Chapter 2: Scarlett has an Awakening Moment
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters and do not intend on making any money off this story.
Story Line: Takes place after Scarlett falls down the stairs.
When Rhett awoke he looked at Scarlett, with her bruised face. And shame appeared in his eyes as he remembered his last words to her "Maybe you'll have a miscarriage". He hadn't meant it, but he had said it none the less. He thought back to Dr. Meade's words on the subject, "You will be lucky if this baby makes it to full term, and if it does it may well be dead already."
Rhett could not bear thinking of this and shook his head. Dr. Meade he needed to get him quick and tell him about the interesting events of last evening. Scarlett had appeared to have forgotten the accident, and all unpleasantries in their marriage. Rhett returned to his room and quickly dressed. Not his usual appearance, he had a weeks worth of beard, and he actually looked tired with dark circles under his eyes.
As he entered the dinning room he was met with a choir of voices all demanding his attention. Bonnies voice rising above the rest, "Daddy, where have you been!"
"Uncle Rhett," Wade tugged at his sleeve standing next to him. "Is my mother alright?"
"Yes, Wade actually she woke last night and talked to us for awhile." Rhett smiled at the boy.
"When can I see her sir?" Wade questioned him with wide eyes.
"Well as soon as Dr. Meade examines her." Rhett smiled fondly at his step son.
"What about me!" Piped Bonnie. "I want to see Mother too!"
"Of course, you and Ella can go visit Mother too." Rhett smiled at his daughters lovingly."Now everyone sit down and finish your breakfast."
Just as Rhett sat down Pork announced that Dr. Meade was here, and Rhett excused himself telling the children to behave themselves while he was gone.
As Rhett explained the happenings of the previous evening Dr. Meade got a interested look on his face. " I have heard of cases like this, but frankly never treated anyone who had it before." the old man tugged at his goatee. "I shall have to read up on it. But I guess something I remember about it is that you must be careful not to correct the person it may have devastating results. So do not tell Scarlett my fears about the baby. Just let us play it by ear. Go along with whatever she thinks to be normal. I recommend bed rest Rhett, I fear she will miscarry. In my opinion it is unavoidable after such a fall." the old man said then seeing Rhett's face he added."But I have been wrong before, and Scarlett is not like every other patient."
"No she isn't Dr. Meade, she surely is not like everyone else." Rhett smiled and showed the doctor out the door, and they were met by Melanie and Beau.
"Dr. Meade, Captain Butler" Melanie greeted them. "Is it alright if Beau came to play with Wade?"
"I am sure Wade will be delighted, go on into the dinning room he is just finishing breakfast."Rhett smiled at the boy.
"How is she today?" Melanie's strained face looked tired.
"Amnesia, Doctor Meade thinks." Rhett sighed. "And we must not upset her."
"So she can not know about the baby?" Melanie's heart shaped face looked drawn. "Oh how awful, my poor, poor darling. I must go to her."
"You go up, I will be up with the children in a moment." Rhett smiled weakly, and Melanie noticed how worn out he looked. "Poor Captain Butler", he hasn't slept in days and his disheveled hair and untidy appearance gave him a sinister look. Suddenly Melanie felt uneasy standing there alone with there very virile man. She flushed slightly, and excused herself going up the massive staircase thinking how awful it would be to fall down, not even the crimson carpet that ran wall to wall in the entire house could buffer such a fall. Melanie swallowed hard, "Poor dear." She Melanie would have died after such a fall she was sure.
"Scarlett," Melanie knocked on the massive oak door. "May I come in, it is Melly?"
"Yes, Melly do come in." Scarlett smiled genuinely, setting her napkin on her empty breakfast tray. "Good morning," Scarlett smiled sweetly.
" You are looking well this morning, " Melanie smiled. It was the truth besides the purplish bruise along the side of her head she looked better. The look of death had disappeared, that look had haunted Melanie last night. Scarlett was so dear to her, the thought of losing her was too much.
" Mother, Mother" they could hear from the stair case and the thundering of tiny feet. And in tore Bonnie running as fast as her little feet would allow. Scarlett smiled as the image of Gerald O'Hara came to her mind and her eyes misted over. "Bonnie, darling come give your mother a kiss."
Bonnie crawled up on the bed and to Scarlett 's side. Scarlett winced in pain as she was bounced around a bit more than she had intended. "Bonnie!" Rhett sternly. "You must not climb on your mother that way!" he picked his daughter off the bed and set her down on the floor with the firmest face she had ever seen.
Bonnie's lower lip began to quiver as she began to cry her father had never raised his voice to her in all her years.
Rhett seeing he had hurt his daughters feelings scooped her up in his arms, " I am sorry my sweet, it is just that your Mother has had a terrible fall down the stairs and she is hurt." he explained softly. "And you must not bounce her around so."
Bonnie stopped crying understanding, she did not want to hurt her mother. She just stared at her mother her bottom lip quivering slightly.
"Mother, are you going to be well now?" Wade asked softly from the foot of the bed.
"Wade Hampton, come give your mother a kiss." Scarlett chaste her eldest child.
Wade came cautiously to the side of his mother, careful not to kiss Scarlett's bruises.
"Where is Ella?" Scarlett asked spotting her shy child peeking from behind Melanie's skirts. "Ella, baby, come give Mother a hug." Scarlett smiled sweetly. Her daughters hesitation disturbed Scarlett. Why would her oldest daughter shy away so? The answer was not evident to her mind.
Seeing her mothers sweet gesture pleased the child whom had sometimes felt unwanted. She slowly came to Scarlett and put her little arms about her mothers neck. And buried her freckled face in Scarlett's hair, which fell about her shoulders. This is always the way she had wished her mother to be, like Aunt Melly, tender and kind. Not that her mother was unkind, she just was not accessible at times.
"Alright, children I think you should go play outside." Melanie said. "Let your mother rest."