Disclaimer: I own nothing in regard to GWTW
Author's Note: Scarlett realizes how little she truly has in Atlanta.
This was the worst three months of her life. Even worse than when she was starving after the war. That was an impersonal situation. This felt like everyone was out to get her. The peahens, India Wilkes, Rhett Butler, and even Ashley Wilkes. She hated them all but especially Ashley.
He was the one who made her cry with all that talk of the past. Couldn't he talk about anything else? If he hadn't been talking about the dead of Clayton county she would not have been crying, he would not have put his arm around her and India would not have found them in a compromising position. If Ashley was any kind of a man, he would have shut India down in a matter of minutes. If he had convinced India nothing was going on then nobody else would have been brave enough to say anything. Archie and Mrs. Elsing may have had their doubts but the talk would be quieted down by now. He acted guilty at his birthday party and ever since then.
She hated Rhett also. He was such a coward. First, he runs off to Belle's for three days then runs off to Charleston with her child. Of course, he did slow down long enough to call her a whore before he left Atlanta. He was so kind as to blacken her name with her aunts while he was in Charleston. As if blackening her name for the last years with the Atlanta old guard wasn't bad enough.
Of the three of them India is the only one she has some grudging respect for. India has hated her for years ever since Scarlett stole Stuart Tarleton away from India just for fun. India has been waiting for her chance to get her revenge for years.
Then there was Melanie and her campaign to save Scarlett's reputation. God love Melanie. She is willing to cause a rip in the family seam for Scarlett and Ashley sake. More Scarlett's sake than Ashley's sake. Incredibly Ashley has become a victim in this farce also. She, Scarlett, the evil, amoral, seductress who was intent on seducing Ashley.
One thing that this disaster had shown Scarlett except for Melly no one in Atlanta cared about her. Even the Scallawag wives had deserted her. She had no one but Melly and her children. Her wonderful children who loved her just as she was.
The final nail in the coffin of her life ... she's pregnant. She has known for the last month but will not go to the doctor. If she went to see Dr. Meade then Mrs. Meade would tell everyone.
Surprisingly she wants this baby! She will not allow this child to grow up under the shadow of being a bastard. If she was sure the baby would look like Rhett, she would stay but if the baby looked like her then he would be talked about the rest of his life. Not that Rhett was helping quiet the rumors by running away. Therefore, she was going to leave and she had started planning her great escape. Her escape from this life of always being the responsible one. It was surprisingly easy to convince Ashley to sell the mills. She got her share in cash. She asked Uncle Henry to find a buyer for the store. He knew of a widow who wanted to buy the store to bring money in but also so she would have something to occupy her time. She got all the money in cash. Uncle Henry cautioned her against having that much money in cash at her home but he also knew of her inclination to hide money in her home. Her greatest stroke of luck was when a man approached her about buying her house. The stranger wanted to own the biggest house in Atlanta. Scarlett gave him a tour of the house and then he made her a reasonable offer. She accepted and told him he could have the furniture also. She also managed to get a month to get out of the house. Scarlett was able to sell everything without Rhett's okay because he had signed the papers saying he had no claim on items in her name. Thank goodness early in their marriage Rhett had signed away any husbandly rights to Scarlett's properties. She had gone to see Uncle Henry about getting a divorce. He informed her with a sad expression that she had no standing as far as the laws were concerned. She was Rhett's property and didn't have a claim to anything not even her children from previous marriages. That's when the idea of the great escape was born.
Scarlett was ready to go away. She was going to France. Rhett didn't know she spoke French fluently. Grandfather Robillard had insisted that all of his granddaughters speak French fluently. Scarlett also rightly believed that Rhett would not think she was sophisticated enough to be able to make her way to France. There were still Robillards in the south of France, that is where Grandfather went during the war. That is where she was going now.
Scarlett was taking only her children, her money, her pictures and her jewelry. She could probably live off the sales of her jewelry for the rest of her life. She decided that she had enough money. She was going to focus on enjoying her life and being a better mother.
She had another month before she would have to leave. She was hoping Rhett would bring Bonnie home before the end of next month.
If Bonnie was here Rhett would be here making her escape even harder but she had to try to take all of her children with her. She knew that after Bonnie went to sleep Rhett always left the house. He normally did not return until close to dawn. There were several trains that left after 7PM. She could get on one and just keep changing trains until her trail was lost.
All of the sudden she heard her youngest child calling for her. Oh yes! She will think about her escape later.
Scarlett ran down the stairs and hugged Bonnie. Bonnie showed her mother her new kitten that her grandmother had given her then she went to see Ella.
When Scarlett looked up, she saw Rhett striding up the stairs. He was immediately on the attack by making unkind comments. She knew he was trying to make her mad so she simply welcomed him home. She told him she would see him at supper at 6. She turned to walk back upstairs when he said he was just there to drop Bonnie off. He then made an ugly comment about her parenting skills. Instead of responding to his comment she asked where he was headed and for how long. Rhett said, "New Orleans and for at least a month or so." Scarlett had known his response was going to hurt but she had to know for her escape. Scarlett looked at Rhett's face looking for any sign of affection, any sign he cared for her at all. All she saw was a little bit of hate and anger. She didn't want to see that so Scarlett schooled her features and said, "I guess I will see you when you get back." She then turned and walked up the stairs.
Rhett was angry! After three months that's all she had to say. She didn't even look happy to see him. She hadn't even tried to stop him from leaving, not that it would have made any difference. He was getting on the next train out of Atlanta. He walked out the door and with an evil laugh he knew Scarlett would have her hands full with Bonnie. Scarlett was going to be very happy when he finally came home. He knew he was leaving Scarlett with a very out of control two-year-old. Nobody had said no to Bonnie in three months. Rhett paused on his way back to the station. Poor Mammy. She was the one who would have to deal with Bonnie. No. He was not turning around. He wasn't even going to get a drink at Belle's. He was leaving and not looking back. Rhett made it back to the station just in time for the south bound train. While he was getting comfortable in his seat he again laughed heartily at Scarlett's dilemma.
As Scarlett was walking back to her room thinking of her escape, she saw Miss Baker walking toward her. Scarlett liked the woman. Scarlett thought she was an interesting person and had often enjoyed conversations with her. This surprised Scarlett because she normally didn't like other women. Much to Scarlett's surprise Miss Baker pushed her into her room and shut the door. One could have knocked Scarlett over with a feather when Miss Baker said, "I can help you escape if you take me with you."
Scarlett replied, "I don't know what you are talking about."
To which Miss Baker said, "Mr. Butler is right you are a lousy liar. Wait! Wait! Hear me out. You and Mr. Butler do not fight quietly. In the two years I have been here I have heard far more than I would ever want to hear. For example, I just heard the entire conversation y'all had on the stairs. In the last month I have noticed a change in you. Everyone has noticed. It is what Mammy calls your calculating look. I've been watching you closely because I want to leave Atlanta but I don't have the money to leave. So, if you take me with you, I can help you. First off Mrs. Butler you are too striking to ever go unnoticed while I am the exact opposite. People can have a conversation with me and 5 minutes later not remember a single detail of the encounter. Second, I can pose as a man. I am tall enough and slim enough that if I have pants on nobody will look twice. Third If we have to give people a name, we can give them mine. Your attorney could become my attorney. Mr. Hamilton would not be legally obligated to tell Mr. Butler anything about my business. Do you think Mr. Hamilton would be willing to keep Mr. Butler in the dark? And finally, I have already escaped from my own abusive husband. Will you take me with you?"
Scarlett looked at the woman in front of her. She was indeed nondescript. She looked to be around fifty with brown hair and brown eyes. She had a very plain face and she was slim and tall. Scarlett made a snap decision and said, "Uncle Henry will not tell Rhett anything. He hates Rhett with a passion because of his wartime activity and his having been a Scallawag. Uncle Henry has not forgotten or forgiven him. I want to leave tomorrow morning. What is your first name?"
Miss Baker said, "Andrea. But call me Andi. Please give me some money. I will go to a General Store and buy a man's shirt and pants. I will buy several money belts. I will go introduce myself to Mr. Hamilton and ask him to be my attorney. We will not tell him anything until we are safely away. Get out some of your maternity dresses. With the money belts on you will look pregnant. When people investigate this all, they will remember is a married couple with three children and one on the way."
Scarlett gave Andi a key to the house to leave with Uncle Henry so the new owner could gain access to his new home.
Scarlett gave her a ten-dollar gold piece and thought Andi was right this was a great plan.
Later that night Scarlett let Bonnie sleep with her to keep her calm because Scarlett was afraid Bonnie would start calling for Rhett. Bonnie seemed pleased with the idea of sleeping with her mother but she wanted Ella to sleep with them also. Scarlett allow Ella to sleep with her also because she wanted everyone happy in the morning.
The next morning Scarlett, Andi and the three children were on a train to New York in a circular motion. They would purchase their passage to France when they got to New York. As soon as the train had left the Atlanta station Scarlett took Wade aside to talk to him. She needed him on her side to make this work. At age nine he was very aware of what was happening between her and Rhett. She decided to be honest with him and hope that Wade would choose his mother over his stepfather. Before Bonnie had been born Wade may have chosen Rhett over Scarlett but in the last two years it was obvious that nobody mattered but Bonnie.
Scarlett hugged him and then said, "I need your help like I have never needed it before. We are running away from Uncle Rhett. I cannot live with him anymore. Uncle Henry says I have no rights in the state of Georgia if I were to divorce him. He would get my money and my children. I have no legal right to you even though Uncle Rhett has no blood connection to you. Maybe I could give up my money but I could never give up my children. I need you to not question what I do. You are so smart that you can easily see through the lies I will be telling but if you go along with what I say then Ella and Bonnie will too. We are going to France. We will never come back. Will you help me?"
Wade replied, "Of course, Mother"
Scarlett hugged him so tight he almost couldn't breathe and she thought 'thank goodness you are Charlie's son.'
In the last three months his mother had made time for him and Ella. They had the beginnings of a true relationship. Wade had heard most of his mother and Uncle Rhett's arguments also. Uncle Rhett had said some extremely cruel things to his mother. Also, Wade was being harassed at school about his mother and Uncle Rhett's activities. He knew that Uncle Rhett was a frequent visitor at a whore house. He found out what a whore was and decided that Uncle Rhett was not a good person. Wade also saw Uncle Rhett carrying his mother up the stairs. Mother didn't look happy while this was happening. He also heard Mother crying and moaning. He knew Uncle Rhett had done something bad to Mother.