Chapter 18

Rhett was sitting on the porch when Dr. Thompson came back out of the house. Rhett noted how worn the doctor looked.

"Doctor?'

"She's alive. I'm sure you did what you could. The fall would have definitely killed her, but.well things don't look good, Mr. Butler."

Rhett just stared at the porch boards as the doctor continued "She is now showing signs of internal bleeding. If it's severe, it could be disasterous. There's only so much I can do. Do you understand?"

Rhett finally looked up at the doctor. "So what you're trying to say is that I've killed her."

The doctor walked over and put his hand on Rhett's shoulder "If she uses the will power it took to get out of bed to try to survive, we'll be fine. But getting her to do that is the trick, my son."

Rhett just nodded his head. This was all his fault. Why had he said those things? He didn't know. All he knew was that for a few moments things were fine, then out of the blue Scarlett was asking him to leave. She had hurt him deeply by doing that. He thought that they possibly had a chance. Then she had done that.

The screen door opening caught Rhett's attention. When he looked up Katie was standing there "Why are you still here?"

Rhett could here the venom in her voice. "I wanted to make sure your Mother was alright?"

"Why? All you have ever done is hurt her. What did you say, what did you do to her to cause her to be that upset?"

Rhett just sat there looking at Katie. She did look so like her Mother. But, yes he could see him self in her too.

"Please just leave, go back to your family in Charleston. Please just leave us alone." As Katie finished she could not control her tears. She turned away from Rhett as they started to flow.

Rhett stood and walked to her. Placing a hand on Katie's shoulder he turned her so that he could look into her eyes "Is that want you want me to do?"

"It's what you should do. .." Katie stopped. She knew that she should not share her thoughts on her Mother's feelings for Rhett. But maybe if she did, he would see how much he was hurting her and would just leave them alone. So she continued "Mother may want you here, but she's knows that can't be. So it would be best."

Rhett looked confused "Why can't it be, Katie? I came here today with every intent of trying to start over with your mother, but then she pushed me away. That's why I became so.angry"

"How can you try to start over? What about your family in Char..."

Rhett stopped Katie "Katie I don't have any family in Charleston now except my sister."

"But Mother told me about you divorcing her and remarrying."

Katie could see a look of understanding dawn on Rhett's face "Is that what this is about. She thinks I'm here toying with her? That I'm still married?"

"Yes, I think so."

Rhett looked at his daughter then looked away "Katie, Anne..my second wife died several years after we were married. She died in childbirth. Our son died four days later."

Katie just stood there staring at Rhett. She didn't know what to say.

Rhett spoke again "So you see Katie I don't have a family in Charleston. But I do here. And whether you believe this or not, I did come here this morning with my mind made up to try to start over with Scarlett. To get know her again. She seems like just a changed woman" Rhett stopped and laughed slightly. Katie looked at him like he had lost his mind. "I'm sorry" he continued "It's just that it was so like the old Scarlett to lunge those flowers at me. I couldn't help but laugh"

A small smile brought out on Katie's face "She must have been very different when you were married. The woman I grew with was nothing like that."

"Yes I do believe I will have to get to know her all over again." Rhett stopped then added "and I have to get to know my daughter as well."

Katie's expression changed to one of despair but Rhett speaking again assured her that it was alright.

"Katie she told me last night. I told her early I didn't believe her. But I only said that, because she hurt me by pulling away. But I really did believe her. I can see too much of me in you, not to"

A smile crept onto Katie's face. "So you really do love her?"

"Yes Katie I do. I just hope I get a chance to prove it" Rhett said remembering what the doctor had said.

"Well Dr. Thompson said Mother would need all her will power to pull through this. I think knowing you're there beside her, and that you two do have a chance to start again, might be just what she needs."

Fifteen minutes later Rhett walked into Scarlett's room. He sat down carefully on the bed and took her hand "Well my love it seems like we've been at cross purposes again. I came here today to try to start over with you, but you pushed me away. It was our daughter who pointed why you did."

Scarlett barely opened her eyes "Rhett?"

Rhett smiled "Yes my darling, I'm right here."

Slowly Scarlett whispered "You said our daughter, Rhett. Do you believe me now?"

"My pet, I always believed you. I can see too much of me there not to. But when you pulled away, well I became very angry. You once again hurt me so I in turn hurt you."

"But.." Scarlett started to speak but Rhett gently placed his finger to her lips "I did not come here to hurt you. I now know why you pulled away. And just so you that know, Anne.. passed away just couple of years after we married. She died having our son, who died shortly there after." Rhett's voice was quiet and laced with q[1]uilt.

Rhett had to look away. Although he had never loved Anne, he wished that she had been afforded a better fate.

"Oh Rhett, I'm so sorry. I didn't know." As Scarlett spoke she touched is sleeve, causing him to turn and face her. "Did you love her Rhett?"

Rhett shook his head "No, but how could I? When you left you took my very soul with you." He saw Scarlett's expression "Yes I know I sent you away. But you were right Scarlett I was scared to love you. The old you anyway"

Scarlett laid there taking in his words "You said you were scared to love the old me. What about the new me?"

Rhett could hear the hope and the love in Scarlett's voice "Scarlett, do you remember all those years ago when I said God help the man who ever really loves you?"

Scarlett just nodded.

Rhett leaned forward and gently kissed her lips. They could both feel all the years of hidden, penned up emotion. As Rhett pulled back from Scarlett he looked into her eyes and said "Then God help me."

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