Chapter 10

In the best of times and in the worst of times, there seemed to always be time for the gossip mills to be running. Since Scarlett's accident, they were running all day and night conjuring up new ideas of what happened in the Butler house. When the news of Scarlett's worsened condition the gossip spread faster and further about the cause of her illness. Everyone in town suspected Rhett had caused her illness further to be rid of a shameful wife. But the information about his vigual at his wife's death bed caused sympathy in the hearts of Atlanta. The city's hearts shattered when they learned of little Bonnie's constant presence in her mother's sick room trying as her little soul could to heal her mother. The love Rhett and Bonnie held for Scarlett was hard to explain as to why they loved her, but they did. The towns people felt a woman as sinful and shameful as Scarlett O'Hara did not deserve the love that was given to her, but she had it anyways.

Less than a week had passed since Doctor Meade gave Rhett the blow of his life. In that time, His mother, sister, and brother, along with their spouses arrived. Suellen and her husband arrived without their children. Pauline and Eulalie arrived on the same train as his family.

Upon the arrival of Eleanor the undertaken had been called to make the necessary arrangements. Rhett was in no condition to make them. He sat in the room with Scarlett and Bonnie. Bonnie would not budge from the bed just as Rhett would not move from the chair. The two of them made the most heart wrenching site if there ever were one.

Rhett put the trust in his mother and Melanie to plan the funeral. Even though Scarlett loved Tara, Rhett felt the best place for her was Atlanta. That way he and Bonnie could visit without obligations to visit with Suellen and her family. Other than that request Rhett had stayed with his wife.

The type of coffin was selected; it was as pretty as could be for a funeral. The interior of the coffin was plush velvet of deep green. The exterior was chestnut with a dark stain; Melly requested the claddagh ring be carved onto the top of the casket as a symbol of her Irish heritage and how much her family loved her. Gold was selected as the metal the hardware. The music was selected for the organist to play. Melly even had the priest over to discuss what text to read.

By the third day of Eleanor's arrival all that was left to do was select the flowers for the service and send out the notifications. With the final preparations waiting to be completed, Eleanor put a stop to the planning until Scarlett was finally with the Lord. The joint family sat with strained ears waiting for the fateful announcement.

Eleanor made her way up to the room, where Mammy and the doctor sat with Rhett and Bonnie. Bonnie was sitting crossed legged on the bed with a book in her lap. She was reading the story to Scarlett, the cheerful freedom that had once been in the child's voice was gone. At any other time this scene of Bonnie reading to her mother would have been precious but now it only caused Eleanor's heart to retract in pain.

She stood next to Rhett and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Son, do you think it is wise for Bonnie to be in here?"

"Yes." He said sharply.

"But the typhus."

"She needs the memories of Scarlett. Besides she won't leave just as I won't, not until…"

"Rhett, come to Charleston. It would be best to get away from the memories, and the pain. A fresh start will start the healing process."

"Mother! Stop it! Just stop it! She is not gone and she won't leave me! It is not supposed to be like this; it never was and never will be!" Rhett gritted his teeth as she spoke. "Go back downstairs or to Charleston if you are going to keep on." Scarlett was still alive and they were talking as if she were already dead and in the ground. "Bonnie, please continue your story, mommy would like it if you did." When Rhett spoke to his daughter his tone was softer.

Bonnie had cried for days on end when Rhett broke the fatal news to her. After her shock wore of, Bonnie started to bring in picture books and tell the stories to Scarlett nonstop. After a while, Bonnie began to draw pictures of her own stories which were always about when Scarlett woke up and what they would do. Day after day Bonnie would ask Mammy "When will my mommy wake up?" Which always brought the response, "I don't rightly know. Soon, very soon."

Mammy had been strong through it all. She would silently weep in her seat at the end of the bed and mumble to herself. She held the rosary in her hand after she placed one in Scarlett's praying she would feel their Lord give her the strength to carry on. Mammy would move the rosary beads through her hands and hold the cross to her lips when the prayers were said. The irony of the situation was not lost on the loyal servant. Miss Ellen was taken to the Lord by typhoid at the age of thirty-four, and now with Miss Scarlett she was stricken with typhus at the age of twenty-six.

The only noise in the room aside from Bonnie's tale was Scarlett's ragged breathing and the ticking of the mantle clock. Over the last week there had not been any sound from Scarlett due to being delirious or conscious, only the sound of her breathing. Rhett kept his focus on the rise and fall of Scarlett's chest and strained his ears to hear her intake of air. His focus would be broken by someone talking to him or Bonnie moving to place a kiss on Scarlett's face.

How wrong he had been to leave four or was five months ago. Those months were no so precious had been ripped from Bonnie's life. Instead of spending that time with him, she should have been with her mother. What memories of Scarlett will Bonnie have? The ones created now where everyone is awaiting her death? Seeing Scarlett for maybe an hour a day because Scarlett chose to work at the mills and store? Would Bonnie even remember her mother? Remember what she looked like, sounded like, or even smelled like? Would he even remember any of those things as time passed on without his beloved Scarlett? For years he carried the color of her eyes with him, but that was while she was alive. Why would he need that when she was dead, he would not be able to adorn her with jewels or clothing to bring out her vibrant eyes.

Rhett slipped out of his chair to rest on his knees at the side of the bed and grasp Scarlett's hand in his as he brought up to his lips. He kept the back of her hand to his lips in hopes that any strength he possessed would travel to her frail body.

"Damn it Scarlett, fight this. Fight it with everything you have. Don't give up. I've never known you to give up so easily. Oh Scarlett, my darling Scarlett. Please, I beg of you. Don't leave me! Don't do it! You can't leave me alone. I can't go on without you, I'll be lost. Come back to me and I will make you so happy. Scarlett!" Rhett poured out as he rested his head on the bed stroking her face with his knuckles. "Please my love, please."

Most men in Rhett's position would have been on the bottle day in and day out. It was an amazing site for Doctor Meade to see Rhett remain sober through this entire ordeal. Though how long it would last once the whole thing is over with was beyond his knowledge.

Bonnie was an amazing child for her age. Doctor Meade was impressed at how the child handled herself in this situation. She entertained herself as much as possible including her unconscious mother in on her fun. Bonnie told Scarlett stories about her time away and made up stories. She bestowed affection upon her mother thinking it was all helping her. She shed tears of anguish and frustration everyday when there was no improvement of her mother's health. This caused her tantrums which were consoled by Mammy or Melly. Rhett was in no means able to actually handle his daughter since he was wrapped up in his own grief.

The sound of Bonnie's voice droned in Rhett's ears as he kept his eyes focused on the up and down, up and down of Scarlett's chest. For some reason they were becoming uneven and shallow. Fear reignited in Rhett's eyes as the inevitable started to rear its ugly head. Rhett could only think he was being punished for all the misdeeds he had done in his life, most of which were towards Scarlett.

Rhett's mind kept screaming at him and the whole situation before him. "No this can't be it! No! Damn it no! Scarlett! Please Scarlett. Damn you, damn you Scarlett. Wake up, fight the illness, fight it."

But Rhett's mental words were not enough, his physical contact with Scarlett was not enough. Bonnie's stories and affection was not enough either. The bastard that the devil was, knew just when to drop the strings and move on. The movements in her chest stopped. Rhett watched a second longer and then another second but it was still, absolutely still.

"Doctor Meade!" Rhett shouted shaking everyone in the room to attention.