Chapter Thirty Seven

In one Accord

Eli slid easily into the chair Belle offered him. It was soft burgundy velvet and the feel of it put him to mind of another time and place when they were younger and he would come to visit Belle. Granted, she was older but still nonetheless beautiful. She herself lay back in a lounger and smiled at him.

"Well, you sure know how to surprise a woman, Eli. Never expected to see you around these parts."

Eli lifted his hat and tossed in on a nearby table with ease. "You never know where I may end up… Atlanta's a good a place as any I suppose."

"Now, why do I find that hard to believe?" she asked with a lazy lift of her brow. "The Eli Barrett I knew never did anything without a plan, of course, that was a long time ago."

"I've changed, Belle," he informed her. "Plans seem to have a way of falling through, so I've learned to roll with the punches and see what life brings me."

She smiled at that, seemingly pleased at his answer.

"I see you've done well for yourself," he continued. "Atlanta seems to suit you," he glanced around before turning back to her.

"I've done well enough," she nodded. "Of course, that doesn't mean I'm the most welcome citizen in town. I do have my enemies."

"No doubt," he laughed casually. "But, from the looks of it, you have made quite a few friends as well."

"You could say that," she agreed. "I'm happy here, at least as happy as one can be in my situation. I take of my girls and they take care of me."

"I saw some of your girls downstairs, very lovely indeed."

"Well, that is the point, isn't it?" she laughed throatily and then lifted her eyes to pierce him straight on. "So Eli, we've done the small talk now, are you gonna tell me what really brings you to Atlanta?"

Eli found Belle's comment amusing. She never was one to mince words and she usually was close to the mark. "What makes you think it's other than what I've told you?"

"Because darlin', it rarely ever is, now is it? If I had my guesses, and I do, I'd say a woman was the reason. Someone caught your fancy I'd say."

"Perhaps, but that's my secret to hold. All I want from you is your company and a good meal," he winked.

Belle narrowed her eyes onto him, but grinned knowingly just the same. "Have it your way, darlin'. I'll let you keep your secrets, but you must be warned that in a town like Atlanta, secrets aren't held dear for very long."

"I'll take my chances," Eli stood and held out his hand to her. "Shall we?"

Belle took his hand and stood. "Nothing I would enjoy more."

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Scarlett sat at her dressing table staring at herself. Her face was wan and pale, evidence of her restless night and lack of sleep. The events of the night before kept replaying in her mind. She could still see Rhett's demeanor when he learned of the baby. It had not gone at all like she had hoped. She just knew he would be happy, overjoyed even, to learn he was to be a father again… a chance to start over for them, but that was not the case at all. He was cold and hateful, nearly blaming her for this baby being here.

Why, he was as much to blame as she was for that night. He could have said no, he could have walked away, but he didn't. Didn't that mean something? Didn't that mean that he still cared?

With a frustrated sigh, Scarlett stood from the bench and began to pace the floor. She moved back and forth, each movement sending her dressing gown fluttering behind her. Biting her thumbnail and her thoughts scattered in a million directions she could no longer stand it. Deliberately, she stalked to the door and flung it open only to find Rhett standing there, his hand in mid-air.

"Ah, there you are," he lowered his arm and nodded.

"What do you want?" she snapped testily.

"To see you of course," he replied casually and stepped past her into the room. "We have to talk about, well… things. We have to make decisions, Scarlett."

"I think you made yourself perfectly clear last night what your decision is. Any decisions that are going to be made are mine alone. Now, leave!"

"Before breakfast?" he quipped and eased into the chair near the dresser. "I've had the liberty of having breakfast sent up for us as I am after all still the master of my own house."

"I don't want breakfast," she gritted. "I want you to leave."

"Now, that's a sentence I thought I'd never hear from you again and I would leave under any other circumstances, but as it is, I'm afraid I cannot. I have obligations now; not only to you, but to the child you carry."

"This child is no concern of yours," she whirled on him with her fists clenched. "Why, I wouldn't let you near him now."

"Him?" his eyes narrowed.

"Or her, whatever it is, it's mine alone now."

Rhett studied her for a moment and then regret seemed to filter across his face. "Scarlett, I know what I said may have hurt you but I've time to think about this and the fact is I have come to accept these circumstances such as they are. True, I never wanted another child, but as we have one coming I suppose I should prepare for him… or her."

Scarlett stared him down, her green eyes glittering. "And why should I believe you? You were such a scoundrel last night. You practically accused me of forcing you to make this baby."

"It was hardly force on either of our parts," he responded dryly. "Just a moment of weakness. I cannot change it and neither can you, but we have to face the outcome of that night now that it is facing us."

Scarlett's mind whirled with a thousand thoughts. If Rhett did leave she would certainly be cast out and talked about like one of Belle's girls. The Old Cats would clack about her and her baby and accuse Ashley, or worse, as the father. If Rhett stayed, all that would be put to rest once and for all. But oh! The way he treated her last night still scalded her.

"What is going on in that pretty little head of yours?" he drawled lightly. "Trying to think of way to keep yourself respectable without me or perhaps you're thinking how to torment me if I stay now that you have me where you want me?"

"Ha! I could care less what you do," she started but Rhett laughed and interrupted her. "Of course you do, Scarlett. It's what makes you, you. Let me put your sordid thoughts to rest. Today I will go to the bank and settle a tidy some of money into your account, for the child of course and you may do with it as you see fit for the benefit of he or she."

Scarlett's eyes brightened for a moment. "A tidy sum?" she asked and then realized how greedy she must have sounded to him, but then Rhett knew her too well and knew that she would want to know, scoundrel that he was.

"A rather tidy sum, nothing to sneer at I might add. I want our child well provided for, but I will leave the specifics up to you. I've already told you, I cannot and will not lose myself again after Bonnie, but I will provide for the child with my money and with my name. Is that in any way unclear?"

"You really think it will be that easy, Rhett?" she asked doubtfully. She knew Rhett, too and he loved his babies. His will may be strong but the bonds of a child were stronger, Scarlett knew this to be true where he was concerned.

"My pet, nothing will change in my life. If you can live with that then I'd say we have an accord." It was at that time a light tap at the door interrupted them. Rhett held up his hand and opened it to find Dilcey holding a tray of food.

"Thank you, Dilcey, just leave it on the table," he instructed.

Dilcey sat the tray down and looked over to Scarlett, giving her a knowing smile before leaving. Rhett lifted the lid and the aroma filtered through the room. For one horrendous moment, Scarlett thought she was going to be sick right in front of him.

"Good gracious!" she exclaimed and grabbed her mouth before running to her dressing room. She flung herself over the basin while her whole body wretched from sickness. She didn't know how much time had passed when she felt a comforting hand on her back.

"Good laws, Miss Scahlett, Mista Rhett done come and got me after you," Dilcey crooned. "He done tole me you was sick and I betta check on you. What's da matter chile, you getting' da cramps?"

"No," she gasped and wiped her mouth on a cloth. "I'm not getting my flow."

Dilcey wizened eyes narrowed for a moment then she broke out into a wide smile on her dark, broad face. "Oh laws, it can't be… but you is, ain't you Miss Scahlett? You gwine hab Mista Rhett's baby."

Scarlett hesitated a moment and then nodded as the wave nausea begin to subside. "Yes, Dilcey, I am. Please keep this to yourself for a while. I'd rather anyone not know just yet."

"Mista Rhett gwine get dat son he always wanted," Dilcey beamed proudly.

"Fiddle dee dee, it could be another girl," Scarlett replied, feeling more than a little irate about getting sick in front of Rhett.

"Jist as likely to be da son Mista Rhett wanted, too," Dilcey nodded.

"Ha, Mister Rhett isn't exactly thrilled with the news," she nearly snapped until she saw the look of disapproval on Dilcey's face. "Oh never mind, is he still out there?"

"He said he gwine into town and he see 'bout you later. Said you'd know whud he was doin'."

"Very well, help me back to my bed. I need to lay down for a bit. I can't be sick again when he gets back."

"Whud a happy day dis is," Dilcey nodded happily.

"Happy day indeed, I'm the one who's going to suffer through this," Scarlett complained when Dilcey helped her into bed. Most of the nausea had passed and the tray of food was gone.

As she lay there thinking of all that had transpired, she realized that she wanted Rhett to be happy, happier than she had ever wanted him to be before. She would make him see that his child would fix their broken hearts over Bonnie. Not replace her, but be as much a part of them as Bonnie was. Be it a son or daughter, she would love it unconditionally and it would never know a day without them being there. She placed her hand on her tummy and sighed.

"It's going to be alright darling, your daddy loves you more than he knows. You just wait and see, just wait and see…"