Rhett was not sure how long he was standing there hidden from view by the door. But he figured there had been an uncomfortable moment of silence. On a whim, he came past the door's threshold, fully into view now. Her mouth gaped at the sight of him. "Hello, Scarlett." he said. All she could manage to say was a strangled "Oh".
"I'll let you two be," said Wade, stepping out of the room. He was anxious, but worried.
Rhett stood near the door looking at Scarlett. She returned his stare.
After what seemed like hours, she spoke, "You might as well take a seat." and she gestured to a chair near the bed. Rhett moved swiftly towards the chair. Scarlett could have sworn that in the dim light, he looked and moved just like he did twenty years ago.
"So this time you decided to knock on the door." She smiled.
Rhett looked up, confused. "What do you mean—you knew I—"
"I saw you from that very window" She pointed to one right across from the bed. "You have no idea what that meant for me."
Rhett dreaded having to come to Atlanta for business matters. He hadn't been there since Scarlett and he were divorced. Anything remotely related to Scarlett or the divorce irked him and put him at unease. Rhett hired a cab to take him to the hotel. After he settled there he decided to walk the three blocks to the bank.
The town was hustling and bustling. It sure had prospered into a new and diverse place after the war. Many businesses, new and old, returned to the streets of Atlanta. New houses were put up on every block. Atlanta was much better now than those first few years of Reconstruction. Although, it would never be the same, nothing would be the same in fact; Atlanta had resumed vibrancy and an energy that was appealing.
"My, goodness! Why, hello, Captain Butler," said Henry Hamilton. He said it more out of shock rather than intent. Rhett Butler had not been seen in Atlanta for years. Rumors went flying around the town about him and his wife, that is, if they were still married. Henry Hamilton was just about the only person who knew the truth of the matter, being that he was Scarlett's uncle by marriage and he took care of her legal affairs. He was shocked to learn that Scarlett wanted a divorce. He knew that there was trouble between the two because Rhett rarely visited her, but he thought she loved the man. Loved him devoutly and eternally, yet she wanted the unthinkable. He swore to himself not to pry, but he couldn't help it. The situation was simply perplexing.
"Mr. Hamilton," Rhett nodded, "just here for a little matter of business. Good day." Rhett did not want to get into a prolonged discussion, especially with Scarlett's uncle and lawyer. But Henry Hamilton went on as if he did not hear Rhett's attempt at a farewell.
"Oh, Mr. Butler, I do hope you received all the documents I sent regarding your home. I wasn't sure where to find you so I sent them to your lawyer." Henry went on.
"I did, thank you very much. My lawyer sent them to me." Rhett replied hastily, trying to get away. "I must be going."
"Eh, you know, Rhett, Scarlett moved just a couple of blocks away." Henry Hamilton went on.
"Oh she did?" Rhett replied, feigning interest. "Perhaps we can discuss this another day."
"Yes, just around the corner from your old house that is. It's a very lovely home. Simple, but lovely—it's the nicest one on the Auburn block." Henry nodded and allowed Rhett to leave.
He knew this would happen. Rhett knew he would run into someone or something that reminded him of the past.
Scarlett sold the house on Peachtree street just months after the divorce. She kept taking steps away from him. She was running away from it all. He wondered if she had stopped loving him, if she had found someone else by now. He wondered if she did all this because she still loved him—and wanted him to chase after her. But he didn't want to wonder about all this. Rhett thought that wanted nothing to do with Scarlett.
His thoughts kept racing despite his will to stop thinking. As his thoughts raced, his legs wandered. After a while, he felt light drops of rain splatter on the sleeves of his coat. Rhett looked up at the sky. The bluish-gray background nearly blended with the twirling gray storm clouds. Though, the sky wasn't the only thing he noticed. He stood before a lovely mansion. He thought for a moment more. He once lived in a house just like that with Scarlett. In fact, he lived in that exact house. Of all the places he could wander, he wandered here. He couldn't help but notice how beautiful it looked now. It looked bright and vibrant against the dark sky. Like, perhaps there was happiness inside of it. He couldn't help but wish he lived in this home now—with Scarlett.
Rhett became suddenly aware of his drifting thoughts. He hastened to get away from the house. "Scarlett." He said softly. Thoughts of her hounded his mind as the rain grew stronger and pelted his coat. He couldn't take it anymore—he wanted to see her. The distance he walked around the corner and down the block, though not so large, seemed quite the opposite. He stood at the corner, surveying the entire block of row houses. The one in front of him appeared to be the nicest. In fact, it seemed to be the only habituated home on the block. Most were still under construction. The large black door had a gold engraved plate which read "S. Butler". She kept his name. He was utterly confused. Perhaps it meant that she really didn't want to let go.
Rhett opened the squeaky gate and ran up the steps. He stood there for a moment before he grabbed the brass knocker. He was soaking wet and muddy. His hopes faded. "Why would she want to see this? Why do I want to do this? What if—what if she really has moved on?" He thought.
He walked down the steps and out of the yard. Rhett only hoped he had made the right decision—to walk away. "She said it herself—she didn't want to hold on." He reasoned with himself, and walked back to his hotel.
Inside of the house, Scarlett was mending a cravat for Wade. She was sitting in a chair beside the bed. She thought about how Rhett used to have the most stylish clothes made of the nicest silks and fabrics. She missed him, however much she wished she didn't.
Unsettled by her thoughts of Rhett, Scarlett sat down in the window seat. It was raining heavily and the sky resembled sludge. It was almost as if the world felt as bad as she did.
A dark form caught her eye. At first, Scarlett thought it was probably a carpenter from the houses down the road, but as it moved closer, it appeared to be a man too well-dressed to be a carpenter. His pace was quick and his strides were long. Only Rhett walked that way. "Rhett?" she spoke aloud. He was chasing after her! Finally! She stood back a little from the window, so he wouldn't see her. It really was him. When he looked up at the house, she could see his dark eyes. The passion that lay deep inside of him showed itself. She could feel him, just yards away. He walked into the yard and up the steps. She couldn't see him anymore, but she knew there would be a knock any second. Any second. "Any second." She breathed.
There was no knock. She flung herself to the window, peering out to see if he had gone. Scarlett saw him slowly descending the stairs, slowly opening the gate, stepping out of the yard, and closing the gate. Rhett walked on past the house. It was over. Her hope and dreams were shattered.
"He didn't even look back," said Scarlett, in a trance, "He didn't look back."
Long time no update, sorry. Please review. I hope to update soon. Thanks.