Disclaimer: I own nothing in regard to GWTW
Author's Notes: Thank you for all the reviews and all the feedback.
Chapter Ninety
After the service, India and Honey just stood there. They both looked like they thought sympathies should be extended to them. Scarlett turned her back on the Wilkes sisters. She was done with them. She would leave the trust intact because she was just not that hateful anymore. After living with Melanie for over twenty years some of her goodness had worn off on Scarlett.
Scarlett looked at her sister. Suellen looked a lot healthier than she had at the reading of their Pa's will. She was still about twenty pounds overweight and she looked much older than Scarlett. Scarlett preened. Scarlett called her sister's name and when she did Ella's head shot up. Scarlett walked over to her daughter and put her arm around Ella's waist and said to Ella, "She just wants to say she's sorry." Suellen had been close enough to hear what Scarlett had said.
Suellen said, "I am sorry. I am sorry for not valuing you when you were my daughter. I'm sorry for giving you away. I was drunk from September of seventy-five until I met John in seventy-seven. This is my husband John Hammond." Suellen motioned to the man beside her. Scarlett couldn't help but notice that while John was an attractive man he wasn't nearly as handsome as Rhett and probably not as rich either. John was also bald and Rhett still had all his hair even if it as all gray. Scarlett smugly thought, 'Yes my husband is better than Suellen's'
Ella said, "Go on."
"The specifics are not important but I was mad at life because all my dreams hadn't come true. Instead of accepting responsibility for my dreams not coming true I blamed your Daddy and my sister Scarlett. Since you looked like a combination of the two of them it was easy to take my anger and frustration out on you. You have grown into an amazingly beautiful woman. I suppose that is thanks to your," Suellen swallowed and continued, "Your mother's help."
Scarlett was still holding Ella close and all her siblings were standing nearby also. Nobody was going to miss a word of what Suellen said. Ella's husband, Jacob, couldn't hear but he stood beside her holding her hand the entire time. Jacob knew that Ella would tell him all later that day. Rhett walked over and stood beside Henry. Both of the men were just spectators in this drama.
Ella said, "Are you asking for my forgiveness?"
"No, I don't deserve your forgiveness. I am giving you an explanation. I wanted you to know it had nothing to do with you. It was all me and my friend brandy. Your," Suellen swallowed and choked back the tears, "mother has kept me updated on your doings. I am so very proud of you. May I hug you?"
Ella nodded. She let Suellen hug her then stepped back.
Finally, Suellen said, "If I write you will you write me back?"
Ella said, "Yes, but only as your niece. This is my mother now." She hugged Scarlett when she said this.
Scarlett felt so much compassion for Suellen at that moment. Suellen smiled sadly, "I will take whatever you will give me. Good bye for now. Let's go John."
As Suellen turned to walk back to her carriage, Ella stopped her and hugged her. Ella whispered, "Do write me. I would like to correspond with you."
Suellen smiled and nodded her head. Suellen was finally at peace. She had Ella back in her life. Suellen had made a big mistake but she decided that Ella was happy in her life and that was all that matter. Suellen and John walked away to their carriage. As they got to the carriage, Suellen turned and looked back. Ella gave her a smile and a wave.
The Butler group went back to the hotel. These days everyone had their own room except for Alex. Everyone paid for their own rooms also which made Rhett proud. It wasn't the money for Rhett could easily afford to pay for everyone's room. It meant that his sons and his sons-in-law didn't want to take his money. That they weren't freeloaders.
Alex shared the suite with his parents. He had no problem with his father paying for everything. He was the only one of their children that wasn't married. Beau was their son now too.
The group sat in the common room and told stories of Melanie Hamilton Wilkes. The grandchildren were with the nursemaids and hopefully fast asleep. The group laughed. They cried. Everyone drank too much alcohol except Eugenia. She was with child. Scarlett was adamant that no pregnant woman drink alcohol. Everyone had a wonderful time celebrating the life of a very special woman. Jacob held Ella tight and although it wasn't proper nobody objected. Ella had made peace with the woman who had given her away.
The next day, they left Henry in Atlanta so he could look up old friends. The rest of them had gone to Tara for the day. Scarlett had smiled when she found out that it was now known as the Benteen place and that was only right. There were only Benteens living there now. It was great to see Tara but it really wasn't her Tara any more in any way. Will and Careen had changed things to better suit them as they should. They had built a new house and torn down the old one. The new house was orderly and well defined not like the ramshackle house that Scarlett had grown up in. It was an improvement but it was another sign that it wasn't her Tara. It was tastefully decorated in Careen's style which was different than their mother's style or hers either. No, it wasn't her Tara anymore.
Prissy had visited her mother's grave. She never had made it back down here after Gerald's death. Scarlett had offered to send her and her family to Tara when Pork had passed away but Prissy had refused and again when Dilcey had passed, Prissy refused then also. All Prissy had said either time was, "It's easier not to return." Flynn, Prissy's half-brother, was long gone. She didn't know where he had gone. They had never been very close.
Scarlett hadn't understood what Prissy had meant at the time but now she did. It actually hurt to see how much everything had changed. Scarlett knew now that if one doesn't see the reality one can pretend that it was still the way one remembered it. In a moment of clarity Scarlett knew that was why Ashley had wanted to move to New York. If he had been in New York he would not have to accept that their world was destroyed. He could pretend at least in his mind that the South was as he remembered it. Maybe he would have been better off in New York. They would never know.
Will and Careen still looked like they were still in love. Their boys were almost grown. Scarlett could see the love between the parents and their children. The boys looked mostly like their father but Scarlett could see flashes of Careen in their smiles and their mannerisms. Scarlett was happy for her sister. As Scarlett thought about the fact that Careen had only three children, she decided that Rhett must have told Will about preventatives. For Careen had only been twenty-seven when Sean was born. As they drove away from Tara in the carriage Rhett had bought all those years ago, Scarlett decided that she looked younger than Careen also and her husband was more handsome than Will and definitely richer.
As everyone had gotten on the last train back to Atlanta Rhett had put his arm around her, which certainly wasn't proper, and pulled her to him. As always, he knew just what she was thinking and feeling. He would let her grieve for her loss but not for very long before he started teasing and harassing her. She smiled. She knew her husband as well as he knew her now. Scarlett noticed that Prissy looked like she felt. All Scarlett could think was, 'Let's go home.'
That night at the hotel as Scarlett was getting ready for bed and brushing her hair its one hundred strokes, she decided she was still a shallow person. She shouldn't be comparing her looks and her husband to her sisters' but she had and she, of course, had been the winner.
Rhett laid on the bed watching his wife and wondered what she was thinking. He smiled when he saw the expression on her face which he now knew was her having a moment of conscience then he smiled bigger when as he had expected she dismissed 'those troublesome thoughts.' Just like that she returned to her selfish, self-centered self. She was kinder, nicer and more concerned about other people but deep in her core she was the same girl he had fallen in love with all those years ago.
On the train trip back to Hartford, Rhett and Scarlett assured Henry that they didn't want him to move out of their home. He was their Uncle now and he was welcome to stay as long as he wanted. He didn't move out but it was plain to anyone that he had lost all his zest for living. He loved his great nephews but it had been Melanie that he had been living for. He was fond of Rhett and Scarlett and all their children but he didn't love them. Less than a month later Henry Hamilton died in his sleep.
In his things, Rhett found instructions on what to do with his body and his will. Henry didn't want to be buried in the South. He wanted to be buried in Hartford. It was where he had spent his happiest days. He had bought a plot right after Melanie had passed away. Beau, Wade and their families came from Boston. They had a graveside service. Wade and Beau both spoke and then their Great Uncle was buried. Henry had left each boy a little bit more than a hundred dollars each. He would be missed by everyone in the family. Scarlett and Rhett knew his last days had been his happiest.
That April the Butlers had a memorial service for Melanie Wilkes on their back lawn. Everyone in Hartford was invited. Charles Johnson and his wife attended. He talked about what a great writing partner she was. All the children she had taught at the school attended. A lot of people from the community attended. Scarlett and Rhett were pleased with the turn out. Scarlett knew that Melanie would be surely missed by everyone who knew her. It being a memorial service Rhett did not try to extort money out of the attendee although quite a few people gave him small amounts of cash for the school. Rhett knew Melanie would have been so honored.
That night Scarlett had a dream about Melanie. She dreamed that Melanie was in a beautiful city that had an ethereal air about it. Melanie looked so beautiful. As beautiful as she had on her wedding day. She looked so very happy. There by her side was Ashley. Ashley from before the war. Ashley looked like a golden knight. Ashley looked so confident and assured. It was a happy Ashley. They were walking down the road away from Scarlett. Scarlett hollered at them but they didn't hear her. She kept calling Melanie until she woke Rhett up.
Rhett pulled her closer and murmured soothing words to her. Rhett knew what had upset her for he had the same dream. He wanted to call Melanie back also but he knew they were just being selfish. Melanie was finally with the person she wanted to spend eternity with. Rhett knew that they would feel better knowing that Ashley had been better off on the other side. Melanie had sent them this message to let them know that she was happy and with Ashley.
The Butlers continued to have their annual picnic for the Asylum children. Rhett continued to extort money out of his rich acquaintances. He had even made a donation in the name of Melanie Wilkes that year. He chided himself as he was writing the check by saying, 'You are just getting to be an old, sentimental fool.' Nonetheless it had made him so happy when Scarlett gushed over him when he told her what he had done.
Rhett and Scarlett and their extended families went sailing on Rhett's new yacht that summer. Everyone oohed and aahed over the newest version of The Katie. Eugenia had a little girl that she named, Melanie Victoria, that summer and Richard was pleased. Scarlett was just glad her daughters weren't as fertile as she had been or maybe Rhett had told them about ways to prevent pregnancies.
The summer was very hard on the couple for lots of people would stop them on the street and tell them how wonderful their friend, Melanie, had been. Scarlett and Rhett knew it was true. They were pleased that Melanie had touched so many lives in a positive way. Yet every time someone had extended their sympathies it had been a reminder that Melanie was no longer with them.
Rhett and Scarlett were Christmas shopping in early September at an open market when Scarlett saw Belle Watling. Talk about a blast from the past. Scarlett grabbed Rhett's arm. She whispered, "Look!"
Rhett saw Belle and her companion. Her escort was none other than Ethan Russell. Rhett couldn't believe it. Rhett was standing there gawking. Scarlett pulled him back behind a display of scarfs. The two of them stared at Belle Watling and Ethan Russell as they were walking down Main Street. The couple was oblivious of anyone else. Rhett felt like a fool hiding behind some scarfs but he couldn't bring himself to step out and show himself.
Then he heard Scarlett whisper, "Who is he? He seems to be in love with her."
In a stunned voice Rhett said, "It is Ethan Russell. He is a cheapskate miser that I sold my half of The Painted Lady to in order to make her life miserable."
"I think you failed. She seems very happy. He seems to be gaga over her and I know gaga."
"They must have reunited when they were both in Cheyenne."
"What? Never mind. They do seem happy together. Let's go talk to them."
"Hell no." Rhett stated emphatically.
When Scarlett giggled, he knew she had been teasing. She said, "Alright. Let's just stay hidden behind these scarfs."
"Good plan."
Scarlett said with some satisfaction, "The years have not been kind to her."
Rhett smiled and said, "Not kind at all," which he knew made his wife happy, "The years haven't been much better to Mr. Russell. I guess it got to be pretty rough in the Wyoming territory."
"She looks as ugly as yesterday's trash."
Wise Rhett said, "Worse than that. She looks like she is dead and nobody had told her." In truth Rhett didn't think Belle looked that bad but he was no longer foolish Rhett.
After Ethan and Belle walked away the couple came out of their hiding spot. They watched Belle and Ethan walk away. Rhett said, "I hope they don't decide to live here."
"We just won't speak to them if they do."
"Good plan."
They both knew all about snubbing someone. They had both been snubbed enough to know exactly how to do it. They never saw Ethan or Belle again, luckily.