1. Enter Melanie

The morning sun rose over the inlet, and a light, balmy breeze blew in from the sea, giving the merchant ships an extra push as they headed off to distant ports. Amelia Island and its surrounding town of Fernandina were known for the milieu of backgrounds of the locals, who drew from the finest families who had migrated south for the milder climate as well as former seafarers and adventurers striving to make a respectable name for themselves. But it was a pretty, cosmopolitan little world, for all that it was a tiny seaside Florida town; the natural beauty of the island was in full bloom and the sandy banks of the beach were adorned with high pitched laughter of children playing in the sand, of families enjoying the sun, and of young couples basking in the glow of one another's company. Wild horses ran in the distance, on the neighboring Cumberland Island, their spirits as free and untamed as the mighty ocean. It might seem odd to consider such a place as one's backyard, but Melanie Robillard Wilkes did. Born and raised on the island, she had played on that very beach for as long as she could remember. When she would go into town with her parents, the local folk would wave and pinch her cheeks and remark to her mother how pretty she was.

At thirteen, she was still pretty, if not beautiful, and Amelia Island had claimed her for its very own junior belle. Even more extraordinary than her great good looks were the circumstances by which her family had come to the area. Her black-haired, green-eyed mother, Scarlett, had been living under a cloud of scandal when her nefarious husband actually divorced her, then made a further spectacle out of himself while parading around the city of Atlanta with a young French mistress. Her father, Ashley Wilkes, had been well known and well liked in the city, but had lost his beloved wife two years previous. Luckily, he hadn't been the least bit threatened by the idea of scandal, and he had rescued her mother from the embarrassing predicament and married her himself…of course, it had had nothing to do with her mother's still striking looks and deep pockets.

A mere six months after marriage, Melly had made her grand entrance into the world, and a year later, the family had uprooted completely from Atlanta and taken up residence in Fernandina, a small but vibrant community with plenty of culture, but less rigid in social mores than the establishment of Atlanta or Charleston.

Although Melly was well liked in town, there were very few young girls of her class and education, and she missed her sister Ella, who lived in Georgia with her husband Joe Fontaine. It was only the knowledge that they adored one another that made the separation bearable for Melly, that and the fact that Joe had liked Ella well before they had gotten engaged three years previous, so there had been no surprise when he had gotten up the nerve to ask for her hand. It had been lovely, he had spoken with Melly's Papa and older brother, then knelt down in front of the Christmas tree with the sapphire ring his Daddy had given his Mamma when he'd asked her. When they had married the previous June, Ella had moved into Joe's family home, Mimosa, in Clayton County, but every few months, they would spend weeks at a time on the Island. Although Ella hoped that eventually they might remain permanently, Joe's property had to be considered. Even if he didn't want to devote his life to planting and picking cotton that would never render him as wealthy a man as his forebears, Joe and his stepfather Alex worked as hard as field hands to make sure that it was at least one of the best farms in the County, and Ella, not wanting to be an overbearing wife, accepted her position gracefully, knowing she did have the beach house to escape to, if she needed it.

Her lovely coal-colored eyes lit up with pleasure, Melanie held the hand of her sister as they kicked off their shoes and began to dance among the ebbing waves, braving the still chilly March waters. Laughing, they ran down the beach, the sun kissing their faces.

"I hope you found that worthwhile!" Ella chastised her giggling sister, "the sun is brighter than it seemed, and my punishment shall be extended for days for going without my hat!"

"Oh Ella! It wouldn't be right if your husband spirited you back to Georgia without even one day playing on the beach."

"I do enough playing on the beach in the summertime! Then I come home to mottled skin and freckles and I spend the winter treating them with buttermilk. I do wish that I had your complexion!"

Melly nodded sympathetically, as her swarthy skin was well suited for the sun.

"But Els, what if I don't see you again before Christmas?"

"Well," her sister said, pursing her lips, "we'll just have to prevail upon Mother to send you to stay with us this summer. Would you like that?"

Melly laughed, her dark eyes sparkling with mischief. "If you're quite sure that I wouldn't bother you and Joe. I won't stay with Aunt Suellen again as long as I live! Uncle Will is just fine, but Aunt Sue! Never!"

"Oh hush it, she's not so bad. Anyway, I think she's had a rather hard life, what with keeping up Tara and all. And eight babies!"

"I suppose that would be trying on the nerves," Melly acquiesced, "Els, why haven't you and Joe had a little one yet?"

Ella chuckled. "Its not for lack of trying. Joe wants a son something awful. His mama gives me fits with her fussing. 'Don't do this and that, riding causes miscarriage, Ella; travel causes miscarriage, Ella!'"

"Well?" Melly asked seriously, "don't they?"

"I'm not with child, sweetie. I know it."

"How?"

Ella giggled, "I suppose Mother's not had that talk with you yet. She waited far too long with me. I was convinced that I had some incurable disease and was going to die."

"Whatever for?" Melly's eyes widened with curiosity.

"I'll tell you when you're older," Ella promised. "Race you to the house?"

"Go!" Melly scurried like a fiddler crab as fast as her legs would carry her with the weight of her wet hem. Ella too grabbed her straw covered cane hat and shoes and followed her baby sister, laughing merrily.

They found their mother waiting on the veranda in the company of Mammy, whose ancient old eyes were blurred with blindness, but she cracked a wide smile as Melly and Ella walked up the porch steps.

"Same as allus," Mammy chastised lovingly, "Ah kin tell you chillun been on that beach wid no shoes. Ah's done tole you, Miss Ella, sin' you was a chile, and Miss Melly, Ah's tole you, yesterday!"

Melly kissed the old black face, and immediately the woman straightened in her chair and smiled, saying: "sweet chile…"

"Oh Mother!" Melly flung herself into her mother's waiting arms tragically. "Why must Ella go?"

"Because my darling, Ella has a husband that's going to be missing her terribly."

Melly thought that she noticed a certain look pass between her mother and sister, but ignored it as her father stepped out onto the veranda, a glass of iced tea in his hand.

"Papa!"

His eyes glittered brightly as he swung her around. "Well, it looks like you did it again, my girl. Whatever are we to do with you, little Melly? And you too, Ella Lorena, for leading your sister astray."

"I did nothing!" Ella laughed, "Melly was the one who started it! Although I admit that I enjoyed every glorious second. I do hate to return to Clayton County and reality."

"Ah yes," he replied with fondness, "There is no substitute for this. The birds, the sound of the ocean air…the feel of the water and sand beneath one's feet is without description!"

"Oh Ashley, how you do run on!" Melly's mother chided.

"I'm sorry my dear, I do get carried away."

"Back to your poetry with you," she said with cool gentleness. "And kiss Ella goodbye!"

"My dear," he obliged and kissed her lightly on the cheek. "My best to Joe and Alex and Sally."

"Goodbye, Uncle Ashley," Ella wrapped her arms around his tall, thin form.

"He still doesn't look well," she whispered furtively to her mother after he had returned to the house.

"He's not," Scarlett acknowledged. "And I don't know what to do about it. He catches cold so easily and he's always sick, and no matter how many times the doctor comes, he never tells us anything we don't already know. Sickness of the lungs, plenty of rest…"

"Hmm," Ella said in a dreamy voice. "You could take him to Atlanta to see the new specialist. He's only recently arrived from Europe, but Maybelle Pecard was telling me about him at Susie's wedding last month…she said he cured her mother's rheumatism! Imagine!"

"Fiddle-dee-dee!" Scarlett said with a dismissive wave of her hand. "You didn't tell me that you saw Maybelle; was there anyone else there?"

"No one of consequence," Ella said pointedly, then glanced over at Melly, who sat at Mammy's feet, being quiet but listening intently. "You must let Melly come visit this summer, Mother. She's old enough now. And you know that everyone from back home longs to see her. Aunt Sue and Uncle Will haven't even seen her since she was little!"

"And you think they will like what they see?" Scarlett said evenly.

"I'd like to go, Mother," Melly piped up. "I'd like to see Mimosa and Tara again. I scarcely remember them."

"You'll see them again someday, darling," Scarlett said, then met Ella's eyes.

"He won't be there, Mother. I doubt if he's set one foot in the County since the day he told us goodbye."

"Forgive me, dear," Scarlett said gently but firmly, "I don't wish to discuss him."

"Who?" Melly inquired, then pulled on the hem of Mammy's skirt. "Who are they talking about, Mammy? No one ever tells me anything!"

"Look ter me lak Miss Scarlett and Miss Ella sayin things that don' concern Little Miss."

"Mammy's right, baby," Scarlett addressed her younger daughter. "Go into the house and change. And don't tarry! Ella's train leaves within the hour."

Melly obeyed and shut the screen door behind her, but she lingered and listened to the ongoing conversation that was not meant for her ears.

"You can't hide her here forever, Mother. Sooner or later someone is bound to notice."

"They won't!"

"I did see him once, Mother. It was right after the wedding and Joe took me to Atlanta for the weekend and we stayed in the bridal suite at the National…anyway, he was there with that same French woman he's had for years. He looked terrible of course, all bloated around his face and his waistline is double what it used to be. And he stopped me and met Joe and mumbled some congratulations."

"Did he mention me?"

"Yes. He said…oh Mother, it was ghastly. Right in front of Joe, he said, 'I hope he's as pleasing to her in real life as he was in her dreams while she was married to me!'"

"He didn't!"

"It's God's truth. Ask Joe!"

"It was a horrible time, Ella. I know you're too young to remember it all, but I think Wade might."

"I remember him coming to Tara and spending the night. We thought he was returning for good."

"You know him! No sooner had he stepped into the front door, he began to look for the back! He had no intention of staying, God rot him. But then-"

"Melly." Ella said.

"And Ashley's been so good," Scarlett said emphatically, "he truly has. And he's helped me to forget about him for good and all. So, I won't place myself in a position where I have to face the music. From the way you picture him, it sounds like he'll die sooner rather than later. It's a pity he had to ruin himself. But he didn't ruin me!"

"Oh good Lord, Mother, I didn't mean to bring all this up. It's been such a pleasant trip, it really has. I'm sorry!"

Scarlett gave her daughter a smile. "Please, don't be sorry. You know that you don't have to tiptoe around that subject around me. We can laugh about it now. And I can be content knowing that I have as much money as I ever need and can take care of Melly and Ashley properly and have no one to answer to but myself. You don't know how wonderful that feeling is!"

"I can imagine, Mother," Ella said lovingly. "But you can't deny that you miss the passion of the marriage bed."

Scarlett burst out laughing. "You forget that I'm an old woman, Ella! I'm not a blushing bride like you with an eager young husband. Besides, I'd like to think that I've had enough marital passion to last the average woman a lifetime! Melly!"

The sound of her mother's voice startled Melly, who was suddenly clutched by a sense of bewilderment. She had always known that her mother had been twice widowed and once divorced, but the strange words and references to things that were ever so slightly above her head weighed heavy upon her. So her mother's last husband was alive somewhere… He suddenly became human, tangible as he had never been before.

"Coming, Mother," Melly called, hurriedly bounding up the stairs to her room and returning moments later wearing a clean dress and dry shoes.

"Don't you clean up prettily," Ella squeezed her shoulder affectionately as she floated inside to see that all her belongings had been packed.

Melly noticed that her mother looked weary as she stared into the horizon, her green eyes a little misty. She was the embodiment of love and all else that was good, and to think of her as human seemed somewhat sacrilegious.

"Don' worry, chile. Ah don' see no sense in you gwine home."

"I do miss Tara, Mammy. But you understand, don't you?"

"Yes, chile. Ah 'stand fine. Ah's proud of mah lamb, you is don' Miss Ellen proud, chile."

And Scarlett sighed contentedly, remembering a time when she had envisioned herself as old, married to Ashley and like Ellen…what was ironic was that she wished it could be otherwise…

**NB: My first foray into fanfiction! I would appreciate your opinion! :)