The morning after they had arrived back in Atlanta, Rhett and Scarlett sat
at the dining room table. Wade and Ella had already eaten breakfast and
decided to give Cat a tour of Atlanta as they had known it.
"So where are you off to today?" Scarlett asked Rhett.
"I have some business I need to take care of at the bank. And you?"
Scarlett cleared her throat and looked down at her eggs.
"I thought I would go see Ashley." She said carelessly. Rhett looked up from the newspaper he had been reading. "Well I might as well get it out of the way, Rhett, It's not like I can avoid him for the rest of my life. And I did promise Melly after all. Oh don't look at me like that, darling! I don't even want to go, it'll be horribly awkward since he- you know, proposed last time I saw him." Rhett almost spit the coffee in his mouth out at that last sentence.
"He proposed?" He asked, sounding more than a bit amused.
"Oh yes, I forgot you didn't know about that. It was nothing really, he just felt bad that you had left me so he proposed when I was back here that one time when Cat was a baby. I told him no, of course, and I hope he's forgotten about it. To tell the truth I had forgotten about it myself."
"Now I know that you truly love me, my dear, if you forgot about the object of your affections for so many years asking you to marry him." Rhett said with a smile
"You're so silly Rhett! You know I love you" Scarlett laughed. Rhett grinned at her and consulted his pocket watch.
"I should be going, come on I'll walk you over to PittyPat's."
Rhett walked Scarlett down to the Peachtree Street house that had been Home to her once.
"Are you sure you don't want me to come in with you?" he asked. "I can always go to the bank later."
"No, thanks. I don't think that would be a very good idea. You and Ashley don't exactly- get along. I wouldn't want you two getting in a fight, I don't know how he'll react when I tell him about us."
"Whatever you think best, Scarlett." Rhett leaned down, and after making sure no one was on the street around them, kissed her before they went their separate ways; him down Peachtree and her to the front door. Scarlett's knock was answered by a servant she didn't recognize who ushered her in and went to tell Ashley that he had a visitor by the name of Scarlett O'Hara. Scarlett waited in the familiar parlor where Rhett had first proposed, lo so many years ago. Ashley soon appeared, a smile on his face
"Scarlett, my dear, what a rare pleasure it is to see you!" he exclaimed
"Ashley, good to see you." Scarlett found that she was nervous to tell him about her remarriage.
"Where have you been all this time? What brings you back to Atlanta?"
"That's what I wanted to talk to you about." Scarlett sat down on one of the chairs and Ashley followed suit, facing her on the settee. "These last four years I've been living in Ireland, close to my O'Hara relatives. It's- beautiful there, I see now why Pa loved it so much."
"Ireland, really? That sounds splendid. I thought you had said you were in England last time you were here?"
"That wasn't quite true, Ashley. See- I had to make sure Rhett didn't find out where I was-"
"Has he been causing you trouble, Scarlett?"
"No, no, nothing like that. It's just that... I didn't want him to find out he had a daughter because he had divorced me and I was afraid he would take her from me." she finished in a rush. Ashley was surprised to say the least.
"You- you have a daughter?"
"Yes, her name is Katie but we all call her Cat. She's four, and she- she's wonderful"
"And he divorced you anyway? Damn him! " Scarlett could tell Ashley was upset now, he never would have sworn in front of her if he wasn't.
"No, Ashley, he didn't know about Cat- not until several months ago. I finally told him and now-"
"You married him again didn't you?" Suddenly it all made sense to Ashley: Scarlett's sudden return, what he had heard that morning that he had dismissed as just another rumor, that Captain Butler had divorced his second wife. He glanced down at Scarlett's hand, and, sure enough, saw a new diamond ring glittering on her finger.
"Yes, I did" Scarlett was taken aback by Ashley's apparent deducements. "We were married two months ago in Ireland."
"Damn him! He was always bad for you, Scarlett, but you never saw it. How did he get you to marry him this time? What does he have on you?"
"Nothing! Please stop, Ashley, you're talking nonsense."
"No- I'm not. He must have something on you for you to take him back when he deserted you, when he left you high and dry and married that woman, when he even lived in your house with her!"
"Ashley, please. Do you think so little of me as to think that I would ever marry Rhett if I didn't know how sorry he was for his actions in the past? I love him! And he loves me. Please- be happy for me, this is what I've always wanted."
Just as the words left Scarlett's mouth, Pittypat waddled into the room and let out a pleasured cry.
"Scarlett!" she squealed.
"Hello Auntie" Scarlett rose and gave Pitty a peck on the cheek.
"What are you doing here? I didn't know you were coming for a visit! I'll have the servants set up your old room right away-"
"That's not necessary. I'm staying at my house."
"Your house! But- but Captain Butler lives there" Scarlett tried not to giggle at the way her Aunt said Rhett's name like it was some grievous curse.
"I know he lives there, Auntie. I live there with him now. We just got married and we're living there with Wade and Ella and our other daughter, Cat. I must bring her to see you soon but at the moment she's out with Wade and Ella."
"You- you married Captain Butler? But, Scarlett he's such a scoundrel! Oh somebody do get my smelling salts!" Pitty wailed. Scarlett rolled her eyes and grabbed the familiar smelling salts off the side-table, waving them in front of her aunt, who was now lying on the settee frantically fanning herself.
"Auntie, I know he's a scoundrel- but so am I so I don't mind."
"Oh!" Pitty shrieked. Scarlett handed the salts to Ashley and rose to leave.
"I'm sorry but I really have to go. I have a- um- lunchdate with Rhett." she said quickly and rushed out the door. All right, so she didn't exactly have a date with Rhett. But she couldn't stay in that house with Ashley's shocked, disapproving silence and Pittypat's wails and fake vapors any longer. Besides, Rhett would be happy to take her to lunch- so it wasn't exactly a lie. Happy with this rationalization, Scarlett made her way to Rhett's bank. She had never been to see him there before, and when she entered she hadn't a clue as to where he would be so she went to see the young man at the front desk.
"I'm here to see Captain Butler, please." the young man eyed her up and down.
"Captain Butler is a very busy man" he replied insolently
"Yes, I know" Scarlett laughed a little confidential laugh. "I'm his wife."
"You're not Mrs. Butler, I've see 'er and you're not her." Scarlett was surprised that somebody would even take that tone with a lady, not to mention upset at the reference to Anne. She was understandably growing madder by the minute.
"Listen" she said through gritted teeth. "I do not need this right now. You go and tell him that Scarlett Butler is here to see him. Just do it!" After one more sidelong glance, the man went off down a long hallway. He soon returned with a sheepish look on his face.
"Please accept my deepest apologies, Mrs. Butler." he mumbled "If you'll follow me I'll take you directly to your husband." Scarlett couldn't help but sneak in a snide look before she followed him down to an office door which Rhett swung open.
"Hello, darling, I wasn't expecting you." he said smoothly. The clerk turned a deep shade of crimson and rushed back down the hallway. "What was that all about?" Rhett asked, closing the door behind the two of them. Scarlett didn't answer but instead threw herself into his arms so that her feet were dangling a few inches of the floor. He staggered back a step, and, after regaining his footing, held her close to his chest.
"Sorry" Scarlet whispered, looking up at him with wet green eyes. "I needed that."
"What's wrong, my love? I suppose your little talk with Ashley didn't go well?" He set Scarlett down on his chair and perched above her on the desk.
"No- it didn't go well at all. He was pretty mad."
"And just what right does he have to get mad at you?"
"I didn't say he was mad at me, Rhett. He was mad at you. I'm pretty sure he thinks you don't- deserve me. Which just goes to show how he never really knew me. I- I don't want to think about it right now, Rhett, is that all right"
"Of course it is, my pet. Do you want to go out to lunch or something?"
"I'd love to!" Scarlett laughed, causing Rhett to look at her oddly. "This office is so beautiful" she said, looking around for the first time at the sumptuous leather chairs, richly embossed wallpaper and the various other decorations. It almost reminded her off her study back at Ballyahara- it was obviously decorated with quite a deal of money but still remained tasteful, unlike the Peachtree Street house. "I had no idea it was so nice here."
"Yes, well it didn't used to be. I spent a lot of time here when I was married to Anne."
"I hope you won't be running off here to escape from me!"
"Now why would I ever want to escape from you, my pet?"
"I don't know at the moment but I'm sure we'll make up some reasons. Let's go eat, I'm positively starved.
Soon they were settled at a table at the National Hotel and over the course of their meal Scarlett related the whole episode at Pittypat's to Rhett.
"I'm sorry you had to do that, Scarlett." he said when she had finished. "I wish I could tell you that was the worst of it, but Atlanta's going to be very surprised when they hear about this latest installment in our little saga."
"Don't let's talk about it anymore, Rhett." Scarlett said, eager to get off the subject.
"Capital idea."
"Now about the house-" she started
"The house?"
"Yes. I was being perfectly honest when I said yesterday that I want to change everything about the decor. It's a perfect mess in there, even Cat saw it! Why in the world didn't you change it when I was away?"
Rhett looked at her with a wistful expression and said softly "I was waiting for you."
"Oh" breathed Scarlett. "Well- that's a very good answer, Mr. Butler." she smiled.
"I thought you would like that, Mrs. Butler." Rhett murmured, leaning across the table so that he was much closer then was really proper, not that Scarlett was complaining. "Is there anything stopping me from kissing you mad right now?" he asked, his voice again soft but this time with a seductive lilt to it.
"Mmm-hmm" Scarlett said with a nod, looking over his shoulder. "Sadly there is."
"And what would that be?" Rhett's mouth twisted into that half-frown that she knew so well.
"Don't look now but Mrs. Merriweather just came in and she's staring right at us."
"Well that's very unfortunate." He leaned back against his seat once again. "I bet she doesn't look happy?"
"Not at all."
"Outraged is probably more like it."
"Most definitely." Scarlett agreed. "You know- you never did tell me what the gossip about us was, as I'm certain there was a great deal of gossip about us."
"I think pretty much everything was covered- you ran off with another man, I was beating you... everything you could imagine though the majority of it was in your favor. I suppose that makes you happy"
"Well..." Scarlett grinned. "Oh she's coming over- shh!"
Dolly Merriweather, one third of the Old Guard Triumvirate, was standing at the table in a moment, red with indignation and looking down her nose at Rhett.
"If you'll excuse us, Captain Butler" she said in her pious air "I must have a word with Scarlett."
"Aah- yes- well, I'll just be... over there." Rhett rose with a wink to his wife and crossed the room to watch and wonder what the Old Cat was saying about him. Mrs. Merriweather promptly sat down in his vacated seat across from Scarlett.
"Scarlett what in God's name are you doing with that vulgar man? Why he hasn't been received in any decent place in Atlanta since he- well- you know... Anyway! He's been a beast to you- oh don't be embarrassed, dear, we're all behind you. To come here with that Hampton woman! There was a time I thought he had changed for the better, when I saw how he was with your darling little daughter, but I was wrong. He's just as horrid, just as nasty now as he was during The War- perhaps even more so!"
"Please- don't go on Mrs. Merriweather." Scarlett interjected. "I really don't care to sit here and here my husband- yes that's right, my husband- insulted."
"Your husband! Why, Scarlett, if your dear mother were here-"
"Pray don't speak to me of my mother. The fact of the matter is she's not here and I am married to Captain Butler. If you'll please excuse me..." Scarlett got up and walked over to Rhett, took his proffered arm, and walked out the front door. "She makes me feel positively... sixteen again!" she proclaimed when they were outside.
"At least we don't have to tell anybody else we got married now. If Mrs. Merriweather knows then the whole of Atlanta will know by dinner."
"I guess that is one good thing." Scarlett agreed. "There are two more people I need to tell, though." Rhett looked at her closely and nodded.
"Do you want me to go with you?" He asked.
"No I need to go alone. I made Wade and Ella promise to bring Cat back by one, could you meet them there? I don't know if I'll be done that soon."
"Sure. You don't have to go, Scarlett-"
"No, no, I want to." Rhett smiled a bit sadly and walked off down to their house. After buying two bouquets of flowers, Scarlett walked to the graveyard. She stopped at the far-too-small grave that read "Eugenia Victoria "Bonnie" Butler"and knelt down before it, laying the first bouquet at it. She noticed with no surprise that Bonnie's plot was one of the best kept in the cemetery.
"Hi, Sweetie." whispered Scarlett as she ran her hand over the cool stone. "Sorry I haven't been to see you for so long- I was in Ireland where your Grandpa was from, you never met him but you were a lot like him in many ways. But I'm sure your Daddy came to see you lots, didn't her? Daddy and I are back together, isn't that wonderful? I just know you would be so happy about it. And Daddy- he's much better now. He was so sad when you had to leave, baby. He's still sad but he's moving on finally- we both are. Not that we're forgetting you, honey, we could never do that. You'll always, always, be in our hearts. Oh, Bonnie, I wish you could have been a big sister to Cat. You would have been such a good big sister. I love you, sweetheart. I'll come visit you soon- promise. And maybe I'll bring KittyCat by."
She placed a kiss on the stone and rose, walking over to a small, simple slab marked "Melanie Hamilton Wilkes" where she lay down the other bouquet and sat down on the ground.
"Thank you, Melly. Thank you so much for helping me see what was right in front of me the whole time. I probably would never have known I loved Rhett if you hadn't told me he loved me. I'm together with him now, Melly, and I'm so happy. All I ever wanted was to be happy- and now I am. I'm married to the man of my dreams- my soulmate- I have wonderful children. Cat and Ella are two of the best daughters anyone could ask for and Wade... Oh, Melly, to be honest I don't know what to do with Wade. You would've known- you were always so good with him. He- he's so resentful of Rhett but he's never said an unkind word to me. I'll figure something out though, don't you worry."
"Melly it's so strange being back together with Rhett. Some days I'll wake up and forget all that's happened, think I'm still in Ireland. Then there are the times when I worry that it's all been a wonderful dream and I'll have to wake up and go on living without him. But I know it's not a dream, I know this is going to last forever because I love him and he loves me- and in the end that's all you need isn't it? I never knew I could be so full of love. I never thought I could be so... blissfully happy. But I miss you, Melly, I miss you every day. I wish so much that I could just talk to you- just one more time. I'm sorry I haven't kept my promise to you to look after Ashley and Beau, I know you understand why I couldn't. I'm back now and I'm going to make good on that promise. I'll look after them and you'll look after Bonnie, won't you? I love you, Melly."
Scarlett brushed the tears that had fallen onto her cheeks away and got up to walk back to her house.
"So where are you off to today?" Scarlett asked Rhett.
"I have some business I need to take care of at the bank. And you?"
Scarlett cleared her throat and looked down at her eggs.
"I thought I would go see Ashley." She said carelessly. Rhett looked up from the newspaper he had been reading. "Well I might as well get it out of the way, Rhett, It's not like I can avoid him for the rest of my life. And I did promise Melly after all. Oh don't look at me like that, darling! I don't even want to go, it'll be horribly awkward since he- you know, proposed last time I saw him." Rhett almost spit the coffee in his mouth out at that last sentence.
"He proposed?" He asked, sounding more than a bit amused.
"Oh yes, I forgot you didn't know about that. It was nothing really, he just felt bad that you had left me so he proposed when I was back here that one time when Cat was a baby. I told him no, of course, and I hope he's forgotten about it. To tell the truth I had forgotten about it myself."
"Now I know that you truly love me, my dear, if you forgot about the object of your affections for so many years asking you to marry him." Rhett said with a smile
"You're so silly Rhett! You know I love you" Scarlett laughed. Rhett grinned at her and consulted his pocket watch.
"I should be going, come on I'll walk you over to PittyPat's."
Rhett walked Scarlett down to the Peachtree Street house that had been Home to her once.
"Are you sure you don't want me to come in with you?" he asked. "I can always go to the bank later."
"No, thanks. I don't think that would be a very good idea. You and Ashley don't exactly- get along. I wouldn't want you two getting in a fight, I don't know how he'll react when I tell him about us."
"Whatever you think best, Scarlett." Rhett leaned down, and after making sure no one was on the street around them, kissed her before they went their separate ways; him down Peachtree and her to the front door. Scarlett's knock was answered by a servant she didn't recognize who ushered her in and went to tell Ashley that he had a visitor by the name of Scarlett O'Hara. Scarlett waited in the familiar parlor where Rhett had first proposed, lo so many years ago. Ashley soon appeared, a smile on his face
"Scarlett, my dear, what a rare pleasure it is to see you!" he exclaimed
"Ashley, good to see you." Scarlett found that she was nervous to tell him about her remarriage.
"Where have you been all this time? What brings you back to Atlanta?"
"That's what I wanted to talk to you about." Scarlett sat down on one of the chairs and Ashley followed suit, facing her on the settee. "These last four years I've been living in Ireland, close to my O'Hara relatives. It's- beautiful there, I see now why Pa loved it so much."
"Ireland, really? That sounds splendid. I thought you had said you were in England last time you were here?"
"That wasn't quite true, Ashley. See- I had to make sure Rhett didn't find out where I was-"
"Has he been causing you trouble, Scarlett?"
"No, no, nothing like that. It's just that... I didn't want him to find out he had a daughter because he had divorced me and I was afraid he would take her from me." she finished in a rush. Ashley was surprised to say the least.
"You- you have a daughter?"
"Yes, her name is Katie but we all call her Cat. She's four, and she- she's wonderful"
"And he divorced you anyway? Damn him! " Scarlett could tell Ashley was upset now, he never would have sworn in front of her if he wasn't.
"No, Ashley, he didn't know about Cat- not until several months ago. I finally told him and now-"
"You married him again didn't you?" Suddenly it all made sense to Ashley: Scarlett's sudden return, what he had heard that morning that he had dismissed as just another rumor, that Captain Butler had divorced his second wife. He glanced down at Scarlett's hand, and, sure enough, saw a new diamond ring glittering on her finger.
"Yes, I did" Scarlett was taken aback by Ashley's apparent deducements. "We were married two months ago in Ireland."
"Damn him! He was always bad for you, Scarlett, but you never saw it. How did he get you to marry him this time? What does he have on you?"
"Nothing! Please stop, Ashley, you're talking nonsense."
"No- I'm not. He must have something on you for you to take him back when he deserted you, when he left you high and dry and married that woman, when he even lived in your house with her!"
"Ashley, please. Do you think so little of me as to think that I would ever marry Rhett if I didn't know how sorry he was for his actions in the past? I love him! And he loves me. Please- be happy for me, this is what I've always wanted."
Just as the words left Scarlett's mouth, Pittypat waddled into the room and let out a pleasured cry.
"Scarlett!" she squealed.
"Hello Auntie" Scarlett rose and gave Pitty a peck on the cheek.
"What are you doing here? I didn't know you were coming for a visit! I'll have the servants set up your old room right away-"
"That's not necessary. I'm staying at my house."
"Your house! But- but Captain Butler lives there" Scarlett tried not to giggle at the way her Aunt said Rhett's name like it was some grievous curse.
"I know he lives there, Auntie. I live there with him now. We just got married and we're living there with Wade and Ella and our other daughter, Cat. I must bring her to see you soon but at the moment she's out with Wade and Ella."
"You- you married Captain Butler? But, Scarlett he's such a scoundrel! Oh somebody do get my smelling salts!" Pitty wailed. Scarlett rolled her eyes and grabbed the familiar smelling salts off the side-table, waving them in front of her aunt, who was now lying on the settee frantically fanning herself.
"Auntie, I know he's a scoundrel- but so am I so I don't mind."
"Oh!" Pitty shrieked. Scarlett handed the salts to Ashley and rose to leave.
"I'm sorry but I really have to go. I have a- um- lunchdate with Rhett." she said quickly and rushed out the door. All right, so she didn't exactly have a date with Rhett. But she couldn't stay in that house with Ashley's shocked, disapproving silence and Pittypat's wails and fake vapors any longer. Besides, Rhett would be happy to take her to lunch- so it wasn't exactly a lie. Happy with this rationalization, Scarlett made her way to Rhett's bank. She had never been to see him there before, and when she entered she hadn't a clue as to where he would be so she went to see the young man at the front desk.
"I'm here to see Captain Butler, please." the young man eyed her up and down.
"Captain Butler is a very busy man" he replied insolently
"Yes, I know" Scarlett laughed a little confidential laugh. "I'm his wife."
"You're not Mrs. Butler, I've see 'er and you're not her." Scarlett was surprised that somebody would even take that tone with a lady, not to mention upset at the reference to Anne. She was understandably growing madder by the minute.
"Listen" she said through gritted teeth. "I do not need this right now. You go and tell him that Scarlett Butler is here to see him. Just do it!" After one more sidelong glance, the man went off down a long hallway. He soon returned with a sheepish look on his face.
"Please accept my deepest apologies, Mrs. Butler." he mumbled "If you'll follow me I'll take you directly to your husband." Scarlett couldn't help but sneak in a snide look before she followed him down to an office door which Rhett swung open.
"Hello, darling, I wasn't expecting you." he said smoothly. The clerk turned a deep shade of crimson and rushed back down the hallway. "What was that all about?" Rhett asked, closing the door behind the two of them. Scarlett didn't answer but instead threw herself into his arms so that her feet were dangling a few inches of the floor. He staggered back a step, and, after regaining his footing, held her close to his chest.
"Sorry" Scarlet whispered, looking up at him with wet green eyes. "I needed that."
"What's wrong, my love? I suppose your little talk with Ashley didn't go well?" He set Scarlett down on his chair and perched above her on the desk.
"No- it didn't go well at all. He was pretty mad."
"And just what right does he have to get mad at you?"
"I didn't say he was mad at me, Rhett. He was mad at you. I'm pretty sure he thinks you don't- deserve me. Which just goes to show how he never really knew me. I- I don't want to think about it right now, Rhett, is that all right"
"Of course it is, my pet. Do you want to go out to lunch or something?"
"I'd love to!" Scarlett laughed, causing Rhett to look at her oddly. "This office is so beautiful" she said, looking around for the first time at the sumptuous leather chairs, richly embossed wallpaper and the various other decorations. It almost reminded her off her study back at Ballyahara- it was obviously decorated with quite a deal of money but still remained tasteful, unlike the Peachtree Street house. "I had no idea it was so nice here."
"Yes, well it didn't used to be. I spent a lot of time here when I was married to Anne."
"I hope you won't be running off here to escape from me!"
"Now why would I ever want to escape from you, my pet?"
"I don't know at the moment but I'm sure we'll make up some reasons. Let's go eat, I'm positively starved.
Soon they were settled at a table at the National Hotel and over the course of their meal Scarlett related the whole episode at Pittypat's to Rhett.
"I'm sorry you had to do that, Scarlett." he said when she had finished. "I wish I could tell you that was the worst of it, but Atlanta's going to be very surprised when they hear about this latest installment in our little saga."
"Don't let's talk about it anymore, Rhett." Scarlett said, eager to get off the subject.
"Capital idea."
"Now about the house-" she started
"The house?"
"Yes. I was being perfectly honest when I said yesterday that I want to change everything about the decor. It's a perfect mess in there, even Cat saw it! Why in the world didn't you change it when I was away?"
Rhett looked at her with a wistful expression and said softly "I was waiting for you."
"Oh" breathed Scarlett. "Well- that's a very good answer, Mr. Butler." she smiled.
"I thought you would like that, Mrs. Butler." Rhett murmured, leaning across the table so that he was much closer then was really proper, not that Scarlett was complaining. "Is there anything stopping me from kissing you mad right now?" he asked, his voice again soft but this time with a seductive lilt to it.
"Mmm-hmm" Scarlett said with a nod, looking over his shoulder. "Sadly there is."
"And what would that be?" Rhett's mouth twisted into that half-frown that she knew so well.
"Don't look now but Mrs. Merriweather just came in and she's staring right at us."
"Well that's very unfortunate." He leaned back against his seat once again. "I bet she doesn't look happy?"
"Not at all."
"Outraged is probably more like it."
"Most definitely." Scarlett agreed. "You know- you never did tell me what the gossip about us was, as I'm certain there was a great deal of gossip about us."
"I think pretty much everything was covered- you ran off with another man, I was beating you... everything you could imagine though the majority of it was in your favor. I suppose that makes you happy"
"Well..." Scarlett grinned. "Oh she's coming over- shh!"
Dolly Merriweather, one third of the Old Guard Triumvirate, was standing at the table in a moment, red with indignation and looking down her nose at Rhett.
"If you'll excuse us, Captain Butler" she said in her pious air "I must have a word with Scarlett."
"Aah- yes- well, I'll just be... over there." Rhett rose with a wink to his wife and crossed the room to watch and wonder what the Old Cat was saying about him. Mrs. Merriweather promptly sat down in his vacated seat across from Scarlett.
"Scarlett what in God's name are you doing with that vulgar man? Why he hasn't been received in any decent place in Atlanta since he- well- you know... Anyway! He's been a beast to you- oh don't be embarrassed, dear, we're all behind you. To come here with that Hampton woman! There was a time I thought he had changed for the better, when I saw how he was with your darling little daughter, but I was wrong. He's just as horrid, just as nasty now as he was during The War- perhaps even more so!"
"Please- don't go on Mrs. Merriweather." Scarlett interjected. "I really don't care to sit here and here my husband- yes that's right, my husband- insulted."
"Your husband! Why, Scarlett, if your dear mother were here-"
"Pray don't speak to me of my mother. The fact of the matter is she's not here and I am married to Captain Butler. If you'll please excuse me..." Scarlett got up and walked over to Rhett, took his proffered arm, and walked out the front door. "She makes me feel positively... sixteen again!" she proclaimed when they were outside.
"At least we don't have to tell anybody else we got married now. If Mrs. Merriweather knows then the whole of Atlanta will know by dinner."
"I guess that is one good thing." Scarlett agreed. "There are two more people I need to tell, though." Rhett looked at her closely and nodded.
"Do you want me to go with you?" He asked.
"No I need to go alone. I made Wade and Ella promise to bring Cat back by one, could you meet them there? I don't know if I'll be done that soon."
"Sure. You don't have to go, Scarlett-"
"No, no, I want to." Rhett smiled a bit sadly and walked off down to their house. After buying two bouquets of flowers, Scarlett walked to the graveyard. She stopped at the far-too-small grave that read "Eugenia Victoria "Bonnie" Butler"and knelt down before it, laying the first bouquet at it. She noticed with no surprise that Bonnie's plot was one of the best kept in the cemetery.
"Hi, Sweetie." whispered Scarlett as she ran her hand over the cool stone. "Sorry I haven't been to see you for so long- I was in Ireland where your Grandpa was from, you never met him but you were a lot like him in many ways. But I'm sure your Daddy came to see you lots, didn't her? Daddy and I are back together, isn't that wonderful? I just know you would be so happy about it. And Daddy- he's much better now. He was so sad when you had to leave, baby. He's still sad but he's moving on finally- we both are. Not that we're forgetting you, honey, we could never do that. You'll always, always, be in our hearts. Oh, Bonnie, I wish you could have been a big sister to Cat. You would have been such a good big sister. I love you, sweetheart. I'll come visit you soon- promise. And maybe I'll bring KittyCat by."
She placed a kiss on the stone and rose, walking over to a small, simple slab marked "Melanie Hamilton Wilkes" where she lay down the other bouquet and sat down on the ground.
"Thank you, Melly. Thank you so much for helping me see what was right in front of me the whole time. I probably would never have known I loved Rhett if you hadn't told me he loved me. I'm together with him now, Melly, and I'm so happy. All I ever wanted was to be happy- and now I am. I'm married to the man of my dreams- my soulmate- I have wonderful children. Cat and Ella are two of the best daughters anyone could ask for and Wade... Oh, Melly, to be honest I don't know what to do with Wade. You would've known- you were always so good with him. He- he's so resentful of Rhett but he's never said an unkind word to me. I'll figure something out though, don't you worry."
"Melly it's so strange being back together with Rhett. Some days I'll wake up and forget all that's happened, think I'm still in Ireland. Then there are the times when I worry that it's all been a wonderful dream and I'll have to wake up and go on living without him. But I know it's not a dream, I know this is going to last forever because I love him and he loves me- and in the end that's all you need isn't it? I never knew I could be so full of love. I never thought I could be so... blissfully happy. But I miss you, Melly, I miss you every day. I wish so much that I could just talk to you- just one more time. I'm sorry I haven't kept my promise to you to look after Ashley and Beau, I know you understand why I couldn't. I'm back now and I'm going to make good on that promise. I'll look after them and you'll look after Bonnie, won't you? I love you, Melly."
Scarlett brushed the tears that had fallen onto her cheeks away and got up to walk back to her house.