Chapter 5 –Rolling In The Deep

As Ella stood in her Mother's bedroom and slipped into her nightgown that she had snatched from the foot of her own bed, she couldn't help but panic about what the morning would bring. She gathered up her discarded clothes and threw them in the chair. She pulled back the covers on the bed and slipped into it sinking down into the soft mattress. The scent of her mother's perfume filled her nose and she squeezed her eyes shut, trying to keep the tears from falling. Her eyes would be red and sore if she didn't stop but she felt so helpless at that moment that she couldn't think of anything to do but cry.

She turned on her side and pulled the blankets up under her chin and allowed her emotions to overtake her. Her mind was jumbled and confused. Would they really send her away? She didn't really think so, they might take her to Charleston and make a show of acting like she'd be going to school there for this term but they wouldn't really leave her there, would they?" She didn't want to go away, she didn't want to leave her school or her friends and despite her anger at Johnny she didn't want to leave him either. She couldn't blame him for acting the way he had and if she stayed in Atlanta she'd be able to tell him she was sorry and maybe they could make a new plan. If she was gone he'd surely find someone else and she couldn't bear the thought of that.

She couldn't understand what went wrong. How had they found out about her plans? She hadn't told anyone but Helen and she had only told her that afternoon so there was no way that she was responsible for this disaster she found herself in now. She couldn't see Johnny telling anyone, he'd been adamant that it remain a secret. It didn't make sense but then again knowing Rhett Butler he was probably having her followed and every word she spoke written down and delivered to him on a daily basis. When she thought of her step-father lately she felt anger towards him. She felt as though one of his goals in life was to control her and she hated it. Her mind wondered briefly to thoughts of her real father. It wasn't often that he crossed her mind, she had no recollection of him and her mother's patience on the topic of Frank Kennedy only went so far. She wondered if he would've acted like Rhett had that evening, if he would've disapproved of Johnny or would've given his blessing. It always felt odd to think of her father, she had grown up thinking of Rhett in that capacity even if she had never called him by the title.

Sometimes it stung to realize that she had gone her whole life without calling anyone daddy. Rhett always said he thought of her and Wade as his children and yet he had never given them leave to call him anything but Uncle Rhett. There were times, like the chaotic moment she was living in when it bothered her that she had never been extended that courtesy but why should he want her to call him daddy when he had Joy and James to do it and Bonnie before them. Wasn't that proof that he didn't think as much of her as he did his own children? Another sob escaped her and she forced herself to push away those thoughts. She didn't need to think of things like that and besides with the way Rhett was treating her why should she want him to be her father anyway?

Her restless mind jumped from thought to thought. Would Johnny forgive her? Would her Mother save her from banishment? Could she persuade Wade to be her ally when he arrived in the morning? The more her mind whirled the sicker she felt thinking about it all. She heard her Mother coming and she squeezed her eyes shut. The door opened and shut quietly and she remained still and quiet as her Mother readied for bed.

"You're in my spot," Scarlett said quietly as she came near the bed.

"It wasn't my idea to sleep here," Ella replied her voice still shaky from crying.

"Oh I know," Scarlett replied. "If you had it your way you'd be running off to god knows where to make the biggest mistake of your life."

"It wouldn't have been a mistake," Ella cried as Scarlett slid into Rhett's side of the bed.

She laughed somewhat, "Trust me, Ella; it would've been. Johnny isn't right for you."

"What do you know about people being right for each other? You've had three husbands so how can you judge who's right for who?"

"You don't have to keep throwing it in my face that I've been married three times, I'm well aware of it, after all I have a child as a memento from each one don't I?" she answered bitterly. "I wish I could forget the mistakes I've made but I can't, which is probably lucky for you for. If I could I'd be forgetting my second marriage at this very moment!"

Ella sobbed harder and Scarlett sighed in frustration. "Don't you see that he was just using you, Ella?"

"He loves me," she argued.

"No he doesn't."

"You just don't want to see it because you want to be the one to pick the person I marry," Ella accused.

"I most certainly do not! My concern is making sure that you marry someone who is going to love and respect you and treat you the way you deserve to be treated."

"Johnny would've treated me right."

"All he would've done is spend your money and when it was gone he'd leave you and any children you might have during that time span and then where would you be?"

"You don't know that would happen!"

"And you don't know it wouldn't!" Scarlett exclaimed.

"What if he's the only one that wants me? He'll never come back now and I'll be an old maid!"

"Gods nightgown!" Scarlett cried. "There are several nice young men who've wanted to court you, Ella; but you've turned them all away so you could chase after Jonathan Reid!"

"They were all boring," Ella replied defensively.

"How do you know? You never gave them a chance; you never tried to get to know them."

"I didn't need to! Johnny is the one I want."

"You'll just have to find someone else to want," Scarlett remarked.

"What if he really is the one Mother? What if he is the man I'm supposed to be with?"

"If he's the one, he'll wait for you and while he's waiting he'll clean up his act and make himself deserving of you."

"He won't wait for me, he'll find someone else."

"Good, then you'll realize how he really felt about you and then you can move on."

Silence fell between them as Ella's crying died down and the sound of hammering filled the air.

"What's that noise?" Ella asked.

"That is the sound of your window being nailed shut," Scarlett answered. "Now let's try to get a few hours of sleep. Your brother will be here in the morning and we have packing to do."

"You're not really going to take me to Charleston are you?" Ella asked quietly.

"It certainly looks that way, you've crossed the line for the last time and now it's time for you to pay for your mistakes."

"I don't want to go away."

"You should've thought about that."

"This isn't fair," Ella complained

"No it isn't fair, it isn't fair that you've taken it upon yourself to cause all of this trouble and it isn't fair that we have to upend our lives because you couldn't behave yourself but you know what, Ella; life isn't fair. I learned that long ago and now it's your turn to learn it! Now go to sleep!" Scarlett demanded as she turned away from Ella and turned the lamp down.

She laid awake for awhile listening to Ella quietly cry herself to sleep. She had thought as her children got older things would grow easier but it only seemed to be getting harder. She let out a breath of frustration this she thought to herself was probably the reason she hadn't wanted children.

As Wade stepped inside the house on Peachtree Street, he could feel the chaotic feeling hanging in the air before noticing the trunks and bags littering the entry way. Confusion surged through him as he set his own bags out of the way and made his way down the hallway.

"Mother," he called; surely she had gotten his telegram saying he'd be home this week.

"Wade!" James exclaimed as he ran towards him.

Wade caught his little brother and tossed him in the air. "There's my favorite brother, how are you doing, James?" he asked as he sat the little boy back on his feet.

"Good, did you bring me anything?" he asked hopefully.

Wade laughed, "Don't I always bring you something?"

James grinned his dark eyes shining with excitement, "You might've forgotten."

"I'd never forget you little brother and I didn't forget Ella or Joy either."

"Ella's in trouble," James told him

"She is? A lot of trouble or a little trouble?"

"Lots of trouble, she has to go away," he answered.

"Go away?" Wade repeated a hundred different scenarios running through his mind, all of them ending with him shooting whichever boy had caused the problem.

"Where's Mother?" he asked.

"I'm right here," she answered as she stepped out of her office. "Thank goodness you've arrived," she added as she stepped forward to embrace her eldest child who towered over her.

"What's going on around here?" he asked as he returned her embrace.

"Come in and sit down and I'll explain everything. James go upstairs and play with Joy," she said.

Wade followed his Mother into her office and sat down in one of dark red plush armchairs.

"Your sister took it into her head last night that she could run off with Jonathan Reid and elope," she stated tiredly.

"What!" he exclaimed his face a mix of shock and surprise.

Scarlett nodded and continued to explain to him the happenings of the night before.

"I can't believe it" he replied when she had finished. "What's with all the baggage in the hallway? Did she think she was going to take it all with her on the run?" he asked with a laugh

Scarlett gave a short laugh, "No that's what she'll be taking to Charleston. Rhett's enrolling her in the school your Aunt Carreen's convent runs."

Wade was silent for a moment. "Are you serious? Is this some kind of joke you planned to get back at me for the one I pulled on you when I told you I had married a Yankee?"

Scarlett frowned, "No it isn't a joke, I only wish it were and don't worry I haven't forgotten about your little prank you'll pay for it eventually."

"I just can't believe it," he repeated while shaking his head. "Who did she think they were? Romeo and Juliet?"

Scarlett laughed, "Maybe she did; only she used a window and a ladder instead of a balcony."

Wade studied her for a moment, "You're really going to leave her in Charleston?"

"Why not, I left you in Boston," she replied.

He grinned, "Yes, but I went to Boston by choice and I'm sure Ella isn't choosing Charleston and besides you'll probably cry as much as she will. I doubt you cried when you left me behind in Massachusetts."

"I'll have you know I cried all the way back to Atlanta," she answered smugly. "And as for Ella, she is against the idea of course but perhaps a term somewhere else will settle her down."

"I could just go shoot this Reid fellow, once he's out of the picture she won't have a problem."

"You'd go to jail," Scarlett answered.

He shrugged, "It's somewhere I haven't been."

"Let's keep it that way," she told him.

"You just have to take all the fun out of life don't you, Mother," he replied a teasing gleam in his eyes.

"Yes, apparently it's my mission in life to keep my children from having fun and entering into marriages they shouldn't."

"Like mother like daughter," he said with a laugh.

"Wade!" she exclaimed.

He laughed, "You know it's true."

"All I know is that growing up around Rhett has corrupted you," she replied a touch of amusement in her own voice.

"I'll be sure and tell him that as soon as I see him."

"Don't you dare," she warned.

"Where is my wayward sister? Locked in the attic?"

"She's in her room."

"Is she allowed visitors?" Wade asked.

She smiled, "Only blood relatives."

He stood up and crossed the room, "Then I think I'll go up and see her…I'll express my condolences on her lack of marital status."

"You do that," Scarlett told him; "But don't come crying to me if she throws something at your head."

"I'll take my chances," he answered before leaving the room.

As Wade neared Ella's room he could hear drawers being slammed and angry footsteps crossing the floor. Her door was open and he leaned casually in the doorway.

"Ella, Ella, Ella," he chided a smirk on his face as she whirled around to face him.

Her green eyes were blazing with anger reminding him of their mother which only made him want to tease her more.

"What?" she demanded her outburst causing him to laugh as he stepped into the room.

"Can't a brother just come to say hello?"

"Not with that look on his face," she retorted.

He grinned, his brown eyes gleaming, "What did you think you were doing, Ella? You know I'm supposed to be Mother's bad child and here you are trying to take my place."

She glared at him as she pulled items from the drawer of her vanity.

"I just can't believe it," he continued. "Little miss goody two shoes caught going out the window, who ever would've thought it?"

"Oh shut up!" she exclaimed. "You don't know anything about it."

"Mother told me everything," he retorted.

"You don't need to act like your so much; you've had your share of trouble!"

"But I never got sent away!" he reminded her.

She turned to him once more her face filled with anxiety, "Don't let them send me away, Wade."

"What do you want me to do little sister?" he asked. "I have no say in what they do to you."

"You have to help me, Wade!" she pleaded. "I don't want to go to some all girl school run by nuns. Can you imagine what that's going to be like?"

He couldn't help but smile. "I can't say that I know, but I can't wait for you to write me and tell me all about it."

"You're horrible," she cried her eyes filled with tears.

He softened a bit and put an arm around her. "Don't cry," he said as he handed her a handkerchief; "you're my sister and I love you I'd do anything for you but this is out of my hands. I don't have a say in this matter."

"You could talk to Mother. You could convince her that it's a bad idea and if you're both against it then you could both talk Uncle Rhett out of sending me away."

Wade shook his head. "From what I heard, Rhett is furious with you, Ella; he's not going to back down. You'll just have to tough it out; you'll be fine it's only a few months."

"You're not even going to try to help me?" she stated her voice filled with dismay.

"I offered to shoot the boy that got you into this mess but Mother doesn't want me to go to jail," he told her.

"Why does everyone in this house want to shoot Johnny?" she cried.

"Because we can't shoot you," Wade answered a hint of a smile tugging at his lips.

Ella's eyes widened, "Get out of my room! I'm glad to go away, then I won't have to see any of you."

He moved toward the door but turned back before leaving, "Has anyone ever told you that you are just like your mother?" he asked.

"She's your mother too!"

"You're the one that looks like her," he replied.

"You act like her," she shot back.

"So do you."

"I do not, I'm nothing like her."

"Yes you are, you're Scarlett the second," he taunted.

"And you're a jackass," she shouted.

"Neither one of you is worth bragging about at the moment," Rhett interrupted as he came in the room. "So stop your carrying on it's giving me a headache."

They both ceased their tirade instantly although Ella refused to look at Rhett.

"Hurry and finish your packing, Ella. I've managed to get us on today's train."

She rolled her eyes and turned back to her task.

"She's a ray of sunshine isn't she," Wade stated.

"Leave her be, Wade; or she'll never get done," Rhett told him as they left the room.

"I had to tease her a little," he replied in defense; causing Rhett to smile.

"Of course you did, it's your duty as a brother; speaking of which I wanted to ask you if you'd mind looking after Joy and James while we're gone. I'd rather not have to drag them along especially when we won't be staying long."

Wade nodded, "That's no problem."

"Thank you, Wade; I knew I could count on you."

"Mother said that growing up around you has corrupted me," he told him.

Rhett laughed, "Tell your Mother that despite doing my best to corrupt you, you have still ended up with some of her traits."

Wade laughed with him, "You tell her, it'll give you something to talk about while Ella cries on the train."

The hours flew by in a flurry of activity as packing was finished and the bags and trunks loaded up and hauled to the train station. Scarlett and Ella stood in the entry way as the last remaining items were carried out. Ella leaned against the wall her expression forlorn as Scarlett stood before Wade, Joy and James.

She hugged and kissed the children before turning to Wade. "You're sure you don't mind looking after them?" she questioned.

"I'm sure, Mother; it isn't like you're going to be gone long," he answered.

"Don't forget to take Joy to school in the morning and then pick her up in the afternoon." she told him/

"I know, Mother," he stated forcing himself to be patient with her.

"Don't go taking James to the candy store and allowing him to have everything he wants like you did the last time you were here. He was sick all night from that occasion."

Wade grinned, "Don't worry Mother, after we take Joy to school, James and I are going to go find a nice saloon. We'll play a few hands of poker, have a few drinks and pick up a few women."

"I'm not in the mood for jokes," Scarlett replied.

"Mother, I am capable of taking care of my brother and sister. I don't need a list of instructions or a lecture, just go and take Juliet over there to her new home; we'll be fine. I promise you the house will still be standing when you get back and that we'll survive without you for a day or two."

She smiled despite herself and kissed his cheek, "We'll try to be back tomorrow evening if we can."

Rhett opened the door and stuck his head inside, "Don't be much longer, Scarlett; or we'll miss our train."

"Wouldn't that be a pity," Ella muttered.

"That will be enough, Ella," he warned her.

"Am I not even allowed to speak anymore?" she asked.

"You can talk all you want but it won't do you any good so you may as well stay quiet before you bring yourself more trouble."

"We'll be out in a minute, Rhett," Scarlett told him ending the argument before it could start.

He nodded and shut the door. "Ella say goodbye to your brothers and sister."

She glared at her, "No."

Scarlett issued her own lethal glare, "I'm not asking you I'm telling you."

Ella huffed and pushed away from the wall. She stooped down and hugged Joy.

"I love you Ella," Joy told her as she kissed her cheek.

Ella ignored her words saying only goodbye as she moved to James and repeated the routine. She turned away from Wade but he caught her wrist and pulled her back so that he could hug her.

"Good luck, sis," he told her as he pushed a small package into her hands.

"What's this?" she asked.

"The present I brought you, it's handkerchiefs; I figure you'll need them," he told her.

She rolled her eyes, "Thanks."

"Don't forget to write," he added.

"Goodbye, Wade," she stated coolly before moving to Scarlett's side.

"Goodbye," Scarlett stated. "Be good for your brother."

Both children nodded as she gripped Ella's elbow and led her to the door.

"Why don't you just handcuff me?" Ella asked sarcastically.

'I'd like too," Scarlett replied. "I'd also like to gag you but that wouldn't look right and people would talk."

Ella wisely chose not to respond although she ignored Rhett's hand to help her into the carriage.

"This is going to be a fun trip," Scarlett said her own voice dripping with sarcasm as Rhett handed her into the carriage.

"I'm having fun already," he replied. "How about you, Ella? Are you having fun yet?"

She gave him an icy look and turned her head toward the window.

"If looks could kill you'd be a widow again, Scarlett," he quipped a sardonic grin on his lips.

"She should've stayed one the last time," Ella remarked bitterly.

"I've had just about enough of your comments, Ella," Scarlett yelled.

Rhett laughed, "Don't worry about it, my dear; she thinks she can make me feel bad for ending her romance."

The rest of the ride to train station passed in silence. As they waited to board the train Ella kept looking around expectantly until Rhett leaned over and whispered in her ear

"He's not coming to rescue you," he stated without emotion.

Her expression turned angry and she turned to walk always but was pulled back by Scarlett and lead to the train. Once on board she pushed past her mother and claimed the seat by the window.

Scarlett sighed, "I suppose this means I'm stuck between the two of you," she told Rhett.

"It's probably safer that way for all those involved," he replied as they settled into their seats.

As the train pulled away from the station Ella took up sobbing once more.

"God's nightgown!" Scarlett exclaimed were not even out of Atlanta yet."

"She can cry from here to the moon if she wants," Rhett replied. "She only has herself to blame."

Scarlett laid her head back against the seat and closed her eyes, it was going to be a long ride to Charleston trapped between her daughter who never seemed to run out of tears and her determined anger filled husband.

Authors Note: Thanks to my reviewers!