Chapter 4

That night sleep did not find it's way to Scarlett's bedroom until the pre- dawn hours of the morning. She had laid awake with a million thoughts running through her head. Finally with a plan intact she had slept.

Later that morning after she had dressed, Scarlett went in search of Katie. She found her sitting on the veranda of her room, making wedding plans.

As she walked across the room toward the open french doors Scarlett stared at her youngest and best loved child. She looked so much like Rhett. The dark hair, the sauvy complexion. Katie was truly beautiful.

Katie could feel someone's eyes upon her. She laid down her fountain pen and paper and turned to see her Mother standing in the doorway just watching her. Again, her mother had that far away, hurtful look that Katie had seen so many times. But yet this time it seemed that there was the faintest traces of a smile on her face.

"Mother?"

"Good morning, my dear. Did you sleep well?" Scarlett ask as she took the seat beside her daughter.

"Yes. Did you?"

"Actually, no I didn't, but that is alright. It gave me plenty of time to think. And that is why I've come to talk to you this morning. I'm sure you know that your Mr. Shierfield came to speak to me yesterday."

At that Katie blushed and dropped her gaze. "Yes Ma'am, and I know the answer you gave." Katie then looked her mother in the eyes "And I want to thank you for your blessing".

Scarlett smiled at her daughter "Well I'm glad my answer made you happy. That is truly what I've always wanted for you." Scarlett stopped for a moment then continued "Did Mr. Shierfield mention to you that we also spoke of something else?"

"No Mother he did not. Did you?" Katie was rapidly trying to figure out what her mother was speaking of.

Scarlett watched Katie's face as a realization of what her Mother and her future husband's conversation might have been about struck her.

"Mother, I hope that if Duncan, I mean Mr. Shierfield discussed with you something I confided...."

Scarlett placed her hand onto Katie's, looked deep into her eyes and said "Yes he did speak to me of some thing's I believe you confided in him. But he did it because he cares deeply for you and only wants to see you happy."

Katie just sat there staring at her Mother as she continued "And after much sole searching I believe that your Mr. Shierfield may be correct. There are many things I need to share with you. Things you deserve to know."

Scarlett stopped. She didn't even know where to begin. Finally she looked away for a moment let out a deep breath, turned back to Katie and asked "So my dear Katie, where would you like to begin?"

Katie again just sat there staring at her Mother. There had been so many times she had wanted this opportunity. But where to begin. She didn't want to say something to upset Scarlett. She didn't want to lose this chance.

As is reading Katie's thoughts Scarlett added "Please ask whatever you want. I'll answer you as truthfully as I can."

Finally Katie spoke "Tell me about Rhett.I mean my father.."she let the last word fade off. Not wanting to upset Scarlett.

Sensing this Scarlett patted her hand. "You can say father. What do you want to know?" "Everything" Katie said suddenly excited by the possibility of finally getting her wish of knowing something of the man she had so long thought dead.

Scarlett let out a jagged, but quiet laugh "Well that could take a while. But first let me tell you about how I was when I was your age. Maybe when I get to the part about your father, it will make more sense. Will that be alright?"

Katie just nodded.

So for the next few hours Scarlett told Katie what it had been like growing up in Clayton County. She told her more stories of her Mother, Pa, Suellen and Carreen. For those where the only people in Katie's family she had ever been told about. And before it had only been a small thought or story here and there.

Finally she felt as though she knew her Mother's family. Her family. That was quite a sensation for her. There had never been any one else but her and Scarlett.

When the noon hour arrived Winston brought them out drinks and sandwiches. As they ate Scarlett started to tell Katie about the day at the Twelve Oaks barbeque when she first met Rhett.

"And with telling him that I breezed out of the library," Scarlett said smiling, thinking back to her and Rhett's first meeting.

"Oh Mother, he really didn't say that did he?" Katie asked, half laughing and yet still astonished at the first conversation her parents ever had. It was not by any means what you would call romantic.

"Yes, he did. From then on we, well lets just say we liked to spar with words. I think we both enjoyed it as long as it didn't turn cruel." Scarlett finished the sentence in a hush tone, thinking back to the many horrible things they said to one another.

Sensing Scarlett's mood change, Katie quickly added "So what happened next".

Scarlett gladly obliged her daughter glad to remember that more simplistic time in her life again. However when she got to the part about accepting Charles' proposal she hesitated.

"I'm not sure how you'll feel about this next part, but please remember I was a much different person back then" Scarlett found herself saying.

Katie nodded and Scarlett continued. "So as I stood there looking out the window and watching the whole world go mad, Charles Hamilton stood there professing his undying love to me. Before I really knew it I had accepted his proposal and he had gone off to speak to Pa. Then within a few days we were married. It all seemed like some very strange dream. Then he was gone. Gone off to join the war."

Katie started to say something but Scarlett interrupted her "But there's more. Then within no time I received a letter of regret from Charles Commander. And so I found myself a widow and expecting all at the same time."

The look on Katie's face was one of confusion. "So I have a brother or a sister?"

Scarlett nodded "Yes you do. Actually...well let me continue and I'll tell you about them"

Scarlett continued her story. Through Wade's birth. Through Rhett helping her and Melanie and the children make it back to Tara. How at that most inopportune time Rhett had decided to join the army.

When Scarlett told Katie about the hard times at Tara after the war, Katie couldn't believe it. She couldn't imagine her mother out working in the fields. But it caused Katie to have much admiration for Scarlett. For her determination to keep Tara.

Scarlett then told her about going to Rhett while he was in jail for the money to pay the taxes on Tara. "I guess I should have just told him what I wanted, but at that time in my life, well my mind just didn't work that way. And of course he saw right through my big grand charade and happily told me that he could not get to his money. I was so mad at him, I told him that I hoped they hanged him!"

"Mother!"

"Well I was desperate which is the reasoning behind the next chapter of the Scarlett O'Hara story" Scarlett laughed then continued on. Through marrying Frank, having Ella, Frank getting killed. Then onto Rhett's proposal.

"He said he couldn't go on forever waiting to catch me between husbands. I know that it sounds horrible, but coming from your father, well it didn't really seem so bad"

"So you were married then?" Katie asked trying to soak everything in. Her mother had been married twice before her father. She had an older brother and an older sister. It was so much to comprehend and there was more. Scarlett was just now getting to her life with Rhett.

As Scarlett started to answer, Winston appeared in the door way. "My Lady, it is nearing the dinner hour. Would you and Miss Katie prefer to take your meal here or in the dining room?"

Scarlett looked at Katie then answered "We'll have it in the dining room. We'll be in shortly."

With a 'very good Ma'am' Winston was gone.

As they made their way to the dining room, Scarlett answered Katie's question. "Yes we got married then. The actual date was a little over 2 weeks ago." Scarlett cleared her throat and continued "Then he took me on the most fabulous trip to New Orleans." Scarlett's mind went back to New Orleans, 'Oh why didn't I realize what I had then. It could have all been so different'.

Katie touching Scarlett's sleeve brought her back.

As they ate their dinner Scarlett told of her and Rhett's life together. She cried when she told Katie about Bonnie. "You looked so like her sometimes when you were small. She was Rhett's world and when she died, well..." Scarlett didn't know how to finish.

Scarlett again cried when she told of losing the baby, Melanie's death and of Rhett leaving. "He really had every reason to leave. I really never gave him any reason to stay. I found out too late that I loved him."

Katie didn't know what to say. All she could do was take Scarlett's hand.

Scarlett smiled at her daughter "Let's retire to the study and I'll tell you about the last part of mine and your father's story."

After they were seated, Scarlett told Katie of going to Charleston to find Rhett. Of their boat wreck and of the passion afterward.

Then she told her of the note he had left her, telling her that they were not meant to be together. But that deep inside she knew he loved her and how she had decided to make him wait on her that time.

Lastly she told her of meeting Colum and the rest of the O'Haras. About going to Ireland and concocting the story of being a widow. She told Katie of her miraculous birth. Telling her that is how she met Grainne. Explaining that she never told anyone state side except a few of the Savannah O'Hara's about Katie. Because she didn't think anyone would believe her. And she didn't want them to think badly of Katie. So it was easier just to stay away and not let them know.

When Scarlett finished she looked at Katie "I'm sorry if any of that hurt you. I did not mean for it to. I just wanted you to know why I am the way I am and why things are the way they are. Did I leave you any questions to ask me?"

Katie looked back into her Mother's eyes. " Oh Mother you've been through so much. Least of all raising me alone. I guess my one question is why? Why did father not give you another chance? I know you must have hurt him, making him think you loved someone else all those years. But why didn't he at least try once you told him? And especially after what happened after the boat wreck. How could he have said those things then tell you that it wasn't meant to be? Why did he have to go and divorce you and never even try again" As Katie finished her eyes welled up with tears.

Scarlett reached out and wiped away the one lone tear that trailed down Katie's cheek. Then pulling her daughter to her she answered "Darling, that is something I have asked myself almost every night for almost 16 years. A question I still don't have an answer to".