Chapter 3
"My heart and yours…forever together" Duke had said when he surprised her with it. Scarlett put the chain back in the box and placed it in her duffel. Scarlett also threw her photo album and her journal in the bag before zippering it up. She was making a final check to make sure she packed what she needed when someone knocked on her door.
"Come in" Scarlett answered and Lady Jaye entered.
"Going on an assignment?" Lady Jaye asked curiously.
"You could call it that. I'm going to see Duke." Scarlett answered softly.
"Oh, um…well…good." Lady Jaye answered uncertain of what to say.
"You know it's crazy…I've never been afraid to take on Cobra goons, but here I am scared to see Duke." Scarlett sighed as a small tear escaped from her eye.
"No, it's not crazy. You haven't seen Duke in awhile and he's a changed man. Of course you would be scared." Lady Jaye tried to sooth Scarlett.
"I hope not too changed…" Scarlett trailed off.
"Well, I wish you my best. Please call if there's any change or if you need anything." Lady Jaye hugged her friend.
"I will. I promise." Scarlett hugged her friend back.
"Good, I'll walk you out." Lady Jaye smiled. Scarlett nodded and the two headed for the door.
"I really hope some good comes of this visit." Lady Jaye wished.
"Me too." Scarlett hoped as she locked the door. The two walked to the main entrance together.
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Scarlett came off the plane with a furrowed brow. Her plane had been delayed and now she was later than she had planned to be. She pulled out her cellphone and called the Falcone residence. Duke's sister, Drew, answered the phone and was excited that Scarlett was on her way. Scarlett hailed a cab and silently got in. She had no idea what to expect when she got to their ranch.
A half hour later, the cab pulled up to the front of the ranch house. Mrs. Falcone and Drew must have heard the car because they came out and stood on the porch. Scarlett retrieved her duffel from the trunk and met Duke's mother and half sister on the porch.
"Welcome, dear." Mrs. Falcone warmly smiled. Scarlett dropped her duffel and gave the woman a hug.
"Hello, Mrs. Falcone." Scarlett politely greeted her back. The two women parted.
"Hi, Scarlett." Drew greeted her. Scarlett gave Drew a hug.
"I can't believe how much you have grown since I last saw you." Scarlett commented. Drew was fourteen and already an inch or so taller than her.
"Yeah, I want to play basketball so hopefully I'll even grow a little taller." Drew shyly answered. The three stood there for a few uncomfortable moments before Scarlett spoke again.
"Is Duke inside?" Scarlett asked anxiously. Her heart fluttered uncontrollably.
"He…" Mrs. Falcone started when a loud banging sound from inside startled them all. Duke's step father angrily banged the front screen open and stormed out onto the porch.
"Sam just called. Conrad has managed to get himself tangled in another mess." He grumbled.
"Not again." Mrs. Falcone cried.
"Afraid so, Sarah." He sighed and then turned to Scarlett.
"Well, hello there, Scarlett." He acknowledged.
"Hello, Mr. Falcone." Scarlett nodded.
"Please call me Jack." He offered.
"Ok, Jack." Scarlett tried it out.
"You made it just in time to see Conrad in action. Get in the car." Jack ordered indicating the silver jeep. Feeling like she was ten years old, she obeyed. Jack got in the driver's seat and the two sped towards the local bar. They drove in silence for about 10 minutes before Jack made conversation.
"It's good to see you again, Scarlett. I just wish it was under different circumstances." Jack spoke.
"If I had known things were like this I might have come sooner. I'm ashamed I didn't." Scarlett bowed her head down.
"Don't be. I know it must have been hard for you just like the rest of us." Jack sighed and pulled into a parking lot. They both got out of the jeep and could hear the breaking of bottles and other various crashing sounds from inside.
"Come on, let's go see what trouble Conrad has gotten himself into." Jack sighed and entered the bar with Scarlett behind him.
Scarlett was immediately hit with the smell of booze and smoke. The air was stale and still and at first made her eyes water. She followed Jack as he made his way towards the back. Scarlett's heart skipped what seemed like a few beats when she got her first good look at Duke. He was holding a man against the wall by his shirt. Duke's teeth were gritted and his eyes were narrow and cold. His breathing was hard and sweat beads were formed on his forehead. Scarlett had only seen Duke look this angry and hostile when he was dealing with Cobra.
"Conrad, that's enough!" Jack shouted angrily. Duke turned and looked at Jack and then turned his attention back to his prisoner. With a low growl he violently shoved the man away and let him go away unharmed. The man took a few seconds to straighten out his clothing and to catch his breath.
"Old man came to bail you out again." The man scoffed before leaving with a few others who had stayed to see the fight. Conrad punched the wall leaving a hole. Scarlett stayed back behind Jack.
"Conrad, you're out of control." Jack shook his head.
"Stop getting into my business!" Conrad shouted back and knocked a chair to the ground.
"Your mother is my business and you are making her worried sick!" Jack yelled back. Duke pushed over another chair and stumbled a few feet away.
"We're going home." Jack said calmly and escorted Duke to the car. Scarlett followed behind them. Jack let go and Duke drunkenly stumbled the rest of the way. Jack put Duke in the backseat to lay down. Scarlett got into the passenger side very shaken up about what she witnessed.
The three drove home in silence. Duke passed out. They got back to the house and Jack helped Duke inside. He sat Duke at the kitchen table and poured him a cup of coffee that Duke's mother had prepared. Scarlett chose to stand in the corner hoping to blend in with the kitchen cabinets. Duke drank it quickly and was soon on his second cup.
"I need to go to bed. Keep your eye on him." Jack told Scarlett. She nodded. Duke turned around to see whom his stepfather had been talking to.
"Oh, hi." Duke sheepishly spoke.
"Hi," Scarlett whispered back. She took a seat across from him. Duke regarded her with interest. Chills ran up and down her spine. She felt so strange. Here she was with Duke and he didn't know who she was.
"Were you at the bar?" Duke asked letting the caffeine take effect. Scarlett nodded. "Sorry you had to see that." He sighed sadly. "Those guys get me so angry. They're always on my case!" he shouted angrily and banged his fists on the table.
"I'm sorry to hear that." Scarlett spoke calmly. She put her hands on top of his, but Duke quickly drew them away. He stood up and stumbled to the sink to clean it. Scarlett stood up too, not sure of where he would go next. Duke turned around and stumbled towards her.
"Look, I know you were looking forward to tonight. I was too. I don't think I've seen anyone as beautiful as you before at a bar. But, honestly, I'm not up for sex tonight." Duke blatantly spoke and pulled Scarlett towards him by her waist. Scarlett gave out a cry of surprise and shock. "Which is a shame because I'm sure you're great in bed." He smiled and leaned in to kiss her. Scarlett, horrified, pushed him away.
"Don't be mad! Give me your number and I'll call you another time!" Duke begged.
"You've got it all wrong. I am not some whore you picked up at the bar. I'm…I'm…I came to see you and help you with your memories." Scarlett cried in shock of the whole evening. She hadn't even realized that tears had escaped from her eyes until she felt them fall onto her cheeks.
"Oh, geez. I'm sorry. You said you were at the bar and I just assumed…" Duke trailed off. Scarlett wasn't sure if she was more upset that Duke didn't seem to remember her at all or at the fact that Duke seemed to bring women home from bars every night.
"I served with you." Scarlett spoke as she wiped her tears away with her hand.
"Women don't serve on the front lines." Duke scoffed.
"In 1988 they do." Scarlett snapped at Duke's chauvinistic remark.
"Oh…" Duke softly replied and bowed his head down.
"I'm sorry I shouldn't have snapped." Scarlett apologized immediately.
"It's so hard. Half of the time I don't know what year it is. People come up to me so much older than I expect." Duke sighed sadly. "There is still a huge chunk of my memory missing. It's just so frustrating." Duke grimaced.
"Well, maybe in time I can help you get those memories back." Scarlett hopefully replied with a small smile forming on her lips.
"I would like that, Miss…oh I don't even know your name. Please forgive me." Duke sighed upset.
"Scarlett, the name's Scarlett." She introduced herself and stuck out her hand. Duke swiftly shook it.
"Like Scarlett O'Hara?" Duke asked.
"Don't even start with that…" Scarlett warned with a smile. Duke gave a chuckle.
"How long are you going to stay?" Duke asked.
"As long as you need me." Scarlett answered and then looked up alarmed. That had not come out right. Duke sat back and looked at her strangely too. "I mean as long as I need to stay…until you get some more memories back." Scarlett corrected her statement.
"Well, I don't know about you but I am exhausted." Duke yawned. Scarlett followed him out into the living room and then up a few steps to the second floor. He stopped at the third door on the right and indicated for Scarlett to enter the room. Her duffel was already inside. Duke turned on the light to reveal a room decorated in peach and cream colors. It was where she always stayed when she visited Duke.
"You know where the bathroom is and all?" Duke asked.
"Oh, yes…I have stayed in here before." Scarlett answered making Duke more puzzled.
"Then I guess you know my room is right across the hall then." Duke scratched his head. Scarlett nodded.
"Ok, well, goodnight." Duke parted and turned towards the door.
"Goodnight" Scarlett smiled back and unzipped her duffel.
"Oh, Scarlett?" Duke asked turning around.
"Yes?" Scarlett answered.
"I'm really sorry about the whole bar thing…and what happened afterwards in the kitchen…about you here for…" Duke trailed off.
"It's alright. I've been drunk before. I know it's not when you are in the right state of mind." Scarlett smiled.
"I should have known though. I mean, beautiful girls like you don't hang around in low class country bars." Duke sighed and then froze as he realized what he just said. "I, uh, hope you don't mind me saying that. It kind of just came out."
"No, it's alright. What girl doesn't like being called beautiful?" Scarlett chuckled.
"True, true. Well, goodnight." Duke sighed and this time really left for his room. Scarlett found her nightshirt and quickly changed into it. She had not realized the time was so late. She yawned and climbed into the bed. She had a warm feeling inside that soon got replaced by the anxiety that had plagued her since the accident. Would Duke remember her ever? Would Duke recover more memories because of her? All her questions melted together as her mind drifted off to sleep.
Scarlett awoke to the smell of something wonderful coming from the kitchen. She stretched out in her bed and rubbed her eyes. She swung her legs over the side of the bed and quickly dressed. She peeked her head out into the hallway and the smell became stronger.
"My heart and yours…forever together" Duke had said when he surprised her with it. Scarlett put the chain back in the box and placed it in her duffel. Scarlett also threw her photo album and her journal in the bag before zippering it up. She was making a final check to make sure she packed what she needed when someone knocked on her door.
"Come in" Scarlett answered and Lady Jaye entered.
"Going on an assignment?" Lady Jaye asked curiously.
"You could call it that. I'm going to see Duke." Scarlett answered softly.
"Oh, um…well…good." Lady Jaye answered uncertain of what to say.
"You know it's crazy…I've never been afraid to take on Cobra goons, but here I am scared to see Duke." Scarlett sighed as a small tear escaped from her eye.
"No, it's not crazy. You haven't seen Duke in awhile and he's a changed man. Of course you would be scared." Lady Jaye tried to sooth Scarlett.
"I hope not too changed…" Scarlett trailed off.
"Well, I wish you my best. Please call if there's any change or if you need anything." Lady Jaye hugged her friend.
"I will. I promise." Scarlett hugged her friend back.
"Good, I'll walk you out." Lady Jaye smiled. Scarlett nodded and the two headed for the door.
"I really hope some good comes of this visit." Lady Jaye wished.
"Me too." Scarlett hoped as she locked the door. The two walked to the main entrance together.
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Scarlett came off the plane with a furrowed brow. Her plane had been delayed and now she was later than she had planned to be. She pulled out her cellphone and called the Falcone residence. Duke's sister, Drew, answered the phone and was excited that Scarlett was on her way. Scarlett hailed a cab and silently got in. She had no idea what to expect when she got to their ranch.
A half hour later, the cab pulled up to the front of the ranch house. Mrs. Falcone and Drew must have heard the car because they came out and stood on the porch. Scarlett retrieved her duffel from the trunk and met Duke's mother and half sister on the porch.
"Welcome, dear." Mrs. Falcone warmly smiled. Scarlett dropped her duffel and gave the woman a hug.
"Hello, Mrs. Falcone." Scarlett politely greeted her back. The two women parted.
"Hi, Scarlett." Drew greeted her. Scarlett gave Drew a hug.
"I can't believe how much you have grown since I last saw you." Scarlett commented. Drew was fourteen and already an inch or so taller than her.
"Yeah, I want to play basketball so hopefully I'll even grow a little taller." Drew shyly answered. The three stood there for a few uncomfortable moments before Scarlett spoke again.
"Is Duke inside?" Scarlett asked anxiously. Her heart fluttered uncontrollably.
"He…" Mrs. Falcone started when a loud banging sound from inside startled them all. Duke's step father angrily banged the front screen open and stormed out onto the porch.
"Sam just called. Conrad has managed to get himself tangled in another mess." He grumbled.
"Not again." Mrs. Falcone cried.
"Afraid so, Sarah." He sighed and then turned to Scarlett.
"Well, hello there, Scarlett." He acknowledged.
"Hello, Mr. Falcone." Scarlett nodded.
"Please call me Jack." He offered.
"Ok, Jack." Scarlett tried it out.
"You made it just in time to see Conrad in action. Get in the car." Jack ordered indicating the silver jeep. Feeling like she was ten years old, she obeyed. Jack got in the driver's seat and the two sped towards the local bar. They drove in silence for about 10 minutes before Jack made conversation.
"It's good to see you again, Scarlett. I just wish it was under different circumstances." Jack spoke.
"If I had known things were like this I might have come sooner. I'm ashamed I didn't." Scarlett bowed her head down.
"Don't be. I know it must have been hard for you just like the rest of us." Jack sighed and pulled into a parking lot. They both got out of the jeep and could hear the breaking of bottles and other various crashing sounds from inside.
"Come on, let's go see what trouble Conrad has gotten himself into." Jack sighed and entered the bar with Scarlett behind him.
Scarlett was immediately hit with the smell of booze and smoke. The air was stale and still and at first made her eyes water. She followed Jack as he made his way towards the back. Scarlett's heart skipped what seemed like a few beats when she got her first good look at Duke. He was holding a man against the wall by his shirt. Duke's teeth were gritted and his eyes were narrow and cold. His breathing was hard and sweat beads were formed on his forehead. Scarlett had only seen Duke look this angry and hostile when he was dealing with Cobra.
"Conrad, that's enough!" Jack shouted angrily. Duke turned and looked at Jack and then turned his attention back to his prisoner. With a low growl he violently shoved the man away and let him go away unharmed. The man took a few seconds to straighten out his clothing and to catch his breath.
"Old man came to bail you out again." The man scoffed before leaving with a few others who had stayed to see the fight. Conrad punched the wall leaving a hole. Scarlett stayed back behind Jack.
"Conrad, you're out of control." Jack shook his head.
"Stop getting into my business!" Conrad shouted back and knocked a chair to the ground.
"Your mother is my business and you are making her worried sick!" Jack yelled back. Duke pushed over another chair and stumbled a few feet away.
"We're going home." Jack said calmly and escorted Duke to the car. Scarlett followed behind them. Jack let go and Duke drunkenly stumbled the rest of the way. Jack put Duke in the backseat to lay down. Scarlett got into the passenger side very shaken up about what she witnessed.
The three drove home in silence. Duke passed out. They got back to the house and Jack helped Duke inside. He sat Duke at the kitchen table and poured him a cup of coffee that Duke's mother had prepared. Scarlett chose to stand in the corner hoping to blend in with the kitchen cabinets. Duke drank it quickly and was soon on his second cup.
"I need to go to bed. Keep your eye on him." Jack told Scarlett. She nodded. Duke turned around to see whom his stepfather had been talking to.
"Oh, hi." Duke sheepishly spoke.
"Hi," Scarlett whispered back. She took a seat across from him. Duke regarded her with interest. Chills ran up and down her spine. She felt so strange. Here she was with Duke and he didn't know who she was.
"Were you at the bar?" Duke asked letting the caffeine take effect. Scarlett nodded. "Sorry you had to see that." He sighed sadly. "Those guys get me so angry. They're always on my case!" he shouted angrily and banged his fists on the table.
"I'm sorry to hear that." Scarlett spoke calmly. She put her hands on top of his, but Duke quickly drew them away. He stood up and stumbled to the sink to clean it. Scarlett stood up too, not sure of where he would go next. Duke turned around and stumbled towards her.
"Look, I know you were looking forward to tonight. I was too. I don't think I've seen anyone as beautiful as you before at a bar. But, honestly, I'm not up for sex tonight." Duke blatantly spoke and pulled Scarlett towards him by her waist. Scarlett gave out a cry of surprise and shock. "Which is a shame because I'm sure you're great in bed." He smiled and leaned in to kiss her. Scarlett, horrified, pushed him away.
"Don't be mad! Give me your number and I'll call you another time!" Duke begged.
"You've got it all wrong. I am not some whore you picked up at the bar. I'm…I'm…I came to see you and help you with your memories." Scarlett cried in shock of the whole evening. She hadn't even realized that tears had escaped from her eyes until she felt them fall onto her cheeks.
"Oh, geez. I'm sorry. You said you were at the bar and I just assumed…" Duke trailed off. Scarlett wasn't sure if she was more upset that Duke didn't seem to remember her at all or at the fact that Duke seemed to bring women home from bars every night.
"I served with you." Scarlett spoke as she wiped her tears away with her hand.
"Women don't serve on the front lines." Duke scoffed.
"In 1988 they do." Scarlett snapped at Duke's chauvinistic remark.
"Oh…" Duke softly replied and bowed his head down.
"I'm sorry I shouldn't have snapped." Scarlett apologized immediately.
"It's so hard. Half of the time I don't know what year it is. People come up to me so much older than I expect." Duke sighed sadly. "There is still a huge chunk of my memory missing. It's just so frustrating." Duke grimaced.
"Well, maybe in time I can help you get those memories back." Scarlett hopefully replied with a small smile forming on her lips.
"I would like that, Miss…oh I don't even know your name. Please forgive me." Duke sighed upset.
"Scarlett, the name's Scarlett." She introduced herself and stuck out her hand. Duke swiftly shook it.
"Like Scarlett O'Hara?" Duke asked.
"Don't even start with that…" Scarlett warned with a smile. Duke gave a chuckle.
"How long are you going to stay?" Duke asked.
"As long as you need me." Scarlett answered and then looked up alarmed. That had not come out right. Duke sat back and looked at her strangely too. "I mean as long as I need to stay…until you get some more memories back." Scarlett corrected her statement.
"Well, I don't know about you but I am exhausted." Duke yawned. Scarlett followed him out into the living room and then up a few steps to the second floor. He stopped at the third door on the right and indicated for Scarlett to enter the room. Her duffel was already inside. Duke turned on the light to reveal a room decorated in peach and cream colors. It was where she always stayed when she visited Duke.
"You know where the bathroom is and all?" Duke asked.
"Oh, yes…I have stayed in here before." Scarlett answered making Duke more puzzled.
"Then I guess you know my room is right across the hall then." Duke scratched his head. Scarlett nodded.
"Ok, well, goodnight." Duke parted and turned towards the door.
"Goodnight" Scarlett smiled back and unzipped her duffel.
"Oh, Scarlett?" Duke asked turning around.
"Yes?" Scarlett answered.
"I'm really sorry about the whole bar thing…and what happened afterwards in the kitchen…about you here for…" Duke trailed off.
"It's alright. I've been drunk before. I know it's not when you are in the right state of mind." Scarlett smiled.
"I should have known though. I mean, beautiful girls like you don't hang around in low class country bars." Duke sighed and then froze as he realized what he just said. "I, uh, hope you don't mind me saying that. It kind of just came out."
"No, it's alright. What girl doesn't like being called beautiful?" Scarlett chuckled.
"True, true. Well, goodnight." Duke sighed and this time really left for his room. Scarlett found her nightshirt and quickly changed into it. She had not realized the time was so late. She yawned and climbed into the bed. She had a warm feeling inside that soon got replaced by the anxiety that had plagued her since the accident. Would Duke remember her ever? Would Duke recover more memories because of her? All her questions melted together as her mind drifted off to sleep.
Scarlett awoke to the smell of something wonderful coming from the kitchen. She stretched out in her bed and rubbed her eyes. She swung her legs over the side of the bed and quickly dressed. She peeked her head out into the hallway and the smell became stronger.