Chapter 11
That night after supper Scarlett found Katie out on the porch swing. She knew she needed to tell her that she had seen Rhett. But she didn't know quite how.
"Katie, darling what are you working on?" Scarlett asked as she set down beside her daughter.
"Hello Mother. I'm working on some ideas for the wedding, of course" Katie smiled as she answered her Mother.
So for the next few minutes they discussed the wedding. What Katie had done so far and what she needed Scarlett's help with.
After a few moments silence Scarlett looked at her daughter and said "I wanted to come out and tell you who I ran into today while I was at the cemetery."
Katie not looking up from her notes did not see the expression on her Mother's face. "Oh who, Mother? Who did you see at the cemetery today?"
Scarlett could tell Katie was expecting her to say an old friend or someone that Katie had meet since they had been in Atlanta. She knew Katie was not prepared for what she was about to say, but she didn't know how to prepare her. So Scarlett reached out and took Katie's hand. This caused Katie to look at her mother.
It seemed to Scarlett like it took forever to say those few words. "I saw Rhett at the cemetery. I saw you father today. He's here in Atlanta."
Katie just sat there. Numb. She felt a thousand emotions all at once. She was in the same city as her father. There was the possibility she'd actually meet him. That made her happy in a way. Yet she thought of the pain he had caused Scarlett and that made her not want to see him at all. She didn't know what to think, what to do or what to say.
"Katie darling, please say something." Scarlett said as she stroked the top of her daughter's hand.
Finally Katie found her voice "What is he doing here?"
Scarlett could hear the pain and the uncertainty in Katie's voice.
"He is here on business. I guess he decided to visit Melanie's and Bonnie's grave at the same time I did."
Katie just nodded. She didn't know what to say. Finally she asked "He didn't say anything about what Duncan told him, did he?"
"No he didn't. Actually all we said was hello, you're looking well and I better be going. Honestly I think we both were kind of shocked by seeing one another."
"Well that's good." Noticing her Mother's expression Katie asked "Are you alright Mother?"
Scarlett quickly calmed her face and answered "Yes darling I'm fine. Now don't you worry. I'm pretty sure we won't see your father again." With that said Scarlett kissed Katie on the check and stood up. "Good night dear" she said and then went back into the house.
Katie sat there watching her Mother. Scarlett did not realize that Katie had seen the sadness in her eyes when she said they would probably not see her father again. Did her mother want to see her father? Could she still have feelings for him after all she had been through and after all the years that had passed?
Katie was still wondering that when she climbed the stairs to go to bed that night.
The next few weeks were busy ones for Scarlett and Katie. They worked long hours helping Duncan ready the shop for the grand opening.
Late one afternoon while Katie and Harriet were out picking fabric for the shop's windows, Scarlett and Duncan went to visit the bank to set up all the accounts Duncan would need. Scarlett had wanted to go with him, so that she could speak the bank president personally.
As they exited the bank they where discussing some business matters and almost walked into someone coming into the bank.
When Scarlett stepped back and looked she could not believe it. Rhett was standing there. It had been Rhett that she had almost plowed down.
Tipping his hat Rhett said "Good afternoon Scarlett and...." he then stopped waiting for a formal introduction to Duncan.
Scarlett quickly got her wits about her "Good afternoon Rhett. Rhett this is Duncan Shierfield. Duncan this is Rhett Butler. My ex-husband." Scarlett made sure to put an emphasis on the 'ex' part.
"Hello Mr. Butler. Good to meet you."
"Good to meet you too, Mr. Shierfield. Or should I say it's good to be properly introduced. I'm sorry for my behavior when meeting you before in Marshall's office. But I'm sure you know that word of my EX wife being back in Atlanta caught me quite off guard." Before Duncan could answer Rhett turned to Scarlett "Are you showing Mr. Shierfield all the finer points of your fair city, Mrs. O'Hara?"
Scarlett heard the sarcasm in Rhett's voice "Actually I just introduced him to Tom. I wanted him to know who to go to at the bank if he needed anything."
"Of course. You could never do anything half way. It's the bank president or nothing, hmm my pet?"
Hearing him use the endearment 'my pet' almost caused Scarlett to choke. It had been so long since she had heard those words. And although it always annoyed her when he did, for she never knew if he meant it in a good way or a bad way, still hearing it hurt.
"Of course I don't, Rhett. You should know that." There she thought. Then she added "Well we should be going. We have to get things ready for the Grand opening on Friday."
"Well then I'll say my good days. Mr. Shierfield, Scarlett." With another tip of his hat Rhett breezed past them and into the bank.
Friday finally came and the Grand opening of Shierfield's Exotic Dry Goods was a great success. Just after midday Scarlett decided to take a break. She never knew she could get tired of discussing business for that was exactly what she had done all morning and frankly she needed a break. So leaving out the back door she walked toward the park in the center of town. She just needed a few moments to clear her head. It had been so long since she had been so involved in the business world, it had kind of adled her a little.
As she turned the corner to head toward the park she stopped in her tracks. There coming out of the barbers shop was Rhett.
'Oh please don't let him see me' Scarlett thought. But it was too late. He was coming across the street.
"Hello Scarlett. How is Mr. Shierfield's grand opening going? I thought that you would be there all day."
"It's going just fine. I just needed a break for a moment."
"You need a break from business. Have you gotten soft in your old age?" Rhett knew that last part would bring out the Irish in Scarlett.
"Rhett, how dare you. I am not old. It's just been a long time since I've been so involved in anything. I needed a few moments to clear my head."
Rhett laughed "I'm sorry, Scarlett. That wasn't very gentlemanly of me. Let me make it up to you by buying you a cup of coffee."
Scarlett just stared at him. Had he just asked her to coffee?
"Scarlett?"
"What.I'm sorry Rhett. Thank you but no I should really be getting back." She needed to escape, she couldn't be this close to him.
"Will having one cup of coffee with me take up that much of your time?" Rhett smiled one of those knowing smiles.
"Oh alright. Yes you may buy me a cup of coffee."
As they made there way to the coffee shop down the street neither spoke. After they were seated and had ordered, Scarlett looked at Rhett "So where are you staying, Rhett?"
"I'm staying at the National." Rhett watched as Scarlett's expression changed.
Scarlett thought back to when they had stayed at the National after their honeymoon. That seemed like so long ago. "I hope it's as nice as it was...before" she didn't know quite how to finish her sentence.
"It is."
Just then their coffee and dessert arrived. For a little while they ate in silence neither knowing what to say. Both trying to hold back too many thoughts and emotions.
Again Scarlett spoke "So how long will you be in Atlanta?"
"I really don't know. It depends on how..my deals work out."
Scarlett nodded in acknowledgement.
Then Rhett spoke again "So where are you staying. I know you sold the house on Peachtree."
"We.I'm staying with Ashley and Harriet."
Rhett's brow shot up "Ashley Wilkes?"
"Yes and get that smug expression off your face. Ashley is remarried. He has been for several years. In fact I'm the one who played matchmaker for them."
Rhett almost choked on his coffee. "What did you just say?"
"I said that I played matchmaker. I meet Harriet, well while I was traveling. When I got to know her I realized she'd be so perfect for Ashley. So I introduced them."
"So let me get this right, you played matchmaker for Ashley Wilkes. Now there's something I'd never thought I'd see."
Scarlett was getting angry at his tone. She had told him all those years ago, before he walked out, that she did not love Ashley. That she really loved him.
"Oh Rhett, don't carry on so. Yes, and may I say they are quite happy. Two peas in a pod". Having said that Scarlett laid her napkin in her plate "Well I better be getting back. They'll think I ran off."
She watched at a strange expression came and went from Rhett's face. "Yes I guess you better. Thank you for your company, Mrs. O'Hara." By the time that he had finished speaking that same mocking grin had once again come across his face.
As Scarlett left she tried to decipher what had just happened. But she could not. Even after all these years she'd never be able to figure out what Rhett had on his mind.
That night after supper Scarlett found Katie out on the porch swing. She knew she needed to tell her that she had seen Rhett. But she didn't know quite how.
"Katie, darling what are you working on?" Scarlett asked as she set down beside her daughter.
"Hello Mother. I'm working on some ideas for the wedding, of course" Katie smiled as she answered her Mother.
So for the next few minutes they discussed the wedding. What Katie had done so far and what she needed Scarlett's help with.
After a few moments silence Scarlett looked at her daughter and said "I wanted to come out and tell you who I ran into today while I was at the cemetery."
Katie not looking up from her notes did not see the expression on her Mother's face. "Oh who, Mother? Who did you see at the cemetery today?"
Scarlett could tell Katie was expecting her to say an old friend or someone that Katie had meet since they had been in Atlanta. She knew Katie was not prepared for what she was about to say, but she didn't know how to prepare her. So Scarlett reached out and took Katie's hand. This caused Katie to look at her mother.
It seemed to Scarlett like it took forever to say those few words. "I saw Rhett at the cemetery. I saw you father today. He's here in Atlanta."
Katie just sat there. Numb. She felt a thousand emotions all at once. She was in the same city as her father. There was the possibility she'd actually meet him. That made her happy in a way. Yet she thought of the pain he had caused Scarlett and that made her not want to see him at all. She didn't know what to think, what to do or what to say.
"Katie darling, please say something." Scarlett said as she stroked the top of her daughter's hand.
Finally Katie found her voice "What is he doing here?"
Scarlett could hear the pain and the uncertainty in Katie's voice.
"He is here on business. I guess he decided to visit Melanie's and Bonnie's grave at the same time I did."
Katie just nodded. She didn't know what to say. Finally she asked "He didn't say anything about what Duncan told him, did he?"
"No he didn't. Actually all we said was hello, you're looking well and I better be going. Honestly I think we both were kind of shocked by seeing one another."
"Well that's good." Noticing her Mother's expression Katie asked "Are you alright Mother?"
Scarlett quickly calmed her face and answered "Yes darling I'm fine. Now don't you worry. I'm pretty sure we won't see your father again." With that said Scarlett kissed Katie on the check and stood up. "Good night dear" she said and then went back into the house.
Katie sat there watching her Mother. Scarlett did not realize that Katie had seen the sadness in her eyes when she said they would probably not see her father again. Did her mother want to see her father? Could she still have feelings for him after all she had been through and after all the years that had passed?
Katie was still wondering that when she climbed the stairs to go to bed that night.
The next few weeks were busy ones for Scarlett and Katie. They worked long hours helping Duncan ready the shop for the grand opening.
Late one afternoon while Katie and Harriet were out picking fabric for the shop's windows, Scarlett and Duncan went to visit the bank to set up all the accounts Duncan would need. Scarlett had wanted to go with him, so that she could speak the bank president personally.
As they exited the bank they where discussing some business matters and almost walked into someone coming into the bank.
When Scarlett stepped back and looked she could not believe it. Rhett was standing there. It had been Rhett that she had almost plowed down.
Tipping his hat Rhett said "Good afternoon Scarlett and...." he then stopped waiting for a formal introduction to Duncan.
Scarlett quickly got her wits about her "Good afternoon Rhett. Rhett this is Duncan Shierfield. Duncan this is Rhett Butler. My ex-husband." Scarlett made sure to put an emphasis on the 'ex' part.
"Hello Mr. Butler. Good to meet you."
"Good to meet you too, Mr. Shierfield. Or should I say it's good to be properly introduced. I'm sorry for my behavior when meeting you before in Marshall's office. But I'm sure you know that word of my EX wife being back in Atlanta caught me quite off guard." Before Duncan could answer Rhett turned to Scarlett "Are you showing Mr. Shierfield all the finer points of your fair city, Mrs. O'Hara?"
Scarlett heard the sarcasm in Rhett's voice "Actually I just introduced him to Tom. I wanted him to know who to go to at the bank if he needed anything."
"Of course. You could never do anything half way. It's the bank president or nothing, hmm my pet?"
Hearing him use the endearment 'my pet' almost caused Scarlett to choke. It had been so long since she had heard those words. And although it always annoyed her when he did, for she never knew if he meant it in a good way or a bad way, still hearing it hurt.
"Of course I don't, Rhett. You should know that." There she thought. Then she added "Well we should be going. We have to get things ready for the Grand opening on Friday."
"Well then I'll say my good days. Mr. Shierfield, Scarlett." With another tip of his hat Rhett breezed past them and into the bank.
Friday finally came and the Grand opening of Shierfield's Exotic Dry Goods was a great success. Just after midday Scarlett decided to take a break. She never knew she could get tired of discussing business for that was exactly what she had done all morning and frankly she needed a break. So leaving out the back door she walked toward the park in the center of town. She just needed a few moments to clear her head. It had been so long since she had been so involved in the business world, it had kind of adled her a little.
As she turned the corner to head toward the park she stopped in her tracks. There coming out of the barbers shop was Rhett.
'Oh please don't let him see me' Scarlett thought. But it was too late. He was coming across the street.
"Hello Scarlett. How is Mr. Shierfield's grand opening going? I thought that you would be there all day."
"It's going just fine. I just needed a break for a moment."
"You need a break from business. Have you gotten soft in your old age?" Rhett knew that last part would bring out the Irish in Scarlett.
"Rhett, how dare you. I am not old. It's just been a long time since I've been so involved in anything. I needed a few moments to clear my head."
Rhett laughed "I'm sorry, Scarlett. That wasn't very gentlemanly of me. Let me make it up to you by buying you a cup of coffee."
Scarlett just stared at him. Had he just asked her to coffee?
"Scarlett?"
"What.I'm sorry Rhett. Thank you but no I should really be getting back." She needed to escape, she couldn't be this close to him.
"Will having one cup of coffee with me take up that much of your time?" Rhett smiled one of those knowing smiles.
"Oh alright. Yes you may buy me a cup of coffee."
As they made there way to the coffee shop down the street neither spoke. After they were seated and had ordered, Scarlett looked at Rhett "So where are you staying, Rhett?"
"I'm staying at the National." Rhett watched as Scarlett's expression changed.
Scarlett thought back to when they had stayed at the National after their honeymoon. That seemed like so long ago. "I hope it's as nice as it was...before" she didn't know quite how to finish her sentence.
"It is."
Just then their coffee and dessert arrived. For a little while they ate in silence neither knowing what to say. Both trying to hold back too many thoughts and emotions.
Again Scarlett spoke "So how long will you be in Atlanta?"
"I really don't know. It depends on how..my deals work out."
Scarlett nodded in acknowledgement.
Then Rhett spoke again "So where are you staying. I know you sold the house on Peachtree."
"We.I'm staying with Ashley and Harriet."
Rhett's brow shot up "Ashley Wilkes?"
"Yes and get that smug expression off your face. Ashley is remarried. He has been for several years. In fact I'm the one who played matchmaker for them."
Rhett almost choked on his coffee. "What did you just say?"
"I said that I played matchmaker. I meet Harriet, well while I was traveling. When I got to know her I realized she'd be so perfect for Ashley. So I introduced them."
"So let me get this right, you played matchmaker for Ashley Wilkes. Now there's something I'd never thought I'd see."
Scarlett was getting angry at his tone. She had told him all those years ago, before he walked out, that she did not love Ashley. That she really loved him.
"Oh Rhett, don't carry on so. Yes, and may I say they are quite happy. Two peas in a pod". Having said that Scarlett laid her napkin in her plate "Well I better be getting back. They'll think I ran off."
She watched at a strange expression came and went from Rhett's face. "Yes I guess you better. Thank you for your company, Mrs. O'Hara." By the time that he had finished speaking that same mocking grin had once again come across his face.
As Scarlett left she tried to decipher what had just happened. But she could not. Even after all these years she'd never be able to figure out what Rhett had on his mind.
