Chapter 5 : 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 awoke sharply and stared blankly out the window of her bedroom. Looking at the clock it read three o'clock, it was still dark out. She jumped when a clap of thunder sounded, and suddenly the sky lit up with a crack of lightning. The night air was muggy and her night gown clung to her. "Rhett..." she called into the darkness. She slid out of bed slowly grimacing as her body was pricked with hot pokers. She walked slowly into the hall way her every muscle crying out , "no, turn back." She was sweating from the heat of the night, and her effort to make it down the long dark hallway. Her eyes began to cloud and the dim lights on the stair way seemed to get lighter and lighter. She was getting light headed, and she grabbed for the banister holding it for dear life. Scarlett slid to the floor nausea over coming her, she laid her burning cheek upon the bottom edge of the cool running board. She could see alight burning in the dinning room below and she called out weakly, "R hheett". And then she abandoned herself to the sleep that was over taking her.
When Rhett had finished his drink and decided to return upstairs to try and get some sleep, his heart sank to the very bottom of his stomach. At the top of the stairs he saw two tiny bare feet peaking out from behind the massive banister. Rhett ran up the stairs taking two at a time. There was Scarlett laying on the landing, "Oh my god!" he gasped. "Scarlett?" he gently shook her taking her into his arms. "What happened my pet?"
"I came looking for you." she said a slight smile creeping about her lips. "But I got so tired, I needed to rest Rhett."
Rhett just smiled she was alright, she had came looking for him? Well from now on he best stay in bed so she didn't venture out and hurt herself. He picked Scarlett up in his arms and carried her back to bed.
This was how he always wished things could have been, Scarlett needing him. He stroked her hair as she lay sleeping with her head resting on his chest. "But what will happen when she remembers, everything... Ashley?" Rhett cringed at this last thought. He could not bare her loving Ashley again, it seemed that was truly the only thing she did not remember. Her love for
Ashley had stemmed a lot of other heartbreaks. If not for her loving Ashley she would see Melanie's friendship her love for her, and If not for her loving Ashley she and Rhett would still be sleeping in the same room and If not for her loving Ashley she would see Rhett's love for her, and If not for her loving Ashley well they would not have had that fight and she would not have fallen down the stairs. If not for her loving Ashley, the words rang in Rhett's mind drilling holes into his soul. Lots of things would be better if not for her loving Ashley, her amnesia proved it, for that was the one thing she forgot her love for Ashley and all the pains it had caused through the years.
Scarlett did not awake until nearly eleven o'clock in the morning. "My goodness, how could I sleep so long?" she stretched then winced when she felt sharp pain in her sides. "Good heavens when will all this pain go away."
"Well good morning my dear," Rhett said putting his paper down on the table and strode to her side sitting by her on the bed feeling her forehead with the back of his hand. "How you feeling this morning Mrs. Butler?"
"Well I feel hungry." she smiled.
"Well in that case I will go see to your dinner." he laughed.
"Oh, Rhett can't I come down for dinner?" Scarlett pouted at him.
" No, you are not well enough. Besides Dr. Meade said bed rest for the rest of your pregnancy." Rhett said. " You don't want to do anything that may harm the baby."
"Well surely staying cooped up in this bedroom isn't good either." she said to herself as Rhett left the room.
Scarlett having found writing letters helped pass her time a bit decided to write her Aunts in Charleston. And having done that she decided she better write also to Rhett's mother since they and his mother were best of friends it may hurt the dear woman's feelings not receiving a letter also. In the letter she wrote of the joy of expecting another Butler in less than two months time, and the horrible accident she had experienced. Reassuring all that she was doing well, and under a doctors care. She told them of Bonnies impending fifth birthday in three weeks, which Rhett had promised to carry her into the parlor to a settee where she could be part of the commencements.
Time went by fast and soon Bonnies party was only two days away. Scarlett sat and wrote invitations to all of Atlanta. Which Melanie made her swear she would give to her to hand deliver. " Well there they are Melly, but gods night gown, why on earth do you want to hand deliver all of them? It will take you all day, I can just have Pork take them to the post this afternoon."
"No, I am happy to do it, Scarlett. Bonnie is my niece and I want to help." she smiled. Inwardly Melanie new exactly the reason she was going to hand deliver every single one. Not one person would refuse to come or make excuses when they were met by Melanie. She did not want Scarlett or Bonnie hurt by the towns criticism. Even though most of the town had softened to Scarlett at her recent attitude, and the fact that Ashley Wilkes had publically stomped out part of the fire of gossip that had been spreading about Scarlett. Melanie was so proud of him, though she did not know that it was Belle Watling that had supplied the gumption to do it.
Aunt Pitty Pat saw Melanie coming up the walk smiling. It made the old woman smile back.
She had Scarlett to thank for this. Ever since the day Scarlett's sister Carreen arrived and India departed for Macon to live with her sister Honey, things for the old woman had improved. Melanie now would socialize with her, everything was back to normal and Pitty could not help but love Carreen she was another Melanie sweet, kind. "Good morning Auntie!" Melanie smiled and kissed her plump cheek. "Where is Carreen this morning?"
"Oh she is in her room doing her rosary." Pitty replied.
"Good morning, Aunt Melly!" Wade came down the stairs and hugged her.
"Why Wade what on earth are you doing here?" Melanie smiled at her nephew at twelve he was a strapping boy.
"Well Ella, Bonnie, and I spent the night. Aunt Carreen thought it would be nice so the house would be quiet for mother." Wade smiled.
"Well I must be going, I am delivering invitations for you know who's Birthday party day after tomorrow." Melanie smiled and handed the invitation to Aunt Pitty.
As Melanie walked up to the Merriwether home she stiffened putting her guard up, she knocked at the door.
"Why, Melanie!" Mrs. Merriwether smiled pleasantly. "What a pleasant surprise, do come in."
"Thank you, but I am just delivering you an invitation. It is to Bonnie Butler's fifth Birthday. I will see you there." Melanie smiled just as sweetly.
"Ah, well, well of course Melly." the lady stammered.
The same thing happened at every house she delivered to. All were a bit taken aback but all excepted and said they would see her there. Her plan had worked, had Scarlett sent the invitations there would have been refusals. Since she was done delivering the invitations she decided to go back and have tea with Scarlett.
As Melanie came up the street she saw a black carriage in front of the Butler home. And soon she saw the coachman helping an elderly lady out of the carriage, and soon another appeared and another. Three women all similarly with gray hair and gray dress's. All were impeccably dressed. And as she got closer she could distinguish the very Charleston accents.
"Well good afternoon ladies." Melanie curtsied. "You must be Mrs Butler's aunts and Mr. Butler's mother although I can not guess to which."
"Well, and I will just bet you are Mrs. Wilkes." Eleanor Butler smiled, Rhett had told her of the kindness's she had bestowed upon her son and daughter in law. "I am Mrs. Butler, and these are Scarletts' Aunts, Miss Eulalie and Miss Pauline Robillard."
"Well isn't this going to be quite the surprise for Scarlett and everyone." Melanie beamed. "Oh, I suspect you will all be staying for Bonnies Birthday celebration day after next?"
"Well, yes actually we're intending on staying for the birth of the newest Butler." Mrs. Butler smiled. "That is if they will have us."
"Oh, I am sure they will." Melanie smiled again. "Let me walk with you to the front door, I was just coming to have tea with Scarlett."
"Oh, how is she? " Pauline spoke. "Everything is alright with the baby still?"
"Oh, yes everything is going well. Nothing has happened so far." Melanie assured. "Doctor Meade just wants to take extra precautions."
The ladies made there way up the walk and Melanie knocked at the door. "Pork, do help the coachman bring the ladies luggage in?"
"Yesum' Miz Wilkes." the man smiled and bowed to the ladies. "Nice ta seez ya all again Missus Rollbilards."
"Nice to see you again too, Pork." they returned the courtesy to the black man.
"Mammy!" both ladies exclaimed.
"Well yo ez sure a sight for sore eyez, Mizus." Mammy waddled to the to ladies who were once in her care. "Gives ole' Mammy a hug."
"Oh, Mammy it sure is good to see you." Pauline kissed the black woman's broad brow.
"It sure is Sister." Eulalie echoed.
"Miz Scarlett, she ez doin bedder." Mammy beamed. " I now my lamb, she is sturdy, she and da baby gonna be fine, yo don worry about that."
"Excuze ma rudnez Mizsus Butler. Itz a plezure to meetz ya."Mammy curtseyed.
" Priss, show deez ladiez to the guest roomz so the can wash up for tea."Mammy ordered Prissy.
"I will tell Mr. Rhett and Miz Scarlett yo all iz here. The childrun are stayin over ta Miz Pitty Pat Hamiltons thiz evenin. I will have cookie set extra for supper this evening." Mammy smiled.
"Mr. Rhett?" Mammy tapped lightly on the door, she knew he was awake. He usually just laid with Scarlett during her naps so if she had a nightmare he would be there. "Yes, Mammy?" Rhett slipped silently into the hall.
"Yor Mother, and Miz Scarlett's Aunts have just arrived from Charleston." she smiled knowing he would be pleased at this news.
"Really, what a pleasant surprise." Rhett smiled indeed pleased. " Did you show them to the spare rooms?"
"I had Prissy, sho them and came to tell you." Mammy smiled. " They is gonna freshen up before supper. And I already informed Cookie."
"You are good Mammy, I have no worries with you around." he smiled and patted her back.
"Ya know Miz Scarlett is gonna be a heap of trouble tonight though." Mammy said with premonition.
"What on earth do you mean by that Mammy?" Rhett asked then thinking better replied. "Ah, yes, I get your drift now Mammy."
" What ya gonna do, about her Mr. Rhett?" Mammy looked for answers. "She shore can be a pest when she wants something and doan ged it."
"Yes, she is, Mammy." Rhett laughed lovingly. "Maybe I can arrange something?"