Disclaimer: I don't own any GWTW characters.
Rhett watched Dilcey as she poured Rhett a cup of strong coffee and one herself.
"Well sir. I's suppose I's better begin when miss Ella first gots ill. It was a little over a month ago, miss Ella and miss Suzy were at school and playing with those trashy Wilkerson chil'ren, and dee oldest girl, Bessie, had jus' gotten over typhoid. She had no biness being at school anyway, barely being well an' all, but she was an' she gave miss Suzy and miss Ella typhoid. Well miss Suzy got over it pretty quick, but miss Ella just got sicker an' sicker. So sick Ms. Suellen wrote ta Ms. Scarlett, in Ireland, tellin' her she'd better come on home ta Tara." Dilcey explained, as she slipped her coffee.
"Ireland? So that's where she had been." Rhett thought.
"Well Ms. Scarlett got here, umm, three weeks ago I believe, and has been wearing herself out trying to nurse Ella. She hasn't stopped to eat or sleep in I don't know how long." Dilcey said.
"I surprised Mammy's been allowing that." Rhett chuckled, only to find Dilcey with a sad confused look on her face.
"Oh, I suppose no one tol' ya." Dilcey said looking down.
"Told me what?" Rhett asked.
"Well, Mammy died." Dilcey breathed.
The news stunned Rhett. He didn't know if he could take all this. Mammy, strong, sturdy Mammy? She had been the one person he had wanted to gain respect from. Ever since he got to know Scarlett, in Atlanta, she had had Mammy with her. Why Mammy had been there ever since Scarlett's mother was a small child up to when Bonnie was born. This had to have crushed Scarlett. Mammy was so close to Scarlett, maybe more so than her own mother.
"When?" Rhett asked hoarsely.
"Only last week." Dilcey breathed. "Yes, sir, one night Mammy was jus' extra tried an' she went to bed early. An' dee next mornin' when she didn't get up right away we gots sorda worried. So Ms. Scarlett went to check on her an' we heard her scream. An'…"
"Scarlett found her?" Rhett breathed.
"Yes, she cried an' cried. She spent a whole day locked in dee room with Mammy, den when she came out she tol' us to go on an' have dee funeral. I's don't know what she did that whole time she was locked in deir, but she hasn't cried since. She jus' been nursing and taking care of miss Ella." Dilcey said.
"No wonder she fainted, she has plum worn herself out." Rhett said. "Some rest will do her good."
"Thank you for telling me." Rhett said as he got up from his chair and walked back up to Scarlett's room.
He entered the room seeing Scarlett in a different light. She had taken care of Ella, born the death of her beloved Mammy, and then he showed up without warning. All this would have taken its toll on any normal person, but on Scarlett, Scarlett who was so strong? Well Scarlett, his Scarlett wouldn't have let this bother her. She would have pushed it all be hide her. She must have changed, and he was anxious about speaking to her.
Rhett got up and left the room and headed outside. He thought he would take a walk around Tara while Scarlett was sleeping. He put on his panama hat and walked down the driveway. He wasn't even out of breath, when he reached the very end of the driveway, so he decided to walk down the fence roll which boarded Tara and the clay road.
Rhett stopped when he saw a boy that he hardly recognized a boy. The boy was seated, with his back supported by a large Oak tree, reading a rather thick book. The light breeze blew his light brown curly locks of hair. He looked almost identical to his father, Charles. He seemed to still be a fair skinned boy, which was probably the only thing he got from his mother, but the country sun seemed to have tanned him, if only a little bit.
Rhett walked up to Wade and stood above him, not knowing what to say when he looked up. Wade put his hand over his eyes to shield the sun and slowly got up as he recognized the face standing above him.
"How are you Wade?" Rhett smiled, still unsure what to say to the boy who was now 14.
"Fine, uncle Rhett, just fine." Wade replied, his eyes affixed to Rhett's.
"So I bet you're making all the little girl's swoon." Rhett smiled.
"No…" Wade said, shyly looking down
"No? Well it won't be long then." Rhett said, beginning to walk.
Wade smiled and walked with him. Having the ice broken the two talked. Talked about school, Tara, Ella, Wade's future plans, and Wade brought up Scarlett's sudden change in temperament ever since she arrived back at Tara."
They seemed to talk for hours, while walking around Tara's vast land. How they covered 2 years in one afternoon Rhett would never know. They reached the front porch of Tara just before twilight and Rhett told Wade goodbye and that he would see him tomorrow. For another one of their walks. Wade left for the Fontaine's, seeing how Ella was still sick and all. Rhett watched him and then the rumbling of his stomach reminded him that he hadn't eaten since yesterday, aside for a cup of coffee.
Rhett ate a small bowl of chili with some cornbread. Rhett finished and climbed the stairs toward Scarlett's room. Scarlett was still deep in sleep but Rhett still entered. He opened the large curtains so the moonlight could shine in. He examined a few photographers that sat over on the small end table. One brought particular interest. It was Scarlett, Suellen, and Carreen as little girls. Scarlett had a flirty little smile on her already with her dimples show, and she didn't even look to be past the age of 6. Suellen was smiling pretty and Carreen, whom still looked like she couldn't really talk yet, was beaming with laughter. Rhett noticed just how much Scarlett had resembled Bonnie in that picture. It made him take a deep sigh.
Rhett sat on the side opposite of Scarlett on the bed. Suddenly a strange feeling over came him and he relaxed himself on the bed and gently pulled Scarlett to him. He rested her head on his shoulders and got comfortable himself. He lay like that for a while until sleep overcame him too.
Later that night Scarlett lightly stirred. She smelled a familiar smell, one that she had been longing to smell or 2 whole years, if not longer. Brandy, Cigars, Horses…….Rhett. She smelled Rhett, just as she had every night in her dreams. It was no more than a dream she mentally told herself. Although, tonight it seemed different. it seemed real.
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