Author's Note- thanks for sticking with this story! I really AM enjoying seeing a grown up Wade and Ella, and I hope you all are too! Thanks for the reviews, and enjoy those next chapter!
They walked slowly up the path to the house, the warm air carrying the scents of the flowers blooming. The carefully manicured gardens that Scarlett had planned as she built the house surrounded the house with the rich scent of roses and jasmine. MAgnolia trees sprouted brilliant white blossoms that filled the air with their sweetness. There were the soft sounds of nature carried with the breeze, cicadas chirping and birds tweeting as the sun began setting. It was a rare, peaceful moment between them, and Scarlett enjoyed the growing closeness between them. She was reminded of the time when he had daily met her as made her way to the mills when she was expecting Ellla. Their relationship had never been at a better place for her than at that time. How she had wished to be back with the Rhett of that time, who had been her confidant and best friend.
When Rhett and Scarlett entered the house, Rhett's hand nestled protectively in the small of her back. Together they quickly found that Wade had quickly defeated Ella, despite the time she had put into mastering chess over the last several months. Ella was a little sulky, but she shrugged her shoulders and rose from the table. "I did practice, and he still beat me in hardly any time at all." she moaned coming over to her mother for consolation. "You know how much I worked this spring to better my skills, and he still trounced me." Scarlett brushed at her hair, softly caressing her cheek with a consoling smile.
"Why don't I play you?" offered Rhett to Wade.
Wade glared. "I'd rather play alone." he returned as he began meticulously resetting the chess board.
"Wade, that was rude." Scarlett admonished. She applied the glare that she had used on him as a child, and it still was effective.
"You're right, mother." He turned back to Rhett, "I apologize for my poor behavior. That was not proper for me to treat a stranger as I did." Scarlett glared again at this slight, but Wade was unphased this time by her disapproval. A light gleamed in his eyes. "I challenge you to a game of chess."
Rhett turned to the table where the game had been set up and sat in the seat that Ella had recently vacated. "I accept. I used to play as a child growing up, and I was quite good during my days at West Point."
Scarlett sat down on the settee, with an amused smirk on her face, and Ella joined her, carefully spreading out her skirt to avoid wrinkles. "Does Uncle Rhett realize how good Wade is at chess?" She whispered conspiratorially, watching as they began their game.
Scarlett smiled mischievously. "I doubt that he has any idea of what he is in for. He missed out on a lot. Wade was just a boy when he left. Wade learned many of the things that Rhett started to teach him, but never finished." She turned towards Ella, "The student may have surpassed the master in many respects."
Rhett glanced over at them, noting their bent heads. Wade had grown quite skilled at chess over the years. He had spent many hours while in Boston, honing his skills against any opponent that was willing to take him on. There were many hours well suited for him to stay indoors, rather than facing the exceptionally cold winters that he found up north. Scarlett and Ella watched the game raptly, but they were fairly well matched. And chess was not the most engaging game for observers. After nearly an hour of trying to stay interested in the game, Ella and Scarlett slipped out of the parlor and headed to the dining room for a late dessert.
"Was Uncle Rhett always so stubborn?" Ella quizzed.
"Do you think another man could be as stubborn as Rhett? Why do you think it took him a decade to return? The majority of the delay was because of stubborn pride." Scarlett sipped at a tea that had been made from mint leaves in the garden. It soothed her stomach in a way that nothing else seemed to, and it was one of the only ways that she found relief.
Ella added another spoon of sugar to her cup before she began swirling the spoon in the hot liquid. "Wade definitely inherited that trait from Uncle Rhett." She grinned at her mother, "we will have to watch them, or we'll return some evening to find them turned to skeletons at the table because they refuse to lose the game."
Scarlett laughed so hard at the imagery that hot tea shot out of her nose, that her sides began to ache. "It could happen. Wade is only here for a week before he has to return to pack things up for the summer. I'll just have to force them to take breaks. Wade usually listens to me, and Rhett might listen just to try and win me over."
Ella jumped up, "oh, I just remembered that I saw a picture of a dress that I liked. I'll run into the other room and grab it. Perhaps we can decide on how we want my ball gown styled, if we are going to travel. I think it should be green. It brings out the color of my eyes and complements my hair." She rushes from the room, and soon returned clutching Godey's lady's book. She turned to a fashion plate and together they poured over the book looking for inspiration to take to the dressmaker for new dresses.
"Green was always my favorite color for dresses. I'll also need a new dress sewn for Wade's commencement exercises. He's almost done with his studies, and he will expect for me to travel to watch him."
Ella agreed that green was the perfect color for her mother," although you do look lovely in red, while it clashed terribly with my hair. You also look marvelous in a gem tone blue , like Bonnie used to wear. I like when you wear blue, it makes me feel like Bonnie is still with us." She admitted shyly.
Finally Scarlett went into the Parlor and demanded that they stop for the night, and both begrudgingly agreed. Wade was the first to depart the room, with Ella following quickly behind him. As they mounted the stairs, Scarlett asked "Are you even making any progress?"
Rhett shrugged his shoulders. "We're equally matched. I might have underestimated his skills. I played chess against my brother all of the time growing up. I spent many a night over the years playing against anyone who wanted to play against me. It was more cerebral than poker, and when I didn't feel like playing card gamesI would choose chess instead." He held out his hand and took Scarlett's in his as he started up the stairs. "Hopefully, tomorrow night, I'll be able to either win, or at very least gain some ground."
"Rhett?" Scarlett questioned as she carefully made her way up the stairs. "You really mean to stay, don't you? You're not just doing this to see if you can, are you? Because I don't want to put the children or myself through that anymore. I don't want to risk my heart again. Which is odd , since I still don't think that I'm over you. But I just can't do it again, Rhett. Prove to me that you are really here for the right reasons."
He squeezed her hand as reached the top of the stairs. "I promise that I am." He pulled her to him, until they were face to face, or more accurately her face was level with his chest. She topped her face back to look at him as he told her. "Scarlett, I've made a million mistakes in our life together. But I'm here for the long haul. I've realized how wrong I've been. Whatever it takes, I will prove it to you. I will prove it to Ella, and somehow, some way, I will prove it to Wade. I promise you that. I've finally seen the error of my ways, and hopefully it was in enough time to save the best parts of myself."
He leaned down and softly captured her lips with his own,with infinite gentleness. She sighed into his kiss, welcoming his affection in ways he never would have imagined before he left. Something has definitely changed in their relationship, and for the better. After a moment she pulled away, "I've got to get to bed. There is an awful lot to do tomorrow at the store." She lifted her hand to her lips, a faint blush on her cheeks.
"Sweet dreams, Scarlett." He offered, allowing her to pull away from him.
"Good night, Rhett." He clasped her hand in his larger one, even as she walked away until her fingers tips finally slipped from his hands, with their arms still reaching towards each other, until she finally turned and walked into her bedroom, leaving Rhett standing in the hallway, watching until she closed the door, separating them again.