Chapter 8
'The nursery doesn't look the same' was Rhett's first thought as he followed Scarlett into the room. The next thought was 'why are there two cribs in here?' Of course with all the crying it did sound like more then one baby was making it.
'Had Scarlett adopted some parentless children?' of course as that thought went through Rhett's mind it soon left. Scarlett's earlier words about trying to tell him something in her letters that were unopened and returned made sense now. She had wanted to tell him about being pregnant.
All his questions were soon forgotten as Rhett followed Scarlett to the crib closest to them. Looking inside Rhett's breath caught in his throat as he found himself looking into a pair of eyes that were the same shade as his own. Scarlett picked up the crying baby and started to whisper words of comfort to him.
"It's alright Gerry, Mommy's here" Scarlett whispered as she held her tiny son tight.
"Could you get Cat, Rhett she won't stop crying until she's held as well" Scarlett asked trying to keep tears out of her eyes.
Rhett followed the crying to the second crib and was rewarded with the sight of a tiny baby that he just learned name was Cat. Rhett knew were she got her name the moment she turned her emerald eyes on him. Picking her up ever so gently Rhett couldn't stop the tears from falling. He was a Father again not just to one but to two babies. Both from what he had seen looked just like him.
"I tried to tell you Rhett" Scarlett stated as she took a seat in one of two rocking chairs that were next to each other. Rhett followed suit and took the other one as his eyes kept going from the baby in his arms to the one in Scarlett's both now silent. "I wrote you so many times but they kept coming back. I would have come and told you in person but Dr. Meade wouldn't allow me too leave Atlanta."
Rhett knew he should be angry at Scarlett for keeping his children from him but at the moment all he felt was love for the three other people in the room with him. Anger and fighting about why he hadn't known could and most likely would come later. This time wasn't made for that no it was time for him to get to know his children.
"We can talk about all of that later Scarlett; you said their names were Gerry and Cat?" Rhett asked letting Scarlett know what was important at the moment. Learning everything he could about his twins was.
"Yes Gerry is short for Gerald after my Father and Cat's name is actually Rosemary after you're sister but the moment her eyes turned green she became my little kitty Cat." Scarlett relayed proudly she loved talking about her babies.
"How old are they Scarlett they don't look very old." Rhett asked as Cat moved her little head in what he guessed was searching for her Mother from hearing Scarlett's voice. Looking at the babe in his arms Rhett could see that she was being taken well care of. Rhett's eyes went from Cat to Gerry and he almost couldn't believe the loving way Scarlett held the baby so close to her. It was clear to see that Scarlett loved their children.
"Their three months old" Scarlett answered hoping Rhett wouldn't found such a small among of time too long to not be infirmed of his fatherhood again.
Rhett knew not long ago before he decided to make his marriage with Scarlett work learning that she had kept his children from him for three months would have sent him over the edge of reason. But now setting here holding his daughter and looking at his son all Rhett found was a deep sense of loss. He had missed out on the first moments of their lives. He hadn't gotten the chance to hold them right after they had been born like he had with Bonnie.
Rhett knew he could blame Scarlett and be angry about this until his dying day but that wouldn't do anyone good. Because Scarlett wasn't the only one who was wronged here she had indeed tried to contact him but he hadn't allowed that so he was just as much at fault as she was.
Beside which Rhett felt guilty while Scarlett has been carrying his children he had been living in Charleston trying to pretend she didn't exist. All the while knowing she loved him but convincing him self she didn't.
"I was planning on telling you about the twins Rhett" Scarlett begin but stopped when she saw that Rhett wasn't listen instead his eyes were glued to the babe in his arms as Cat yawned then closed her eyes.
"I didn't give you a chance did I?" Rhett asked as tears filled his eyes as he watched his sleeping daughter. "I wouldn't read your letters. But what I don't understand is why didn't you tell me when we we're in Charleston?"
"Telling me about our twins would have been a sure fire way of getting me back." Rhett stated notices that Gerry had followed his sister's lead and had fallen to sleep as well.
Standing up to return Gerry to his crib Scarlett tried to think of the words that would convince Rhett she truly had meant to tell him of their children but just wanted his happiness above all else and of course her fear that if he learned of their children he would take them away from her.
After completing the task of returning Gerry to his crib Scarlett turned and heading back towards Rhett wanting to return Cat to her crib as well. But once she reached Father and Daughter she knew that idea wasn't going to be. Rhett held Cat like she was the most precious thing in the world. He wasn't going to let her go anytime soon. And that thought pleased Scarlett; Rhett had three months of time to make up for missing.
"To answer you're question Rhett telling you about the twins was the reason I came to Charleston in the first place." Scarlett started as she retook her empty seat.
"Aw but let me guess learning I was remarrying changed you're mind" Rhett asked trying to keep his anger in check he didn't want to yell and wake up Cat or Gerry.
"That Rhett Butler surprised me but it wasn't really the reason I didn't tell you" Scarlett said with Rhett so close she found it hard to think straight.
Rhett waited for Scarlett to continue looking at her now he remembered her when he first saw her this morning her reasons for keeping the twins from him didn't seem like revenge but with Scarlett O'Hara one could never tell.
"As untrue as this is going to sound Rhett, I didn't tell you about Cat or Gerry because I wanted you to be happy"
Rhett nodded his head as he recalled Scarlett asking him in Charleston if he were happy. He regretted lying to Scarlett now when he told her he was. But how was he to know that by that one simple lie he could have lost the chance of a being a Father again.
"Once you told me you were happy I decided I couldn't tell you about the twins and take that away from you. Rhett after everything I've done to you I just wanted you to be happy even if it was without me." Scarlett knew her explanation sound so unlike her that Rhett would find it hard to believe. When had she ever been unselfish in her life?
It came in handle sometimes when you could read someone as well as Rhett could Scarlett. He knew she wasn't lying to him yet that left him with the fact that Scarlett had loved him enough to want to put his needs above her own. Something he would have staked his life on at one time she would never do for anyone expect Ashley Wilkes.
On one hand Rhett was blown away by that knowledge on the other hand he was angry at Scarlett for deciding to keep his children from him even if her attentions were for his good.
"I don't know how to reply to that my pet" Rhett tried to keep his cool "you wanted my happiness yet at the same time denied me the knowledge of my children."
Defending herself Scarlett tried to explain "You have to understand Rhett I had just learned you were engaged to another woman I wasn't thinking clearly. The whole train ride to Charleston I was dreaming about our reunion and me telling you about the twins."
Scarlett noticed she had Rhett's attention and hope that he would really listen to her words and not later twist them around making them out to mean something they hadn't.
"Then all of a sudden that dream just disappeared. And the fact was you Rhett Butler were getting remarried and you seemed happy."
Scarlett had tears running down her cheeks as she looked at her husband holding their daughter. "And perhaps I was being selfish but I couldn't take the chance you would take them from me Rhett. I love them so much I couldn't loss them like I lost you"
Rhett knew that Scarlett meant the words she just spoken but the fact remained if he hadn't returned to her it would have been years before he learned of their twins. And yet at the same time he knew how much it had hurt Scarlett to keep the truth from him she hadn't set out to conceal their children from him but in the end that's just what she had done in the name of his own good.
Closing his eyes Rhett knew if he let his anger cloud his judgment he would risk losing Scarlett. Scarlett loved the twins and given his past history with being a parent one she knew was all or nothing with him. It wasn't that hard for Scarlett to conclude that if he had learned of their twins that he would take them from her. And given Scarlett's history as a Mother, Rhett himself knew he would have taken them without a second thought thinking he was doing the right thing getting them away from a bad Mother.
Only Scarlett wasn't a bad Mother anymore just the few minutes Rhett had spent with her and twins had showed him that. Scarlett loved her babies and he couldn't blame her for wanting to keep them. After all once upon a time hadn't he run away with Bonnie?
"I understand why you didn't tell me my pet" Rhett began seconds after he opened his eyes. "but if our marriage is going to work we have to be honesty with each other no more secret between us"
A cry from Cat stopped Scarlett for any reply she was about to make as she watch Rhett try to soothe their daughter.
Rhett and Scarlett hadn't find time to finish their talk that morning or afternoon the day was a busy one in which Rhett first watched his twins sleeping then in almost amazement watched as Scarlett with Prissy's help bathed the twins even though he could tell Prissy didn't like the idea of him being in there with them as they bathed the twins. After that at a early lunch Wade and Ella would both shocked to see their Uncle Rhett had returned and both wanted to spend the afternoon with him.
Rhett had found he enjoyed his afternoon taken his older children 'not stepchildren' because Wade and Ella were his just as much his as they were Charles are Frank's, he had been the only Father either had ever known and because of that Rhett found himself guilty of not just abandoning Scarlett but them as well. Rhett also promised himself this time around with the twins he wouldn't spoil them more are spend more time with them then he did Wade and Ella because all his children needed a Father not just the twins.
Rhett. had returned with Wade and Ella after having taken them to the park and riding about town. Rhett was not surprised that Ella would not ride side sattle she refused understanding why he didn't force the issue at this time but Rhett knew at a later date both he and Scarlett would have too. Other then that the afternoon had been wonderful and Rhett found he hoped to spend many more afternoons like that.
He never knew how much walking away from Scarlett had cost him because of that Rhett had lost two years out of Wade and Ella's lives he planned on making that up to them as well their Mother.
Scarlett had said that Dr. Meade wouldn't allow her to come to Charleston to tell him of the twins in person their had to been a reason for that. Mammy had always said that when it came to Scarlett having children she had them with little trouble but that had been before she lost that baby on the stairs. Rhett knew that something like that could making have another child dangerous but he had never given it much thought where Scarlett was concerned because of them having separation bedrooms the chances of them ever having another child at that time were impossible. Now though that thought wouldn't leave him because of their reunion Rhett knew in the future Scarlett might became with child again.
Rhett couldn't bear to lose Scarlett now that he had finally open his heart to her once again. But perhaps he was making something out of nothing he really didn't know if Scarlett had a hard pregnancy with the twins are not. If only he had read one of her letters then he could have been here and seen for himself now though he would have to ask Scarlett and Prissy and the other servants. Because Rhett knew that Scarlett might not tell him if she had too hard a time not wanting him to feel guilty.
Tbc...
I might add more to this chapter later but for now this is all I have writen. I want to thank everyone who has left me feedback it's want keeps me writing. I'm going to be offline for awhile so this might be the last update for this year.
Sw