Ella Lorena Kennedy looked out the opening in her carriage and had never felt so jittery before in her life. She was in a carriage, officially in Atlanta, riding down the street. Since she was born, and spent a part of her childhood here in Atlanta, she was looking for anything that looked vaguely familiar. She had yet to see anything that looked even reminiscent of something, even the train station, which remembered quite well from her childhood, looked nothing like she recalled it.
She continued to look out the opening, wishing that she had about 10 more eyes. She also looked at the people, looking for anyone that looked familiar. For a brief instant, she saw a blonde haired young man that looked vaguely familiar, he was strolling along the street, and his blue eyes met hers. She saw him, but was too busy looking around the street and buildings to give him any serious thought.
The carriage continued to go down the street, until it came to the law offices of John Hedgecock, Attorney at law. This is who she had to go to in order to receive the inheritance. Wade had to several years ago. John Hedgecock was the man that had taken over Henry Hamilton's business. Henry Hamilton had died of a heart attack unexpectedly shortly after Ella's fourteenth birthday. Suellen had heard this from Scarlett.
Reminiscing this, Ella recalled Henry Hamilton, or Uncle Henry. He technically wasn't Ella's uncle, but he was Wade's great-uncle. She didn't really have any fond memories of him. The only person he ever consulted with was Scarlett, he would come over to the house occasionally, but he never paid any attention to her.
Ella stepped up the steps and knocked on the door. She stood there waiting, when a flustered-looking man came to the door. "Yes?" he asked, obviously irritated. "Are you Mr. Hedgecock?" Ella asked. "Yes, I am, who are you?" Mr. Hedgecock asked rather harshly." Ella was taken back, but nothing like that was going to make her fluster and give him a lashing of the tongue. "I am Ella Kennedy, I wrote to you several weeks ago about receiving my inheritance." Ella said calmly. Mr. Hedgecock looked shocked. "Oh, of course, Miss Kennedy," he said rather nastily.
Ella stepped into his office, and they began discussing the inheritance, and he had papers for Ella to sign and consent, and finally she had her inheritance. Her inheritance, the one thing that made certain that she wouldn't be a freeloader at Tara, with this, she could go anywhere and anyplace that her hear desired. Ella had never been more excited in her life.
But, in her ecstasy, she suddenly recalled Mr. Hedgecock's sneer at the reaction of being Ella Kennedy. Ella climbed into the carriage which hadn't moved since she went into the office. As she was doing this, she couldn't help but wonder what caused Mr. Hedgecock to give such a sneer. Was it possibly because he was overworked, and Ella's knocking had simply irritated him? Or was it another reason? It suddenly hit Ella like a jolt of lightning.
Scarlett, she thought privately to herself. She had begun to refrain from calling Scarlett 'Mother' in her mind. Ella was still disgraced at what she had done to the O'Hara family. Of course, people are going to know that I'm Scarlett O'Hara's daughter. Scarlett O'Hara is probably a legend, a harlot. Ella sighed. How could she find acceptance in Atlanta at the very least if everyone knew she was Scarlett O'Hara's daughter? Suddenly, Ella's memory drudged up Uncle Will saying that she was like Scarlett.
Ella decided that she would try her hardest to be unlike Scarlett. With that, Ella pushed all those thoughts about Scarlett and acceptance to the back of her mind. She now had her inheritance and could do anything in the world that she pleased.
Ella told the driver to take her to a hotel. The driver took her to Five Points; she checked into a room and rested for a short while. After her short nap, Ella went and explored all the places she desired. She went to a book store and bought about 8 or 9 books, and then went to other stores buying the nicest dresses and even some make up, which she had never worn at Tara.
She was walking down the street, when she nearly ran right into a familiar face. It was Aunt Pittypat. Aunt Pittypat hadn't aged one day since Ella remembered her. "Ella? Is that really you?" Aunt Pittypat asked in shock. "Yes, Aunt Pittypat, it's me, Ella." Ella replied.
Instantly, Ella and Aunt Pittypat began conversation. As it turned out, she and Suellen had kept in touch over the years, she couldn't make it to Wade's wedding because she was taken ill with something. Also, Aunt Pittypat was living with India Wilkes.
India Wilkes had been alone once again, and she moved in with Pittypat, who Ella remembered Scarlett always saying that she was a simpering old fool. Ella vaguely recalled India as a brooding woman with very cold and hateful eyes.
Aunt Pittypat had somehow managed to convince Ella to come over for dinner, and Ella was being led back to Aunt Pittypat's house with her, and her new butler, Paul. Uncle Peter had apparently died years past.
Ella and Aunt Pittypat had walked into the door, and to Ella, it was like walking into a memory. The place was exactly the way she remembered it. There was one thing that Ella never remembered about Aunt Pittypat's however. There was India Wilkes on a chair, reading a book. She looked up at the door opening, and saw Ella, and her eyes turned cold as stone.
"Well, this is a pleasant surprise." India said with an obviously fake smile on her face. "You would be Ella, Scarlett's daughter, wouldn't you?" India asked in a tone that Ella didn't like in any way. "Yes, I am," Ella said simply.
"So, India, is supper ready?" Aunt Pittypat. "Yes, you're just in time," with another tone in her voice that Ella didn't like at all. "Beau is eating here also, he eats here on Thursdays." India turned and explained to Ella. At that moment, Beau Wilkes walked in. Beau had grown a great deal since Ella had seen him when he was a child. Ella also remembered seeing him briefly on the street. He was that blonde man she recognized.
Beau and Ella were reintroduced to one another. They talked only briefly for a moment, before they were shooed into the kitchen by India, who had started to give Ella icy glares that reminded her of Suellen's. They ate fried chicken with potatoes, and it was okay. Aunt Pittypat, Ella, India, and Beau all engaged in friendly conversation with one another, India giving Ella icy glares throughout the meal. They talked about Ashley, who now had several children with his second wife, they also talked about the going-on's in Atlanta, and Ella told them about the happenings at Tara, and with the other folks in the county.
The time came for Ella to take her leave. She said her good-byes and promised to come visiting tomorrow or the next day. She stepped out onto the porch, and she then realized that she had forgotten her scarf. Ella turned around to the door. She heard a discussion going on. The first voice she heard was India's. "Well, thank God that's over. She is horrible, ugly, and just like Scarlett!" Ella thought she literally felt her heart split in half.
"India, please don't say such things." Aunt Pittypat said, sounding like she was on the verge of tears. "This is just like what happened between you and Melly." She then began to cry. "I don't care." India said. Ella Kennedy is not Melanie, she reminds me a great deal of Scarlett." "Those eyes. Her eyes look exactly like Scarlett's." India said with pure hatred in her voice. "And, you know what they say. The eyes are the window to the soul.
Ella was crushed, heartbroken, and now tears were streaming down her face. Another person who thought she was like Scarlett. She couldn't take it anymore. She had to get away. Ella took off running down the street…..