Authors Note: Thanks for your reviews and I'm sorry to keep you all waiting. Enjoy.
Chapter 21-Home
The following day was a flurry of activity as Eleanor and Carreen bustled out for their meeting with the archbishop. Carreen had protested when Rhett pushed a wad of cash into her hands and instructed her to buy some clothing and whatever else she needed while they were out. The protest was of course in vain, for Rhett wouldn't be deterred and pulled the guilt card telling Carreen that if she didn't accept his gift he would be hurt and offended. She relented and accepted the cash, tucking it into the small reticule that Eleanor had lent her with a sigh which only made Rhett grin.
"You're family, Carreen; you have to be properly spoiled," Rhett quipped as the women moved towards the door.
"I'm afraid I'm unaccustomed to being spoiled," she replied.
He laughed, "The first week with Scarlett should take care of that."
"That's really not necessary, I don't require much," Carreen stated; "And I intend to find a teaching position and take care of myself."
"They'll be time for all of that after the holidays," Rhett replied. "For now get what you need and don't feel badly about it, consider it all a gift from Scarlett and I."
Carreen nodded and bit her lip worriedly.
"Don't worry about it, dear," Eleanor told her. "Everything will work out for the best, now let's go or we'll be late."
The women left in the carriage and Rhett took off on foot to run whatever secret errands he had, leaving Wade and Ella alone in the peaceful quiet of the house, which had been in a state of chaos the evening before with all the happenings at the school being discussed and analyzed until Ella had been ready to scream.
She allowed herself to sink back into the soft upholstery of the sofa while Wade lounged in the matching arm chair.
"It was a hell of a day yesterday," Wade commented breaking the silence.
"Tell me about it," Ella replied with a sigh.
Wade chuckled, "After getting a look at what you did to Margo, I'll try harder to stay on your good side. I wouldn't want you taking a swing at me."
She laughed lightly, "Yes, keep that image in mind. You now know I'm capable of doing bodily harm."
"I wish I could've seen the entire fight," he said ruefully.
"I don't even know what possessed me to hit her, Wade. I'm not like that and while it was happening it was as if I were someone else entirely."
"You know why you hit her; she called Mother a whore and in my opinion the only correct thing to do in that situation was to hit her in the mouth. That's what I would've done and that's what you did. Don't go feeling bad about it, she obviously had it coming and you know Rhett isn't angry about it, and I don't mind saying that I'm damned proud to claim you as my sister," he added with a laugh.
Ella giggled, "All these years of being your little sister and all I had to do was hit someone to earn your admiration?"
He shrugged, a mischievous grin gracing his lips. "What I can say? It's the only thing you've done that's really impressed me."
"Well you don't impress me either," she teased.
"I still remember when Aunt Melly took me into the room to see Mother after you had been born. She told me to climb up onto the bed and get a look at my new little sister. Mother pulled the blanket back away from you so I could see and I remember looking down at the bald headed little creature she held and thinking 'this is what everyone's excited about?'."
"I was not a creature!" Ella protested.
"You looked like one," he replied.
Ella flung a pillow at him, "And I suppose you think you were something to look right after you had been born."
He easily caught the pillow and threw it back at her, "Of course I was I was born ruggedly handsome," he remarked with a smirk.
Ella made a gagging noise, "You?" she asked with an incredulous tone. "You think you are ruggedly handsome? What on earth have you been drinking…or is that what Molly tells you?"
"That, little sister is none of your business."
She laughed loudly, "Oh my god, she does tell you that! That poor girl is either delusion or in serious need of glasses. Wait until I tell Mother."
"You will not tell Mother anything," he warned.
"What's going to keep me from telling her?" she asked.
He was silent for a moment as he thought. "If you go flapping your big mouth I'll just have to tell Mother that the reason she couldn't find that expensive bottle of perfume she bought in France is because it is hidden in the bottom drawer of your bureau."
She narrowed her eyes, "You wouldn't."
"Wouldn't I?" he asked.
"I doubt if Mother even recalls that bottle of perfume," she stated.
"Are you kidding? Mother forgets nothing and you know it, which is why whenever one of us is in need of some kind of lecture she is able to stretch her memory into the past and invoke all past misdeeds and mistakes along with dead relatives and war time hardships. Mother keeps every memory, affront, offense and accolade properly stored in the deep recesses of that very dangerous mind of hers."
Ella giggled, "I bet she'd like to know that you consider her mind dangerous."
"I bet she'd like to know how you can do a spot on imitation of her when she's in a tizzy."
"You can not tell her that!" Ella squealed.
Wade laughed, "Alright, I won't tell her but you have to imitate her for me right now."
"I don't have anything to imitate her with," Ella replied.
"Oh but I have news for her and I'll practice it on you so I can get a preview of what it's going to sound like when she hears the news."
"Oh god, you're getting married," Ella stated.
"No!" he exclaimed. "Beau is…to that Yankee."
"She's going to love that."
"Go on, Ella; give me an idea of what Mother's reaction will be like."
She giggled and then straightened her back and raised her chin regally while taking on a look of shock and outrage. "A Yankee!" she exclaimed, her tone mimicking her mother's. "A god damn Yankee! God's nightgown, Melly must be rolling in her grave! I can't believe Ashley would allow Beau to marry a Yankee! What a disgrace to the Hamilton's and the Wilkes! Good god what on earth is wrong with the boy!"
Wade was laughing loudly when she finished. "How did I do?" she asked.
"That was perfect," he declared. "No one can imitate Scarlett O'Hara like you can."
"I agree," Rhett's voice echoed with an amused laugh; "But I would advise that you not do it in front of her."
"I wouldn't dream of it," Ella told him. "She'd probably disown me…or kill me."
Rhett laughed, "Your life wouldn't be pleasant that's for sure."
"You weren't gone long," Wade said to Rhett.
"I only had to pick up a gift for your mother," he replied as he moved to join them.
They sat in the parlor, talking contentedly until they heard the door open and the voices of Eleanor and Carreen floating in the air.
"How did it go?" Rhett asked as they stepped into the room.
"The Archbishop was outraged," Eleanor stated; "And he stated that Agnes Sheffield will no longer be a part of the church after today, in fact he was on his way over there once our meeting was over."
"Merry Christmas to her," Rhett quipped.
"It's probably not the gift she was hoping for," Eleanor replied as she settled down on the sofa.
"Carreen, did you buy the things you needed?" Rhett asked.
"Yes," she replied; "I picked up a few things."
"I practically had to brow beat her the entire time," Eleanor spoke with a soft smile; "But she got what she needed and picked up a few small gifts."
"That wasn't so bad now was it?" Rhett teased.
Carreen smiled shyly, "Are you making fun of me?"
His eyes gleamed, "That's what brother's are for, my dear, and I am your brother-in-law so therefore I have to tease you, and besides you're probably more fun to tease than Suellen."
"I look forward to seeing Suellen," Carreen answered.
"You won't have to wait long, Suellen and her family are joining us for the holiday's this year, and she should already be there when we arrive."
Carreen smiled widely, "We'll all be together again."
Rhett nodded, "Yes, all the O'Hara women will be together again…under my roof, I hope it can withstand the force of the three of you."
"It will be alright," Wade stated. "You know Mother and Suellen do their best to play nice at the holidays."
Rhett smirked, "Yes, that is true; I believe they fear that Saint Nicholas will bypass them if they sink into old habits and rip each other apart."
"They've always been terrified of not receiving Christmas gifts," Carreen replied as her mind conjured up the childhood memories.
"Is that so?" Rhett answered his eyes gleaming.
She nodded, "Oh yes, Pa would start in on us around the end of November, telling us that we had to be on our very best behavior, that we mustn't fight or disobey Mammy because if we did we would be passed over by Saint Nicholas. It was very hard for the two of them to remain on good terms during those weeks leading up to Christmas but they couldn't risk the loss of gifts."
Their laughter filled the air as Pauline and Eulalie were shown into the room.
"Good afternoon, Pauline, Eulalie," Eleanor stated as her laughter ceased.
"Good afternoon," they each greeted.
The women were of course puzzled by the sight of Carreen and soon everything that had happened the day before was explained to them in a condensed version of the events.
"Did Scarlett accompany you?" Pauline asked after the confusion had been cleared.
"No, she stayed behind to prepare for Suellen's arrival and any other last minute holiday preparations," Rhett explained.
"Oh," Pauline replied looking somewhat downcast.
"We were hoping to see her before you headed back to Georgia. We so enjoyed spending Thanksgiving with all of you," Eulalie stated.
"We enjoyed it as well," Rhett replied with a smile.
The ladies turned to Eleanor, their faces looking forlorn. "May we call on you on Christmas, Eleanor?" Eulalie asked.
"You are always welcome to call on me but I will be in Atlanta for Christmas this year," she answered. "I thought I had mentioned it."
"No, I would recall if you had, but how wonderful for you to be going. I do hope you'll have a wonderful time," Pauline told her.
"It was somewhat of a last minute decision that I made earlier in the month," Eleanor explained. "Richard and his family are still abroad and Rosemary will be with her in-laws in Virginia for the holidays this year so I decided I may as well go to Atlanta with Rhett since he would be coming to fetch Ella anyway."
"Of course, there's no point in you spending the holidays alone when you have family to visit. Sister and I will make do with each others company, although we did hope to see Scarlett. I'm afraid we don't have much family left and Ellen's children are especially dear to us," Eulalie lamented.
Wade practically choked on his laughter causing him to have a coughing fit of epic proportions while Rhett shot Ella an amused glance.
"Ladies, if you can be ready by eight tomorrow morning, we'd be glad to have you join us in Atlanta for the holidays," he spoke.
Ella took to hiding her own fit of giggles behind the guise of a cough as her grandmother gently nudged her in the ribs.
Pauline and Eulalie tried not to look so pleased with themselves but they were failing miserably.
"We wouldn't want to trouble you," Pauline spoke but her voice lacked conviction of the argument.
"It will be no trouble at all," Rhett assured her. "Can you be ready in time?"
"Oh yes!" Eulalie exclaimed. "We'll be ready on time, in fact we'll go home right now and pack," she said as she tugged gently on Pauline's sleeve and started for the doorway.
"Thank you for the kind offer, Captain Butler," Pauline called over her shoulder.
Rhett stood and bowed to them, "Until tomorrow, ladies."
The women hurried out of the house and when Eleanor was sure they were off the porch she burst into laughter.
"That was quite a performance," Rhett stated as he retook his seat.
"Mother is going to have your head on a platter," Wade told him.
Rhett chuckled, "I'll win her over with my charm."
"You'd think she'd be immune to that by now," Eleanor commented.
"But she isn't, which just goes to show how irresistible I am," he replied.
Wade and Ella groaned. "We really don't need to hear about that," Wade stated.
"Aunt Eulalie and Aunt Pauline aren't so bad," Carreen spoke feeling the need to defend the older women.
"We all know that, dear," Eleanor told her. "It's just that sometimes they have a certain way about them that can easily ruffle feathers."
"And Mother's feathers are of the easily ruffled variety," Wade replied.
"Scarlett doesn't mind your aunts" Rhett explained. "She visits them and writes, makes sure they're taken care of but she prefers a little distance between them."
"What he's really trying to say is that Mother is afraid they'll come to visit and never leave," Ella stated.
"I see," Carreen replied understanding dawning in her eyes.
"I bet they were already packed before they even came over here," Wade stated with a laugh.
"I got that impression too," Rhett answered.
"You better wire Mother and tell her they are coming," Ella suggested.
"And ruin the surprise?" Rhett replied in mock outrage. "Never!"
"If you go missing we'll know why," Wade told him.
"If I go missing check the back yard for fresh digging spots, I'll most likely be in one of them."
"Is there going to be room for all of us?" Eleanor asked.
"We'll manage," he replied. "Joy and James can go into the old nursery with Suellen's girls, and Pauline and Eulalie can take their rooms."
"James isn't going to like sleeping in a room with four girls," Wade commented.
"He'll get over it," he stated.
Wade shook his head, "I can't put my little brother through that kind of torture, put a cot in my room, we can share for a week."
Rhett nodded, "If you're sure."
"Positive," Wade commented.
The clock was striking one in the morning and Scarlett was still wide awake. She was restless, and that feeling often drove her to walk the darkened hallways of the large house she called home. It was an old habit that she could never shake, one born out of the harrowing days at Tara when she had been too exhausted or terrified to find rest, and from the nights she spent drinking, trying to drown the guilt and desperation she had felt. It didn't happen as much as it used to but it always came back with a vengeance when Rhett was away. She wasn't sure if the feeling came from missing him or some fear in the deep recesses of her mind that he wouldn't come back.
She sighed and shook away those thoughts as she rechecked the door to make sure it was locked. She then climbed the long flight of stairs and found herself standing in front of Wade's empty room. She frowned slightly, feeling the pang of missing her eldest child along with the long nagging feeling that he would always harbor some sort of resentment towards her. She hated that he had chosen to go so far away from home to college. Sometimes she wondered if he had made the decision for the sole reason of being away from her for the majority of the year. She hoped that wasn't the case but she couldn't be sure and she certainly couldn't ask him. He'd only deny it in hopes of sparing her feelings. Wade had been the only constant thing in her life from the age of 16 until the present. He had been there even when Rhett hadn't. A lot of history was between her and her first born, a lot of misunderstandings and offenses that she had spent years trying to explain and apologize for. The sword on his wall gleamed in the moonlight and it took her back in time for a moment, a time when Wade had been small and smiled at her with happiness when she had given him the cherished object. Those days were long over; her boy was now a man and ready to make his own way in the world. Where had the time gone? Things were different now, he did what he wanted, said what he wanted and had few qualms about putting her back in her place if he felt she needed it….but despite those things she still had the knowledge that she was still the most important woman in his life, and now there was this girl Molly, who was being mentioned with alarming frequency. She didn't know who the girl was or what she was about it but she felt in her heart that the young woman who inspired her son to write love letters was most likely the future Mrs. Wade Hamilton. She sighed deeply, an image of a wedding coming to mind. She'd cry the whole time, she imagined, especially if that girl was a Yankee.
With that thought in mind she pushed away from the wall and moved down the hall to James's room. It would be easier to think of James, he was after all years and years away from marriage. She slipped inside the room and gazed at her little boy. He looked so innocent when he was sleeping, so angelic that it was hard to believe that he had actually dropped a worm into his sister's milk earlier in the day and had taken pride in the shrieks that had resulted from it. Of course he was always proud of his mischief making, just like his father, she mused as she swept a lock of dark hair from his forehead. A smile touched her lips as she watched his features as he dreamed. Christmas always made her nostalgic ever since Rhett had came home during the holiday of 1874 and then of course Joy had been born the next December, but James also worked into the equation, of reasons the holiday season pulled cherished memories to the forefront of her mind.
Her mind slipped back to October 1878, the most significant time of turmoil they had experienced since their reconciliation. It had come in the form of a message for Rhett. Belle Watling was dying and she wanted him at her side during her final days. Scarlett had been furious with the reappearance of the woman in their lives and she hadn't been shy about saying so. Rhett had called her foolish and told her that he owed it to Belle, that she had been a friend to him for a long time and that he couldn't just ignore her plea. She had raged and argued that it wasn't right for him to be there and that Belle had been wrong to ask but he had fought back and ultimately walked out the door and went to the bedside of his 'friend'. Belle lingered for weeks and Rhett spent a portion of each day at her side before coming home to argue with his wife. He told her she was ridiculous, that there was no reason to carry on the way she was but her suspicions had been aroused and old feelings came slamming back into her and she refused to drop the subject, telling him that he was making a fool out of her once more. At the worst possible moment a letter arrived from Ashley and Rhett had accused her of contacting the man out of revenge. It hadn't been true, she hadn't had any contact with Ashley since before Rhett had came home but the tension between them blew everything out of proportion and the letter simply asking if Beau could visit Wade during the holiday's had been turned into something entirely indecent.
Belle died the third week of October and after seeing to her burial, Rhett had fled to Charleston to escape his wife, but of course she was having none of that. The day after he left, she was on a train with a fussy toddler on her lap, an annoyed teenage son at her side, and a stoic faced twelve year old on the other. Wade had wanted to remain at home and wait it out, Ella simply prepared for the worst, and Scarlett was ready for battle as she hummed softly in effort to soothe Joy. She hadn't wasted a moment once they arrived at Eleanor Butler's door, or perhaps it would've been better to say that Rhett hadn't wasted a moment tearing into her the second he saw her. It continued on through dinner, Joy crying in her lap, Wade looking humiliated and Ella on edge until finally Eleanor pushed away from the table and yelled, 'Enough!'
When she had gained their attention, she lifted Joy from Scarlett's lap and stated firmly, 'Get out'. They looked at her in shock and then at each other.
'If the two of you want to fight you will have to do it elsewhere because I won't allow it in my home or in front of my grandchildren! Now both of you get out of my house and don't come back until this is resolved."
She had never been so humiliated in all of her life as she shuffled out the door behind Rhett, with bag in hand. The sky had been black and rain had been falling heavily along with the occasional crack of thunder as the carriage took them to the hotel. When they arrived she had demanded her own room, only to be informed by the bewildered man at the desk that there was only one room left that evening. Rhett had snatched the key and drug her up the stairs forcefully. As soon as the door slammed behind them the fight continued punctuated with the sounds of thunder and flashes of lighting. It soon turned passionate and by the next morning, when the storm had cleared out, a sense of ease had settled upon them and they picked up the pieces and swallowed their pride and put it behind them. They never mentioned Belle's name and Scarlett had made Wade reply to Ashley's letter with the response that they would be in Charleston for Christmas. Ashley hadn't contacted her again and the life they had rebuilt went on. On Christmas morning before the children dragged them from their room, she told Rhett she was pregnant.
She smiled at the memory, of the way he had kissed her tenderly and told her it was the best gift he could've asked for. James had been born during the first week of July 1879, fittingly during a storm that had all the makings of becoming a twister, leaving Rhett no choice but to deliver his son himself. She never regretted that the doctor hadn't been able to get there, the memory of the look on his face as he held their baby boy up for her to see was burned upon her mind for eternity. The look of pride and love his eyes had been overwhelming and she wouldn't trade it for anything.
She moved away from her son's beside and moved to the next room. Joy was sprawled across her bed, the covers hanging half way on the floor. Scarlett rearranged the blankets, draping them over her child's sleeping form and brushed a tangle of curls over her shoulder. Joy was exuberant, sometimes willful, smart, and lovable. She had a temper, she could be devious but she also exhibited traits of compassion and loyalty to those she loved. Sugar and spice, Rhett always said that's what their girl was. She could remember the day that five year old Joy had went to her father and asked for a pony. The blood had drained from his face and her own breath had been stolen. Time had stood still and in those never ending moments she knew that Rhett wasn't seeing Joy standing before him, he was seeing Bonnie and the terrible end to her young life. His answer of 'No' had been sharply delivered and he had then stormed from the house leaving a tearful Joy behind. It had fallen to her to tell the child about the sister she would never know, it had been up to her to tell her about the tragedy that had taken her away, and it had been up to her to take the little girl to the cemetery and show her the painfully small stone that marked Bonnie's grave. Joy had never mentioned a horse again, but she didn't forget about her sister, she always requested a small bouquet of blue flowers to lay on her grave every time they went to the cemetery. Her dreams for Joy weren't different from those that she had for Ella. She wanted both of her girls to grow up and be better than she had been. She wanted them to find their happiness and revel in it, instead of throwing it away with both hands like she had been doing all those years ago. She wanted them to be loved and know they were loved. She wanted them to have the happily ever after that they read about in story books.
She kissed Joy's cheek and moved back into the hallway. The clock was now striking three and she was still wide awake. She'd sleep tomorrow she figured, after all of her children and her husband were back under the same roof. Of course Suellen and her family and Eleanor would be there too and she hoped that Carreen would be as well. It would be nice, she thought to herself, to have not only all four of her children together again but both of her sisters as well. It seemed the older she got the more she wanted to surround herself with the people who were important to her. She sighed and forced herself back to her empty bed, it would all come together sometime tomorrow.
Stepping out onto the porch the next afternoon, Scarlett pulled her shawl more tightly around her as she watched Joy and James playing in the front yard with Suellen's two youngest girls. She hated waiting, she had no patience for it and she found herself pacing the length of the porch as the children's giggles filled the crisp air. Finally her eyes caught sight of what she had been seeking, which was a carriage lumbering towards the house with a wagon full of luggage trailing behind it.
"Is that Daddy and Ella?" James called to her.
"I'm pretty sure it is," she replied keeping her eyes on the approaching conveyance.
The carriage and wagon came to a halt in front of the house.
"Scarlett!" Rhett called jovially as he exited the carriage. "I've brought half of Charleston home with me."
She laughed, "Whatever are you talking about, Rhett?"
"You shall see, my dear," he replied as he held his hand out for the first occupant.
Eleanor Butler stepped down from the carriage and called a greeting to her before being mobbed by her grandchildren.
"I knew your mother was coming, Rhett," she chided, causing Eleanor to chuckle.
"Alright then, shall we try for prize number two?" he asked before handing Ella down.
"Again, not a surprise, although I am so happy you're home darling," she stated as Ella rushed towards her.
"God's nightgown! What's happened to your face this time" she exclaimed upon closer sight of Ella.
"It's a long story and we'll talk about it later," she answered as she embraced her.
"You can bet on that," Scarlett told her.
"Are you ready for number three, Scarlett?" Rhett called.
Hope filled her and a wide smile crossed her face, "What do you think?"
A dainty hand appeared from the carriage, clasping Rhett's as she made her decent to the ground.
"May I present Miss Caroline Irene O'Hara, fresh from the nunnery," he quipped with a grin.
"Thank god!" Scarlett cried as she took in the sight of her sister.
"I'm home, Sissy," Carreen replied falling back on the old childhood nickname she had used in reference to Scarlett.
"I'm so glad," Scarlett replied as she met her halfway and embraced her.
"Me too."
"Sue is upstairs, she'll be so happy to see you."
Carreen's eyes glistened with tears, "We're all together again."
Scarlett nodded, "The way it's supposed to be."
"I have two more waiting, Scarlett," Rhett called.
Her eyes showed confusion until Rhett helped Eulalie down from the carriage.
"Oh my God," she whispered.
"Merry Christmas, Scarlett!" her aunt called happily.
She smiled out of reflex and returned the greeting.
"Be kind, Scarlett, they're lonely," Carreen whispered.
"I hope we won't be any trouble to you, Scarlett," Pauline stated as she joined her sister; "But we just couldn't refuse your husband's gracious offer to spend the holidays with you."
"No trouble at all," Scarlett forced herself to say while smiling, but she kept her gaze on Rhett who was grinning sheepishly.
"Oh good!" Eulalie replied taking Scarlett's hands in hers. "We are so looking forward to enjoying a visit with all of Ellen's girls."
"We're happy to have you, Aunt Eulalie, Aunt Pauline, please go on inside and make yourself comfortable."
Eleanor led the ladies into the house and Wade jumped down from the luggage wagon.
"Can you believe they made me ride with the luggage?" he asked as he kissed her cheek.
"It suits you," she replied her voice laced with teasing.
"Just for that I'm not going to help you dig a hole to bury Rhett in."
"That's alright, I've dug holes on my own before," she remarked as her husband joined them.
"For the record, we told him to wire you in advance and warn you, but he said that wouldn't be any fun," Ella told her.
"Yes, well we'll see how much fun he thinks it is later," Scarlett stated.
"I think that's our cue to leave, sis," Wade stated grabbing Ella's elbow and dragging her into the house.
"I didn't have any choice, Scarlett," Rhett stated before she could say a word.
"Really?"
"They put on a lovely show of practically begging for an invitation."
"And you just can't resist a woman in distress," she answered with a smirk.
"Apparently not, that's how I ended up married."
"You better be careful, you're not on my good side at the moment."
He grinned suggestively, "I'm sure I can find my way back to it," he relied before brushing a kiss across her lips.
"Don't try to distract me," she stated.
"I can't help it if I'm irresistible."
"I can resist you just fine; now get back to telling me why I have two more house guests."
"They kept going on about how they missed you and wanted to see you, and how it was nice that Mother had family to visit for the holidays and I didn't see any way out of it. It won't be so bad; it's only for a week."
"Or forever."
He shook his head, "No, Mother said she'd make sure they went back with her, you have nothing to worry about, besides they're your mother's sisters and you and your family are all they have left."
She sighed, "Oh alright, I guess I can manage having them here for a week."
"That's the Christmas spirit, my pet," he told her.
"Don't think you're getting off the hook so easily, you could've wired me."
"And ruin the surprise?"
"One of these day's I'm going to surprise you," she told him.
"Scarlett, you've been a constant bag of surprises since the day I met you," he stated as he took her arm and lead her back into the house.
When Ella told Scarlett the entire story of her semester at the Sister's of Mercy Convent School, she had been furious. It was a fury like she had never seen before. She wanted to board a train and go to Charleston and take care of Agnes Sheffield and the Sinclair family herself. Ella and Wade chuckled quietly as Rhett and Eleanor tried to calm her down, which eventually she did settle down but dinner was sprinkled with moments of her tirades about the whole situation. Wade took pity on Ella and broke the news of Beau's engagement to a Yankee. She exploded all over again, and in much of the same fashion as Ella had imitated.
"And if you think I'm going to allow you to marry a Yankee, Wade Hampton, you've got another thing coming, I'll tell you that!" she thundered.
"I am not marrying a Yankee, Mother" he told her as he tried to control his laughter.
"How do I know that for sure? You don't tell me anything, especially about this girl Molly you're so enamored with."
"Mother, I'm going to put you out of your misery because I don't want you to have a stroke. Molly is not a Yankee, she was born in Virginia and raised their until she was about fourteen. She now lives in Boston with her great-aunt, but I assure you she is as southern as you are."
Scarlett stared him for a moment, "You're not just telling me that are you?"
"No, Mother."
"Then you won't object to me writing to her and asking?"
"You are not writing to Molly and asking her anything," he told her.
"Why not, what do you have to hide?" she argued.
Ella caught Carreen's eye and raised her glass to her as Scarlett and Wade continued to argue. "Welcome home, Aunt Carreen."
"Same to you," Carreen replied her eyes glowing happily.
Ella smiled and looked around the table at her family gathered around. It was good to be home. For the last several months she had felt incomplete while away from home, but now she felt whole again, she felt loved and wanted and she couldn't fathom that she had almost left it all behind for someone who didn't care about her. Rhett tapped his spoon against his glass, effectively ending the argument that was continuing on and capturing the attention of everyone gathered at the table.
"Now seems to be a good time for a toast," he announced as he rose from his seat.
"First of all, Scarlett and I want to thank all of you for sharing Christmas with us. We all know that this family has had its moments of discord and have often found it hard to remain in harmony with one another."
"That's the understatement of the century," Wade called out.
Rhett laughed, "Yes it is, but since it is Christmas I thought I'd sugar coat it. Now as I was saying, we have our ups and downs, our fights, our mistakes, our regrets, but in the end we all make our way back to each other. I found myself wondering why that is, and I've found that in the case of this large extended family that strength and character comes from its women and it's time we give you the credit that you are all due, ladies," he stated as he raised his glass and motioned for everyone else to do the same.
"Here is to the women of this family, the ones who are gone and the one's who are gathered here tonight, and to the next generation, waiting to do their mamas proud. You ladies are the lifeblood of this family; you give us your heart, your love, your tears, your dreams. You struggle, you survive, you pick us up, you carry us forward, you make our lives whole and we would be lost without each of you, so here is to all of you, the O'Hara's, the Butler's, the Robillard's, the Kennedy's and the Benteen's, long may you reign."
The glasses clicked together in salute and Ella studied each woman and girl at the table. Rhett's words had pierced her heart and she realized once again how lucky she was to belong to these people, to have their blood flowing through her veins and their unconditional love whether she was related to them by blood or marriage. This was what life was about, having a place to go home to, having people that accepted you as you were despite your mistakes and flaws. She had lost herself somehow in the madness of her sixteenth year, but seventeen was bringing her back down to earth. She was a Kennedy, she was an O'Hara, and in some respect she was a Butler and given the legacy of her family she'd go through more disappointments and tragedy's before finding what she was looking for but she'd survive, she'd survive it all. Just like her mother had, just like all of the women before her.