Title: Reconvergance
Author: Ellie
Summary: Scarlett and
Rhett go their separate ways following the events of GWTW.
Part I
Scarlett slowly rose from where she'd crumpled at the bottom of the stairs, her tears drying on her cheeks. She needed time, they needed time, and they would have it. But at this moment, she owed the realization of her needs to Melanie, who deserved both their respects.
By the time she reached the top of the stairs, she'd composed herself, and was an unknowingly perfect copy of the calm, repressed resolve she'd once so admired in her mother. Suddenly it seemed natural to her that her panic had subsided.
Rhett's door stood ajar, and she could see him methodically packing, a stony look on his face. She knocked softly on the doorframe. "Rhett?"
"Scarlett," he sighed. "We're done talking. I'm going."
"You should stay for Melly's funeral. We should both be there. We can both leave town the next day."
He put down a hastily folded shirt and stared at her, his distrust evident. "You're not leaving with me."
"No, I'm going to Tara." She remained calm and resolute under his gaze.
With a nod and a sigh, Rhett acquiesced. "Fine. We'll both leave this God-forsaken town Saturday afternoon. I'll go to the station and buy tickets now." He brushed past her, and below she heard the door slam behind him.
For several minutes, she just stared at the scattered pieces of Rhett's wardrobe and wondered how she'd failed to notice their marriage going to so irrevocably wrong. No answers swam to the surface of her weary brain, and she turned to her own room, to find a few minutes of rest before she would return to the Wilkes' to help India plan the funeral.
The days before the funeral passed in a blur. Scarlett and Rhett lived together as polite strangers, both frequently out of the house, only occasionally sharing meals. Their contact was restrained and it was not until they were in the carriage to the funeral, their respective baggage already on its way to the train depot, that they realized some words must indeed be necessary between them.
Rhett broke the awkward silence first, a hand tracing his weary face as he spoke. "The children have already been sent to Tara?"
"Yes," she said, giving a small nod. After a quiet hesitation, she asked, "I was thinking, though, that I might send Wade away to school in the fall. He's a smart boy, and there's not much in the way of school there, and I know he should go to university…" she trailed off, daring a glance at Rhett. She was speaking months into the future, of spending his money, unsure where their new boundaries lay.
"That's a fine idea, Scarlett. There's a good school in Charleston, if you'd be willing to consider that. My mother would be happy to look in on him from time to time, as would I when I'm in town." There was a glint of admiration in his eye, and some willingness to meet her halfway.
"Well, if you could send the address on to Tara, I can make arrangements. I'm sure Wade will like the idea much better, knowing he'll see you from time to time."
Silence reigned for several moments, only the steady sound of rain on the roof of the carriage surrounding them.
"You're going to Charleston, then?"
"For now, for a while." He sighed heavily, slumped, as she'd never seen him, against the cushions. "After that, I'm not certain. But I need to get away from this tangled web we've woven."
Scarlett blinked at him, unsure how to respond. Their arrival at the cemetery rendered words unnecessary. Rhett's veneer of politeness returned, and he stepped out of the carriage first, opening an umbrella and taking her arm to shelter both of them as she descended.
During the service, she was grateful for that arm, though some of the steely strength seemed to have gone out of it. As the reverend droned, Scarlett's mind wandered to the man at her side, and she stole glances at his face, shadowed by umbrella and rainclouds. He looked as worn as her soul felt. Perhaps they both did need some time to renew, she thought, as the gathered mourners murmured ashes to ashes. Neither of them shed tears, for there were no more left to cry, though the blowing rain would have left anyone hard-pressed to tell.
The mourners eyes were on them as they departed, silently, into their carriage. Scarlett cast one last glance out over the graves and thought of all that she'd lost, before turning to face Rhett as the carriage rumbled forward.
"You said you'd be coming back?"
"To keep gossip down, if it worries you. Though if you're leaving indefinitely as well…" he shrugged and trailed off, once again slouching against the cushions.
"Perhaps we can agree to meet back here, to see how things have been for both of us, at some point?"
"You mean to discuss the possibility of divorce?" Rhett looked at her curiously.
"No," she said with certainty. "Just to…keep up appearances, as you said, and make sure the children are well and finances are managed."
"That sounds very…businesslike." It was almost a sneer.
"If that's what you'd prefer." She remained calm, not giving in to the temptation to snap back at him, refusing to take his bait.
"Very well. When should I plan on returning?"
"Oh. Um, would a year give you enough time to travel wherever you're going?"
There was a small light in his eyes as he said, "Yes, I suppose it would, Scarlett."
The carriage pulled to a stop in front of the depot. Once more, Rhett helped her down and walked inside, close to her, one umbrella sheltering them both. Inside, they stood awkwardly together for a moment, staring at one another.
"Adieu, my pet." He kissed her once, gently, on the forehead and strode away into the clouds of steam and swirl of people on the platform. She could only gaze after him, until the sharp note of a steam engine broke into her consciousness, and her eye caught the clock.
Turning away, she walked to the platform for the Jonesboro train with a firm, steady stride. Only when she was seated alone in her compartment and the train began puffing away from Atlanta did she allow her hot tears to fall freely.