Chapter
Scarlett awoke earlier than Rhett with the memory of last night still vivid in her mind. She basked in the warmth of Rhett's brown body next to her and with a shy laugh, she pulled the sheets higher up her bare chest. The figure next to her tossed lightly, as if Rhett too was beginning to awaken from his sleep.
"Rhett?" called Scarlett, eagerly. Her eyes were soft and tender, a mellow, wistful shade of green. She reached out and ran her fingertips through Rhett's jet black hair. "Darling?"
The figure grunted half-annoyed and half-drowsy with sleep.
"Rhett, wasn't last night wonderful?! Oh, the things we did. The things I did!"
Scarlett blushed in pleasure.
"Rhett, listen.. I do know what went wrong between us. Oh darling, if you want to know why I loved and clung on to Ashley for so long, it was because he spoke to me the way you spoke to Bonnie. I could never be tender and gentle. I'm not Melanie. I have and always will be bullheaded, taking charge, smart and shrewd. But I adore tenderness in a man. And Ashley fitted my ideal. Gentle voice, soothing tone, soft sentiments.. He could reproach me with just a look, Rhett. "
Scarlett talked on, regardless of whether Rhett was awake or not. But he had been awake for some time.
"You said you tried everything with me. But you didn't try the one thing that you were natural at. Your tenderness.. The way you treated Bonnie. You were kind to me too.. But you trusted Bonnie with the velvet frocks, that Shetland pony.. You trusted that even if she was like me, she would take care of those things. That she would nuture them. You were never like that to me. You gave me a bonnet, but you had a smirk on your face that I would flirt and prance about like a giddy fool. You gave me money but you predicted that I wouldn't be a real lady. You often blamed me for not raising Wade and Ella right.. I truly was hurt- More than anything, I want to be treated just like any other woman."
Rhett slowly sat up but he didn't say a word. Scarlett leaned against him. "Rhett, that is what any woman wants. A man who trusts that she can nurture things. That is real kindness. That is love. Mother was always worried and afraid. She never thought I could..with my nature.. I wish sometimes that she approved of me. I would have allowed my children to mess around with my hair, given them hugs and kisses, I would have chased them down lawns and tickled them. till they cried - and I would have told real adventure stories. The kind you tell me.."
Scarlett thought for a moment.
"Rhett, let's have another baby. I promise I'll bring it up right. Maybe not kind and gentle like you but I'll do it in my own way. I'll show you that I can be a good mother. I'll be different from the others but it won't matter. I'm not afraid."