Scarlett couldn't concentrate on her account books. She kept going over the
conversation she had just had with Rhett. He had seemed like he genuinely
cared about her. He had said he was ashamed of himself, that he was sorry.
Why had she said that she was happy? She wasn't, not truly. Scarlett kept
telling herself that she should be happy. She had a wonderful daughter, a
beautiful house, and more money then she knew what to do with. But how
could she be happy when the love of her life was married to another woman?
Suddenly, Scarlett realized that she had gotten herself into this same
position again. First she had thought she loved Ashley, but he was married
to Melly. Somehow, though, she knew that her love for Rhett was real, not
like with Ashley. There were so many questions she needed the answers to.
Did Rhett still love her? Why did he marry Anne? That was the main
question. He had never shown anything except friendship towards Anne
Hampton. How did they go from that to being married? He couldn't love Anne;
they were completely different people. Rhett had always said that a
marriage would never work when the people were different. Scarlett felt
sick as she remembered that he had said that in reference to Ashley. She
wondered how long Rhett would be in Ireland. If it was too long then she
and Anne might end up clawing each others eyes out. They hadn't said more
then ten words to each other, and yet Scarlett hated Anne with every being
in her body. She hated her for the way she looked at Cat. She hated how
Anne had thought Cat was a bastard child. Anne could say anything she
wanted about Scarlett, but she crossed the line at Cat. Oh why did Rhett
bring her? Scarlett hissed "Anne" and pounded her fist down on the table, a
futile attempt to unleash her anger.
"Mommy, why you hit the table?" Cat's tiny voice asked.
Scarlett turned around and saw her daughter standing in the doorway of her room, rubbing her eyes.
"Hi baby, did you have a good nap?"
Cat nodded and walked over to Scarlett who pulled her up onto her lap.
"Are you mad at me?" asked Cat.
"No darling, of course not. I'm not mad at you at all. Why?"
"Because you hit the table like you were mad."
"I was, but not at you."
"Oh"
Scarlett gave Cat a quick squeeze.
"Let's say we get you dressed and then we can go visit Daddy. What do you think?"
Cat nodded emphatically. She couldn't wait to see her daddy again.
Scarlett dressed Cat and they went next door. Cat knocked on the door and Rhett answered. When Scarlett saw him the tightness in her stomach returned and she couldn't speak. It was as if an electric current was passing between their eyes. They stood, staring at each other, for what seemed like hours but was in fact only about two seconds.
"Hi" Scarlett breathed. "Um, Cat wanted to see you again." She said, regaining her composure. Rhett kneeled down and he and Cat embraced.
"Come in." he said and they went into his room. Cat and Rhett were talking but Scarlett couldn't make out a word. How did he still have this hold of her? And why was she finding him so damn handsome being a father to his daughter? Scarlett looked over and saw that Rhett was staring at her oddly. Their eyes met for a brief second before he turned his attention back to Cat. Scarlett couldn't help from thinking that this was the way it should be, the three of them as a family. There was only one reason why they couldn't be, and all to soon she was coming into the room. Anne and Eleanor had returned from their shopping expedition. Anne was still pouting and she looked irate that Scarlett should be in the room. There were words being spoken but Scarlett couldn't understand, they just swirled around her. She felt like she was in a bubble and she had to get out. She mumbled something about how she had to leave and could Rhett bring Cat back later and then she bolted out of the room. Scarlett was opening the door to her room when Rhett came out.
"What's wrong, Scarlett?" he asked.
"I-I can't do this, Rhett. I thought I could but I can't."
"What are you talking about?" he was obviously confused.
"I can't see you with her. And if I spend one more moment with her, I swear I will kill her, Rhett." Scarlett said a bit too loudly.
"I see" Rhett said thoughtfully.
"Why did you bring her here, Rhett? Couldn't you see that it would hurt me? I can't understand what possessed you to bring your new wife to my home. Oh why do I even bother? You don't give a damn if you hurt me and you never have. I was a fool to think that you cared even one tiny bit about my feelings. I-I never should have told you about Cat. Now you're just going to try and win her over like you did Bonnie. You're going to try and make her love you best. Well she won't buy it, Rhett! I'm the only parent she's ever known until today and she will always love me more. And it's your own fault if she does! You are the one that just- just gave up on our marriage. You are the one that divorced me for no reason. You never even tried to find out where I had gone before you got married to the proper little Lady you had always wanted to show to the world. You said that you cared about me but then you left me high and dry without a second thought." Scarlett was appalled that she had gone on this tirade. Rhett put a hand on her arm.
"I'm sorry, Scarlett. I did try to find you-" he began.
"Don't touch me, Rhett." She said through gritted teeth. Scarlett went into her room and spun around. "Just bring Cat back in a little. We leave for Ballyhara tomorrow at four in the morning. It's a long ride, she needs her sleep." She said before closing the door. She closed her eyes and leaned against the door, letting the tears she had been holding back come. Why did she have to have been so loud? Scarlett was certain that the entire hotel now knew the innermost workings of her heart. But she didn't care about that; all she cared about was that Rhett knew. He knew how hurt and betrayed she felt. She was positive that he knew she still loved him.
______________________________________________________________________
Late that night, while Cat was safely asleep in her bed, Scarlett wandered around her room. She couldn't sleep; she was too wound up from all that had happened that day. She laid her hand on the wall and thought of Rhett, sleeping on the other side. If only she could be in his arms tonight, only then could she be at peace.
_____________________________________________________________________
The next morning the group met in the lobby. Scarlett carried a still- sleeping Cat. She was glad that Cat's state made it so she didn't have to speak to anybody. There was an unspoken tenseness between them and Scarlett dreaded the long drive ahead. The carriage arrived and they went in. Rhett sat next to Scarlett and Cat, to Anne's dismay, and Eleanor and Anne faced the three of them. They rode in silence for long minutes. Eventually both Anne and Eleanor succumbed to the sleep that was evading them all. Only then did Scarlett look over at Rhett.
"I'm sorry," she whispered. "I didn't mean to say the things I did.
"It's alright, Scarlett." Rhett said, also whispering. "You were kind of right. I did behave like a fool. I should have seen that you wouldn't want Anne here. What could I do, though? She is my wife."
"I know" Scarlett said, tears smarting to her eyes. She turned her head and looked out the window. Didn't he see that that was what hurt her so much?
They rode for hours to Ballyhara. Cat woke up and she and Rhett talked about little, meaningless things. As they drew nearer to Ballyhara and the rode grew bumpier Anne turned a lovely shade of olive. She was obviously fighting to keep her breakfast down. Finally they pulled into the town.
"This is all yours, Scarlett?" Rhett said with amazement, looking around. "You've done good for yourself."
"Thank you" She said.
They got to the house and everyone got out, glad to stretch their legs. At the sound of them Mrs. Fitz came out of the house.
"This is my housekeeper, Mrs. Fitzpatrick." Scarlett said. "This is my good friend Mr. Butler, his mother, Miss Eleanor, and his wife, Miss Anne. They are going to be staying with us for a while. They're to have the second floor to themselves." Everybody bowed at their introductions. "Could you please show Miss Anne to a room, I believe she could use a rest." Despite herself Anne looked quite grateful.
"I'll go with you, dear." Miss Eleanor said and the three of them went into the house. Cat ran off to her tower, as if to make sure that it hadn't disappeared in her absence.
"Would you like the royal tour?" Scarlett asked Rhett.
"Lead on." He said. Scarlett showed him the house. He noticed how tastefully decorated it was, not at all like the house in Atlanta, and told her as much.
"Yes that house is a major decorating faux pas, isn't it?" Scarlett said with a laugh. "I didn't care how something looked as long as it was amazingly expensive. Whatever happened to our house, did you sell it?" she asked thoughtfully.
"No." Rhett said, clearly uncomfortable. "Anne and I, um, live there."
"In my house?" Scarlett whispered, fighting back tears. "You've been living in my house with her? The house where Bonnie was born, where we have so many memories? I can't believe you, Rhett. And I suppose she has my room too!"
"Well I couldn't just let it go to waste! That house cost me a fortune."
"She does have my room!" Scarlett exclaimed. "You're really doing your best to replace me, aren't you?"
"No. I'm not. It was a financial issue, nothing more, Scarlett. I am not trying to replace you at all."
Scarlett nodded slowly.
"Let me show you the stables" she said in an even tone. They headed toward that direction. "Oh by the way." Scarlett said while they were walking there. "You can't tell anyone you're Cat's father. Nobody can know that we were married. I have told people I'm a widow, if they find out differently they can never trust me again. And it's very important that the people of Ballyhara trust me. The only person who knows is Colum."
"Mommy, why you hit the table?" Cat's tiny voice asked.
Scarlett turned around and saw her daughter standing in the doorway of her room, rubbing her eyes.
"Hi baby, did you have a good nap?"
Cat nodded and walked over to Scarlett who pulled her up onto her lap.
"Are you mad at me?" asked Cat.
"No darling, of course not. I'm not mad at you at all. Why?"
"Because you hit the table like you were mad."
"I was, but not at you."
"Oh"
Scarlett gave Cat a quick squeeze.
"Let's say we get you dressed and then we can go visit Daddy. What do you think?"
Cat nodded emphatically. She couldn't wait to see her daddy again.
Scarlett dressed Cat and they went next door. Cat knocked on the door and Rhett answered. When Scarlett saw him the tightness in her stomach returned and she couldn't speak. It was as if an electric current was passing between their eyes. They stood, staring at each other, for what seemed like hours but was in fact only about two seconds.
"Hi" Scarlett breathed. "Um, Cat wanted to see you again." She said, regaining her composure. Rhett kneeled down and he and Cat embraced.
"Come in." he said and they went into his room. Cat and Rhett were talking but Scarlett couldn't make out a word. How did he still have this hold of her? And why was she finding him so damn handsome being a father to his daughter? Scarlett looked over and saw that Rhett was staring at her oddly. Their eyes met for a brief second before he turned his attention back to Cat. Scarlett couldn't help from thinking that this was the way it should be, the three of them as a family. There was only one reason why they couldn't be, and all to soon she was coming into the room. Anne and Eleanor had returned from their shopping expedition. Anne was still pouting and she looked irate that Scarlett should be in the room. There were words being spoken but Scarlett couldn't understand, they just swirled around her. She felt like she was in a bubble and she had to get out. She mumbled something about how she had to leave and could Rhett bring Cat back later and then she bolted out of the room. Scarlett was opening the door to her room when Rhett came out.
"What's wrong, Scarlett?" he asked.
"I-I can't do this, Rhett. I thought I could but I can't."
"What are you talking about?" he was obviously confused.
"I can't see you with her. And if I spend one more moment with her, I swear I will kill her, Rhett." Scarlett said a bit too loudly.
"I see" Rhett said thoughtfully.
"Why did you bring her here, Rhett? Couldn't you see that it would hurt me? I can't understand what possessed you to bring your new wife to my home. Oh why do I even bother? You don't give a damn if you hurt me and you never have. I was a fool to think that you cared even one tiny bit about my feelings. I-I never should have told you about Cat. Now you're just going to try and win her over like you did Bonnie. You're going to try and make her love you best. Well she won't buy it, Rhett! I'm the only parent she's ever known until today and she will always love me more. And it's your own fault if she does! You are the one that just- just gave up on our marriage. You are the one that divorced me for no reason. You never even tried to find out where I had gone before you got married to the proper little Lady you had always wanted to show to the world. You said that you cared about me but then you left me high and dry without a second thought." Scarlett was appalled that she had gone on this tirade. Rhett put a hand on her arm.
"I'm sorry, Scarlett. I did try to find you-" he began.
"Don't touch me, Rhett." She said through gritted teeth. Scarlett went into her room and spun around. "Just bring Cat back in a little. We leave for Ballyhara tomorrow at four in the morning. It's a long ride, she needs her sleep." She said before closing the door. She closed her eyes and leaned against the door, letting the tears she had been holding back come. Why did she have to have been so loud? Scarlett was certain that the entire hotel now knew the innermost workings of her heart. But she didn't care about that; all she cared about was that Rhett knew. He knew how hurt and betrayed she felt. She was positive that he knew she still loved him.
______________________________________________________________________
Late that night, while Cat was safely asleep in her bed, Scarlett wandered around her room. She couldn't sleep; she was too wound up from all that had happened that day. She laid her hand on the wall and thought of Rhett, sleeping on the other side. If only she could be in his arms tonight, only then could she be at peace.
_____________________________________________________________________
The next morning the group met in the lobby. Scarlett carried a still- sleeping Cat. She was glad that Cat's state made it so she didn't have to speak to anybody. There was an unspoken tenseness between them and Scarlett dreaded the long drive ahead. The carriage arrived and they went in. Rhett sat next to Scarlett and Cat, to Anne's dismay, and Eleanor and Anne faced the three of them. They rode in silence for long minutes. Eventually both Anne and Eleanor succumbed to the sleep that was evading them all. Only then did Scarlett look over at Rhett.
"I'm sorry," she whispered. "I didn't mean to say the things I did.
"It's alright, Scarlett." Rhett said, also whispering. "You were kind of right. I did behave like a fool. I should have seen that you wouldn't want Anne here. What could I do, though? She is my wife."
"I know" Scarlett said, tears smarting to her eyes. She turned her head and looked out the window. Didn't he see that that was what hurt her so much?
They rode for hours to Ballyhara. Cat woke up and she and Rhett talked about little, meaningless things. As they drew nearer to Ballyhara and the rode grew bumpier Anne turned a lovely shade of olive. She was obviously fighting to keep her breakfast down. Finally they pulled into the town.
"This is all yours, Scarlett?" Rhett said with amazement, looking around. "You've done good for yourself."
"Thank you" She said.
They got to the house and everyone got out, glad to stretch their legs. At the sound of them Mrs. Fitz came out of the house.
"This is my housekeeper, Mrs. Fitzpatrick." Scarlett said. "This is my good friend Mr. Butler, his mother, Miss Eleanor, and his wife, Miss Anne. They are going to be staying with us for a while. They're to have the second floor to themselves." Everybody bowed at their introductions. "Could you please show Miss Anne to a room, I believe she could use a rest." Despite herself Anne looked quite grateful.
"I'll go with you, dear." Miss Eleanor said and the three of them went into the house. Cat ran off to her tower, as if to make sure that it hadn't disappeared in her absence.
"Would you like the royal tour?" Scarlett asked Rhett.
"Lead on." He said. Scarlett showed him the house. He noticed how tastefully decorated it was, not at all like the house in Atlanta, and told her as much.
"Yes that house is a major decorating faux pas, isn't it?" Scarlett said with a laugh. "I didn't care how something looked as long as it was amazingly expensive. Whatever happened to our house, did you sell it?" she asked thoughtfully.
"No." Rhett said, clearly uncomfortable. "Anne and I, um, live there."
"In my house?" Scarlett whispered, fighting back tears. "You've been living in my house with her? The house where Bonnie was born, where we have so many memories? I can't believe you, Rhett. And I suppose she has my room too!"
"Well I couldn't just let it go to waste! That house cost me a fortune."
"She does have my room!" Scarlett exclaimed. "You're really doing your best to replace me, aren't you?"
"No. I'm not. It was a financial issue, nothing more, Scarlett. I am not trying to replace you at all."
Scarlett nodded slowly.
"Let me show you the stables" she said in an even tone. They headed toward that direction. "Oh by the way." Scarlett said while they were walking there. "You can't tell anyone you're Cat's father. Nobody can know that we were married. I have told people I'm a widow, if they find out differently they can never trust me again. And it's very important that the people of Ballyhara trust me. The only person who knows is Colum."