Another Lost Cause III
I don't own Gone With the Wind, it's characters or any of that mess. But I'd like to, lol.
Thanks so much for all of the great reviews! !!!! J J J
"Why did you even marry me, if you had her? That's what I don't understand, Rhett." She was tired now, it had to be somewhere around 2 a.m. and things were starting to take on a dream-like state. She didn't care what she said, she just wanted to crawl under the thick blankets and sleep all of her troubles away. "I mean…she's always been there…just when I thought maybe you cared…I saw your handkerchief soaked in her bawdy perfume…and then (yawn) you leave me in the middle of the night, and I find out you've been at her house? What do you expect me to believe…" she asked as she leaned against the wall for support.
Rhett looked away and stared unseeing towards a window. "You should probably go to bed," he said finally with a heavy sigh. And before she could answer he had her lifted into his strong arms and was placing her on her bed. "But Rhett-"
"Hush, you've had enough for one day. Everything will be fine again in the morning," he disclosed swiftly, as he moved away from her bed and ultimately from her room. She at first thought of getting up and following him, but her fatigue overcame her first. She could after all get an answer from him in the morning.
* * *
But he wasn't there in the morning, and neither was Bonnie. Sickening fear coursed its way through Scarletts veins. No, he wasn't in his room…and most of his clothes were gone…as were Bonnies…
No. No, this can't be happening…surely…surely he didn't mean-
Her eyes quickly to a note laying on his bedside table.
"Scarlett,
Please forgive my abrupt departure, but I received a telegram early this morning concerning my Mothers health. I have taken Bonnie with me, for I'm sure she'll be a great comfort to her grandmother. I can't say when either of us will return however. Scarlett, we need some time apart, don't you agree? Perhaps after a duration away from one another we can come to something of a resolution. Until then, take care. If you have any requests send them to my lawyer.
-Rhett"
She looked around his room in short sporadic glances, her entire body trembling. "Damn you. Damn you, Rhett Butler! she screamed into the empty room. "You bastard…you, you unspeakable coward. You couldn't face me so you ran away, again," she continued yelling, uncaring that she was speaking to herself and any servants that cared to be eavesdropping. Just when they were coming so close…she felt sure he'd believed her. And to take Bonnie, using his sick mother as an excuse!
She collapsed into a heap on the floor. 'A lost cause,' that's what he'd called their marriage. Had he left her? Is that what he was hinting at the night before, and in his letter? "I swear to God, Rhett Butler, you will pay for this. Somehow, someway I'll get back at you, and then you'll be sorry." And with her head held high and a look of cruel determination set on her face, Scarlett O'Hara began to scheme on just how she'd bring the high and mighty Rhett Butler down a peg or two.
* * *
During the first couple of weeks Scarlett tried to think of ways to gain control over his assets, his business ventures, anything that would negatively affect him. But she met with frustration whenever she tried to reach these goals. He had everything so tightly done up and legalized it was hopeless. And adding to her frustration was the apparent case of influenza she'd picked up somewhere. At first she'd dismissed the headaches and sleeplessness, but then as she stayed sick in bed for over a week, Mammy insisted she have Dr. Meade come and have a look over her.
- "I'm what?"
"I'd say you're probably somewhere over a month. See to it that you get plenty of rest-"
"I'm pregnant?"
"Come, child, surely it's not that much of a shock…I'm sure Captain Butler will be thrilled when he comes home from his business trip," the doctor replied brusquely. That was the lie Scarlett was putting out, her pride wouldn't allow her to admit that for all practical purposes her husband had probably left her.
Then suddenly, the look of distress left her face and was replaced by a smile. So, a child had resulted from that tempestuous night. Her child. "Yes, I'm sure he will be," Scarlett replied demurely. After leaving the doctors office, Scarlett rushed home, too excited to stay concentrated on the figures at the store.
* * *
The smile of triumph that she wore upon her lips was quickly diminished by the sight of luggage sitting in the foyer. "Rhett," she whispered.
"Momma!" Scarlett looked up at the sound of Bonnie's shrill voice. "Bonnie, baby, you're home precious!" Scarlett reached down and picked up her daughter joyfully. How she'd missed her! She loved Bonnie very much in her own way, and during the past four weeks or so she'd had a chance to realize how much she really enjoyed the little girl. But her joyous reunion was soon ended by the sound of someone's throat being cleared.
Rhett had stood rooted to the ground as he saw Scarlett enter and watched the jubilant expression on her face wither. He should have been back sooner, his mother had even tried to get him to return earlier, her cold having quickly spent itself. But he needed that time; needed to put some physical space between them so that he could sort out his feelings.
How many times he'd imagined this, coming home and having Scarlett welcome him with open arms, ready to forgive and be forgiven. However, judging by the livid expression in her face, that was not to be.
"So how is your dear Mother, Rhett?" she asked with her lips twisted into a smirk.
"She's fine, why do you ask?"
"Bonnie, you run along with Mammy while Momma talks with Daddy, alright?" "Well Rhett, that was the excuse you used to run away from me with." Scarlett replied as coldly as she could muster. "This time." Why did he have to look at her that way? Why was it becoming so hard to stay angry with him, now that he was actually here? She should be tearing into him, releasing all of her pent up feelings, anger.
With sternly controlled emotions, Rhett replied. " My pet, I believe I addressed that in my farewell letter."
"Ah, that we needed some time apart. How convenient for you…to be able to drop anything at the drop of the hat simply because you can't deal with it and abandon me here…"
"I came back didn't I? I wouldn't exactly call that abandoned, Scarlett. I didn't even promise to be back this soon. In fact, I even left my bags at the station. The only reason I came home at all was for Bonnie. It seems any mother is better than none at all."
Scarletts face became deathly pale at his words. He was insulting her, calling out her skills as a mother…and before she thought she blurted out roughly: "Well, what the hell's stopping you then? I wish you would go! I don't need someone who's never there for me and I sure as hell don't want someone like you around the baby."
Suddenly he was in her face once more, holding her in a grip that hurt. "Don't you dare bring Bonnie into this! You're the most worthless excuse for a mother I've ever seen…You didn't even want her to be born, hell, if I hadn't stopped you she-"
"Damn you, I wasn't talking about Bonnie! Let me go, fool," Scarlett muttered between clenched teeth as she tried to pull herself away from him. Abruptly Rhett let go of her. "I was referring to the one that I'm carrying now," she breathed out passionately.
She heard him suck his breath in as his eyes went over her. "You're with child?" he said so quietly Scarlett could barely hear him. Scarlett merely nodded her head then jumped away from him when she saw him motion towards her. She saw the hurt and confusion illustrated in his eyes at her movement, but she didn't care. After what he'd said to her, she didn't care if he did go or not.
