. Being a lady meant rising above such things and she meant to prove that she was one of them. She wasn't going to tuck her tail and run, either. Not when she was sure Rhett would come to her, especially now that she knew how much she affected him.

With that thought in her mind, she sauntered merrily out onto the porch where Darcy was waiting for her and they headed over to Henry Hamilton's to check on him as she had promised Aunt Pitty.

Two hours later, they were back and Scarlett conveyed to her aunt that Henry Hamilton was indeed ill, but not on the verge of death as she had suspected. He had a horrible case of bronchitis and was bed ridden by Dr. Meade until he was recovered. Pitty was so relieved that she burst into tears and immediately sat down to write her brother a long letter.

As Scarlett and Darcy were leaving Aunt Pitty's for the second time that day, they were on the walkway heading to the gate when they spotted India coming down the sidewalk. As soon as she saw Scarlett, her whole body tensed and she drew herself up rigidly.

Scarlett stopped and smiled sweetly, relishing how shrewish and pathetic India appeared. With her pinched face and gray clothes, she looked as nondescript as washrag. For a moment, and only a moment, Scarlett felt pity for her but she soon quenched it. India's life was of her own making and she refused to accept any blame simply because Charles fell for her instead of India.

"Hello, India, how lovely to see you again," she waved.

India's face grew tighter as she stiffly walked toward them and came through the gate. She slammed it behind her and glared at her. "You have some nerve showing your face around here, Scarlett."

Expecting this, Scarlett only smiled wider. "India, really. Must you go on so? Can't we forget about the past after all of this time?"

"No, I can't and I won't," she bit out. "I had hoped you were gone for good. You're neither wanted nor needed here, Scarlett so why don't you go back to your precious Tara and leave us in peace."

"For your information, India Wilkes, Aunt Pitty sent for me. That's right, she sent for me to handle our family business," she repeated upon seeing the mild shock on India's face. Obviously, Aunt Pitty hadn't let her know what she was doing as she knew what India's reaction would be if she did know. "Seeing as how I'm her only living relative besides Henry and her only niece at that, she wanted and needed me."

"It doesn't matter," India smirked darkly. "No one else wants you here. When you left it was good riddance. Why, everyone was so relieved that they didn't have to put on a fake smile and pretend around you anymore. I don't know why you ever thought you could come back."

Darcy gasped beside her and Scarlett felt her pulse quicken with anger. "I belong here because this is my home. I belong here more than you, India Wilkes, who's living off the goodwill of my aunt, who is also living off of the goodwill of ME! Who do you think is keeping all of this up? Me, that's who. If it weren't for me, you'd be in the streets or else living off your brother because no one else can stand to have you around!"

"Shut up! Don't you dare mention Ashley to me. I'm glad he's gone to Virginia now because you would ruin his life just as you have anyone's who's ever known you."

"Oh? You don't know then? You don't know that Ashley came to Tara and asked me to be his wife?" Scarlett smiled victoriously as India paled then, her eyes widening in her pinched face.

"He did what?" she breathed the question.

"Yes, he did and I turned him down. You see, I don't want Ashley. I realized that he was only a good friend and has always only been a good friend, in spite of what you tried to do. Melanie knew, she always knew and that's why she stood by me against you."

India's mouth opened but no sound came out. Scarlett gave her no time to respond, but she breezed past her with a shocked and dismayed Darcy in tow. "I'm sorry you still live in the past, India. I have put much of that behind me now. I suppose we will never be friends and that's just as well, for both our sakes," she finished and closed the gate behind her. India whirled around and glared harder at her.

"I hate you, Scarlett O'Hara," she growled heatedly.

Scarlett stared at her for a moment and then nodded. "Strange, the only thing I feel for you, India… is pity."

And with that, Scarlett moved down the sidewalk with Darcy and left India and her hate behind her.