Dear Readers!
Thank you for your reviews, your kind words and your endless patience!
This chapter was delayed, I had a hard time finding the words, but I tried. There are still a few chapters (maybe two) left in this story and an epilogue.
Yes, I have a few ideas for new ones and I really wish I didn't have to take a break and start right away, but I just hope I can find the time and words for them.
@linoraline, yes, I wrote to you in private messages and on the website and then on the ff app.
@guest who asked about the memory loss episode. Apparently I didn't disclose it well. Scarlett went with Wade to get help, but all she found was the ruins of a burnt house and then her mother's grave. She was already physically exhausted, not to mention the stress and horror of the night before.
All this affected her in such a way that when they reached the river she actually lost consciousness and memory from the stress of the moment (this happens after very strong shocks and general exhaustion of the body)
That's where John found them and rescued her and Wade.
So the new chapter is here.
https//polinka22malinka/780486699346165760/my-inspiration-for-chapter-28-of-the-story-trying?source=share
Enjoy reading! :)
And thank you again!
Chapter 28.
Scarlett's heart was pounding, and she felt her pale cheeks flush and hot with anger. She looked stubbornly into the equally determined black eyes and said quickly, "You have no right to make up your own rules here, Rhett Butler!"
"Actually, I do, Darling," she heard his mocking voice and noticed that he was deliberately making himself comfortable on the bed, "I'm your husband and I have a right to be in my house with my children and..."
She jumped up from the bed, feeling slightly dizzy, and quickly grabbed one of the bedposts, but then said without turning around, "They're not your children!"
Scarlett bit her tongue as she said the words aloud, but didn't look at her husband, whose face had darkened.
And again there was silence in the room, Scarlett watched the green walls of their bedroom slowly change colour as evening fell outside the window, and Rhett looked at her, at her frail figure, at her resolutely straightened shoulders, but noticed how firmly she held on to the wooden bedpost with her hand... Though the resentment of her words was eating away at him, fear for her and their future baby overcame him and he swallowed and spoke quickly in a husky voice, "I'll pretend I didn't hear your last words."
Scarlett took a quick breath, realizing she had said something cruel, but pride prevented her from turning to him and she just remained silent...
"You know Wade and Ella are mine... Even though they had other fathers, they grew up in my arms. You know that, Scarlett. I will never leave them, never betray them, and..."
The memory, which had come to her more than once during the last nights, flashed brightly before her eyes again, the resentment suddenly flaring up with renewed vigour, and she turned quickly to him, looked like an offended child.
"But you've done it before, Rhett Butler! You left me and Wade and Melly and her baby... You left us all on the way home! You promised! You promised you'd help me!"
Rhett shuddered, got out of bed quickly and said, "Scarlett, please! We'll talk about this later, when you've calmed down, and I'll explain everything to you... At least I'll try. No excitement and shocks now, remember what the doctor said..."
But she didn't hear him again, because when she looked at his face, her ears were filled with all the hurtful words he had said to her that hot and dangerous night.
"I can't see you, Rhett Butler, I repeat! Go away now!" she continued, caught up in a whirlwind of emotions from the memories and her delicate condition.
Scarlett had forgotten that when she had been pregnant with Wade, she had cried all the time, and with Ella, the initial bouts of exuberant joy had been followed by bouts of mild irritation, and God only knew how John had coped with it...
But now, carrying another baby under her heart and having experienced the return of memory, she was like a taut string, and any, even the slightest, "touch" to her caused strong "vibrations"...
Rhett looked at her nervously, not knowing what to do. The last thing he wanted to do was fight with his stubborn wife, but he didn't want to leave... Not now, when he dreamed of falling asleep at night with her beside him, hugging gently around her waist. Not now, when the children had already seen him, but he hadn't found time to talk and play with them while waited anxiously in the bedroom for the doctor... Not now...
"Get out, I told you!"
"Scarlett, calm down," he began again, looking seriously into her eyes, "don't make a mess of our lives now and..."
"You're the one who started the mess by coming to my house in Saratoga and lying to me! You're the one who made a mess of our lives! You're the one who decided to play with my life! Mine!"
Rhett began to loose his patience, yes, he was guilty in this situation, but he had explained everything to her.
"Scarlett, calm down and don't act like a stubborn mule! I said I wasn't going anywhere and..."
Rhett stopped talking and before he could finish his sentence he had to quickly dodge a glass of water that flew across the bed in his direction and then shattered against the wall.
"Get out!"
Rhett quickly clenched his hands into fists and was about to move towards her with determination when they both heard the sound of the door ajar and Mrs Butler's soft but serious voice, "Scarlett, Darling, are you all right?"
Scarlett looked at her mother-in-law in confusion and incomprehension, mechanically adjusting her dress around her shoulders and trying to even out her breathing.
Rhett, who had just saved his head from a glass, also stood and stared at his mother, who quickly assessed the situation when she saw the shards on the floor.
"Rhett," she said in an imperious tone, turning to her son, "wait for me downstairs in the living room, I'll be down in a minute. Let your wife get some rest, Dr Brown has come to see us too..." she continued vaguely, seeing him give his wife a stern look, but quickly put on his shoes and left the room.
He paced nervously around the living room of his own house, angry with her and with himself, and quietly glad that the children were busy with Mary... It was only five minutes later that his mother came into the parlour. Her eyes, though a little sad, were bright with joy.
"Well, hello, son," she said to Rhett, and when he gave her a quick kiss on the cheek, she gently sat down on the couch and motioned for him to sit next to her.
"It's been a long time since we've seen each other, Rhett. You're like the five-year-old boy who broke my vase and hid in a tree... Remember how we searched for you that day until dark, and then you came down when you heard me crying and confessed everything. What's wrong, son? Are you afraid to talk to me and hide in the estate?"
Rhett looked at his mother, ran a tired hand through his hair and simply replied, "I think you already know everything. There's no need to tell it all over again..."
Mrs Butler shook her head unhappily and replied, "I don't think so, Darling. There is a need. I have heard the story from your brother, from your wife, but you are my son! And while I don't approve of your foolish act, you've never been foolish, which means I want to understand the reasons for your behaviour."
Rhett was silent and his mother continued, "But, we'll talk later, right now there are more important things to do... I've just heard the news, Dr Brown came to see us and told me that my daughter-in-law is in her delicate condition and had fainted in the street. And I didn't know, Rhett!"
"I didn't know either, mother! She never told anyone about the baby..."
Mrs Butler looked pitifully at her son, who looked back in indignation and said quickly, "There's no telling what's in the mind of that stubborn and crazy young woman who's my wife! Maybe she even wanted to leave with the children and not tell me anything!"
"Don't talk nonsense, Rhett," Miss Eleanor replied, remembering her daughter-in-law's pallor of the past few days, which she connected with the stress of her returning memory.
"Scarlett was silent, yes, but she was obviously confused herself, son. She was going to have to tell you everything anyway, it was only a matter of time... But I suppose talking is a bit hard for you both at the moment, isn't it, Rhett?"
The mother looked at her son and he frowned, "It's easy for me, I'd just explain everything to her, but she's started that mess again and kicked me out of my own house! But not this time! I'm not going! She has to listen to me and..."
"Son," his mother interrupted him gently, "this time you have to go..."
Rhett looked at his mother questioningly and angrily, reminding her of the angry little boy who wasn't allowed to go out to sea in a leaky boat. She grinned slightly and told him quietly, "Let's give her a little more time, son. Scarlett will make up her mind and call for you. She's very emotional at the moment, not only because of her returning memory, but also because of her delicate condition. Be patient, Rhett..."
"How long do I have to wait? One month, two months, six months! Perhaps the christening of my own baby!"
"You exaggerate..."
"And you're playing it down, mother!!! That crazy young woman is as stubborn as a mule, and very determined, and..."
"Rhett," Mrs Butler's voice interrupted the angry tirade, "I understand that you seldom listen to me, your mother. That is your nature, to make your own decisions, right or wrong... But this time I insist. Give your wife more time. You can stay in my house..."
Rhett looked at his mother again, got up from the sofa and walked to the window, looking out into the garden. Mrs Butler could see how tense her son was, his shoulders, his back, his hands clenched into fists. She could see how difficult the decision was for him.
"All right, mother," Rhett said firmly, turning to her, "I'm going away. To the estate. I'll give her more time if you think it's necessary. But please, please look after her. Make sure she rests and eats and doesn't go out alone. She can faint again..." He said the last words in a quiet, gentle tone, and Mrs Butler smiled at him and nodded.
Mrs Butler found her daughter-in-law sitting thoughtfully by the headboard of the bed, with slightly furrowed brows and a stubborn look of her green eyes.
"Is he gone?" was her first question.
"Yes, Scarlett, just as you asked, Darling..." Miss Eleanor replied, looking intently at her.
Scarlett tried to smile, but her expression was that of a hurt, confused little girl. Mrs Butler noticed this and calmed herself inwardly, then smiled affectionately at her and sat down in the armchair by the bed.
"So, Darling..." she said questioningly and fell silent.
Scarlett was silent too, not knowing what to say. The news of her pregnancy had spread like wildfire through the dry grass and soon it would be the talk of every living room in Charleston.
"Scarlett, Honey, I just wanted to say that I'm so happy I'm going to be a grandmother. I mean, I'm already a grandmother because we have Wade and Ella, but having a little baby is very exciting. It's going to be all right, Darling, you can always count on me for support."
"Thank you, Mrs Butler..."
"Are you hungry now? Shall I ask you to make something tasty for you?"
Scarlett shook her head negatively.
They sat in silence for a few more minutes, Scarlett concentrating on the folds of the blanket, while Mrs Butler looked thoughtfully out of the window.
"Darling," she finally broke the silence, "you see, Rhett must come home... There will be talks soon, society will know of your situation, the servants like to gossip, and I'm not talking about Mary," Mrs Butler explained at once, catching her daughter-in-law's stern look, "I'm not talking about Mary, Scarlett. She has indeed become very close to you and the children, but there are others will start discussing why Rhett doesn't live in his house, you don't want to be the subject of Charleston gossip, do you?"
"No, I don't," Scarlett replied sternly, remembering how much silly people used to talk about her in Atlanta, and remembering her quiet life with John in Saratoga.
"Then..."
"Then what?"
"You have to give him a chance to talk... Darling, everyone deserves a chance to be heard. After all, there's nothing that can't be solved with words, with dialogue. Scarlett, Honey, don't cut my son out of your life. He made a mistake, but he'll make it right. I know his character. He'll make everything right..." Mrs Butler finished her speech and reached for her daughter-in-law's hand, which was still clutching the blanket.
"You're on his side now, aren't you?"
she heard a hurt voice say, and stroking her cheek affectionately, Miss Eleanor said with a smile, "I am on my children's side. You're like a daughter to me, and he's my son... I'm also on my grandchildren's side. They need both parents."
Scarlett listened intently to Mrs Butler, but remained silent, then turned her eyes to the window, where the sky was gradually changing its bright colours to muted tones.
"You know, Miss Eleanor, I'm so confused already," she said quietly, not taking her eyes from the light curtains.
"What is it, Darling?"
"First I was Scarlett O'Hara, then Scarlett Hamilton, then Scarlett Carter, and now my surname is Butler... So who am I? Where's the real me?"
Mrs Butler gripped her daughter-in-law's hand tighter and said confidently, "You are Scarlett Butler, Darling! Of course you are, don't even doubt it! You're a member of our family, another daughter of mine... You see, I have two sons and now two daughters!"
Scarlett sighed, looked at her mother-in-law and smiled affectionately.
"And by the way, Honey, while we're talking about family... Rosemary is very concerned that you don't talk to her. Maybe the two of you could have a cup of tea. I mean, we could all have tea together. In two days, okay, Scarlett? I've got a sewing circle tomorrow, the house will be full, and the day after that we have to be at the tailor's in the morning..."
"All right, I'll be there, Mrs Butler," Scarlett said quickly, realizing that she had even missed Rosemary over these weeks.
"Thank you, daughter. But I'll be back tomorrow for evening tea, and if you need anything, send a maid to me with a note..."
Two days later, on Thursday morning, Scarlett sat in the parlour of the Butler mansion listening to Rosemary play the piano.
They met each other rather well, and Rosemary even gave her a big hug and then said shyly, that she was glad to see her here.
They drank tea in the living room, and while Rosemary was playing, Scarlett was sinking into her thoughts.
The last two days had been a slow torture for her, though she was afraid to admit it.
Now, as the memories began to settle in her mind, as she traced her life from childhood, through her youth, her infatuation with Ashley, her hasty marriage, the birth of her son, the war, and finally her quiet life with John, she found herself at the point and with the man who had been with her almost from the beginning.
Now the warm memories came over her in a wave and she clutched her eyes with tenderness and quiet despair...
...Here he was warming her hands in Saratoga, here he was gently embracing her waist, here he was laughing and joking and she was deliberately offended and turned away from him in bed and a moment later she was scorched by his hot breath, here they woke up, she wanted to joke and persuaded him to play, quickly blindfolded him with a thin silk scarf and laughing jumped out of bed, like a little girl... He, he, he, he, he...
Scarlett didn't notice that Rosemary had finished playing and then sat down quietly on the sofa with her, and Mrs Butler gave her daughter a slight nod, quietly walked out, leaving them alone.
"Scarlett," Rosemary called softly to her, and she flinched, waking from her memories.
"Yes?"
Rosemary adjusted the skirt of her cream dress slightly and said earnestly, "I'm sorry for helping Rhett hide the truth."
Scarlett looked at her silently and she continued, "I don't like lies and I didn't like you at first. That's fair enough. There was something about your relationship with my brother that made me suspicious, I thought you were faking it, deceiving everyone... That maybe you wanted a place in society... But it turned out it was Rhett. When I found out, I wanted him to tell the truth, but he admitted he was afraid you'd be hurt, afraid you wouldn't forgive him. So I decided to give him time to confess when you were both ready. But the way things turned out. Scarlett, don't be angry with me, and don't be angry with my brother. People make mistakes."
Rosemary finished her speech and looked nervously at Scarlett, who sighed, tried to smile and replied, "I'm certainly not thrilled about all the Butlers taking me around, but I've got over it... I'm not angry anymore, not at Ross or you, Rosemary..."
Rosemary smiled happily and tentatively touched her sister-in-law's hand.
"What about Rhett?" she asked uncertainly, worried about her brother. She was delighted to have a nephew or niece, but her older brother, who was going mad on the estate, was also on her mind.
Scarlett thought for a moment, as if considering a plan of action that had matured in her mind over the days, and then added with a chuckle, "He is a liar... And that's not the worst part. The worse part is I still love him..." Here she glanced at the clock on the mantelpiece and suddenly asked, "May I use your carriage, Rosemary?"
The hot June afternoon was almost upon them and Scarlett took a deep breath of the forest air as she and her coachman drove out of town. The drive to the estate was short and they were almost there when she felt the carriage stop and a moment later heard the words, "Here we are, Mrs Butler."
She took another deep breath, adjusted her light linen dress and stepped out of the carriage, saying to the coachman, "Wait for us here..."
As Scarlett walked briskly to the main house, her heart was pounding. She purposely asked the coachman to stop a little further on.
As she approached the house she slowed down, then stopped at the corner and suddenly watched Rhett and Ross doing something with the long wooden planks in the distance.
"Look Rhett, I think your cook is bringing us some water or lemonade, it's so hot today and the poor maid must take pity for us," Ross joked, then gratefully took two glasses of ice-cold lemonade from the tray.
"Take it," he turned to Rhett and held out a glass.
Rhett, in his usual light shirt, ignoring the hot sun, reached for the glass, took it and was about to take a sip when he froze and met his gaze with those familiar green eyes.
His heart was pounding, it seemed to be somewhere in his throat. Without taking his eyes off her, Rhett held out the untouched glass to his brother, who didn't know what was wrong at first, but then smiled and said quietly, "Go, quickly..."
Rhett didn't remember how he'd ended up in front of her, and Scarlett didn't remember any of the phrases she'd rehearsed along the way.
Her heart was racing and her hands were trembling.
They couldn't remember who had made the first move, but a moment later they were both in a tight, warm, tender embrace. Two heartbeats merged into one, and they just held each other tightly, feeling that their breath was one for both of them.
"Let's go home," he heard her whisper and pulled her closer to his chest.
That evening, after putting the children to bed, Rhett returned to the bedroom and found Scarlett sitting thoughtfully on the bed by the headboard...
"How beautiful you are," he said softly, and she flinched slightly and looked up at him.
Rhett quickly climbed onto the bed and hugged her, realizing that this was all he had dreamed of in all those long weeks on the estate where he had almost gone mad.
"Rhett, you're going to strangle me..." he heard her affectionate and laughing voice, but he suddenly pulled away, sliding his eyes down to her flat belly, then looked up into her eyes, asking earnestly, "Did I hurt you, Scarlett?"
She understood his concern, giggled and said, taking his hands in hers, "I was just trying to make a joke, Rhett... And there's no need to be so anxious about my..." she paused and blushed slightly, "about my condition... I'm not a porcelain doll and..."
"I want to have a baby with you so badly..." he interrupted her with his deep, slightly husky voice sending goosebumps down her spine.
"Rhett..." she began, but he gently pulled her towards him. Nestled at the headboard, he hugged her from behind, carefully placed his large, swarthy hands on the white silk of her nightgown, on her belly and just remained silent. She was silent too, in this cocktail of feelings and emotions, his and her own. Her heart pounded wildly and then stopped at the mere thought of being so loved. She wanted to smile and cry at the same time...
"I thought I'd lost you..." she heard his confession, spoken in a hoarse whisper, "... again... You know, Scarlett. I think it's the first time I've ever felt such pain in my chest and I couldn't get away from it. I could always run away, but here I was in the estate, often alone with my thoughts..."
"You knew I love... You..." she replied softly, placing her small palms on his.
"You said you hated me... I almost believed it then..."
Scarlett remembered all the anger she'd spoken to him with those days. She shouldn't have had to apologize for her words, but her hands brushed gently over his and he caught the gesture, just kissing her hair.
"I know I deserved those words, Scarlett, but they weren't the ones that scared me the most."
"What were they?" she asked softly.
"That you said you didn't know how to smile around me. That you were afraid you'd never be able to laugh next to me..."
She smiled softly, but noticed that he was still worried about those words, so she just said, "I'm sure you would find a way to make me laugh, after all you're a varmint, we found that out a long time ago."
He smiled and closed his eyes for a moment, taking a deep breath. She was there, in his arms, for real... He could smell her scent and it seemed to him that he was protecting her and their future baby. Their children slept in adjacent rooms, they had their home and he was ready to give her the whole world.
"Thank you," she heard him whisper quietly behind her back.
"For what, Rhett?"
"For our family."