This one came out months ago, and has been waiting to come out. It gives us a twist since Scarlett doesn't have attachment problems with Wade. On the contrary. She is an exemplary mother...
She observed the tiny hands of her new-born and wonderment flooded her.
For months she had felt alienated from her body. The black crepe began the sensation as though this whole catastrophe was a nightmare soon to be over at the wake of a dawn that never came. Or was it the wedding and the nights to follow that made her feel an alien in her world?
What had she done?
The growth of her abdomen, the movements inside her went almost unnoticed, but this tiny crumpled red looking creature crying from the top of his lounges only minutes ago, and now latched to her breast was a whole different thing.
She had created a human being.
There was no father, as far as she was concerned.
Those horrible painful humiliating nights had nothing to do with the small baby in her hands.
This was her miracle.
Her father entered the room. Her mother and Mammy did the delivery, and she could hear Gerald's booming voice demanding to see her as soon as her mother was out of the room. He hardly gave the baby a look when his concerned eyes observed her -
"How are you, me child? Couldn't bear to hear you from the corridor. Worse than when your ma was in this state, for the life of me."
She smiled a bright smile at him "Isn't my baby perfect, pa? I would like to name him Gerald, but ma says that I have to give a tribute to General Hampton and that it is what his father would have wanted."
Gerald smiled at her looking at the new-born with soft eyes "It don't matter what his name is as long as he knows you are his mother, daughter of mine. I gave you me mom's name for she was too far, but I'm right here to see him. Wade Hampton is a fine southern name."
He saw it in her eyes and smiled adding "I felt the same way from the first moment I laid me eyes on you. It is the greatest joy, having a child, and a fine one you have." he stroked the baby's cheek with his thumb.
She had been in Charleston for two weeks now. The baby would wake her up every two hours.
She was tired of their insinuations regarding her constant appetite. She was thinner than ever. She did not attribute it to the shortage of sleep or to Wade's lovely appetite. No. She decided that it was her aunts grating her nerves with their stiffness and their talk of her 'irish roots'.
Her aunts were appalled at her nursing him instead of using a wet nurse. On her first Sunday morning Scarlett went into a fit when she returned from mass to find a girl nursing her son.
They were at a gathering with a few ladies to which she had brought her baby in a small basket. Looking at her little angel she decided it was time to go home. Her child and she needed Tara's air and food.
"Are there any leprechauns here in Charleston?" A silence fell through the room - "Pa always said that -"
"Scarlett darling, surely you don't believe your father's old tales" Her aunt interrupted her and laughed a tight laugh.
"Tis' well known they live in solitude, but they are drawn to shiny things and there is so much gold here. People are so rich and-" she continued with great conviction, barely holding her laughter as her drawl became thicker.
"There are no leprechauns Scarlett." her other aunt retorted and moved her head to the other lady sitting next to her. But Scarlett was on a mission and continued.
"Ooh, and tis probably because there are no buckets on the front door. If you put them on the back side of the house tis sure to bring bad luck. When I go to mass tomorrow I'll pray for your house."
"You go every day, dear?" asked a lady with dark eyes.
"Only if I feel me sins heavying on me soul" answered Scarlett, who could not remember when she'd last heard a mass, let alone went to a crass display of religious devotion lined with her dreadful brawl led to a remark of her sweet mother that must be missing both her and the newly born baby.
Not too soon, a few seconds later Prissy came and informed her that the private cart and train tickets were reserved for the same afternoon.
Her aunts raised a brow, and she furiously exclaimed- "So I can feed Wade calmly and privately".
A Mrs. Butler was at the gathering and offered to accompany their niece till Jonesborough, and she was rather unhappy at the thought that she would have to share her cart, but she knew that refusing a chaperon at her age was unheard of.
As the train began moving Mrs. Butler addressed her smiling: "Quiet the show you gave your aunties, dearie. Were you always this way?"
Scarlett blushed to the roots of her hair "I'm sure I don't know what you mean, Mrs. Butler, I-"
The lady in front of her chuckled "Leprechauns, talk of money, the water bucket AND your devoted faith? All at once?! You have no mercy and you surely take no prisoners. When have you last been to church?"
She saw the young woman's embarrassment and burst into a long and happy laughter. Some time later she dried her eyes and added "I thought so. Oh, you remind me so much of my boy - Kenny. I suppose that this Irish father of yours is more accepting than my husband" a cloud darkened her features.
Wade began to fuss.
"My angel" Scarlett cooed over him with genuine happiness, she shrugged looking up at the lady in front of her -
"Don't mind me, dearie, I've nursed each of my three children almost until their third year. I most definitely refuse to let a wet nurse cross my threshold."
As Scarlett and Wade settled happily in place, Scarlett raised her eyes and asked "How did you handle all the meddling? I love nursing him and Dr. Fontain claimed it is the best thing for him, but , well -"
"I ignored them all together. It cost me dearly. But you don't have a husband so you can do as you please with that beautiful angel you are holding."
"Mrs. Butler, would you -"
"Elisabeth Caroline, dear. Call me Cora."
"Oh, I couldn't, you're so-"
"Don't you dare call me old, or whatever other phrase you've had in mind!" charged the other lady and threw a small pillow at her.
Scarlett laughed "You're not old! My sisters are both older than you, and I'm the eldest! Well, Cora it is, would you mind if I closed my eyes a bit? If he fusses, wake me up."
"Rest dearie. He's already half napping on you."
She was tired and after a short while she found she had fallen asleep with Wade in her arms. When she awoke Mrs. Butler signaled towards some refreshments she had brought. Scarlett drank and ate happily.
Mrs. Butler smiled - "I do remember how hungry and skinny I was in those three years, each time. No one understands the amount of energy this requires, but what I wouldn't give to be able to hold my children this way again."
"Oh-" Scarlett wrinkled her forehead "Are they not well? My mother lost three of her children upon birth-"
"Oh, nothing like that. I shouldn't worry you, being so young and all, but no - Kenny and his father aren't on speaking terms for years now, and I have to juggle between the two of them. Mr. Butler doesn't allow me to see our son."
"How horrible! He forbids you to see your son? I've heard of such cases, it must be horrible for you. Just horrible!" The thought of being separated from her son shook her. For the first time she felt compassion to her core.
"See, you'll never have to deal with that kind of thing, provided you stay unmarried of course. Enjoy his infancy, it passes so quickly." The other woman sounded sad.
The serenity of Mrs. Butler's demeanor reminded her of her own mother's, so she did what she'd been doing since infancy, she smiled at the lady and asked- "Tell me a happy story" she realized her companion was going to see that son of her's "about your son when he was little. I do love stories."
Wade began whining, Scarlett blushed "I guess he needs to be changed. Prissy is not here, is she? Well, I guess I'll do it." The baby was in a bit of a mess, but Scarlett kept singing and laughing at him until he was dry and happy again.
It was a long ride, over ten hours ahead of them to Jonsboro - "Kenny used to poop in the most inconvenient moments. Dear Lord! At church, or once in the middle of a wedding ceremony of James's, my husband's, sister. A wicked person that sister is, and Kenny's howling was such a distress to James. Oh I have so many sweet memories of him creating a mess and a smell in the most awkward moments! It's as if his little belly, God bless it, knew he was going to be such a troublesome grown-up!" Cora laughed.
At the end of the trip Scarlett exchanged a hug with the woman and promised to write.
As the train left the dock Scarlett gave it one last look, she knew that the other lady had entered her heart.