Chapter 5
Several weeks had gone by since Scarlett had originally told Katie her story. Every day Katie would think of things to ask. One particular day she found out that Scarlett did keep in touch with Suellen and Will. And that she also kept in touch with Wade and Ella. In fact Scarlett had just found out that Ella had recently became a mother for the first time.
After the conversation with her Mother about Ella, Katie had an idea. But dare she discuss it with Scarlett? Several days went by before she got up the nerve to do so.
Scarlett had just returned from a visit with sick neighbor. She was in her room when she heard a knock at the door.
"Come in" she stated as she put away her things and touched up her hair in the mirror.
"Good afternoon, Mother. How is Mrs. Redding feeling today?" Katie asked as she crossed the room to give Scarlett a kiss on the cheek.
"She's much better. Although I would say it will be quiet some time before she goes Fox hunting with Mr. Redding again." Noting Katie's rather nervous demeanor she added "Is everything alright, my dear?"
"Well.actually I've been wanting to ask you something. It's just that..."She didn't know quite how to finish.
"It just what, Katie? I thought you knew we could talk about anything. Is it to do with your father?"
"Not exactly. It's just that well, after our conversation the other day about Ella I was thinking. What's keeping us from going to America to see them? I know you don't want my Father to know about me. But is Tara even near Charleston? Couldn't we go and visit and him never find out?"
Scarlett didn't answer so Katie continued "I would really like to meet the rest of my family. And wouldn't you like to go home, Mother?"
Finally Scarlett found her voice "I don't know Katie. Of course I would love to go. I have never even met my two, no three grandchildren. But..what if after all these years they really don't want me there. It's been so long, and they don't know why I never came home, they may think I just didn't want to" Scarlett stopped worried her words would hurt Katie.
"Well, maybe you could write them and explain it to them. You don't think they'd tell Father do you?"
"No of course not. It's just been so long. But I would love to see everyone, and you do deserve a chance to meet your family. But what about your Mr. Shierfield? What would he do without you?"
"He is leaving in two weeks to go abroad with his father on business, they, unfortunately, will be gone most of the summer. So see, Mother, it would be the perfect time for a trip". Katie smiled as she finished, proud of her presentation of her idea.
"Well, now you just have this all figured out, don't you?" Scarlett said laughing and shaking her head.
"Well I have been thinking about it for several days."
Scarlett hugged Katie "Well give me a few days of my own to think about it. Will that do for an answer for now?"
"For now" Katie laughed as she almost ran from the room, so happy that her mother would even give her idea a second thought.
Two days later, Scarlett sat at her desk sealing the last of three letters. There was one to Suellen, one to Wade and the one she had just finished to Ella. She had told them about the last 16 years of her life. About Rhett divorcing her and about Katie. She told them she hoped they would understand why she had stayed away. But that it was Katie who had broached the subject of them returning to Tara, at least for a visit. Now all she had to do was mail the three envelopes and wait. Wait to see what their reaction would be.
The first one to reply was Suellen. Scarlett sat there with the envelope in her hand, almost afraid to open it. Before she had left America all those years ago, she and Suellen had actually become close. And they remained close through the years of correspondence. But what would she have to say about Scarlett's letter.
"Well there's only one way to find out" Scarlett said to the empty room. And with that she ripped the envelope open.
Suellen wrote that she was surprised, no shocked to find out about Katie, but not because she didn't believe Scarlett on what had happened, but because she was hurt that Scarlett would think her family would not understand. She went on to say that it must have been lonely for Scarlett all those years and that yes she and Katie should come home. For a visit or forever. Tara would always be home to Scarlett as it should be to Katie.
Scarlett could not believe her eyes. Suellen understood. There was no judgement, no harshness. There was nothing but understanding and wanting to see her after all the years they had been apart.
Over the next week, Scarlett received Wade and Ella's letters. They both were very understanding, for they both remembered the bad times Rhett and Scarlett had. They both practically begged her to come home so that she could meet her grandchildren and so that they could meet their sister.
So with their letters as affirmation that she could go home, Scarlett and Katie boarded a ship bound for Boston early one rainy morning. Scarlett watched as the English coast faded in the distance, uncertain of what lay ahead. But knowing all the while that she was going home, going home to Tara.
Several weeks had gone by since Scarlett had originally told Katie her story. Every day Katie would think of things to ask. One particular day she found out that Scarlett did keep in touch with Suellen and Will. And that she also kept in touch with Wade and Ella. In fact Scarlett had just found out that Ella had recently became a mother for the first time.
After the conversation with her Mother about Ella, Katie had an idea. But dare she discuss it with Scarlett? Several days went by before she got up the nerve to do so.
Scarlett had just returned from a visit with sick neighbor. She was in her room when she heard a knock at the door.
"Come in" she stated as she put away her things and touched up her hair in the mirror.
"Good afternoon, Mother. How is Mrs. Redding feeling today?" Katie asked as she crossed the room to give Scarlett a kiss on the cheek.
"She's much better. Although I would say it will be quiet some time before she goes Fox hunting with Mr. Redding again." Noting Katie's rather nervous demeanor she added "Is everything alright, my dear?"
"Well.actually I've been wanting to ask you something. It's just that..."She didn't know quite how to finish.
"It just what, Katie? I thought you knew we could talk about anything. Is it to do with your father?"
"Not exactly. It's just that well, after our conversation the other day about Ella I was thinking. What's keeping us from going to America to see them? I know you don't want my Father to know about me. But is Tara even near Charleston? Couldn't we go and visit and him never find out?"
Scarlett didn't answer so Katie continued "I would really like to meet the rest of my family. And wouldn't you like to go home, Mother?"
Finally Scarlett found her voice "I don't know Katie. Of course I would love to go. I have never even met my two, no three grandchildren. But..what if after all these years they really don't want me there. It's been so long, and they don't know why I never came home, they may think I just didn't want to" Scarlett stopped worried her words would hurt Katie.
"Well, maybe you could write them and explain it to them. You don't think they'd tell Father do you?"
"No of course not. It's just been so long. But I would love to see everyone, and you do deserve a chance to meet your family. But what about your Mr. Shierfield? What would he do without you?"
"He is leaving in two weeks to go abroad with his father on business, they, unfortunately, will be gone most of the summer. So see, Mother, it would be the perfect time for a trip". Katie smiled as she finished, proud of her presentation of her idea.
"Well, now you just have this all figured out, don't you?" Scarlett said laughing and shaking her head.
"Well I have been thinking about it for several days."
Scarlett hugged Katie "Well give me a few days of my own to think about it. Will that do for an answer for now?"
"For now" Katie laughed as she almost ran from the room, so happy that her mother would even give her idea a second thought.
Two days later, Scarlett sat at her desk sealing the last of three letters. There was one to Suellen, one to Wade and the one she had just finished to Ella. She had told them about the last 16 years of her life. About Rhett divorcing her and about Katie. She told them she hoped they would understand why she had stayed away. But that it was Katie who had broached the subject of them returning to Tara, at least for a visit. Now all she had to do was mail the three envelopes and wait. Wait to see what their reaction would be.
The first one to reply was Suellen. Scarlett sat there with the envelope in her hand, almost afraid to open it. Before she had left America all those years ago, she and Suellen had actually become close. And they remained close through the years of correspondence. But what would she have to say about Scarlett's letter.
"Well there's only one way to find out" Scarlett said to the empty room. And with that she ripped the envelope open.
Suellen wrote that she was surprised, no shocked to find out about Katie, but not because she didn't believe Scarlett on what had happened, but because she was hurt that Scarlett would think her family would not understand. She went on to say that it must have been lonely for Scarlett all those years and that yes she and Katie should come home. For a visit or forever. Tara would always be home to Scarlett as it should be to Katie.
Scarlett could not believe her eyes. Suellen understood. There was no judgement, no harshness. There was nothing but understanding and wanting to see her after all the years they had been apart.
Over the next week, Scarlett received Wade and Ella's letters. They both were very understanding, for they both remembered the bad times Rhett and Scarlett had. They both practically begged her to come home so that she could meet her grandchildren and so that they could meet their sister.
So with their letters as affirmation that she could go home, Scarlett and Katie boarded a ship bound for Boston early one rainy morning. Scarlett watched as the English coast faded in the distance, uncertain of what lay ahead. But knowing all the while that she was going home, going home to Tara.
