The last time Scarlett watched her husband competing in a horse race was months ago. That time, She sat by her mother-in-law's side as Belle flirted shamelessly with her husband. This time she sits beside both her mother-in-law and Ella.
"Mother, look! It's Uncle Rhett!" Ella points her finger straight to Rhett. Scarlett gave her a knowing smile.
"Do you think he will win today, dear?" Eleanor asks.
"Of course! Uncle Rhett is the best rider in the world!" Scarlett let out a merry laugh. No one could ride better than Rhett, not even Pa when he was alive.
"Your Uncle Rhett is indeed the best rider." Sally Brewton suddenly sits beside Ella, "And he rides the best horse in the world, too."
"Yours?" Scarlett grins.
For the past few days, Sally has been a constant companion for her. She spent most of her day by her side, doing everything possible to make her feel better. To what end, Scarlett has no idea. She is not confident enough to say Sally enjoys her company. She has never been a good company. Rhett has made sure she realized it during their time back in Atlanta.
Talking of Rhett, he has been trying to be nicer towards her. Somehow, it's still hard for her to accept his sudden change of behavior. During their time back in Atlanta, they have tried to claw each other's eyes for too many times for her to actually trust him. She was ready to give everything to him when he told her he had loved her all along.
How could someone love her and being nasty to her all the time? As if it's not enough, he left her like a fallen woman despite her begging for him. Soon after Melanie died, no less.
"Mother!" Ella shakes her arm, "They will start, mother! Uncle Rhett will ride! Do you think he will win? I think he will win!" And Ella chatters happily beside her.
She learned something in Charleston. While snapping her makes Ella stop talking, it also makes her cry. A gentle intimacy, on the other hand, stops her chattering willingly. "Yes, darling. I believe he will win." She pulled Ella closer to her and hold her palms to make sure Ella stop shaking her arm.
Her tendency to throw an outburst will not be a problem if only people do not keep an eye on her. It was as if they wanted to make sure they know when she finally trip. For some unknown reasons, the Charlestonian believes she is not worthy of Rhett Butler. All the more blow for her already ruined self-esteem.
She watched the match with bore clear in her eyes. Rhett would win, she is sure of it. Her suspicion was proven when she heard the cheery laughter of her husband. She smiled at him, playing the role of doting wife while Ella screamed and run to his husband. From the corner of her eye, she could see Anne smiling at him, in which he replied all too generously.
"Uncle Rhett! I know you will win! I told mother you will win!" Ella screamed with her hand up, letting Rhett picked her up and give her a peck on her cheeks. For a split second, the image reminded her of Bonnie. If only Bonnie is still here, she will run along with Ella.
"I believe you haven't congratulated me, my pet." Rhett finally makes an approach towards her with Ella in his arm, grinning at her.
"Yes. Congratulation." Scarlett said happily before she continued with her mock, "To Sally's horse. The best one in Charleston."
Sally laughs loudly beside her, "This is why I love your wife, Rhett. You need to be put on your toe sometimes."
"You haven't seen the half of it." He chuckles.
She looked around to see where Anne Hampton is. Surely the young lady would be around to catch her husband in every chance. Her smile suddenly lit when Colum got caught by her eyes. "Colum!" She screamed and run past Rhett toward her cousin.
"Who is it?" Sally raised her eyebrow at Rhett. Scarlett's last rumor is still fresh in Charlestonian's mind. It won't do her any good to be caught with another man so soon.
"Her cousin. A priest. The one who sent me the letter. I called for him here. she is low spirited these days." Rhett explained and smiled at the image of Scarlett hugging her cousin. It was long since the last time he has seen her in full spirit, and it feels good to see her smile, even if he was not the one on the receiving end.
"Being divorced could do it to a woman." Sally remarked.
Rhett watched as she grabbed Colum by his arm, almost dragging him to meet her daughter. "Colum, this is my husband, Rhett Butler, my daughter, Ella, my mother in law, Mrs. Eleanor, and this one is Ms. Sally Brewton." She introduced him, "Everyone, this is my cousin Colum O'Hara."
"It's good to finally meet you, father." Rhett gives him his hand. Scarlett raised her eyebrow suspiciously. Her mind wanders to what she just said earlier. She never mentioned to Rhett that Colum is a priest.
"What are you doing here in Charleston, Colum?"
"You left without words, Katie Scarlett. We are worried, so I decided to give you a visit. This is Ella?" He tried to look at Ella's shy face, which was buried on Rhett's shoulder.
"Yes, this one is Ella, and I have another, but he is at school. His name is Wade. You will like him, he is as brave as Pa! Will you be staying long? You should join us for dinner so you could meet Wade." She chattered almost carelessly as Ella. Rhett shakes his head. She has been quiet for so long it feels good to finally hear her chattering.
The Charlestonian is not making it easy on her. Besides Sally, everyone is waiting for her to fall in her attempt to be accepted in polite society. Her Robillard blood could not help her after the stunt she pulled with Ashley the last time.
"I think I will stay for a day or two, and yes for dinner, if you don't mind, Mrs. Butler." Colum turned his head to face Eleanor. Giving Scarlett a sudden realization that she doesn't own the place she is staying. She is a guest of Eleanor Butler here in Charleston.
"Of course you are invited for dinner, father." Scarlett beamed with a smile.
The ladies of Charleston are walking towards them. Scarlett makes this an excuse to drag her cousin further from her family. She looked around as soon as they are far from Rhett, making sure the man in question is not within reach, "You are the one who told Rhett, aren't you?" She accuses him.
"He needs to know about his child, aroon. You and the child don't deserve to live in disgrace if I could help it." He explains.
"I don't want to be with him, Colum. I want to go with you to Ireland and start a new life with my children." She run her eyes to ground beneath her, "I love him, I do. But I don't feel like myself ever since I'm here and it feels dreadful."
Colum looked at her with pity. It is apparent she doesn't seem like herself. Scarlett before her divorce and the woman beside him looks like a different person. While her beauty is still remarkable, something about her seems broken.
"Have you told your husband about this?"
Scarlett shook her head, "It's no use. This is his city, his mother and family are here, he won't leave and I don't want to stay."
"Talk to your husband, Scarlett. He could make it easier for you to live here. He has given your marriage a chance. You should give him one." Colum pointed his finger at Rhett, "I could see a smitten gentleman over there. He is smitten by you. He will do right by you this time."
"He threatened me!" She snapped.
"Talk to him about it. If he still treated you badly, I will call him out and take you away to Ireland." Colum caresses the top of her head.
"You can't kill people! You're a priest." She giggles.
"I'm your family before I'm a priest, aroon."
"Do you like being in Charleston, Ella?" Scarlett lies beside Ella on her bed in the room they made a nursery. Her hand rested around Ella's head.
"I love Charleston, Mother. You're never angry here in Charleston." She smiles, "And I don't have to share my bed with Suzie. I hate Suzie. she is so mean."
Scarlett laughed, trying to hide the pain she felt at her honesty. It was true she is never angry here in Charleston, especially compared to their stay in Atlanta. This is the first time she actually listened to her. Rhett is right, after all. Even a cat could mother their children better than her.
"I'm glad you like it here. Do you want another story?" Ella shook her head. "Goodnight, Mama."
"Goodnight, darling."
Scarlett walked toward Wade's room and peeked at his door. Her son is on his bed, reading another book. She hasn't seen Wade spent his time with Rhett ever since he arrived in Charleston. He would make a good companion for Wade. Book is not really her choice of fun, although she hadn't had any pleasure these days.
"Has the school been troubling you?" Wade looked up from her book and look at her with a smile.
"No. I was just reading this book about Rene Descartes. Do you know his infamous word mother?" Realization struck him, and he smiled at her.
"You know I never read those books, but I will listen if you wish to tell. I know your Aunt Melly used to discuss books with you. You could discuss them with me or Uncle Rhett now."
Wade stayed silent, but he moves his body so his mother could lay beside him, "You've grown into a fine man. He must be very proud of you. So am I, in that matter."
"Mother." He called.
"Yes, Wade?"
"Are we going to stay here long? I mean, you registered me into school here. Can I assume we won't be going back to Atlanta or Tara?" Wade played with his finger, his eyes looking down at the book as he is afraid to look into his mother's eyes. She never snapped or angry these days, but this one feels a bit too personal for him.
"Don't you like Charleston? Ella just told me she loves this city."
Wade shakes his head, "I like the school and the city, mother. It's just-." He stops.
"You miss Atlanta, don't you? It must be hard for you. We've lived there for so long and you must have missed Beau." Just like Wade, she also missed Atlanta. Not for the city and the old guard, they were never a good friend to her. No, she missed her freedom to do whatever she wishes. It is suffocating here in Charleston.
"It's not me, mother. It's you." He whispered loud enough for her to hear. Her heart suddenly stopped beating for a second. She had tried to be a better mother ever since the dinner when Wade defended her. She felt ashamed of herself, defended by the very son she has abandoned most of his life.
"You don't like to be here with me?"
"No! I like to stay with you, mother. Anywhere." He throws his look to his book, "I heard you and Uncle Rhett fight when Mammy died. I'm worried about you, mother."
"It's my job to be worried about you, not the other way around." She pats the back of his palm.
"I heard what he said, mother. It was nasty. We don't have to stay here, do we, mother? We could leave. I will protect you, mother. I promise."
"Darling, I don't need you to worry about me. You know I will manage just fine. You shouldn't worry about things like this, Wade. It's my problem, and I will deal with it." Scarlett knew she sounds harsher than she ought to, but she couldn't help to feel helpless with the situation she finds herself in.
"We can leave him, mother." He whispered.
"We could, but I choose to stay here and fight my battle rather than running away. It won't be so bad, Wade. Your Uncle Rhett and I decide to try again. I promise this one will be better."
To be perfectly honest to herself, she doesn't want to stay in this dreadful city with Rhett. But Wade is not supposed to know about it. The boy has had too many problems at his young age. He was supposed to play and make mischief with the other boys his age. She won't drag him in the mess that is her marriage.
"I hate him for what he said to you." He put his head on her shoulder.
"He has been the only father figure both you and Ella have, darling. Whatever happens between Rhett and me will not change the fact he loves you, and it hurts him to hear what you just said. It would hurt me if you said you hate me."
"I have, once. When Aunt Melly died." He whispered, and she gasps in pain. Not for the word but the realization that he has every right to hate her. She has kept them out of her side as soon as they were born. It only natural they don't have the bond a mother and child should have.
"I told Uncle Will about it." He continues.
"I hope he's not angry at you about it. I deserve it."
Wade looked at her with disbelief. Mother should be angry. After everything she has done to make sure they survive, she doesn't deserve to be hate. Mother deserved to be respected and loved. Things that Uncle Rhett never did to mother, even when he was a young boy.
He indeed hated her when she left for Charleston after Aunt Melly died, but it was more because he needed someone and she is not around to help him. Mother left because Uncle Rhett left her. She chased him here to Charleston. Uncle Rhett should take the blame instead of her.
"I hated you for being selfish, but I remember what Aunt Melly said."
"What did she say?"
"She said you always work because you are worried about not having money. You are worried that Ella and I will be hungry like I did during the war. And I thought someone who worried about others couldn't be selfish. She must be kind and loving. And that's what you are."
Hearing this, she broke. A loud sob coming out of her mouth as she hugged him tightly. "I'm sorry, Wade. Mother is sorry."
Guilt covered her when she thought of the times when they were younger. Both of her children never felt any motherly affection from her because she was too busy with herself. She has lost thirteen years of Wade's life running around town having fun.
Unlike this baby, she never wanted any of them, but both Ella and Wade don't deserve to be treated unwanted. They are the epitome of every mistake she has made in the past, but they're not a mistake. They are her children as much as the baby inside her.
Suddenly she understands what Rhett must have felt like when Bonnie was born. The reason why he crawled on every old guard in Atlanta for Bonnie's sake. It was all Because he loved Bonnie like she loves her children right now.
The feeling warmth her heart like she never felt before. This must be what Melanie feels every time she is around the children. It makes sense to her now, why she would risk her life for another baby. She caressed Wade's wet cheeks and touched her forehead against his before whispering, "Don't you worry about anything. Mother will do right by you this time."
[A/N] Merry Christmas and Happy Holiday to everyone! Yay! I sneak some time to edit the story during the holiday. My exam is coming after New Year, and I have so many homework, so it doesn't feel like holiday to me T.T. Thank you so much for those who have read and review my story. Please, let me know what you think of it. Once again, thank you!
Thank you to Kellin09 for your review, I thought the law hasn't changed in 1873 so I made it that way, but your review is enlightening since I've been wondering for quite some time now.
My dearest mistress, Rhett and Scarlett will have some issues throughout the story. I wanted to make them realized their mistake and grow together. Wish me luck
To Jess, I thought it was the same color! Thank you so much, I will try to avoid the same mistake.
My biggest thank you to Jay Waggs. To be completely honest, you almost stop me from updating last night lol. I realized I used too many 'but' and 'and', it must be confusing. I have learned English for a few years and I will learn more. Your review is not hurtful. I went through this chapter trying to find my mistakes and make them right. I have felt odd when re-reading my own fic, and I have to apologize to my fellow readers because I didn't try to change them. Your review feels like a slap, one that I need. Thank you so much. It will take some time for me to finally make a good one, please bear with me. I intend to try my best. Once again, thank you.
And last, to my guest1 Protos Heis, I didn't compare them T.T they are both a good writer. Scarlett's character in Gone With the Wind reminds me so much of myself, that is why I love her so. I realized that the appeal of GWTW is the tragedy. Tbh, I don't think Rhett and Scarlett have a chance of happy ending with their character, so her story is PERFECT. What I like about Ripley's work is how she make Scarett grows, but that's all there is to it. Anyway, if you want to collab for this crossover with Harry Potter, let me know . Perhaps we could ship Scarlett with Voldy.