…she was dreaming about airplanes, shooting stars and wishes…or something…
Then she groggily opened her eyes and realized that it wasn't a dream, but the music blaring from the alarm clock on the bedside table. She reached for the snooze button, missing the first time..then the second… When she lifted her face out of the plush pillow to seek the button she desired, she saw the time. And if the numbers on that clock were right, she had overslept ten minutes already. She knew that normally she would have happily pressed the snooze button before burying her face into her pillow again and would have rushed to shower, dress and fix her hair, saving her makeup for the taxi ride to work, breakfast (or lunch), or wherever she was going. But today she was going to meet Ashley…alone. She ignored the nagging in the back of her head that said lunch was friends, dinner was dating, and breakfast was "I have to fit you in somehow", and she accomplished that by remembering that he had kissed her less than twenty four hours before.
Fixing her hair was easy, she knew that Ashley loved it curled in big waves, framing her face. But dressing was harder, because she couldn't remember Ashley's favorite color. She stood exasperated over her suitcase, tapping her foot impatiently as she glanced over her options. She desperately wished that she had brought her brown lacey shirt to wear over her brown and green floral tank. Ashley liked it when she wore green…
No, no…that's Rhett…She rolled her eyes, wishing for just a moment that she were dressing to go out with Rhett instead. She knew exactly what he liked to see her in and what he didn't and he always noticed what she wore, which was so encouraging to a woman. Sometimes men seemed to glance over their efforts to look nice to the point that a woman would assume that wearing a burlap sack would suffice.
She finally decided on a black skirt, one she knew that Rhett liked (and all men tended to like tight things, right?), a blue three-quarter length shirt with pretty, puffy pleats down the arms and blue pumps. She checked the clock and realized she still had twenty minutes before she had to leave…I should have just pressed the snooze button…
She sat down, picked up her phone and called for her taxi before leaning her head back against the chair. She fiddled with her phone, trying to think of something to do then decided, for sheer boredom's sake, to call Rhett, hoping to have him come down and see if he liked her outfit too. He was so good with fashions and she knew him to be brutally honest, which was just what she needed on a morning like this…
She dialed the number and waited. He quickly picked up. "Hello…" his voice was slightly hoarse and her stomaching unwillingly flipped at the sound of it.
"Hey, you awake?" She asked nonchalantly, knowing instantly that he hadn't been.
"Sure I am…now." He paused and she could hear sheets rustling in the background. "You do realize that it's only 6:30. I had a good thirty minutes of sleep ahead of me." There was laughter in his husky voice.
"Well…you need to get up anyway, Lazy."
He actually laughed out loud, his voice sounding more hollow. She assumed that he had walked to the bathroom when she heard the water start to her shower. "Consistency, thou art a jewel…" Whatever that means…"By the way, what are you doing awake? It's not past one o'clock yet…"
She ignored his obvious barb. "I am going to breakfast this morning and I wanted you to come down and tell me what you think about my outfit…"
Rhett paused and she heard the water shut off. "Whatever it is that you are wearing, I can tell you now that it would look better off." He chuckled lightly; it sounded soft and hoarse too. Her stomached rolled pleasantly again. "It's pretty early to be getting ready for breakfast anyhow…"
"Wouldn't you love for me to take that advice one day, and no it's not too early to get ready for breakfast."
"Well, I still say that if you have to get up this early for breakfast, you should at least attempt to make it interesting…"
He chuckled as she huffed. "I'll keep that in mind and consider it as an alternative option…"
"It would definitely spare me the trip and solve your problem…"
Scarlett rolled her eyes and as she often did when he said such vulgar things, she ignored him. "Are you coming or not?" He assured her he was and she hung up on him, his laughter immediately stopping as she abruptly pushed the "end" button. She smiled slightly. She liked talking on the phone with him…when he begins to annoy me, I can simply cut him off.
As she had known he would be, he was blunt and honest. He commented on how hard the black skirt made her look, claiming that a white skirt would be better for a less formal meal. However, his pleasant mood changed when she mentioned that it was Ashley with whom she was going to breakfast. His eyes had subtly darkened and his mouth twisted into a nasty smile as he suggested that she should exchange her pretty blue pumps for strappy zebra print heels, stating that her fetish might be extended to Ashley. She had left him at the elevators in a huff, annoyed with how sour his smile looked on his usually amused face and the fact that he seemed to begrudge her his advice…
She glanced at the clock on her cell phone as she jumped in the cab and realized that having listened to Rhett's insults and then changing, she had almost caused herself to be late. The taxi was waiting for her at the door and the driver said that he had almost given up on her coming out. He drove her to the restaurant she and Ashley had agreed on and she quickly walked inside the building, fluffing her hair as she entered. She looked around for a moment and spotted Ashley at the same time that he noticed her across the room. He waved at her, attempting to catch her attention. Little did he know he had caught it years ago…
She walked over to his table, her most becoming smile on her face and her heart soared at the sight of him. A million thoughts raced through her mind upon seeing his smile, his eyes, his glossy blond hair…every time she saw him, she saw the same young boy that she had suddenly and violently fallen in love with at 13…and a half. She often thought about that day, and reveled in the feelings that she had experienced realizing that Ashley was no longer just her best friend, but the love of her life…
School was starting back, and Scarlett didn't know how she felt about it. All summer long she had been to so many places and done so many things. Mammy had enrolled her and her sisters into three different summer camps to keep them busy and to keep them from getting bored. Her hands were too full with the boys summer leagues to deal with the girls drama everyday anyway. The rest of the summer had been spent at home, with cousins and friends, and with her father. She supposed that her favorite times had been with her father. He had taken her and her sisters to amusement parks and on camping trips. The amusement parks had been so much fun. The roller coasters had been amazing, because as it turned out Scarlett and the boys were quite the adrenaline junkies. But the most unforgettable part of the summer (and, for Scarlett, the most enjoyable) had been their father/daughter camping trip. Her Pa had taken the girls on a camping trip to the lake. Suellen had refused to sleep with the family in the tent next to the lake, claiming that she had seen a nest of spiders so she set up her own tent…right on top of a huge path of poison ivy. Scarlett knew that for years to come that memory would spark delight in her heart, even when she was at her most dismal…
She supposed the only reason she had to be happy was because she would get to see all of her friends again. She was especially happy about seeing Ashley, the boy she considered to be her best friend. He had been gone all summer with his father on a long vacation in Europe. It was easy to think of the small, fair boy as her best friend. He was quite shy and very compliant, always willing to do what Scarlett wanted to do without asking questions about it. Scarlett had heard her father talking to Mammy, saying that Ashley was a good friend for her for the simple fact that he was "subservient to her every whim". She hadn't understood why he had chuckled saying that, but she supposed that this was an easy summation of her and Ashley's friendship. She was the leader and he was such an easy follower…she couldn't help but like him.
So all in all, maybe it wasn't such a bad thing for the summer to end and for school to start back…and anyway, everyone kept telling her how much better eighth grade was than seventh, assuring her that seniority makes it worth the extra work. She certainly hoped so.
She sat on the porch in front of her home with the sanest of her three brothers, Landon, playing checkers on the deck table. The game had just started and she was already bored, wishing she hadn't agreed to play at all, when suddenly…salvation! A car pulled up into the drive, and she knew immediately that it belonged to the Wilkes. Landon jumped up and raced over to their brothers: G.T and Houston, yelling and screaming that the Wilkes were back. Scarlett jumped up too, waving at the car from her place on the porch. She watched as the car pulled up to the front of the house and John Wilkes got out of it. Scarlett quickly ran to him, jumping into his arms and giving him a large kiss on the cheek. She had forgotten how much she liked him…
And that's when she saw him…it was like he was a different person…
Ashley stepped around the car and Scarlett, expecting to still see her awkward little friend, turned her head towards his almost familiar voice, which was so much lower than she remembered. "Hello, Red."
She was sure that her jaw dropped to her chest at the sight of him. His blond hair that had been almost white now had a golden hue to it and was shorter than she remembered. She realized that she was no longer eye level with him…in fact she was eye level with his widening shoulders and his now visible Adam's Apple. He smiled at her widely and her breath caught in her throat. The braces that he had been wearing for years were gone; the overbite that had caused his lisp replaced by a perfect pair of white teeth, almost too pretty to be authentic. He was like something out of those movies that she watched with her sisters and Mammy and always said she hated even though she really liked them. She was right in the middle of her very own "Sleepless in Seattle"…
"Hey, Ashley…" she muttered. He dunked his head.
"It's been a long time, hasn't it?" he questioned, and she could see that though he had changed outwardly, he was still the same boy as before. This thought warmed her heart in a way that she couldn't describe…
"It certainly has…." And she had known from that moment on that this movie of her own making was something that she never wanted to end…
As he took her hand now and kissed it, she remembered all over again the thrill of seeing him, really seeing him, for the first time. He was still her romantic hero, the only one she wanted. At that thought, her mind shifted abruptly to an image of a tall, handsome man, a swarthy smile on his dark face. She mentally slapped the image away…What the hell! I do not want him, he is the last man on earth that I would ever want!
"Hey, Red. I am so glad you are here…" He let go of her hand and wrapped his arms around her shoulder before pulling out her chair for her. Men just didn't do that anymore… it was so attractive… "I know it's kind of early, but I wanted to have plenty of time to hang out before you spent the rest of the day getting fitted."
Scarlett's heart sank a little. "You don't think it will take all day, do you?" The thought of being in the presence of that ninny for that long literally made her want to vomit.
"Who knows! You know better than me how you girls are about clothes and things….you look beautiful." She recognized the look in his eyes to be appreciation and the longing was clearly in his voice. He wants me…
She smiled radiantly, casting down her eyes and then looking back up through her lashes in that way that she knew drove men mad. The waiter came then, taking their drink orders before walking away.
"So, what have you been doing since I deserted you? I…I'm sorry about that. You know how the business is though…I don't know how Melanie is going to put up with all this working all the time. I'm really worried about it."
Scarlett's hopes brightened. "Does she get upset when you leave? If she does, she should be ashamed. A man's got to make a living, after all…"
Ashley smiled lightly, fiddling with the edge of his fork. "No, she is wonderful about it. She actually said the same thing…well, almost the same thing." He chuckled a little. "It seems that no one can put things quite like you can." His eyes shined as he looked at her.
She smiled back. "No, there is no one else in the world quite like me, is there?" She hoped that he would take that to heart.
"No, there isn't." He paused before continuing. "Well, anyway, you never answered my question, you know…what have you been up to? You never sit still long enough to sleep all afternoon…Have you seen any of your family yet?"
"No, not yet. I think I am going to see Carreen and Suellen this afternoon at the fitting?"
"Yes, they are in the wedding, aren't they…"
"Yes. And I haven't talked to Pa yet…I don't know what he is planning." She rolled her eyes. "But with my brothers and me home, you know it will probably be something big."
Ashley laughed. "Indeed." The waiter brought their drinks and they gave him their orders before continuing.
"So you haven't gotten to call your father yet because you haven't had the time? I think that the Tarleton boys finally found you and you are just trying to keep it…you know…under wraps." He took a sip of his coffee, his soft gray eyes glazed over with amusement. "I saw Stuart at the garage and told him you were coming home. His face got redder than his hair before he yelled out loud. He pulled out his cell phone, I mean, right in front of me, and called Brent. They planned on finding you and 'showing you around'."
Scarlett moaned and rolled her eyes. Stuart and Brent Tarleton were two of the towns wildest boys…or, she supposed they would be men now. She hadn't seen them since before she graduated from college. In high school, they had both tried to date her. Instead of having to date either one of them though, she had simply agreed to hang out with both of them, with the promise that one day she might decide to date one of them. They were really so much fun, but she had always known that day would never come. Honestly, she was pretty sure that they did too…and she didn't think they minded. She had heard whispers in high school about some kind of Testosterone-Filled Goal Lists they had created, listing girls at the school they would like to "lay" before they graduated. She had been at the top of both of their lists…and on a list of her own that included all three of them. She cringed at the thought. Needless to say, she had tried to lay off the charm after hearing that. "I don't know why they keep trying…I would never date college drop-outs."
Ashley placed his coffee back on the table. "They aren't technically drop-outs though. They were kicked out…"
"Even worse! I mean, really Ashley? Where did you see them?"
"Well, I only saw Stuart…he was at the garage."
"The same garage as the one that he worked at when we graduated?"
"Yes, it's the one I've always gone to."
Scarlett huffed. "That's what I thought…and Brent?"
"He is in construction now, I think. I can't be sure…"
"My point has been proven…I don't know why they don't move on already…"
"It might have something to do with the fact that you are charming even when you aren't trying to be…it's a bit infectious. I think they have always believed that you were more interested than you are."
"Well, I'm not interested at all."
Ashley looked down again and looked as if he wanted to say something else. "I saw Raif too…he plans on calling on you."
"Great balls of fire, Ashley! Did you tell the whole world I was coming? Were you that excited to see me?"
"Heh…I'm sorry, Red. I didn't know you would be upset. Maybe I was just excited to see you again." He fiddled with his fork again and Scarlett's heart skipped at his words.
She softly replied. "I'm not upset. I'm glad you are happy to see me." Her smile widened. "I'd be happy to see me too."
He laughed lightly but looked at her strangely. She supposed it was because that didn't sound like something she would say at all. She always replied in ways that implied a humbleness that she lacked for the sake of building up the man's ego...for charm's sake. A man never liked to think that he wasn't the most wonderful thing on earth. Why in the world would she have said something like that now? And why did the saying sound like something that she had heard before? Because you have heard things like that a million times…but from a different pair of lips. Very nice lips…
W….T….F….was he ever going to go away? Now she was even talking like him!
She stuttered a moment before saying, "That is, I'm happy to see you too, Ashley. I'm sure that my excitement far exceeds yours." There, that was much better!
He seemed to be more at ease now and Scarlett mentally wiped her forehead. "You know I missed you. I feel like I tell you constantly. It means so much to me that you are here…I can't imagine how I would do this without you. Actually, it's kind of why I asked you here."
"Why did you ask me here, Ashley?" She asked breathlessly. His words had sent a hope to her heart that all of the kisses in the world couldn't. Surely it couldn't be this simple…
"Well, you see…I wanted to show you before anyone else." He reached into his back pocket and pulled out a beautiful velvet box, opening it to reveal the ring inside. "Do you think she will like it?"
Scarlett's heart dropped. Apparently it's not going to be that easy… As she looked at the ring though, her heart was mollified slightly. It was definitely not the prettiest ring in the world. It was one of those marquis cuts…but she supposed that wasn't what made it ugly, for she had seen many beautiful marquis cut rings. It was more the size of the ring…it was rather small compared to how she thought a ring for this occasion should be. And it was gold…not platinum…
"I mean…I know that you don't know her well and all but…you know women because, you know, you are one. What do you think?"
She was silent for a moment longer. "It's…" she paused again, wondering what she could say. "She will love it, because it's from you, Ashley. Not because of what it looks like." She had heard something like that in a movie once…It seemed to be enough because Ashley smiled brightly at her and looked back down at the ring. "But Ashley? Why do you still have it if this is obviously your engagement ring? Shouldn't Melanie already have it?" Second thoughts, perhaps? Please, let it be second thoughts!
Ashley laughed before answering. "Melanie has a…strange opinion on engagement rings and wedding rings. She believes that the engagement ring shouldn't be the…uh…well, important ring? I don't know…It was her request to have the gold band first and to get the diamond on the big day. And of course she wanted me to pick it out for her, without any input from her and you know I'm so bad with getting people surprises-" Suddenly his obnoxious, attention-seeking phone rang. He scrambled to answer it, handing over the ring to her as he did so. He mouthed an apology for the interruption and got up and walked out of the restaurant as he continued to talk to the person on the other line.
Scarlett watched him walk away, hating that stupid phone and envisioning all the different ways that she could destroy it. Her hand balled up in frustration and wrapped around…velvet. She looked down at the box that rested in her tiny hand and opened the lid, revealing the ring within. Yes, it was a hideous ring, no doubt about it. But she knew that Melanie would love it. For the same reason that she would have loved it. It was a symbol of permanent kinship and love. Something that she had longed for and never fully attained because she believed that the only way to attain such a love was with Ashley, her only love.
…It should be mine…
He shouldn't have gone into that jewelry store with anyone else on his mind but her. The ring was definitely a reflection of its future owner. It was plain. Melanie was plain. They were a perfect match. If he had gone into that store with me in mind, the ring would have been a lot prettier, she thought hatefully, lifted the ring begrudgingly from the case.
She absently placed the box on the table as she stared at the ring with some contempt. It was small in every way…the diamond was small, the size was small… Once again, it matched Melanie perfectly because she was…small. Scarlett pictured the small woman from the day before in her over-sized Granny suit. She couldn't be a 4…her hips were much too narrow. Surely…surely she had to be a 2. There was no way she was smaller than Scarlett. No way…Scarlett's vanity wouldn't allow her to think of such a thing.
Out of curiosity, Scarlett took one of her rings off and compared the two and was shocked to see that Melanie's ring appeared to be smaller. No way… Scarlett, who prided herself on her small, dimpled hands, could not fathom that this Melanie could have smaller hands than she did. It would fit me…I'm sure of it, she thought determinedly. She placed her own ring on the table next to the box and, without thinking, shoved the ring onto her finger.
Ugh, it's even uglier on than it was off, she thought with a little satisfaction. She could imagine Melanie showing it off to people and everyone smiling indulgently down at it even as they thought of how unattractive it really was. It almost made her want to giggle. She stared at the ring for a moment longer, dwelling on the pleasant idea of people secretly laughing at Melanie. She imagined that Melanie would love it though…she would probably weep with joy when Ashley slipped the ring on her finger. An image of the two of them, Ashley and Melanie, standing at an altar and Ashley smiling at Melanie as she had seen him smile at her since she came home entered her mind and suddenly the sight of the ring sickened her. She grasped the ring between her fingers, wanting to put the damned thing away and never look at it again…
But of course, the unimaginable happened…
…it wouldn't come off…
Shit…
She tugged again but the ring might as well have been welded to her finger for all the good it did. She looked at the ring, her eyes wide. It squeezed against her finger in a way that her other rings did not and after really looking at it and how tightly it pressed to her skin, she wondered how it was that she had ever gotten it on to begin with. Oh shit, shit, shit, shit….she thought as she began to, as discreetly as possible, jerk and yank at the finger. She turned around, wondering if she was making a scene, when she saw Ashley walking back inside the building. Shit!
She shoved her hands into her lap, attempting to look as casual as possible, before realizing that the now empty box was still opened and her emerald ring was still on the table. Without thinking, she forced the ring into the box before shutting it and tossing it into her lap as well. Oh my God, I can't believe this is happening...
Ashley sat down at the table and Scarlett stilled her frantic hands, pasting on a fake smile. Ashley didn't seem to notice that anything was wrong; he simply smiled back and apologized. Scarlett nodded her acknowledgement and muttered an "it's fine", still silently twisting at the ring. Ashley began explaining the situation on the phone, but Scarlett wasn't listening. She was wondering what she was going to do. How embarrassing, to put on someone else's engagement ring! How desperate can you get?
"Scarlett?" Ashley asked, looking at her strangely. She could tell by the look on his face he must have asked a question or something and she wasn't responding…
She hesitated, fidgeted with the ring again, and then asked, "What did you say?"
"I asked you when exactly is your fitting with Melanie planned. I thought she said 9:00, but I'm not sure." Ashley glanced at his watch. Scarlett looked at the clock on the back wall. 8:15…Perfect…
Aggravated that she had to end her time with Ashley but frantic to get the stupid ring off, she took the only opportunity that presented itself to get away. "Oh! I think, actually, that she wanted me to come early…because…I am the maid of honor, remember? My dress is going to be…special." Get out the door, call a taxi, get damn ring off, go to fitting…this could work…
"Oh, that does make sense, actually. She was going to get there early too. You know Melanie, she doesn't want to inconvenience anyone so she agreed to go in early for her fitting so her bridesmaids wouldn't have to wait on her." Ashley's smile was warm as he spoke of his fiancée, but Scarlett barely noticed and, to be honest, she didn't care. At the moment, she had one thought on her mind…
"Well, then I have to go!" Scarlett said suddenly. She started gathering her things, and Ashley looked on in confusion.
"But we haven't eaten yet…"
Scarlett paused. Food…God, I'm hungry… "Well, I don't want to be late. Melanie is such a…dear to want to help everyone out. I'd like to help her too by getting there early."
Ashley smiled widely at her comment. "I knew you two would be great friends. I'm so glad that she will have a friend like you…I know how good a friend you are, so…" He looked down as he stood and suddenly clapped his hands with realization before patting his pockets. "Oh! I gave you the ring box when I got that call, didn't I?"
Scarlett froze. Shit! "Umm…yes. But…" To quote Dr. Seuss, "She thought up a lie and she thought it quick". "But don't you try that, Ashley Wilkes. You didn't even remember just then where you put it and you are liable to lay it down somewhere…I am going to keep it for safe keeping. After all, I am the maid of honor and the best man." She laughed nervously but relaxed when she saw his smile widen at her words.
"You see? That's what I'm talking about…you are amazing." He walked over to her and placed his hands on her shoulders even as she shoved her left hand behind her back. He kissed her lightly on the corner of her mouth, and Scarlett wanted to scream at herself for ruining this moment with Ashley over a stupid ring. She could have thoroughly enjoyed that kiss if she hadn't put that stupid ring on!
"No, you are, Ashley," she whispered, balling her hands into tiny fists. "Well, I better go." Get out, call cab, get ring off, get fitted…
"Here, I'll call another driver. You take my car." He began to lead her out the door. Get out, call- what!
"Umm…" She said, looking for an excuse. But Ashley cut her off.
"No, please. Let me do something for you…you've done so much for me already." It was like Ashley's driver had radar, because he was at the door when they got there, giving Scarlett no chance to think up an excuse not to take him up on his offer. He was either telepathic or Ashley had paged him…either way, it was an inconvenience for her. He loaded her in and asked the driver to take her to the boutique. Scarlett attempted to act normal and think at the same time…
"Tell Melanie I said hi, will you, Red?" Ashley asked as he shut the door and the car pulled off.
"Shit…" she whispered to the empty interior.
She immediately reached for some ice in a tiny cooler off to the side in a compartment with drinks and fruit and pressed it to her fingers. It was freezing, but it should help to get it off.
"I want you lovin' and I want your revenge
You and me could write a bad romance…"
"Shit…" she whined, drawing out the word as she scrambled for her phone, still trying to keep the ice firmly pressed against her finger.
"Hello?"
"There she is! I had been thinking that I would never hear from her, that beautiful daughter of mine. And where have you been, Puss? Avoiding your Pa?"
The strong Irish voice on the other end of the phone sent a tiny rush of joy to her heart even in her current predicament. "Pa…"
"Yes, daughter. Your Pa. You remember that you have one now? Now that he has had to look all up and down the streets and alleys of Atlanta for you." She could sense the hint of exasperation in her father's voice now and she felt the tiniest twinge of guilt for not calling him sooner.
"Oh Pa, we both know that you haven't looked anywhere. You just aren't patient. I was going to call…"
"Oh indeed? I suppose ya had the time and the date set in one of those little books. Your father has been resigned to a space on a piece of paper now, has he?"
Scarlett laughed at his ridiculous claim. "I've missed you, Pa."
"You have a funny way of showing it." He huffed, but his supposed aggravation was no more than meaningless words, and Scarlett and he both knew it.
"Pa, you know you are the first in my heart…"
Her father chuckled into the phone. "Well, it is good to know that one of those city slickers hasn't taken you from me."
"Not likely…" she murmured, thinking of the only man she had become even remotely close to in the city. She glanced at the swollen finger on her left hand. The ice was almost melted. "Ahh…Pa? I am kind of busy right now. I've got to go…"
"Oh! I see…every time I bring up men, you cut me off. I thought that with our Ashley gettin' married, you'd be thinking more about settling down. Over half the people you grew up with are married…most of them with babies and a home. They'll all be wondering when you'll be doing the same…" He drew out the last part, wishing to taunt her competitive character.
She spoke as she tried to grab another piece of ice… "Pa! I am not getting married…" Not today…she thought, staring at the hideous ring currently stuck on her finger, wet and sparkling in the interior lighting of the car.
"Well, I'm warning you, daughter. I am sure that everyone in the world will be asking you about it…" He paused. "Especially the boys. In fact, you'll never believe who was asking for you-"
Scarlett's frustration mounted at another unproductive tug at the ring and her father's insistence… "Pa! I don't care who you saw! I'm not interested!" She stayed silent for a moment, leaning back in the seat as she saw the car pull up in front of the boutique, glancing back down at her very red finger and the ring that was so very much not hers…"I gotta go, Pa." Her words were laced with dread.
Her Pa misinterpreted her fears and answered, "Aw, now I've made you insecure. I'm sorry, daughter. I only want what's best for ya…" He whispered the last part conspiratorially. "You know…you do live far away. No one need know you are still…you know…" Scarlett rolled her eyes. "But if they do ask…well, what they don't know won't hurt 'em…"
At her father's words, Scarlett smiled a little. "Pa, are you suggesting I lie about my love life?"
"Oh well, look at the time! I must be going!" She and her Pa chuckled together. "Goodbye, Puss."
"Pa…don't call me that!" She cringed before whispering. "Love you, Pa. Bye…" She continued to look at the ring…What the hell am I going to do!
As she was hanging up, the driver came around and helped her out of the car. And there waiting at the door of the establishment was Melanie and her bridesmaids…and practically all of Clayton County.
"Scarlett! Scarlett O'Hara!" was all she heard…at least a dozen women swarmed her. "How are you? What's New York been like? How's your job?" Everyone was asking questions as they all stood in line to hug her. As everyone hugged her, she tucked her hand firmly behind her, in the small of her back.
This was a customary welcome home from the women she had grown up with, but it still was strange to Scarlett. Peeking at the faces of the women, the whole situation suddenly seemed ironic to Scarlett, for she remembered at least half of these girls hating her in high school. She wasn't used to seeing their faces smiling towards her but was rather more familiar with the underside of their noses. Still, she hugged them back with her one available arm with what she was sure was mutual contempt. Particularly, India Wilkes…
And then, a face she was very familiar with. "Scarlett! Sissy, I've missed you!" Carreen rushed for Scarlett grasping her around her shoulders tightly. As Carreen stepped aside, Scarlett spotted another familiar face…
"Suellen…" Scarlett said. Sue smiled sweetly…too sweetly and reached for Scarlett, hugging her briefly. "So glad you finally came home."
Scarlett smiled too. "I can tell…" She said. Before anything else could be said, Scarlett spotted Melanie in the window of the boutique, surrounded by yards of white fabric that Scarlett supposed was to be a dress. Melanie saw her too and gave a shy wave. Good God! Her arms look like two big marshmallows with those gigantically puffy sleeves. She looks as if she is trying out for the part of the middle of a smore in that thing! She struggled not to make a face as she waved back. The women surrounding her looked at the window too as she waved and all at once everyone gasped and ran for the door of the boutique. Scarlett rolled her eyes, thinking about how they were now going to go in there and make fools of themselves by telling her she looked so beautiful in that hideous thing. She walked in behind the mob, and couldn't hear anything over the squealing and false flattery. Suddenly she felt herself being pushed forward and it felt as if everyone was suddenly silent. Melanie was standing before Scarlett, a look on her face that said that only Scarlett's opinion mattered.
"Scarlett…" Melanie's soft voice was almost so quiet it was hard to hear. "Do you like it? It's an Antebellum style wedding dress…is it too much?"
Dear God, yes! You look like a cloud attached to a human head…but that is just fine with me… Scarlett grinned, feeling a tiny sense of giddiness. "It's perfect…" She answered, which she reminded herself was not a lie…exactly. Melanie's smile spread and it felt as if suddenly everyone was talking again, about the wedding and the dress and Melanie…it made Scarlett want to puke. Then someone was speaking to her. It was the seamstress.
"You are the maid of honor, correct?" She had the tiniest French accent, as if she had been in the US long enough that it had died down significantly.
"Uh, yes…"
"Good! Could I get your measurements, please?"
"Of course!" She said eagerly, hoping the woman was going to take her to some remote room in the back where it would take at least an hour to complete her fitting.
"Wonderful!" She answered, motioning to a small platform in the middle of the room. "Right over here, please."
Scarlett's heart dropped and she dug her fist deeper into her back, thinking of the fact that getting measurement meant stretching out your arms…and fingers. "Umm…I don't think…"
"Oh come, dear. We are all friends here. There is nothing to be ashamed of. And besides," the woman whispered the last part, "you have such a nice figure. No one will judge. Everyone will be too busy being jealous!" She chuckled slightly before pulling Scarlett toward the middle of the room. "And anyway, no one paid any attention to the other girls as they got measured." She drawled. "They are too busy getting reacquainted."
But as soon as Scarlett hopped up onto the tiny platform, all the women in the room shifted towards her and there wasn't one person who wasn't interested in what her measurements were. Scarlett should have known this would happen. They turned away from each other because they didn't want to embarrass each other by knowing their respective imperfections. But they all wanted to know her imperfections. Or at least wanted to know if she indeed had any…
As the woman measured Scarlett's bust, waist and hips, she was able to keep her fist firmly planted where it had been all along.
"My dear, you have the perfect measurements!" the seamstress commented giving Scarlett a tiny wink.
One of the girls that Scarlett didn't recognize spoke up, "I would sell my soul to the devil to have those measurements!" The girl chuckled lightly and others didn't with her.
"I think she did…" someone answered over Scarlett's shoulder. Scarlett turned around and saw India Wilkes. Before Scarlett could answer, India spoke again. "Scarlett, Prissy-you remember your Mammy's niece don't you?-said she saw you at The Varsity yesterday with an older man? Your caring ways haven't got you volunteering at the nursing homes, now have they?" India smiled wickedly. "It couldn't be a possible suitor could it? Perhaps an old rich man, about to keel over? It sounds like your type…"
Scarlett stopped short for a moment. Prissy? Prissy…Mammy's niece? Then it hit her…oh Good God! The familiar looking girl behind the counter…that had been Prissy! Oh Lord…
…she had told India that Rhett was old?
"I don't know what you are talking about India." She turned back around to see all eyes were on her…even the seamstress. She brought herself up and buried her fist deeper in her back. "I haven't been to The Varsity…she must have been confused."
"Then why are you hiding your left hand behind your back?" India crossed her arms, so sure she had given Scarlett up to some kind of humiliation. Just as soon as the words came out of her mouth, all the women in the room erupted, demanding Scarlett show them her finger. Scarlett turned back towards India, narrowing her eyes to her before turning back towards the women…and Melanie. Melanie's absurdly kind face was laced with curiosity.
"Show us!" she heard her youngest sister say. "Show us! Oh, what will Pa say?"
What would Pa say? She wondered, thinking about what Pa's reaction would be to seeing another woman's ring on her finger.
Then she remembered that Pa had said something…what they don't know, won't hurt 'em…
Scarlett eyes lit up and before she could think, she flung her hand out in front of everyone. "Alright, I wanted it to be a surprise. I am going to get married…" She turned to India. "But he isn't old or unattractive. He is the most amazingly handsome…" She swallowed and struggled to speak her next words, "…wo-wonderful man…" she inwardly crossed herself, asking for forgiveness for her lie, "and he is here in Atlanta with me. You see, we couldn't bear to be apart for such a long time…" The squealing was overbearing as some women screamed 'I knew it!' and others said 'I knew she wouldn't have dated an old man, what was Prissy thinking?'. These comments reassured her that half the county had already heard the same news…
And Scarlett stood there…wondering how she would keep her dignity intact when telling her…fiancé the good news.