Disclaimer: I own nothing in regard to GWTW
Author's Notes: Thank you for all the many reviews and the feedback.
Chapter Thirty-Two
Scarlett and Rhett talked about the baby when they were alone. Rhett would always talk so excitedly that it made Scarlett happy. She didn't tell anyone that she was with child. She wanted it to be hers and Rhett's little secret.
Rhett did want the child. He would make all her discomfort worthwhile. He did love to see her get bigger and bigger with his child even if she did think it was a grotesques shape
Scarlett no longer thought of herself as going into a grotesques shape because Rhett was so adoring of that shape. Scarlett would never be happy being pregnant, but Rhett was so sweet and kind that it would be bearable.
She could never stop being intimate with Rhett. No, she could never do without Rhett. He did take care of her needs and like he said that day it wasn't like she could go to a bordello to get those needs taken care of. She wondered what she would do when he passed away because she knew that not every man could do what Rhett did. She would just have to keep him alive. She would do a better job than she had with Frank. Of course, Rhett was too smart to go on a clan raid, so her chances were better.
In the first week of July, Scarlett felt a gut-wrenching pain in her womb. She knew what was happening, but she prayed she was wrong. She sent Prissy to get Dr. Harrison and Pork to find Rhett. She was in the midst of struggling to get up the stairs when Rhett found her. He swept her up in his arms and carried her to their bedroom. As he laid her down on the bed, she said, "I'm losing the baby."
"It will be alright. Just as long as I don't lose you."
She gave him a weak smile and said, "I know. Who would take care of your needs if I wasn't around?"
Rhett gave her a cocky smile and said, "Exactly what I was thinking."
Mammy came into the room and Rhett said, "She's losing the baby."
"Shut your mouth, Captain Butler. You don't know that."
Mammy didn't act surprise to learn Scarlett was with child. Of course not. They couldn't keep a secret from Mammy.
Scarlett doubled over in pain and squeezed Rhett's hand. Even though she hurt his hand with her squeeze what hurt him more was the pain on her face.
Rhett said, "Mammy get her some laudanum."
Scarlett whispered, "Not until the doctor gets here. He may want to give me something stronger."
Rhett looked at Scarlett's dress and saw the that it was wet. He looked at Mammy and he knew that she had seen it too. Yes, they indeed had lost the baby. Rhett climbed on the bed and laid down behind her with both of his hands over her womb. Scarlett held his hands. She squeezed his hands every time she felt another cramp. Mammy went to get some towels for the discharge.
Within thirty minutes, Dr. Harrison had arrived. When the doctor walked in the room Rhett got off the bed. The doctor said, "Mr. Butler, you need to leave the room so I can examine your wife."
"Hell no!"
With one look at Rhett's face Dr. Harrison, had not argued with the man. He said, "Then standby her head."
Rhett thought this was the most ridiculous thing ever, but he did go standby her head. Scarlett reached her hand up and he took it. She then pulled him down. He was sitting by the headboard. Scarlett was still cramping and every time she did, she squeezed his hand. He just looked at their hands joined together because he couldn't see all that pain on Scarlett's face.
Dr. Harrison confirmed that Scarlett indeed was having a miscarriage. He gave her a shot of morphine and told her to stay in bed for two weeks. If she hadn't stopped bleeding by then to send for him. He left a bottle of laudanum for after the morphine had worn off.
After the doctor left Mammy said, "Captain Butler this is going to be a messy business. You should sleep somewhere else."
"When hell freezes over." Which made Scarlett smile. It also let her know that Rhett cared a lot more for her than he had ever said. That made her happy.
"At least let me get her into a nightgown and prepare the bed."
"Alright. I will take the children to Miss Melly's for at least tonight."
As Rhett walked the children and Prissy over to Miss Melly's home he could tell that Wade and Ella were anxious. So, he told them, "Your mother is sick, and she will need to stay in bed for the next two weeks. Don't worry. She is not dying. I will come get you tomorrow. Everything is going to be alright."
Rhett needed to say the words as much as the children needed to hear them.
Wade said, "Daddy. Really?"
Rhett looked at all three expectant faces and took a deep breath. He said, "Really. I would never lie to you."
Rhett hoped he wasn't lying to his son right then. Rhett hugged his son and his daughters.
They continued to the Wilkes's house. When they got to the Wilkes with the children's carpet bag, Melanie looked at Rhett. He said, "Miss Melly may I speak to you privately?"
"Of course."
When they were alone, Rhett said, "Scarlett is losing her baby," Melanie gasped. Rhett continued, "Mammy and I will be taking care of her. I need you to watch our children."
"Captain Butler it isn't proper for you to be in her sick room when she is going through this. I will come back with you and help Mammy then you can stay with the children."
Rhett had to clamp his mouth shut so he didn't scream at this good woman. He didn't give a damn about what was proper and what wasn't. He would go insane if he couldn't be with Scarlett. He had to know for himself that she was alright. He had to give her his strength if she needed it. Finally, when Rhett had control of himself, he said, "My dear, Miss Melly, I am not going to be anywhere but by her side until she is well again, come hell or high water," Melly gasped again and Rhett continued, "Will you watch our children?"
"Of course. Of course."
"Thank you."
He walked back into the parlor. He hugged all his children and told them he loved them. He promised he would see them the next day. Then he hurried out of the house.
Those first twenty-four hours had been horrible. Scarlett had continued cramping throughout the night. At one point she said, "Rhett, it is like I am in labor but there won't be a baby at the end."
"Ssh Ssh It will stop hurting soon. Do you want some more laudanum?"
"Yes, please."
Rhett had gotten up and gotten the laudanum. He gave her a spoonful. Soon she was resting comfortably. Rhett had gotten back in the bed and wrapped her up in his arms again. As he was dozing, he thought, 'Mammy hadn't been exaggerating when she said it was a messy business.'
The next day the cramping had stopped. Scarlett had refused to take any more laudanum. Around mid-morning, Mammy said, "Go get your children, Captain Butler. I has to clean Miss Scarlett up."
"No, I will….."
"Captain Butler! Go get your children. I will be finished by the time you get back."
Rhett looked at Scarlett's face and it was beet red. He knew she was mortified at the mere thought of him seeing her that way. He forced himself to smile and say, "I will be back in about an hour."
"Thank you, Rhett."
Rhett went to Miss Melly's and got his children. When Miss Melly opened the door all his children were behind her. He said to Miss Melly, "Scarlett is on the mend. She will have to stay in bed for the next two weeks. You can come over and help take care of her, if you wish but I must let you know I will be in the room also. Prissy, go get the children's clothes."
Prissy nodded and left the room.
Melly had smiled and said, "Of course, Captain Butler. Let me put my bonnet on. Beau, we are going to Aunt Scarlett's. Put your shoes on."
When they got to the house Rhett said to the children, "Go to the playroom. Let me check on your mother. I will come get you as soon as she is up to seeing you."
Rhett and Melanie walked to Scarlett's sick room. He knocked on the door, something he never thought he would have to do. He heard Mammy say, "Come in."
Rhett smiled when he saw Scarlett sitting up in the bed. Her hair was brushed, she had a new nightgown on, and she was smiling. Rhett said, "Do you feel up to seeing the children?"
"Yes, of course. Melly."
Rhett went to get the children while Melly went to give Scarlett a hug. Melly said, "I will be over every day to help take care of you."
"I will be fine with Rhett and Mammy taking care of me, but I would like to see you every day."
"Then I will be over every day to visit with you."
There was noise from the doorway and both women looked to see all the children including Beau were in the doorway. Scarlett said, "Come give me a hug. I am going to be just fine in a few days."
After hugs were given all around and Genie had crawled on the bed. Wade said, "What is wrong with you? I saw Daddy carrying you up the stairs."
Rhett and Scarlett looked at each other. Both of them were at a loss for words. Mammy walked over to Wade and put her hand on his shoulder, and she squatted down. She said, "Your mother was going to have another baby and now she isn't."
"Did God take the baby back?"
"In a way."
"Why?"
Mammy shook her head and said, "We don't know. We will never know. What we do know is that nobody did anything wrong especially not your mother."
"Alright. Is Mother going to be alright?"
"Of course."
"Was it a boy or a girl?"
"I don't know. Why?"
"I would like to have a brother, but I don't want to have any more little sisters."
That statement made Ella and Genie say his name in disgust.
Ella said, "We don't want any more mean brothers either."
Genie nodded her head up and down.
Wade said, "I'm so glad I have a boy cousin."
On that note Mammy said, "Why don't you all go back to the nursery?" As she herded them out of the room.
Fortunately, Scarlett had stop passing blood after seventy-two hours. Once she stopped passing blood, she had insisted on walking to the water closet herself although she allowed Rhett to walk with her, but she did not allow him inside with her. One night in the middle of the night when he was helping her to the water closet, Scarlett said, "I'm sorry, Rhett."
"You have nothing to be sorry for. You didn't do anything wrong."
"The baby….."
Rhett interrupted her and said, "Wasn't right. So, God took the baby to heaven."
"You don't believe in God or heaven."
"I do in this moment."
"Thank you, Rhett."
The next two weeks Rhett didn't do anything but take care of Scarlett and his children except for a couple of business meetings because the timing was critical. He read her stories. He let the children visit her every day for he could tell they were worried about their mother. He let them see her every morning. That was usually when Scarlett was at her best.
During those two weeks his craving for tobacco and whiskey had been so strong that he had almost gone and bought a box of cigars and a bottle of whiskey, but he had talked himself off of that ledge by telling himself, 'I have to stay alive and healthy for Scarlett and the children. Besides me smoking and drinking isn't going to make the situation any better.'
Rhett had to tell himself that repeatedly, but he managed to avoid indulging in his vices. Every time he saw Scarlett looking better, his willpower was renewed.
Rhett was by Scarlett's side the entire time except when Mammy forced him out of the room so she could clean Scarlett up. That is when he went out and bought her a present. He bought her flowers, candy, stationary and even some ice cream.
Author's Notes: The way Rhett behaves in this chapter is how I believe a man in love would behave if he thought the woman, he loved was having a miscarriage and possibly dying. Not hiding out in another room waiting for her to call for him. As bold and forceful as Rhett was, I don't think he would have meekly accepted waiting in the other room because it wasn't proper for him to be in her sickroom when she was going through a miscarriage.