Chapter 3: 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.
Scarlett looked at the sweet face of her sister in law and smiled deeply. "Her dear sweet Melanie." Scarlett sighed uncontrollably. She saw something twinkle in the back of Melanie's innocent caramel colored pools which were her eyes. "Why had I never seen that look before?" Scarlett asked herself. It was the look of complete loyalty and faithfulness.
"Oh, Scarlett, dear. Are you feeling better?" Melanie asked laying her cool hand upon Scarlett's brow. "I was so worried about you my dear."
"You are sweet to worry Melly, but really I am fine." she smiled forgetting the purple coloring her face now possessed. "Melly how have you been lately, you have plagued my dreams recently." Scarlett's face took a more serious note. " Are you well, I mean after Beau you were always, rather..uh indisposed. "
"Oh, Scarlett" Melanie flustered, had Scarlett read her mind? She had been arguing the subject of another child with Ashley for last month or so. " I am fine, just fine." she lied to her dearest friend, Scarlett would not understand her need for one more child. She would just try and stop her like Ashley. But she believed Ashley would soon give into her wish, she knew he too would love another child.
"May I come in?" Aunt Pitty simpered from the doorway to Scarlett's room.
Melanie stiffened seeing her Aunt enter. Ever since the night of Ashley's birthday party when India tried to turn the whole town against Scarlett, Melanie had not spoken to Pitty. And so Melanie said, " Scarlett I must go check on the children." and turned walking past the teary Pitty not even looking at her.
"Oh, Scarlett!" Pitty's childlike mouth quivered. "I heard you were well now, oh darling I was so worried about you." she hugged Scarlett gently and kissed her cheek.
"Aunt Pitty it is so nice of you to come by." Scarlett smiled sweetly. "How have you been lately?" "Do you need anything, does the house need any repairs done?"
" Oh, Scarlett" Pitty sobbed. Never had Scarlett been so concerned for her welfare since India had moved in with her. "Scarlett I should not trouble you with this until after your convalescence."
" Oh Auntie, what is wrong." she hugged her sobbing Aunt. "Tell me its alright, I am feeling much better."
"Well, as you know India has taken up residence with me, because lack of a better solution." Pitty sighed. "And after she turned so many against her, she is a burden to me, but I am unable to ask her to leave unless I can acquire a new roommate."
" Well, Aunt Pitty, I could see if my sister Careen would come to stay with you?" Scarlett smiled sweetly at her Aunt, this would give Scarlett a purpose to bring her sister back home. And she knew Careen would feel it her duty to help the elderly woman.
"Oh, would she Scarlett?" Pitty liked the youngest O'Hara child, a sweet quiet thing just like Melly. Oh yes this would be a perfect solution. Pitty smiled and patted Scarlett's hand. "You are a dear Scarlett." never before had it been so easy to talk to Scarlett and what's more she actually achieved what she wanted in the conversation.
Pitty left Scarlett's room on winged feet, and practically floated down the stairs. Like a child having received her birthday present early. She bobbed a curtsied to everyone she met as she practically ran down Peach Tree Street and right into Mrs. Merriwether.
"Why Pitty Pat Hamilton!" Dolly said rising to her full height. " Is there are fire?"
"I was just going home." Pitty said in a little voice. Dolly Merriwether had always bullied her and she did not care for the woman particularly. " I just came from seeing my niece."
"And how is Scarlett?" Dolly asked. "I heard she fell down the stairs, tragic."
" She is doing much better." Pitty said obviously with other things on her mind. "I must go Dolly." Pitty said and continued down the street.
"Well.." Dolly set her mouth shut firmly. "What a flippant woman." And she continued down the street meeting up with Mrs. Elsing and she retold her story of the silly Pitty and her awkward behavior.
"Well you don't suppose Scarlett died do you?" Mrs. Elsing gasped.
"No, she didn't die, Pitty said she was doing better today." Mrs. Merriwether said with suspicion in her voice.
"Well then what do you think is going on?" Mrs. Elsing rejoined her mouth agape.
"Well, I had heard that Scarlett, " Mrs. Merriwether paused and looked around. " I heard, from a very reliable source, that Scarlett was with child." she whispered to her eager companion.
"You don't say!" Mrs. Elsing hissed.
"And you know what they say." Mrs. Merriwether beamed sadistically.
"No, you don't think?" Mrs. Elsing gaped. "You don't think that the baby was...his?"
"Well, that is what they say!" Mrs. Merriwether smiled smugly."And do you know what else they say?"
"No, what?" Mrs. Elsing panted.
" They say Captain Butler found out she was having another baby, and he knew it was not his." Mrs. Merriwether hissed.
"No, my goodness" Mrs. Elsing whispered with fervor.
" They say that they argued there on that massive staircase." Mrs. Merriwether said her eyes growing as large as saucers.
"Then what happened?" Mrs. Elsing swallowed hard.
" Well, I am told that Scarlett and Captain Butler exchanged words, then Captain Butler slapped Scarlett sending her flying down the stairs." Mrs. Merriwether said in a very low voice that gave her audience the effect she wanted.
"Oh, that is horrible." Mrs. Elsing said.
"Well, it is no more than I would expect from the likes of them." Mrs. Merriwether said scandalized.
"Why Mrs. Merriwether , I can not believe my ears!" came a very displeased voice from behind the to gossiping ladies.
Both the ladies spun around to see who had come upon them. And they both stood rooted with there mouths gaping open at the site of a very displeased Ashley Wilkes.
"Why, Ashley" Mrs. Merriwether stammered. " We didn't hear you approach."
"That is what I gathered from the nature of your conversation." Ashley replied with a very stiff emotionless face. "And I am compelled to steer your misinformation in to the right again."
"There has been a lot of impolite gossip going about this town, and I have a mind to set it right this afternoon ladies." Ashley said sternly. "My sister and yourself Mrs. Elsing happened to walk in on Scarlett and I during a misleading moment. One that you both took as adultery, but it was far more innocent I assure you. I was comforting Scarlett a childhood friend, a sister in law. We were talking of life before the war and an innocent hug was taken wrong."
The ladies stood there mouths held open, horrified at being caught gossiping.
Seeing they had nothing to say Ashley continued, " As for Scarlett's child being mine, No that is not true. And I am shocked you would think such a thing, being Christians. As for Captain Butler pushing Scarlett down the stairs that is not true. They had an argument and Scarlett evidently lost her balance. And as far as I know she has not lost her child. I am utterly ashamed of the both of you gossiping about others when you don't know the facts."Ashley turned on his heel and continued on his way to join his wife and son at the Butler home.
Mrs. Merriwether shook her head, "Well, if that doesn't beat all."
"Oh, I feel terrible." Mrs. Elsing sighed.
"I guess maybe we were wrong. Maybe what we think happened between Ashley and Scarlett didn't happen after all." Mrs. Merriwether said and they turned a continued on there way to the Meade home.