Schools out for summer, so I thought I ought try and finish this story. I don't own any of the characters they belong to Margaret Mitchell
Heart to Heart
Scarlett wouldn't allow herself to cry, someone had to be strong and help everyone get through this. She couldn't help but think god was punishing her for doing so many things wrong. In the past few months she had lost so much. Bonnie. Melly. Now, Mammy. She wouldn't allow herself to add Rhett to that list, because she new she was going to get him back.
Scarlett was seeing to everything. Suellen tried to help but Scarlett insisted that she could handle it "after all Suellen you have to take care of that baby you are carrying." Scarlett would tell her when she would try. Since Mammy was family Scarlett decided that she should be buried in the family plot on the hill with her mother, father and her brothers that were lost at infancy. Scarlett had to get everything ready for tomorrow. Scarlett and Maggie put Mammy into her Sunday dress with the red petticoat Rhett got for her in New Orleans.
By suppertime Scarlett had everything ready for the funeral that would happen in two days time. It would take two days for the pastor to get here. Conversation at supper was scarce. After supper Scarlett asked Wade and Ella to sit with her on the porch.
"I want to make sure you two are doing alright." She said to them on the porch. Ella sat beside Scarlett on an old bench, while Wade sat on the porch steps. It seems hundreds of years ago when Scarlett sat on this bench while the Tarleton twins sat on those very steps that Wade was sitting on.
"I know this is hard for you children. You've known Mammy your entire lives. She was there when you both were born." Scarlett was speaking the words but was not sure where this was leading. She just wanted to make sure they were going to be alright.
"Momma, how come Mammy died?" Ella asked with tears in her eyes.
"Mammy, was an old lady. She lived a long life. She took care of my mother, and then me, Aunt Suellen, Aunt Carreen, Wade, and you, and Bonnie…." Scarlett had been trying so hard not to think about Bonnie because it only caused her more pain.
Wade looked over and saw the pain on his mother's face and he spoke up. "Mammy loved us Ella, but she couldn't stay with us forever. She's in heaven now looking after Bonnie and Aunt Melly."
"Is that true momma?" Ella asked.
"Yes it is sweetheart. Mammy will always be looking after you too, but from now on it will be from heaven." This seemed to comfort the child.
"Momma can I sleep with you again tonight?" Ella asked through a yawn.
"Yes you may. Why don't you go ahead and go and get ready for bed. I'll be up in a while I want to talk to Wade."
"Okay, Momma." Ella said as she hugged Scarlett.
When the door closed Scarlett asked Wade to come sit by her. He walked and up to the bench and sat where Ella was once sitting.
"That was a nice thing to tell your sister Wade. You are a good big brother to her. You are becoming…." Before Scarlett could finish what she was going to say Wade cut in. "Uncle Rhett's not coming back is he? He doesn't care about us anymore does he?" Wade asked. Scarlett was shocked at the bold questions her son was asking her.
"Of course he is Wade. He loves you and Ella very much. It's just that…" Wade broke in again "He can't be with us right now. Doesn't he know you and Ella need him? Ella always looked up to him. We don't need him. I can take care of you and Ella now." As he spoke these words a tear slid down his cheek. Saying this was hard for him to say and that it was untrue. As much as Wade hated it he did love his Uncle Rhett, he was just mad at him for leaving them.
Scarlett wrapped her arms around Wade and told him, "I love you Wade and so does Rhett. Rhett just needs time to get over his loss. You'll see he'll be back to take care of us." Scarlett wasn't sure if what she was saying was true but she wanted to comfort Wade or herself.
After Wade went up to bed Scarlett set in the dark. What Wade had said hit her hard. She had just thought that Rhett had left her, but that wasn't true he left Ella and Wade too. Her children had lost so much she need to get Rhett back not just for her but for Wade and Ella as well.
