Hello everyone!:)
Very grateful to you all for the feedback, every message inspires to write more and means a world to me!
I just want to say a few words:)
I don't want readers to "demonize" Rhett (even though he's not behaving well, to say the least).
I'm trying to explain it away with the grief of losing his beloved child. From what I understand, this is the first time he's faced such a significant loss in his adult life. Yes, he lost his father, but it was a complicated relationship. And judging by Rhett's actions, as soon as something goes wrong, he sees only one way out. To run. Why he decided to do it so abruptly this time, cutting all ties, is most likely a coincidence. The chance encounter with Scarlett at his family home is also an influence. So I'm in favor of giving Rhett what he's been longing for:)
I want to say that I am a hopeless romantic who grew up on Nora Ephron movies:) So I'm going to try very hard to bring our characters to a good ending. I hope so:)
This chapter is a little bit shorter than usual.
I own nothing in regard to GWTW.
Chapter 6.
All night Scarlett tossed and turned; she didn't have nightmares, but the dreams were shallow, restless. She didn't remember them, only the images: the image of her mother, with a straight back, so collected, elegant, the image of Melanie, with kind eyes and warm hugs. And even the image of her grandmother, that woman in the portrait from Tara, with the defiant look and the smirk.
Three women whose images tried to give her confidence.
One of the dreams Scarlett remembered too, there was Rhett. The dream was quick, she just remembered parts of it, Rhett's face in the dark, his restless dark eyes, his hands running through her hair. His whispering, but she couldn't remember the words.
She woke up very early, it wasn't even six o'clock yet. Scarlett knew Rhett was still in his room, but she didn't want to face him before the conversation. At least not until after breakfast.
Quietly calling for the maid who helped her dress, she slipped out of the bedroom. It was six o'clock in the morning.
Scarlett decided to go to the nursery to sit there. She quietly went in and closed the door after her. It was still quite dark in the room, but the first rays of sunlight were already shining through the window. She adjusted Wade's blanket, stroked Ella's hair, took a book from the nightstand by her bed, and sat down in the white plushie chair by the window to read for a while.
Page after page, Alice had already fallen down the rabbit hole, got small and then really big, got caught up in the tea party and...
"Mummy, good morning," Ella's voice woke her up.
Scarlett opened her eyes and saw Ella in her nightgown smiling at her as she sat on the bed. Turning her head, she met Wade's surprised gaze.
"Mother, how did you get here?" he asked in a sleepy voice.
Scarlett smiled awkwardly at them and replied, "I got up early, I couldn't sleep. I didn't want to stay in the parlour alone so I came to you. Took your book, Ella and fell asleep reading it."
Ella giggled and Wade smiled. Looking at the clock, Scarlett noticed that the time was almost eight.
"Get up, sleepy heads, get dressed," she said with contrived cheerfulness, "I'll be waiting for you downstairs."
Opening the nursery door Scarlett ran into someone she didn't want to see.
"Scarlett, what time did you get up? Where have you been? I got up around seven and saw you weren't in your room?" Rhett was so full of questions.
"What do you care?" thought Scarlett bitterly, but said aloud, "Good morning to you too, Rhett.I got up early, around six, got dressed, everyone was still asleep at this early hour, so I went to the children. Started reading Ella's book and fell asleep in the chair," she grinned.
"Did you have nightmares last night?" he continued to inquire.
"No, I don't think so, Rhett. I barely remember the dreams, scraps."
He looked at her intently and mouthed, "You don't remember your dreams?"
She sighed and looked at him with annoyance.
"Why do I need to remember them, Rhett? This is a weird conversation from this morning..."
"Yes, I apologize Scarlett, the conversation is indeed strange. Let's go down to breakfast together."
She only nodded and without looking at him went downstairs to the parlour.
As with all important and difficult events in her life, Scarlett felt that everything was not happening to her, that she was just an observer, that everything was a blur. She felt this feeling acutely for the first time during her first wedding to Charles and afterwards she easily recognized it. It was her form of defense against reality: shutting off her emotions, saying what everyone wanted to hear, behaving like everyone wanted to see, smiling with just her lips. That was exactly how she behaved at breakfast, barely touching it. She couldn't be able to swallow a bite as the words were stuck in her throat. Words that she repeated and repeated to herself.
"Yes, I agree to the divorce. Yes, I agree to the divorce. Yes, I agree to it. Divorce, divorce, divorce."
After breakfast, for some reason, everyone was gone except for her and Rhett. Coincidence or was it planned by him, Scarlett didn't think about it. She sat down on the couch in the parlour and stared at Rhett. His back was to her, staring silently out the window at the garden. It was sunny, a truly amazing November this year.
Rhett turned and looked intently into Scarlett's eyes and she felt her resolve evaporate again, her hands trembling. She wasn't ready to let him go, but she had to do it.
"We can't avoid this conversation forever, Scarlett. You've been here almost two weeks..." he began.
"No, we can't, Rhett."
"Then... We should discuss the matter, don't you think? I've named you a sum of money. And, if you or my mother suppose that I am going to play your games and pretend to this Charleston society, you are mistaken!" he continued emotionally.
"Look, how miserable it's made you..." she whispered bitterly.
"It's not Charleston makes me miserable, it's a spending time in a rotting marriage with person trying to destroy me," he angrily contradicted her.
"Rhett, don't do this..." Scarlett replied, closing her eyes and shaking her head.
"Why are you here?
Meeting and talking with my mother. Trying to become friend with her. Bowing her over to your side. Is it your new plan?" he questioned.
"Rhett, I've already explained to you that I came to Charleston because my aunt became very ill. I wasn't looking to see you.That the meeting with your mother was accidental. That it wasn't until later, after that conversation, that I received news from you about divorce proposal. Rhett, there are no sides in this situation. It's a trouble for everyone..." she sadly concluded.
"For me, it's freedom!" he shouted loudly, "My life. Without you and all those painful memories. For God's sake, why don't you want the same thing!"
"Because I love you. Was loving you. I married you, gave birth to a child with you. At some point I wanted to have a family. Our family. But now..." She took a deep breath and continued, "I'm ready to give you a divorce. If that's what makes you happy."
He looked at her with a disbelieving look and asked quietly: " Is it true? Will you give me this chance? Will you sign the papers?"
"Yes, Rhett," she answered quietly, "I'll give you that chance, even though you didn't give us it. I'm only going to say it now, Rhett."
He looked at her bitterly and ran his hand through his hair.
"You didn't give us a chance, Rhett. Our family. To build something not based on lies and pretence, and fights. Maybe it would have been something beautiful..."
"Or maybe not, Scarlett," he interrupted her, "I'm getting too old for these experiences..."
"In any case, the decision has been made, Rhett," she said quietly...
"Thank you, Scarlett," he spoke softly.
"I have a favour to ask of you. Right now, while I'm here, don't tell anyone about the divorce. It's only two days, Sunday morning I'll take the train with the children, you can send the papers to Uncle Henry. I'll sign everything, Rhett. But right now, I don't have the strength to talk to your mother about it. Or to my aunt. Can you do this for me, as a last request?" she asked quietly.
"Yes, of course. I'll leave for Dunmore Landing myself today so as not to disturb you, but I'll buy you and the children train tickets first."
"Thank you," she replied, grinning bitterly.
"And the children, Scarlett? When and how shall we tell them?" he asked with anxiety.
"I'll tell them, Rhett. By myself, at home. If you want to, contact them, they'll be glad to."
"Yes, I'll write to them. We'll see each other, I'm their father, anyway. And mother loves them very much."
"Well...",she said quietly...
"So..." he replied...
They looked at each other in the silence of the living room.
"I love you, Rhett," she thought, and said aloud, "Be happy."
"I'm sorry, Scarlett," he thought, and said aloud, "Take care of yourself."
Scarlett sat in the parlour, clutching the train tickets in her hand. Rhett had just left for Dunmore Landing, as they had agreed. Almost business-like, he handed her the tickets, and with the words, "It will be all right, Scarlett, I will write to you and Henry Hamilton. Thank you." and quickly went outside, his carriage was waiting for him.
Unable to say her last words to him, barely able to whisper "Good-bye, Rhett," Scarlett could not find the strength to go up to her room, but simply sat on a chair by the window with the tickets in her hands.
She thanked heaven that the children were visiting her aunt, Eleanor and Rosemary had gone to the tailor's for a fitting. Ross and Penelope were walking and she was alone in the house. At least for another couple of hours.
"Oh, there you are!" heard cheerful voice behind her and she turned round with a shudder.
Of course, how could she have forgotten about Peter. The cheerful guy she would have loved to call her brother.
Peter, for his part, looked at Scarlett, stopped smiling and asked.
"Scarlett, they told me you were home, I just got back from a boat trip. You are all pale, are you alright?"
"I'm fine, Peter. I...I just sat down. Apparently I was too tight in my corset, I felt dizzy. But, it's okay, I will go up and rest now," she said confusedly.
"And Rhett? Why the hell didn't he help you?" began Peter indignantly, "I will talk to my cousin about how to treat his wife!"
At the word 'wife', the floodgates of reality opened and Scarlett barely managed to hold back a sob, tears already welling up in her eyes.
"Hey, hey, Honey. What's wrong? You are obviously not okay. And what are those papers in your hands? A telegram? A letter? Any news from home?" Peter continued his interrogation.
He crouched down beside her and looked at her expectantly. It wouldn't be the first time she felt warmth and sympathy from him.Not out of a sense of duty or family, but just human sympathy. When someone cared, like it was with Melly. So she decided to open up to him.
"Peter, listen, what I'm going to tell you now is strictly between you and me. Do you promise to keep our conversation confidential?"
Peter nodded silently and waited for the continuation.
"Rhett's gone, Peter. To Dunmore Landing. We had a frank conversation this morning. Peter, I've agreed to give him a divorce," at those words Scarlett's lips quivered, but she continued. "In two days, on Sunday, the children and I are going home to Atlanta. Rhett bought the tickets. He will send all the paperwork to my lawyer."
Scarlett looked up at Peter and saw his stunned face.
"I can't believe it, Scarlett. I mean, I knew you both have problems. To be honest, I overheard Auntie talking to Rhett outside the stables the other day. He was talking about getting a divorce, but she insisted he take his time and give you both time. Damn, Auntie's going to be furious, Scarlett! Why did you agree, I thought you loved him?"
Scarlett sighed heavily and spoke softly, "I do. I love him so much, Peter. So much so that it even pains me to breathe at the thought of him no longer being associated with me, even by last name..."
"Then why? Why did you say yes?" interrupted Peter.
"You know, Peter, this isn't the first time in my life that I have been in a situation where your feelings are dismissed. And I have already pursued one person for several years in my life. It didn't make me or him happy, it just ruined our lives. Stalking someone again, even Rhett. I can't imagine it. If life has put me in this position, then I need to make a new choice. Besides, I really want him to be happy, Peter.Sometimes loving someone means letting go. He said he wanted freedom, and I'm going to give it to him," Scarlett finished quietly.
"Scarlett..." whispered Peter bitterly and took her hands in his. Her hands were cold, and Peter noted how thin she was, pale in her black dress. He wanted to ask if she'd eaten at all today, rested, but he remembered another detail.
"And this ball, Scarlett? Aunt Eleanor really wanted to introduce your family there. She kept telling us all about it. But Rhett's gone, what are you going to do now?"
"If it's important to Eleanor, I will go alone. Or why don't you keep me company, Peter? We are, after all, one family for now... I will do it for Eleanor now, as she is been very good to me, to the children. But I won't tell her about our decision. That's for Rhett to do, she is his mother. I have to talk to the children in Atlanta and that's enough of a burden for me."
Peter squeezed her hand and spoke up, "Of course, Scarlett, I will be with you at this event. Not as your relative, but also as your friend, your confidant. Rhett is a fool. We are cousins, and I love him, but he is making a huge mistake letting you go. I won't tell anyone about our conversation, Scarlett."
Scarlett smiled affectionately at him, stood up and spoke, "Thank you dear cousin.I really appreciate your support. I will go up now, I need to tidy up before dinner. Thank you, Peter."
Rustling her skirts, she quickly left the living room, leaving Peter sitting by the window in deep thought.