Chapter Eight

Uncle Henry only sent the boxes every three months. He was afraid Rhett had someone following him so he always went to another big city to mail the boxes. When Rhett went to Atlanta to give Henry another letter it was July just before Henry was about to mail off another box. Scarlett got the box the middle of August. She read the letters from Melly first. She wrote about how well Ashley was doing in his job at the newspaper and how much happier he was than before. She wrote about her desire to have another child but knew she shouldn't do it. She wrote about Beau and his education. She wrote about how India had asked for her forgiveness. That India was now sure that the embrace between Scarlett and Ashley had been innocent. Melly forgave her for Ashley and her relatives' sake and because it was the Christian thing to do. That made Scarlett smile because she knew in her heart that Melly would never truly forgive India for saying ugly things about Ashley and her. She read Suellen's letters. There weren't as many as Melly sent but Suellen had always been a poor correspondent. Scarlett would never have been able to fool Frank with her lie about Suellen if Scarlett hadn't known there be no letter exposing the truth. Suellen's letters were more a report from Will on the status of Tara. There was one piece of news she was pregnant again. Scarlett smiled. The O'Hara girls certainly were fertile. Then there was the letter from Rhett. She was in their back yard. It was so small there was barely enough room for all six of them at once. Today there was only Bonnie and James in the back yard with her. Once they got on the ship Bonnie had decided school was not for her. Scarlett was fine with her playing until she was five. Bonnie was so good with her little brother. She displayed no jealousy toward him. Scarlett wondered if she would have so easily shared Rhett. Probably not. Scarlett opened the letter. Rhett apologized for not being a better husband and he wanted a chance to prove he loved her dearly. He went on to tell of his search for her and the children. What he had found out from the people in Nice. How wonderful it was the Scarlett had gotten Bonnie to behave but hadn't hurt her spirit. He told her about how much he missed her. He told her that he was sorry he had so blatantly used whores. He had done that to hurt and embarrass her. He was sorry for improving his reputation at the cost of her reputation. He was sorry that he had ever encouraged her to jettison her reputation. He was sorry for so many things but he was most sorry for not cherishing her while they had been together. He spoke of other things going on in his life. He spoke of his past. He ended it by telling her he loved her. He asked her to write him back.

She wrote him that she knew she had been selfish, prideful, stubborn and self-centered most of her life. In the months after Ashley's party she recognized that Melly was the only person who cared about her in the world, Melly and her children. She wrote him of her loneliness while they were living together in Atlanta. She wrote of her regret for asking him to move out but how she really didn't want to be pregnant again. But that was all vanity on her part she didn't want to have a larger waist. She stayed busy with her businesses because they were her security for the future. She wrote about her fantasy about Ashley was tied to her life before the war. She wrote of the books she was reading. She wrote about their son and what he had accomplished. She asked if he was ahead or behind Bonnie. She wrote about all the children. She wrote about her loneliness now. She asked him to write her back via Uncle Henry.

They corresponded for several months. Scarlett sent him another picture of the children taken after Bonnie's fourth birthday. He asked her what he needed to do to be back in her life. She wrote him she was scared of him running away with his children and her never seeing them again. He wrote her that he could promise that he would never do that but his history of running away would make him question the sincerity also.

In July of 1873 a change had to be made. Andi told Scarlett that she had taught Wade as far as she could and Scarlett needed to send him to a preparatory school. Probably best if it was in Boston. So, they packed up the house and moved to Boston. This time Scarlett had decided that if Rhett found them then it was meant to be. She bought a pretty house with six bedrooms. It was an older home. Scarlett didn't know what the style of architecture was but she liked it. Bonnie had never needed a nightlight again since the night on the ship. All four children had a room of their own, Andi had a room and Scarlett had a room. She like the current décor so she didn't make any changes she also thought 'Rhett would love this décor.'. She joined some sewing circles in order to meet other ladies. While she enjoyed the conversations of the weekly meetings, she did not desire to become better acquainted with any of the ladies. She said to Andi, "I'm not running anymore. When he finds me hopefully, he will not become a brute." Andi said, "I hope so too but most importantly is how much you miss him. You should chance it." Scarlett hugged Andi and thought she is rather flat chested. It's like hugging a man. Andi again wrote her attorney with her new address.

Scarlett sat and talked to Wade about him going to a Preparatory School to get him ready for enrollment in Harvard. Wade told her no it wasn't safe. She reminded Wade who the parent was and that if Uncle Rhett found them it would be alright. She believed that both she and Rhett had changed and could make their marriage work. Then she smiled and said, "But he has to find me first." Wade was enrolled at Esters Preparatory School for Young Men in Boston. It was discovered the first month that he was well ahead of his age group and was moved to the class for thirteen and fourteen-year-olds. The Headmaster suggested that he be moved up with the fourteen and fifteen-year-olds but Scarlett refused. She wanted him to make friends.

Andi was still teaching Ella. It was good that Ella had one on one instruction. Scarlett and Andi had discovered that Ella was smart. It was that she was easily distracted. When Ella was in a room alone with Andi she did very well academically. Scarlett brought in another teacher three afternoons a week to teach Ella Spanish. She was quickly mastering the language.

Scarlett was not ready for Bonnie to start having formalized instruction for learning.

Then tragedy happened. Melly was dead. She had a miscarriage trying to have another baby. All Scarlett could think was 'Ashley you are such a stupid person. Do you have any backbone at all? Can you say no to anyone?'

Scarlett knew she would not go to the funeral but she did want to pay her last respects. If she went would there be someone watching the grave waiting to follow her home? Could she leave the three younger ones at home with just Andi? No, she couldn't leave them alone. They still got frighten if she was gone to the store too long. Maybe after Rhett finds her.

In Atlanta everyone was wondering. The entire funeral everyone was watching for Scarlett. And the gossip was flowing: Surely, she would make an appearance especially after all Melly had done for Scarlett. If she didn't show up would that be more proof, she was dead. The society matrons were aghast that Rhett Butler would dare to show his face after what he did to Scarlett. (He did kill her, didn't he?) There is no proof that she is dead but Rhett Butler would know how to get rid of the body. And where was that sweet child? Surely Scarlett didn't kill her. And what about Wade and Ella? Would these questions ever be answered?

Rhett could feel them all staring at him. He could read their minds. And he shook his head. He had come to pay his respects to Melly but he had hoped that Scarlett would be there. She wasn't. He would hang around Atlanta for a couple of days to see if she might show up. Rhett hoped Henry Hamilton had a letter for him.

After the funeral he went to see Belle. Nobody knew anything about Scarlett. Everyone was mad at Ashley for killing Melly. She missed him. That was all the news he cared about.

He stopped by Henry's the next morning to see if he had a letter for Rhett. He had two letters. One from Scarlett and one from Wade. He opened the one from Wade first.

August 1873

Dear Captain Butler,

Go away and leave my mother alone. She is finally happy. The first year after we left you, she cried at night all the time. Now she is finally happy. Go away.

Sincerely,

Wade.

Rhett thought when I finally find Scarlett, she won't be the only person I will have to charm.

The letter from Scarlett gave him a lot more optimism. She wrote of her life. She wrote of what the children were up to. She shared a lot of information. A key piece of information was that she had enrolled Wade in a preparatory school to prepare him for admission into Harvard.

Rhett telegraphed the Pickerton Agency and told them to check enrollment in all Preparatory School starting in Boston.

In October Rhett knew what city Wade was enrolled in school in. Hopefully he was not a boarder because he knew Wade would tell him nothing. Just before Ella's birthday Rhett knew the address that Wade went home to every day after school. He walked up to the front door and knocked.

Scarlett answered the door and said, "What took you so long?"

Rhett took Scarlett in his arms and kissed her. He kissed her like he did when he asked her to marry him. He never wanted to let her go. Then he heard someone crying, "Daddy, Daddy, Daddy" He raised his head and saw his Bonnie and his son. He held Scarlett's hand and reached for his children. Finally, he let go of her hand and pick both his children up and hugged them tight. He kissed one forehead and then the other. Then he saw Ella and put the other two down and reached for her. He hugged her tight and kissed her forehead also. As he was setting Ella down Wade walked into the room and Wade stuck out his hand and Rhett took it but pulled Wade into a hug. As Rhett was hugging the boy Wade said, "If you hurt her, I will kill you." Then Wade pulled back and smiled. Rhett knew Wade wasn't joking.

Bonnie then said, "Why did it take you so long to find us?"

Rhett said, "Your mother is a very good hider."

Scarlett said, "Come in. Where are your bags?"

Rhett said, "At the hotel. I didn't want to make any assumptions."

Scarlett said, "Tomorrow you will have to check out of the hotel and move in. You are planning on living with us, aren't you?'

Rhett said, "Can I move in tonight?"

Scarlett said, "After dinner. Everything is ready. Ella, go tell Andi dinner is ready. Everyone else go wash up."

Much to Rhett surprise everyone left to wash up.