Scarlett Rose's Arc

Chapter 45 of 57

The receiving line ended at dusk. Scarlett expected the drive to the honeymoon cottage right after. Instead, half the guests followed them back to her place for cake and coffee, and by ten o'clock her aunt was still on the couch with a story book open on her lap, and Rose was refilling glasses, and Clayton's parents were laughing in the kitchen. Scarlett sat on the arm of a chair in her wedding dress and counted the hours she had left with her husband alone. Clayton found her in the hall. He kept his voice low. "How long do you want to wait?" "I don't want to wait." "Then we go." "They won't leave if we're still here." He thought about that. He glanced at the front room, then at the back door. "We leave first," he said. "They'll figure it out." Scarlett went to Rose at the sink. She spoke into her ear. "We're going. Now. The back way. Get them out by midnight." Rose looked at the clock, then at Scarlett's face. She nodded once. "Go. I'll handle the room." Scarlett kissed her cheek. She grabbed the cedar box from the hutch, the one holding the nightgown she had packed a month ago and never unpacked. She met Clayton at the back door. He carried her small bag in one hand and his hat in the other. They went out through the herb garden and around the barn. The truck was parked behind it, ready. Clayton lifted her into the seat, dress and all. He drove without headlights until they cleared the drive. Ten minutes later they pulled up to the honeymoon cottage. Flower boxes under every window. A lamp already lit inside. Clayton had the key ready. He carried her over the threshold because she asked him to. He set her down in the front room and closed the door behind them. The house went quiet in a way her cottage had not been quiet all day. Scarlett opened the cedar box on the bed. She lifted out the lace nightgown and held it against her. "Give me five minutes." Clayton was unbuttoning his jacket. The buckle at his waist caught the lamplight, her name and his in gold across the silver. He took the deed envelope out of his pocket and set it on the nightstand. He set her vows beside it. "Take your time." She changed in the small bathroom. When she came back, he was sitting on the edge of the bed in his shirt sleeves, the buckle still on. He looked up at her once and did not look away. "Scarlett." "I'm here." He pulled her down to him. The envelope on the nightstand could wait until morning. The night was theirs now, and no one knew where to find them.