WBG: chap 9

The days following the circus had been quite blustery, and the house on Peachtree Street was noisy with bored children, as Beau had been asked to visit to keep Wade and Ella company. Scarlett tried to keep up her daily routine of going to the store, and managing the wrongs of the staff, and Rhett hunkered down in the house spending time with children, and occasionally taking care of telegraphs and business at the bank.

It was Sunday morning, and the family with their guest had gathered around the table for breakfast. Rhett seeing Scarlett in her gray wool suit asked, "I take it you're going to the store this morning?"

Scarlett looked up, "Just to get the books, it may ice and snow tomorrow."

"Yes, I noticed the sky."

Wade beamed, "Do we have to go to school?"

Scarlett didn't answer because frankly, she didn't know.

Beau said, "Only if it's a blizzard, I know Miss Pembroke will be there, she has nothing else to do."

The children giggled, and Rhett smiled a wide grin. Scarlett imagined Miss Pembroke and giggled, the old birdlike lady really didn't have anything better to do. Ella popped up on her knees, and asked, "Uncle Rhett, can we play in the snow?"

"Ella, I don't think there will be enough snow."

Scarlett put her napkin down and stood, "Well, I'll be back for dinner."

Rhett stood up also, "I'll come with you, I'd like to see how the store is doing."

Scarlett nodded, and cursed under her breath, she was losing her two hours of privacy she would have at the closed store.

Rhett asked Wade, "What are you three doing today?"

Wade huffed, "Beau and I are going to the ballroom and build my train set."

Ella huffed, "They said 'No girls allowed'"

Mammy was in the room clearing out the dishes, and she answered over her shoulder, "Now, Miss Ella, you know COokie said you can help us make the dessert for tonight."

Ella smiled, "Oh yes, I get to choose the cake!:

The boys groaned, "Not vanilla!"

Scarlett came in adjusting her scarf, "Vanilla? Vanilla what?"

"Aunt Scarlett, Ella is picking the dessert tonight!"

Scarlett looked at Ella, "Well, if it must be vanilla cake, pick a good icing, that will help."

Rhett laughed, "Listen to your mother, she's an expert. I've seen her down three cream puffs."

"Rhett!" Scarlett blushed, "I'm just saying vanilla and white icing is so, boring. I'll bring home some chocolate covered pecan candies from the store to go with it."

Soon Rhett and Scarlett was leaving the house, and whipping winds askewed Scarlett's hat and stung her eyes. By the time she reached the carriage she was chilled.

Rhett asked, "Are we having guests for supper tonight?"

"I guess Pitty and India will want to come gather Beau home, although if the weather gets any worse, I rather just send him home in the carriage after he eats."

"Ashley hasn't come to supper in quite some time."

"No, he hasn't."

"Coward," Rhett stated.

Scarlett looked at him, and sighed, "I guess he's not much for company. India said he was quite nervous and irritable without his drink. Pitty wanted to give him a swig from her swoon bottle."

Rhett burst into laughter, "If any man could swoon, I would think he could."

Scarlett scowled, "Let's not talk about it. Ashley is very sad, and frankly I don't know what anybody can do to help him."

Rhett glared at her from under his lashes, and tightened his lips.

The store was quiet and dark in the gloomy winter day, as Scarlett unlocked and pushed the door open the bells echoing their entry. Rhett glanced around quietly assessing the stock and displays. Scarlett headed to the back office and unlocked the door, putting on the gaslights.

"Can I do anything to help?"

"Not until after I look at everything, then I'll tell you what I need."

Rhett held up his hands, "I'll just sit out of sight."

Scarlett ignored him and went to the office, poking her head out, "You can come sit in here."

"No, I think I might take a walk down to stables and see what the news on the weather is, I'll be back when you are finished."

Scarlett ignored him and opened the ledger.

Outside, Rhett told the carriage to stay by the store, he would walk to the livery.

Scarlett was curled up in the chair with the ledger on her lap she was deep in thought and didn't hear the bells ring on the door. And it wasn't until the slim figure in the doorway, called her name, "Scarlett?"

"Ashley? How-How are you?"

"Better," he answered lowering his head, "I made it out the house today, and I haven't yelled at India in two days."

Scarlett smirked, "Well, that's no easy feat." Scarlett remembered Rhett was down the street and put the ledger down, and stepped into the showroom with Ashley.

Ashley laughed, "You make me smile, every time I see you."

Scarlett ignored the compliment and asked, "How's the mills?"

"Business has been slow, but you know how the winter is, and with the panic, not much going up. But the guys have been having steady enough work to keep us open and have a decent profit to pay them."

"Good, but come spring, you better push some business."

Ashley nodded as though being scolded by his mother, "I'll try."

"Ashley WIlkes! You better do it! I won't have you running my mills-"

"Scarlett, they are mine."

"Well, take care of them. You need to make connections with some of these new business men coming in town, and let other know about your lumber-"

"I'm sure if I don't you will."

Scarlett look at him exasperated, "Very well, do as you please."

"I have more worries than business right now."

"Worries? How can I-"

"You can't help. I'm withering inside, I lost Melly, and I've lost my heart, my soul."

Scarlett watched as his face turned crimson, and grimaced as tears streamed from his eyes.

She resisted the urge to touch him, hold him, comfort him. She stood, and watched the tips of her black boots peeking through her skirt.

The silence was deafening, and her heart clenched, "You have Beau."

"I need you," AShley stated reaching for her hand. Scarlett allowed him to squeeze it, but stepped back. He looked at her curiously as if seeing her for the first time, "I've always needed you, and you have been there, why is this any different?"

"I-I am helping you, you needn't worry about Beau, his school is paid for the next year, I will get him clothes when i shop for Wade, and he is welcomed to stay-"

"Monetary help is not what I need. I need your strength, your love for Melly, and our friendship to help me through this time, my grief is breaking me."

Scarlett looked at him, his shoulder slumped and his face haggard, and she said, "I cannot be that anymore, I shouldn't have been in the first place. I have lost, too. I lost Bonnie, and all her life I put my selfishness first, and now she's gone."

"But your strong-"

"Damn being strong," yelled Scarlett and yanked her hand away to wipe her tears, "Strength only brings you so far, I'm sad, too. I'm broken, too. But I don't let it beat me, I get up each day because I know Melly would want it this way, and Bonnie left me, but it is not my time to go, and I don't intend to hurry it along."

Ashley chuckled, "That still sounds a bit selfish."

"Don't make jokes, Ashley. It's not selfish, it's the way it is, and we have to accept it."

Ashley whispered, "Accept it." He lunged over to Scarlett and stood behind her, grasping her two arms with his clammy cold hands, and resting his head on her dark silken hair. His body heat crept through her silk blouse warming her back and shoulders.

"Ashley, let me go." Scarlett whispered wiggling in his grasps, and pulled away.

She turned and faced him, his face sullen and twisted in emotional pain, "I see."

"You better go, now. WIll we see you tonight?"

AShley shook his head, "It's best not. Pitty is under the weather, so I think India will come to take Beau home.'

Scarlett nodded, and walked over to the door to let him out.

As Ashley stepped onto the porch of the store, Rhett walked up and grabbed his collar, "What are you doing with my wife?"

Scarlett stood in the doorway, "Rhett! He was just leaving."

"Leaving?" Rhett let him go, and he straightened his collar.

"Captain Butler, I was just telling Scarlett that I am doing so much better, and I was heading over to church services."

They watched Ashley walk away, and Scarlett turned to Rhett, "You know, you can help me with something."

"What is that?"

"Decide, either I'm your wife or your my house guest, and don't embarrass me like that again!"

Rhett watched her dumbfounded as she turned on her heel, went to the office and slammed the door.