On the day that Rhett was to arrive Scarlett dressed herself and Cat in
extra care. She had tied blue bows into Cat's jet-black hair. But when
Scarlett looked at her daughter she recalled Bonnie wearing blue ribbons in
her hair the same way and she took them out. The last thing she wanted was
for Rhett to look at Cat and see Bonnie. As Scarlett dressed herself she
looked in the mirror and wondered why she was trying to make herself look
pretty. There was really no use seeing as she had to wear this confounded
mourning. Rhett was bringing his wife to Ireland. Plus he probably wouldn't
even give her a glance; he would be so busy making up for lost time with
Cat. But she wanted to look her best for him, wanted to show him that she
was doing okay on her own. Scarlett and Cat were staying at a hotel in
Galway. She figured that the travelers would want to spend the night in
town before heading to Ballyhara. Scarlett supposed that she could have
stayed at home and waited for them to come, but she couldn't wait another
day to see Rhett.
Scarlett paced the drawing room, waiting to leave for the docks. "Why am I so nervous?" she thought. "It's only Rhett I'm meeting. We were married for years, I've borne his two daughters." But it wasn't 'only Rhett' now, it was the man she loved and it was her ex-husband. Scarlett bit her thumbnail. She just knew she was going to say the wrong thing, do the wrong thing. "Oh why does he have to bring his little wife here?" Scarlett glanced at the clock and saw that it was time to leave. She took one last look in the mirror and pinched her cheeks to bring a little blush of pink into them. She went and got Cat from her bedroom and they headed out into the street. Scarlett had decided to walk to the docks, she thought it might help calm her nerves and she could never resist saving a buck. It was only a short walk and soon they had arrived. The ship that must be Rhett's had just docked and preparations were being made for the passengers to come ashore. Scarlett picked Cat up and held her close to her. Normally Cat wouldn't allow herself to be picked up and babied but she could sense that her mother needed a hug. The ramp came down and Scarlett gulped. She closed her eyes. She couldn't believe that she would finally be seeing Rhett, finally after all this time. She opened up her eyes to see Rhett, at the top of the ramp, staring intently at her and Cat. A breath caught in her throat. Their eyes locked and Scarlett quaked in her boots. He looked so good, so very handsome.
"Cat, darling, there's your daddy" Scarlett said, remembering her daughter. She pointed Rhett out to Cat and the little girl gave him a big wave. He smiled broadly and waved back. Rhett turned and handed his mother and Anne out. "And there's you Grandma." Scarlett said and cat waved to Eleanor also. The small group began to descend the ramp and Scarlett noticed, with a little satisfaction, that Rhett linked his arm with his mother's and Anne trailed behind. Soon Rhett was only a short distance away and approaching quickly. Then he was standing in front of Scarlett and Cat, still smiling slightly.
"Hello" Scarlett said. Hello? Almost four years and all she could say was 'hello'?
"Hello, Scarlett" Rhett said, he brought her hand up to his lips. But he didn't kiss it; he kept it floating the respectable inch under him. "And you must be Cat" He said, turning his attention to his daughter. "Do you know who I am, darling?"
Cat nodded emphatically.
"Uh-huh. Mommy says that you're my daddy."
"That would be me." Rhett said with a lump in his throat. He looked at Scarlett. "Can I hold her?" he asked.
"Of course." Scarlett said. "Cat, give your daddy big hug" She handed Cat to Rhett and the little girl did as she was told. Rhett held her against his chest and closed his eyes, trying not to cry in public.
Scarlett saw that Eleanor and Anne were hanging back; actually it looked like Eleanor was holding Anne back. She went over and she and Eleanor embraced.
"Miss Eleanor it's so good to see you" she said sincerely. "You can't imagine how I've missed people from home!"
"Scarlett it's a joy to see you. That must be Cat, oh she's so beautiful. Why, she looks just like Rhett!" Eleanor exclaimed.
Scarlett saw that Anne winced at the words. "She probably thought I was trying to pass someone else's daughter off on Rhett!" she thought. "Well that oughta show her"
"Miss Hampton" she said with a nod.
Anne took a sharp breath.
"It's Mrs. Butler now, you know."
"Why yes that's right isn't it?" Scarlett said melodiously. "You'll have to excuse me, but I'll just have to call you by your first name. It might get confusing having three Mrs. Butlers you know!" She smiled a sweet little fake smile. Anne smiled back but they were both shooting daggers at each other with their eyes.
"Scarlett, my dear, how have you been?" Eleanor asked, sensing the menace between the two women.
"We've been getting along fine, Cat and I. Though I do miss home and my other children. I would love for Cat to see Tara and meet Wade and Ella." Scarlett said.
"Well then why didn't you take her there?" Anne piped in.
Scarlett glared at her. "You know damn well why" she wanted to yell. She knew that if she ever took Cat home she would be labeled a bastard.
"I just never got the chance. Ballyhara's business keeps me so occupied!" said Scarlett. She turned to Eleanor again. "Miss Eleanor, you must come meet Cat." She said and led Eleanor over to Rhett and Cat who were now deep in conversation.
"Cat was just telling me all about Ballyhara." He said with a wide grin.
"Kittycat, this is your grandmother." Said Scarlett.
"Hi!" Cat chirped.
"Hello darling." Eleanor said, enchanted by her granddaughter.
"We should be going back to the hotel, it's getting awfully hot." Scarlett said. She looked over at a pouting Anne who stood a little apart from them. "Miss Hampton!" she called. "We're leaving now."
Anne walked over to Rhett's side.
"It's not Miss Hampton anymore, like I said before" She said.
"Oh I am sorry! It's just so confusing to call you by a different name." Scarlett cooed. Rhett shot her a knowing look and she turned and led the way to the hotel. Cat began to squirm in Rhett's arms and he sat her down. Scarlett held onto Cat's little hand with a death grip. She walked swiftly and the others followed behind her. When they got to the hotel Scarlett made arrangements for the luggage to be picked up and brought to the rooms. The group went upstairs and Scarlett directed Rhett, Anne, and Eleanor to their room; which was next door to hers.
"I suppose you'll want to freshen up after your long trip. My rooms are here if you need anything." She said, gesturing to her door. "I highly recommend the shopping here in Galway. The outdoor markets are the best I've ever seen. " Scarlett opened up her door and she and Cat went in. She sighed and leaned against the closed door, sinking to the floor. Everything had gone smoothly, she supposed; but it hurt so horribly to see Rhett and Anne, to hear Anne refer to herself as Mrs. Butler.
"Mommy?" Scarlett looked over and saw that Cat was staring, bewildered, at her. "You ok?"
"Oh, darling, I'm alright. It was just...warm outside is all." Said Scarlett. She pulled Cat down onto her lap and gave her a kiss on the forehead. "What did you think about your daddy?" she asked.
"You were right, he's nice. I like him"
"I'm glad, darling."
Cat began to yawn loudly so Scarlett put her down for a nap in her room. Scarlett was still wound up from seeing Rhett so she decided to order tea and go over some books for Ballyhara; business and tea always calmed her nerves. She was sitting hunched over a long table of figures when a knock came on the door.
"Come in" she called. It had taken long enough for them to bring up her tea!
Scarlett finished adding up a list of expenses to be paid. She looked up and almost screamed her head off.
"God's nightgown, Rhett!" she said, jumping out of her seat. "I thought you were the room service." Rhett began to chuckle and Scarlett, realizing how silly she must have looked, joined in. "Is there a reason for your visit, or did you just want me to die of fright? Cat's in the middle of a nap if you came to see her."
"Actually I came to talk to you." Rhett said.
"Oh" Great, now he was going to yell at her for keeping Cat from him. "Come sit down" said Scarlett. She sat down on a couch and Rhett chose a facing chair. "Where are-" she began to ask.
"They took your advice and went shopping" Rhett said, cutting her off.
"Oh" Scarlett leaned back on the couch and began to absentmindedly play with her wedding ring.
"Can I ask you a question, Scarlett?"
"Well if I said 'no' you would ask me anyway, so yes." She said with a smile.
"Why are you wearing mourning?"
"Ah, I thought you would wonder about that." Scarlett said. "When I first found out that you had divorced me I set out for Galway at once. I was going to get on a ship home and tell you about the baby. But when I was here I got a letter, saying that you had married Anne. I couldn't go home. I couldn't show up pregnant at your door. And I was afraid that you would take the baby from me and then kick me out on the street. I couldn't let that happen. I loved Cat from the first day I found out I was pregnant. So, I decided I would stay in Ireland. But I couldn't go back to my family and tell them that my husband had divorced me. I wore mourning from then on and told everyone that I was a widow. My cousin, Colum, is the only one that knows what really happened." She said, thinking that neither she nor Colum really knew what had happened.
"I see, well that answers my question. I'm sorry, Scarlett. It must have felt horrible, pregnant and...and alone. I'm ashamed of myself for what I did."
"Oh, Rhett, you didn't know I was pregnant. You thought I had run away for good, at least that's what you wrote me. It did feel horrible at first. But then Cat was born and I love her so much, Rhett. She's filled that void as well as she can. She's my life now and I love her more and more each day." Scarlett laughed at Rhett's perplexed face. "You didn't think I had it in me, did you? You thought you would come and find Cat emotionally scarred and afraid of me like my other children."
"Well motherhood becomes you, Scarlett. You've really grown into a beautiful woman"
"Thank you."
"And you've done a wonderful job with Cat."
"Rhett, you don't know how much that means to me."
Rhett stood up.
"I should be going. It was nice talking to you, Scarlett."
Scarlett stood up and, before she could stop herself, gave Rhett a quick hug.
"It's good to see you, Rhett." She said.
Rhett walked to the door and Scarlett went back to her books. When he was in the doorway he turned around and looked at her.
"Happy?" he said
"Excuse me?"
"Are you happy?"
"Yes, I am. I'm very happy, Rhett."
He nodded and left the room. Scarlett stared at the closed door.
"But I can never be truly happy without you" she thought before turning her attention back to how much her tenants owed her.
Scarlett paced the drawing room, waiting to leave for the docks. "Why am I so nervous?" she thought. "It's only Rhett I'm meeting. We were married for years, I've borne his two daughters." But it wasn't 'only Rhett' now, it was the man she loved and it was her ex-husband. Scarlett bit her thumbnail. She just knew she was going to say the wrong thing, do the wrong thing. "Oh why does he have to bring his little wife here?" Scarlett glanced at the clock and saw that it was time to leave. She took one last look in the mirror and pinched her cheeks to bring a little blush of pink into them. She went and got Cat from her bedroom and they headed out into the street. Scarlett had decided to walk to the docks, she thought it might help calm her nerves and she could never resist saving a buck. It was only a short walk and soon they had arrived. The ship that must be Rhett's had just docked and preparations were being made for the passengers to come ashore. Scarlett picked Cat up and held her close to her. Normally Cat wouldn't allow herself to be picked up and babied but she could sense that her mother needed a hug. The ramp came down and Scarlett gulped. She closed her eyes. She couldn't believe that she would finally be seeing Rhett, finally after all this time. She opened up her eyes to see Rhett, at the top of the ramp, staring intently at her and Cat. A breath caught in her throat. Their eyes locked and Scarlett quaked in her boots. He looked so good, so very handsome.
"Cat, darling, there's your daddy" Scarlett said, remembering her daughter. She pointed Rhett out to Cat and the little girl gave him a big wave. He smiled broadly and waved back. Rhett turned and handed his mother and Anne out. "And there's you Grandma." Scarlett said and cat waved to Eleanor also. The small group began to descend the ramp and Scarlett noticed, with a little satisfaction, that Rhett linked his arm with his mother's and Anne trailed behind. Soon Rhett was only a short distance away and approaching quickly. Then he was standing in front of Scarlett and Cat, still smiling slightly.
"Hello" Scarlett said. Hello? Almost four years and all she could say was 'hello'?
"Hello, Scarlett" Rhett said, he brought her hand up to his lips. But he didn't kiss it; he kept it floating the respectable inch under him. "And you must be Cat" He said, turning his attention to his daughter. "Do you know who I am, darling?"
Cat nodded emphatically.
"Uh-huh. Mommy says that you're my daddy."
"That would be me." Rhett said with a lump in his throat. He looked at Scarlett. "Can I hold her?" he asked.
"Of course." Scarlett said. "Cat, give your daddy big hug" She handed Cat to Rhett and the little girl did as she was told. Rhett held her against his chest and closed his eyes, trying not to cry in public.
Scarlett saw that Eleanor and Anne were hanging back; actually it looked like Eleanor was holding Anne back. She went over and she and Eleanor embraced.
"Miss Eleanor it's so good to see you" she said sincerely. "You can't imagine how I've missed people from home!"
"Scarlett it's a joy to see you. That must be Cat, oh she's so beautiful. Why, she looks just like Rhett!" Eleanor exclaimed.
Scarlett saw that Anne winced at the words. "She probably thought I was trying to pass someone else's daughter off on Rhett!" she thought. "Well that oughta show her"
"Miss Hampton" she said with a nod.
Anne took a sharp breath.
"It's Mrs. Butler now, you know."
"Why yes that's right isn't it?" Scarlett said melodiously. "You'll have to excuse me, but I'll just have to call you by your first name. It might get confusing having three Mrs. Butlers you know!" She smiled a sweet little fake smile. Anne smiled back but they were both shooting daggers at each other with their eyes.
"Scarlett, my dear, how have you been?" Eleanor asked, sensing the menace between the two women.
"We've been getting along fine, Cat and I. Though I do miss home and my other children. I would love for Cat to see Tara and meet Wade and Ella." Scarlett said.
"Well then why didn't you take her there?" Anne piped in.
Scarlett glared at her. "You know damn well why" she wanted to yell. She knew that if she ever took Cat home she would be labeled a bastard.
"I just never got the chance. Ballyhara's business keeps me so occupied!" said Scarlett. She turned to Eleanor again. "Miss Eleanor, you must come meet Cat." She said and led Eleanor over to Rhett and Cat who were now deep in conversation.
"Cat was just telling me all about Ballyhara." He said with a wide grin.
"Kittycat, this is your grandmother." Said Scarlett.
"Hi!" Cat chirped.
"Hello darling." Eleanor said, enchanted by her granddaughter.
"We should be going back to the hotel, it's getting awfully hot." Scarlett said. She looked over at a pouting Anne who stood a little apart from them. "Miss Hampton!" she called. "We're leaving now."
Anne walked over to Rhett's side.
"It's not Miss Hampton anymore, like I said before" She said.
"Oh I am sorry! It's just so confusing to call you by a different name." Scarlett cooed. Rhett shot her a knowing look and she turned and led the way to the hotel. Cat began to squirm in Rhett's arms and he sat her down. Scarlett held onto Cat's little hand with a death grip. She walked swiftly and the others followed behind her. When they got to the hotel Scarlett made arrangements for the luggage to be picked up and brought to the rooms. The group went upstairs and Scarlett directed Rhett, Anne, and Eleanor to their room; which was next door to hers.
"I suppose you'll want to freshen up after your long trip. My rooms are here if you need anything." She said, gesturing to her door. "I highly recommend the shopping here in Galway. The outdoor markets are the best I've ever seen. " Scarlett opened up her door and she and Cat went in. She sighed and leaned against the closed door, sinking to the floor. Everything had gone smoothly, she supposed; but it hurt so horribly to see Rhett and Anne, to hear Anne refer to herself as Mrs. Butler.
"Mommy?" Scarlett looked over and saw that Cat was staring, bewildered, at her. "You ok?"
"Oh, darling, I'm alright. It was just...warm outside is all." Said Scarlett. She pulled Cat down onto her lap and gave her a kiss on the forehead. "What did you think about your daddy?" she asked.
"You were right, he's nice. I like him"
"I'm glad, darling."
Cat began to yawn loudly so Scarlett put her down for a nap in her room. Scarlett was still wound up from seeing Rhett so she decided to order tea and go over some books for Ballyhara; business and tea always calmed her nerves. She was sitting hunched over a long table of figures when a knock came on the door.
"Come in" she called. It had taken long enough for them to bring up her tea!
Scarlett finished adding up a list of expenses to be paid. She looked up and almost screamed her head off.
"God's nightgown, Rhett!" she said, jumping out of her seat. "I thought you were the room service." Rhett began to chuckle and Scarlett, realizing how silly she must have looked, joined in. "Is there a reason for your visit, or did you just want me to die of fright? Cat's in the middle of a nap if you came to see her."
"Actually I came to talk to you." Rhett said.
"Oh" Great, now he was going to yell at her for keeping Cat from him. "Come sit down" said Scarlett. She sat down on a couch and Rhett chose a facing chair. "Where are-" she began to ask.
"They took your advice and went shopping" Rhett said, cutting her off.
"Oh" Scarlett leaned back on the couch and began to absentmindedly play with her wedding ring.
"Can I ask you a question, Scarlett?"
"Well if I said 'no' you would ask me anyway, so yes." She said with a smile.
"Why are you wearing mourning?"
"Ah, I thought you would wonder about that." Scarlett said. "When I first found out that you had divorced me I set out for Galway at once. I was going to get on a ship home and tell you about the baby. But when I was here I got a letter, saying that you had married Anne. I couldn't go home. I couldn't show up pregnant at your door. And I was afraid that you would take the baby from me and then kick me out on the street. I couldn't let that happen. I loved Cat from the first day I found out I was pregnant. So, I decided I would stay in Ireland. But I couldn't go back to my family and tell them that my husband had divorced me. I wore mourning from then on and told everyone that I was a widow. My cousin, Colum, is the only one that knows what really happened." She said, thinking that neither she nor Colum really knew what had happened.
"I see, well that answers my question. I'm sorry, Scarlett. It must have felt horrible, pregnant and...and alone. I'm ashamed of myself for what I did."
"Oh, Rhett, you didn't know I was pregnant. You thought I had run away for good, at least that's what you wrote me. It did feel horrible at first. But then Cat was born and I love her so much, Rhett. She's filled that void as well as she can. She's my life now and I love her more and more each day." Scarlett laughed at Rhett's perplexed face. "You didn't think I had it in me, did you? You thought you would come and find Cat emotionally scarred and afraid of me like my other children."
"Well motherhood becomes you, Scarlett. You've really grown into a beautiful woman"
"Thank you."
"And you've done a wonderful job with Cat."
"Rhett, you don't know how much that means to me."
Rhett stood up.
"I should be going. It was nice talking to you, Scarlett."
Scarlett stood up and, before she could stop herself, gave Rhett a quick hug.
"It's good to see you, Rhett." She said.
Rhett walked to the door and Scarlett went back to her books. When he was in the doorway he turned around and looked at her.
"Happy?" he said
"Excuse me?"
"Are you happy?"
"Yes, I am. I'm very happy, Rhett."
He nodded and left the room. Scarlett stared at the closed door.
"But I can never be truly happy without you" she thought before turning her attention back to how much her tenants owed her.