Chapter 21

OK, don't hate me, but this chapter is going to put a damper on a few people. The more I meditated on it, I thought, is life just this perfect, and a voice called me saying, "NAW!" So, we don't have our happy ending, yet.

However, I would like suggestions for names for the future Butler baby, to be Private Messaged to me. Give me a girl and a boy name, I have looked through a few, but am not truly feeling it.

The ones I came up with are Rosalie Melinda, and Andrew Gerald.

I promise in Chapter 22, you will meet the new addition, it's all laid out in my head.

It was a week to the hour almost that the doctor returned to the Butler's rented house. Scarlett had awoken and discovered in her hip bath, that she in fact was not pregnant. The doctor confirmed two hours later, that it was only her monthly cycle arriving a week late, and it was a mild one at that.

Mammy quietly closed the door, as she saw Mister Rhett dismounting the horse in the yard, and talking with the old doctor. She hurried down the stairs as fast as she could, and whispered to him.

"Mister Rhett, it nothing but female things, and she quite upset."

Rhett looked at Mammy and pressed his lips, "I'll see to-"

"Don't you go upsetting her more."

"I-I don't intend on doing that."

Mammy huffed, "I know you don't, but be careful, because you just might."

Rhett took off up the side stairway to the bedroom.

As he opened the door gently, Scarlett sat up against a mountain of white pillows, her dark head lowered, as her body shuddered and sobbed, quietly. At the slight creak in the door, her red blotched face looked up at him, her voice was hoarse, "I guess you heard."

Rhett nodded and stepped in closing the door quietly.

"Yes, I'm-"

"Don't say you're sorry, there is nothing to be sorry about, it just-" tears streamed her eyes again.

Rhett tossed his hat on the chair, and strode over to the bed carefully sitting next to Scarlett. He watched her cry, these were true tears, of defeat, disappointment, and fear. He watched her, not saying a word, and his chest clenched almost in pain, at seeing her honestly destroyed, and he felt disappointment, too.

Her eyes flared at him, watching her, and she saw the stressed lines gathering between his eyes.

She rubbed her nose, and scoffed, "I guess, you're relieved."

Rhett took her hand, gently, "Don't, don't say that, Scarlett."

"Well, aren't you?"

"No." his voice was dry, and gentle, "I'm disappointed, too."

Scarlett's face turned redder, "Don't lie."

Rhett stood up and opened the door, "I promised Mammy, I wouldn't upset you, but you are choosing to upset yourself, so I'm leaving."

"Wait!" her voice was small, and a screech, almost like Bonnie's.

He turned, and waited.

"Where, are you going?"

Rhett tried not to grin, he never thought how fragile her confidence in him was, "Just downstairs, until this storm blows over."

Scarlett settled down in her pillows, and sighed, "Go then."

Mammy was waiting in the parlor, watching Ella and Wade chase the ball in the front yard.

Rhett walked up behind her, "She's brooding, and I'll let her calm down."

Mammy grunted and nodded, "I tole you."

Rhett stretched out in the wingback chair and enjoyed the glass of lemonade that was waiting on the tray, Ella heard his voice and came running in, followed by Wade who was carrying the ball.

"Uncle Rhett!" , Ella ran and hopped on his lap, her body was boney and her hair was in disarray, sticking out in red curls, tickling his nose.

Rhett planted a kiss on her cheek, as she turned looking back at Wade who asked, "Is, mother sick, I saw the doctor."

The doctor had come to the house every two days or so, to check up on his patient who was on the road to his home, after his other rounds. Wade would wait for him to come down, and ask about his mother, and would always get a short answer of, "Fine."

But, today it was the clumsy old groundskeeper that had rode and returned with the doctor in the late morning hours, well after Uncle Rhett had left to collect mail at the post office.

"No, just a few aches and pains, but she is going to be well. The doctor said she can get out of bed in a few days." Rhett explained between sips, his throat was suddenly dry.

"Can we go home?" Ella asked.

"No, Mother said-" Wade answered.

Rhett interrupted Wade, "Your mother may change her mind, now."

Wade looked over at Rhett, who didn't meet his stare.

Ella jumped off his lap, "Good, I want to go home, and back to school. I hate Monsieur Pierre."

Rhett laughed, "Where is he today?"

Wade sighed, "He only comes twice a week."

Rhett grinned, "Twice? M. Pierre seems to be here everyday."

Wade sat and crossed his legs on the carpet, and Ella joined him as they rolled the ball back and forth, "He isn't so bad, he just makes Ella write her name over and over again.'

"Shut up, Wade!"

Wade laughed, "Stop making the E with five lines, then."

Rhett ignored the children's bickering as he rested his head back and his thoughts went to Scarlett.

Mammy ushered the children to the outside table and chairs for their lemonade and cookies.

The house was quiet except for the sound of the children, and the occasional bird squawking outside. The spring weather was becoming sweltering and the humidity crept into the house like a plague every afternoon, and with any luck a shower would cool the ground off in the evening, making steam.

It seemed like ten minutes, but it had been an hour that Rhett had drifted off in a nap on the chair, Wade stood next to the chair, shaking his shoulder, "Uncle Rhett, mother wants to see you."

Rhett sat up with a start, and rubbed his face, "Wade? Your Mother?'

"She asked me to call for you, she wants to see you."

Rhett pushed the ajar door, and found Scarlett sitting at her vanity, her face was like stone, and her voice dry, "Rhett, do come in."

Rhett walked in sheepishly, and sat on the chaise next to the bed. A half-eaten tray with stale coffee balanced at the end of the chaise, causing Rhett to cross his legs.

"I see you feel better, dear."

Scarlett didn't answer, but rubbed cream between her fingers, with deep concentration, "I am."

"Mammy got you to eat something, that always perks you up-"

"Rhett, are you glad that there wasn't a baby?"

"No, I told-"

"I know what you said, Rhett, but is it the truth?"

"You know I hate a liar, yes, it's the truth. I must say that I was extremely afraid for you with it being so close to your accident."

Scarlett sighed, "Do you want another child? You know its for you that I'm wanting to have one?"

Rhett smiled, "Your first unselfish act?"

Scarlett glared at him.

"Come now, admit that you want a child, too, dear."

"I do, I miss Bonnie, she was such a beauty, and so sweet, my heart hurts for her. And the baby-"

Rhett winced as though she hit him.

"Rhett, I have the time and money now, to spend hours taking care and loving a child."

"Scarlett, children don't want money, and as for you caring for a child- you would run screaming of boredom after the first tea party."

Scarlett bristled, "No, I wouldn't because I don't have to worry about money, food-" tears started to stream her face, "I'm not surviving anymore, I can live."

Rhett looked at her, and saw the need she had to rectify her earlier sins, and he asked, "What about Wade and Ella."

Scarlett wiped her nose, and looked up as a new swell of tears filled her eyes, "They-they are consequences."

Rhett shook his head, "They aren't my children, but I love them."

Scarlett's eyes went wild, "I love them, I do, but-"

"The marriages, they weren't for love."

Scarlett nodded, "And it effected my feelings, I just see them and all the mistakes I made."

"So, this new child, that you hope to have will be perfect?"

Scarlett looked at him, "Oh, I know nothing is perfect, but I can be a mother, a good mother."

Rhett felt as though a hot hand slapped his face, again. He had called her once a terrible mother.

"Who do you want to prove this to your Mother? Mammy? Yourself?"

Scarlett looked at him, and bit her lip, "I can do it."

"Selfish reasons for having a child, Scarlett. I don't think the children have the opinion that you are a bad mother, it's adults who judge. Ella is just happy to see you, and tell you all her silliness, and Wade is always worried about your health, and he just wants to have stability, Lord knows the boy has lived through hell in his few years alive."

Scarlett sulked, "You seem to know more about them, then me."

"Because I listen, and I chose to be unselfish when I am with them."

"So, I'm selfish for wanting a baby, and Melanie wasn't?"

Rhett looked at her, and smiled, "Melanie was doing what she thought in her mind she was supposed to do, but you know better that women can do anything they want, not just have children and be a domestic wife caring for a husband. But, if you want more children, I agree that we could have one, but we are going to wait, and not be so wreckless."

Scarlett grinned, "Can you bear it?"

Rhett smirked, "I'll have to."

Rhett came behind her and caught her hands in his and rubbed them, feeling the soft cream between them, and he bent to kiss her neck.

"Rhett, stop you know-"

"Sweet," was all he mumurred, "I can still kiss you, no harm in that."

Scarlett smiled, "Maybe, not for you, but, stop, that is ticklish."

Rhett laughed and caught her eye in the mirror, "Your daughter is whining about going home."

Scarlett sniffed, "I guess there is nothing holding us back now."

"I can't say I blame her," Rhett spoke as his nose nuzzled Scarlett's temple, "I do miss that monstrosity in Atlanta, in some way, and we got another letter from Pitty Pat today."

Scarlett sighed, "Well, I'm in no hurry. Hugh wrote me, and my store is fine."

Scarlett had gotten a letter from Pitty two weeks ago inquirying about the whereabouts of Wade, Ella and herself. She was in no mood to write the woman back, so Wade wrote a short letter to his Aunt assuring her that they were still in New Orleans, and fine.

Rhett sat next to her, "Are you saying, you want to continue traveling?"

Scarlett sighed, "I guess I would like to go home, and relax a bit in our own house, and maybe we could travel again, as a distraction."

Rhett chuckled, "A distraction? I guess so, but it is quite tempting the hotels, wine, music, I feel its more of a temptation."

Scarlett smiled, "Yes, it is, but how long do you think we would have to wait, before-"

"We will see what the doctor says, Dr. Prevost knew quite a lot more than Meade ever said, we can ask him."

Scarlett sighed, "I am going to miss this place, you know. The spring in the country is so beautiful, and it reminds me of my childhood. It would be nice to visit, now and again."

Rhett smiled, "Well, we can come back here whenever we like, as long as he don't sell."

Scarlett turned to him, "Well, I guess you can book passage next week."

Rhett smiled, "Yes, I'll have to tell M. Pierre the sad news."

Scarlett rolled her eyes, "Yes, YOU will! I can't stand that man!"