A new life in a better way by Soña Binzarmet
Chapter 4: The surprise!
Let's go for the following of the story.
Again thanks a lot for all yours reviews
I do not all Gwtw and Scarlett's characters.
Like you know they belong to Mrs Mitchell and Mrs Ripley.
The gangway of the Brian Boru dropped the passengers in Charleston's port.
"I guess you're happy to be arrived my precious!" asked Rhett to Cat.
"Yes, I will see all my family!"
The little girl contemplated the view since the port.
"What's that?" wondered Cat observing a strange place full of crosses in stone.
"It's a cemetery darling!" contested Scarlett.
"What's the use of it?"asked Cat again.
"That where we put the people who go to the heaven!"said Rhett.
"Why there are flowers at the stone?"
"That the use, aroon. People put flowers in the stone of people who go to the heaven.
It's in order to tell them how much we miss and love them contested Scarlett again.
"I suppose Bonnie and Auntie Melly have their own stones."
"Yes but not in this cemetery. In the one of Atlanta."
"Would it be possible to put some flowers on their stones when we will be in Atlanta?"
"Yes, of course sweet heart." concluded Rhett.
"Look Cat, this house in the mountain. This is Dumnore, the natal house of your Dad!"
"It's a big and lovely house. Are Granny and Auntie Rosemary living here too?"
"No, this house is not ours anymore. We have another one. More little but lovely too!"
"All right now interrupted Scarlett. What about finding a horse drawn car and go.
I think Granny and Auntie are waiting for us. We don't want them to wait too much!"
Cat was stun to discover that their driver was dark.
Indeed she had never seen a coloured person before.
Stupefied but polite, she decided to not mention her surprise in front of him.
She did it inside in the carriage, comfortably installed.
"Mom, Dad. Have you seen the skin of the driver? He's very dark."
The parents did burst out of laughing.
"Well, you'll see many dark people now Kitty Cat."
"Really? Why are they dark daddy?"
"It's just because they come from very hot countries in Africa.
So their sun was so hot that it makes them dark. They're kindly people."
"You don't have to be frightened by them. They're adorable!"
"I was not scary of him. I was only surprised." retorted Cat a little annoyed.
"Yes we know, darling!"
"Now, the incident is finish. So here we are, Granny!" added Scarlett.
"Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeessssssssssssssss"slacked Cat overjoyed.
Fifteen minutes later, they arrived at the house of Eleanor Butler.
They knocked at the door, happy but nervous at the same time.
Especially Scarlett, worried about the reaction of her mother in law.
A carriage was spending on the street, near the Butler's house.
It was Sally Brewton. Scarlett recognized the handbell tinkled.
"Hello, Rhett, hello Scarlett, hello miss Katie. How are you?" said the old woman.
"Great and yourself, dear Mrs Brewton?" answered Rhett with a smile.
"I'm feeling all rigth thank you, Rhett."
"You must remember my wife Scarlettt Butler, Sally."
"Of course, it's a real pleasure to see you again Scarlett."
"The pleasure is mine Sally."
Rhett went on: "Sally, I would like to introduce you my daughter..."
"Miss Katie Colum Dara O'Hara Butler, I know"
She stopped to look at Rhett and Scarlett to looked Cat.
"Katie, your grandma doesn't stop to speak about you. So does your Aunt."
Cat was on a seventh cloud to hear that. She contested very solemnly.
"Nice to meet you, Mrs Brewton. I'm glad you say that."
"Well I'm glad to meet you too, little miss Butler."
"I must leave now, I'm already late. It was a pleasure."
The old woman was smiling at the family then pursued her way.
Saying goodbye, Scarlett and Rhett inclined their head.
Cad did respectually a curtsey.
A little more far away of the house, Sally drove her carriage, putting her hand
near her mouth. Rhett noticed this without understood the reason.
He was happy to see, that Sally and so probably all the civilization of Charleston,
were welcome them. He didn't know yet the work about that of Rosemary and
her mother. Eleanor had warn everyone to be friendly with her son and her daughter
in low and her granddaughter. Rosemary had confessed in public to have burnt the note.
Scarlett was happy too about Sally Brewton's welcoming.
"Mr and Mrs Rhett, Miss Rhett. Welcome home!" said a suddently the man who opened
the door. Manito, the loyal house servant of the Butler was doorstep.
"Thank you Manito, I'm happy to be here. And so are my Wife and my Daughter."
"Let's come inside the house, Mrs and Miss Rhett should be tired!"
"It's a pleasure to meet you Mr Manito" said Cat getting into the house.
The servant looked surprised and schocked to be called "Sir".
"Miss Rhett, you don't have to call me like this. My name is Manito!" he said.
"And you can call me Katie or somewhat Cat but not Miss Rhett."
"I will never dare, Miss Katie!" Manito began to be very outrage.
"As you say, Manito!" finished Katie, giving up.
Scarlett saluted Manito and followed husband and daughter inside the home.
"Granny, Auntie Rosemary! Where are you?" Cat was yet looking for the two women.
"Sorry, Miss Katie but Mrs Eleanor and Miss Rosemary are actually in trip."
"Didn't know we're coming?" asked Scarlett.
"What that is signified?" added Rhett.
"Where are Granny and Auntie?" wondered Cat.
Manito didn't answer to their questions, preferring invited the family to see their rooms.
Rhett tried to make speak Manito about the reasons of his mother and sister departure.
Unfortunately Manito was mute as much as a tombstone about the subject.
So were the other servants.
They treated them very well. Cat succeeded to conquest all the domestics in only a morning.
"You don't have to bother about your Granny and your Auntie, Miss Katie" assured all.
All of them were saying at her and at her parents of precious and beautiful she was.
Cat was by his gerund by these words.
But very disappointed to not meet Eleanor and Rosemary yet and it was more important than
every compliment of the domestics or other people.
In order to calm the pain in her daughter's eyes Scarlett promised here to see Aunt Careen in
the afternoon and Uncle Ross and Aunt Margaret.
To console her too the servants gave her all the candies she wanted.
With all this consideration Cat forgot her disappointment.
The meal of lunchtime offered to the three all the best dish of the South.
Scarlett was troubled by the absence of theirs hostesses Eleanor and Rosemary.
"I know Rosemary and I don't get on well each other but it's not a reason to leave.
She had contest to Cat and I don't think she wants to hurt her niece. Eleanor feel the
same. So why are they outside? Is Eleanor mad at me because I leave five years ago?"
She had hundreds of questions about this unexpected and precipitated departure.
Rhett too found that something going wrong.
Rosemary loved travelling he knew that but in the letter she was saying she will in South
to be able to welcome him and his family and that was not the type of Eleanor to do a trip
without warning. She had passed the age to make a runaway. "What the matter could be?"
He tyrannized all the servants after the lunch and during Cat's nap and so did Scarlett to
knew where Eleanor and her daughter were that the domestics told them a big lied.
"Well, Mrs Butler and Miss Rosemary are in Valdosta in Georgia.
See, Mr and Mrs Rhett, this is not official but during a reception Rosemary met a man.
A widower with 3 children: Erik, Nathaniel and Isabella. His name is Phillip Salazar.
He's the richest lower of Valdosta, a very good man; They'll be engaged soon.
Mrs Eleanor and your sister are in his place for meet the rest of his family.
Rhett and Scarlett were amazed: Rosemary soon engaged! They couldn't believe it!
Like Scarlett, Rhett knew it was true. About the engagement at least.
He believed Manito will never take the risk to engage Rosemary with someone if it
was not true. Manito thought if he did it will provoke a scandal in Charleston.
But are his mother and sister really in Valdosta? He reflected but vainly.
Nevertheless, he had to find the key at all cost. For the happiness of his precious Cat.
At the same time, Eleanor, Rosemary, Ross and Margaret Butler accompanied by the
Salazar was arriving railroad...... Enchanted by what they had prepared.
Meted the other guests they already heard speaking about but didn't know in person;
They laughed and smiled. They were impatient and nervous to see their effort rewarded.
Hand in hand, Scarlett and Cat were walking in direction of the convent.
Rhett was some steps behind, nonchalant and calm like always when he was in society.
A noun explained them that Sister Mary Joseph had received an exceptional permission.
"To go to see her family witch need her during one week or two." Warned them the noun.
"What's wrong since we arrived?" Rhett's brain tried to see why her sister he didn't meet
by the way was absent to her Holy orders. According to Scarlett, this could signified just a
thing and this was not good news. Something was wrong in Tara. She will lose her Tara.
"No, it can't be that said Scarlett in herself. Careen had nothing to do with Tara anymore.
I bought her part of Tara just before I went to Ireland. My god it worst if it can..............."
Someone in Tara was dying. Suellen? Will? One of her nieces? Her older children?
"I don't have to speak about that. I will be warned if there is a terribly thing happened."
But the bad memory of her returns in Tara when Rhett had left her.
She had found Mama, ill, dying, agonizing.
"It wills not the same this time" seek to persuade herself.
Cat said just nothing but her parents saw well she was terribly deceived once more.
They decided to pay a visit to Ross and Margaret to make know them their arrival.
Fruitless, the couple had left a note fixed on their door.
"Dear family and friend;
We're not in Charleston for the moment; we'll be come back about one week.
Please inform us about your visit thanks to the box we fix on your right in this order.
We'll pay you a visit again as soon we'll be back. God bless you: Ross and Margaret."
The three decided to let a word: "Where every one of you is hiding? Here we are now.
What this masquerade is meaning? Cat becomes more and more inpatients. Kisses."
This was a sad evening the family spend in the diner room of Eleanor Butler.
Tired by the travel, Cat fell asleep in the sofa.
A little happier, the servants introduced her Roma, the dog of her Auntie.
She was a solid and beautiful black Labrador dog.
In the privacy of their room Scarlett and Rhett could speak of the situation safety.
Together, they concluded that their anterior faults were important but not at all a
reason to the family boycotted their return and the last member of her.
So what the solution at this issue? What justified these three absences?
"Bah! We'll see this later my pet. Nobody is in Charleston? Not a problem!
Tomorrow we'll take the train thought Savannah to see yours Aunts said Rhett.
We'll see Mother and Rosemary later! We don't have to change our plan."
Only moving her head Scarlett did notified at Rhett she agreed.
Tomorrow, Cat played all morning with her parents at dolls and cubes.
Also with Roma in the bloomed garden.
"Do you know, Aunt Rosemary bought it in Roma in Italy?"said Manito.
"There is why my sister had chosen this name. I should guess it my self!" thought Rhett.
"Who cares?" asked Scarlett in her head.
The train's departure was planned to twelve o'clock.
At eleven and half o'clock, the little family left the quarter of the Battery for the station.
The travel could be agreeable if they were not all irritated to have missed the five guys.
Seeing the pink house of the Robillard, Scarlett was happy and painful at the time.
Always the house reminded to her mother Ellen Robillard O'Hara, her childhood.
She remembered the kindness of her Aunts and the affectionate sermon about her conduct.
Her Grandpa was the most awful man of the whole world except maybe Luke Fenton.
Fortunately he died when she was in Ireland letting everything to Pauline and Eulalie.
The major domo of the Robillard said to them that they were outside too.
"I can't believe it!" contested an offended Scarlett.
"If the Aunts don't want receive us because of our reputation, they'll see...
As less, it perhaps Jerome who doesn't want of us here. though Scarlett.
South is Cat's new home and she doesn't have to pay for Rhett and me!
I promise her she will meet her family and she will do!"
She ordered to Jerome to let them come inside the house.
So they could verify that the house was empty of the Aunts.
Cat feels happy to see the drawing she offered at the Aunties.
"But why I can't meet them?"
"We don't know darling."
Scarlett decided to go on the O'Hara's houses.
"We will can see Maureen, Jamie and the others!" though her head joyfully.
They were forced to see they were absent too!
"Other disillusion!" was the sentence witch resumed the general opinion.
After an unpleasant travel, they finally arrived in Atlanta.
Cat was in love with the animation of the city.
Her parents showed her their old house and then conducted her in Ashley's new
home. The man lived quite happily with his Aunt the old Pittypat Hamilton, his new
wife Harriet, his son Beau and his step son Billy who already called him "Daddy".
They had succeeded with their familial new composition.
"Nervous about seeing Ashley, my pet?" had asked Rhett when they were on the train.
"Not at all, I love you Rhett. I consider Ashley as a brother like I do for Will or Colum."
He smiled at her and kissed Cat who was in his arms, sleeping.
"Very bad sign!" said Rhett ironical.
Indeed, the Wilkes had left a note saying approximately the same than Ross and his
wife Margaret. They left a response saying how much they were sorry to not see them.
They steered at the Oakland cemetery as they promised to Cat.
Before they had bought two beautiful bunches of flowers. One was entirely blue.
"Melanie Catherine Hamilton Wilkes" indicated the stone.
Rhett and Scarlett decided to let her place the flowers.
"Hello, Melly. It's a long time we hadn't visited you.
I'm sure you can see how much I'm happy now with Rhett and Cat.
I tried to keep my promise to you via Harriet. Did I do well?
Tonight we're leaving for Clayton's county but we'll back soon with the full family.
I miss you; I wish I could have you to divided up all my happy events happening since
a view little. It was time! You should have been there with a daughter just like you too.
But don't worry, as I already told you Harriet take a good care of Ashley and Beau."
Father and daughter was a farther of the grave letting Scarlett alone to speak to Melly.
Then, Rhett came near the grave to present his respect to Melanie.
"My dear Miss Melly, having your friendship was one of my greatest satisfactions.
Everybody miss you. You can rest, your husband and son are happy and so is Scarlett."
Cat insisted to do the same.
"Auntie Melly, I would like to see you. You looked so nice on the picture. Take care."
Next, they walked in the central alley though Bonnie's cellar.
Eugenia Victoria Butler nicknamed Bonnie had the bloomest tomb of the cemetery.
On their laps Rhett and Scarlett looked the grave very moved.
It was the first time they visited Bonnie together.
Slang head in their throat, they were unable to speak and again above to cry.
Cat was put the blue tulip flowered on the stone very visibly.
"Hello Bonnie, how the sky looks like? I'm sure we would get on well you and me.
Thanks to take care of me; my self I will take care of Daddy and Momma!"
"That's so nice, Cat." commented the parents.
The little girl dried the tears in her parent's cheeks.
"It's all right, she's happy. Do you have something to say to her?"
She turned to the grave's side and said: "Bonnie, do I take care of them well?"
"It should be us who should be trying to appease her." thought Scarlett and Rhett
"Yes, very well our pet." chorused the parents.
"Hi Bonnie, I miss you everyday. You're lucky to have a so great little sister and her
is lucky to have you as big sister. You're so similar but different at the same time! Hope,
you memory will help me to live more than ever. I will be here to visit you soon, dear."
"It's daddy, sweetie. It's good to speak to you. I hope you're happy going on to ride your
Mr Butler. I miss you but everyone has decided to live. We don't have to be sad, Bonnie.
We'll end by meet each other when we'll be in heaven. But later, very later. I love you!"
The sun was going to his end; the evening began to go out.
They caught the last train thought Jonesboro. They arrived on the night and so decided to take
a room at the hotel near the station same Cat supplied them to go directly to see Wade and Ella.
Hoping, they will be at Tara. She tried to be positive, they'll are.
"Darling, it's not polite to disembark the night in people's house.
We will be in Tara tomorrow and on the paddle, my precious.
Like that, you will take the breakfast with Wade and Ella.
You can imagine Cat was the first awake, hitting at her parents door.
"I want to go in Tara quick!"
"Be woken up at six o'clock by a little girl of five years old, what a shame!"
She didn't know that on the other hand it was the same. Every one was getting ready.
Scarlett was on nerves thinking her teenagers could not be in Tara.
Coming back at the station to see if Will was here, they must admit he was not.
So, they were constraint to rent a carriage to go since Tara.
Although they were in Clayton's county!
The old horses scampered quietly in the country.
The climate was quiet warm; the field had just been treated. All looked good.
The beginning of the autumn was particularly agreeable for the farmers.
Suddenly the old Twelve oaks of John Wilkes were in view.
"I can't believe Ashley is doing repaired his beloved plantation."
The work the Oaks sustained was visually correct.
Scaffolding, dust and tool was saying that the building site was started yet.
When the mother told her it was Uncle Ashley first house, Cat decided to visit it.
Curiously, it was open so they were able to come inside.
It was basically like before like by example the long wood stairs but modern too.
They had left the old and fragile table for a solider one.
The tiling was still refined and Harriet had changed the curtains to other, turned British.
The woman tried to put her touch in the decoration of their secondary residence.
The library was till the same that during the first and memorable Scarlett and Rhett interview.
"It's here your father and I we met for the first time" said Scarlett.
"Really? Tell! Tell!"
"Your mother was saying at your Uncle Ashley how much she was angry.
Indeed he has not warned her about his wedding with Melanie.
"Every one knows it except me! Your best friend and your neighbour!"
When she congratulated him, he laughed and said she was just a child.
And an overreacted one in more!
She was so mad at him that she had taken a vase and broken it."
During a little second Scarlett thought Rhett will reveals the truth.
She returned to her head, Rhett will never such a bad thing like that.
"Yes, pursued Scarlett, I launched it in direction of the chummy.
I found your Dad sat in this sofa. He was happy to mock me!"
Cat guffawed about the story. Not exactly romantic but funny.
She was flatted to see the drawing she did for the Wilkes.
"I thought the Wilkes were here!" said Rhett.
"But they are! Don't you see the works operation?
You
know Ashley; it might miss something to the house to buy.
According
to me, they're in Fayetteville to bring something.
That nothing more Rhett, now let's go to Tara please!"
"It may be possible Scarlett;" said a polite but sceptical Rhett.
So they left the Oaks and went to Tara.
They didn't see a shadow deserted slowly the place too.
Taken a horse, he left the Oaks by the wood. It was shorter to inform the others!
Scarlett was so happy and moved to see her beloved Tara soon.
As much as the sound of the Georgian wind swept on trees.
The beautiful land had missed her so much.
She decided to let Rhett drive the carriage with Cat with him.
Walking in front of them, she thought she was at last at home.
Same the long alley though Tare seemed welcomed her and her family.
The trees looked splendid especially at this period of the year.
"It's here I belong" though Scarlett.
Rhett was reflected a lot thinking at his daughter's pain if again nobody was here.
Finally, they spend Tara's gate. For Scarlett's big pleasure.
Now Tara looked almost like before the war with splendid white walls and green's
shutters. Like before the sweet smell of nature and of the woods was still here.
"Rhett, Kitty Cat! I'm home! Can you believe it? I'm at home!" exclaimed Scarlett
Scarlett was proclaimed it so strong that inside was prepared ready.
On the doorstep, Scarlett was trying to take a look by the window. It was only dark.
She has already hit at the door but nobody was contested
"Finally, I'll meet nobody!" shirked Cat very disappointed.
She gave up this hideous though because of the laughing of her father.
"What's happening Dad? It's not funny at all!" did remark her little daughter.
Suddenly Rhett guessed he had found the key of the problem.
"Rhett Butler, you're the perfect idiot to have not thought about that earlier!"
Scarlett noticed perfectly that this remark was dedicated only to him.
Before she has time to ask to what happened at her turn he told her:
"Scarlett, enough waiting. Can you check if the door is open?"
"Sure but, I don't think so! All is dark inside."
"Try nevertheless my pet!"
She did as her husband as ordered.
And so, entering in the empty hall of Tara they were arriving at the living room.
Voices clamed to them "SURPRISE!"
Balloons were deployed with by way of inscription these following words:
"HAPPY RETURN PARENTS AND WELCOME CAT. WE LOVE YOU!"
"WELCOME AUNTIE, WELCOME UNCLE, WELCOME COUSIN!"
"WELCOME TO THE FIRST TARA'S GIANT PARTY!"
"WE HAD SURPRISED YOU! HADN'T WE?"
"WELCOME TO RHETT, SCARLETT AND CAT!"
The living room was decorated for the occasion with lively and charming petticoat.
The family crumbled on applauding between laughs and tears of joy.
Moved and overjoyed, Scarlett was so surprised that she was oblige to moving
reversing to be sure she was not dreaming and came back a few minutes later.
Rhett couldn't stop his laugh. Cat was astonished by the way the events had turned.
She stayed in front of the assistance shyly but a girl put her lap on floor and said:
"You don't come to say hello to your sister Cat?"
The little girl ran quickly in direction of the charismatic grey yelled teenage girl.
"Hello Ella, I'm glad to see you!"
Scarlett's heart sticked out beyond happiness when the two sisters, her daughters
were held and kissed each other for the first time. A lot of Emotion in the atmosphere.
"Eh! Ella, she's my sister too. My turn to hold and kiss her" said a much moved Wade.
"Of course, Wade!" commented Ella.
"I'm overjoyed to know I have a so precious little sister!" said Wade kissed her.
"Dad, Momma. I'm so happy you're here" cried of joy Ella.
Her mother followed her daughter in her blessed tears.
Rhett was quiet ready to imitate them.
Wade did what he had just said and Ella hurled on Rhett and Scarlett necks.
Wade did the same too after her sister turn.
Cat was quickly tame by Wade and Ella.
Each took one hand of their little sister and took her near the assistance to introduce her.
Their parents followed just some steps later.
End of chapter 4! Did you like it? With all my love: Soña.