There certainly were a lot of steps from the...
There certainly were a lot of steps from the third floor down to the
kitchenScarlett had never noticed how many when she was running
down
themNow each one meant a stab of pain if she didn't carefully ease
her weight downIt was worth staying in for a day-or
even
two-to have had the joyful dancingMaybe she could ask Katie to shut
the cow in her shedScarlett was afraid of cows, she always had
been,
all her lifeIf Katie shut it up, though, she could sit outside in
the yardThe spring air smelled so fresh an sweet through the open
windows that she longed to be out in italmost to the
parlor floorI wish I could go fasterAs Scarlett gingerly lowered her right foot to the chanel vintage jewelry first step
on the final flight of stairs to the kitchen, the smell of frying fish
rose up to meet herDamn, she thought, it's no-meat time again
What
I'd really like is some nice thick baconSuddenly, without warning,
her stomach contracted and her throat filledScarlett turned in panic
and lurched to the windowShe held on to the open curtains with
frantic grasping hands while she leaned out of the window and vomited
into the thick green leaves of the young magnolia tree in the yard
She was sick again and again until she was weak, and her face was
wet
with tears and clammy sweatThen she slid helplessly down into a
huddled miserable heap on the hall floorShe wiped her mouth gucci paolo watches with
the
back of her hand, but the feeble gesture did nothing to erase the sour,
bitter taste insideIf only I could have a drink of water, she
thoughtHer stomach contracted in response, and she gagged
Scarlett
put her hands over her middle and weptI must have 433 eaten
something gone to poison in the heat yesterday
I'm going to die right here, like a dogShe took short panting
breathsIf only she could loosen her stays; they were cramping her
aching stomach, cutting off the air she neededThe rigid whalebones
felt like a cruel iron cageShe had never in all her life felt so
sickShe could hear the family's voices from below, Maureen asking
where she was, Kathleen saying tiffany cross she'd be down any minuteThen a
door
banged, and she heard ColumHe was asking for her, tooScarlett
clenched her teethShe had to go downstairs
She
would not be discovered like this, bawling like a baby because she had
partied too muchShe wiped the tears from her face with the hem of
her skirt, and pulled herself upright"There she is," Colum said when
Scarlett appeared in the doorwayThen he hurried to her"Poor
little Scarlett darling, you look like you're walking on broken glass
Here, let me put you at easeHe picked her up before she could say a
word and carried her to the chair that Maureen quickly pulled up close
to the hearth
Everyone bustled about, their breakfast see by chloe bags forgotten, and in only seconds
Scarlett found herself with her feet on a cushion and a cup of tea in
her handsShe blinked back the tears in her eyes, tears of weakness
and happinessIt was so nice to be taken care of, to be lovedShe
felt a thousand times better nowShe took a cautious small sip of
tea, and it was goodShe had a second cup, then a third and a piece
of toastBut she averted her eyes from the fried fish and potatoes
No one seemed to noticeThere was too much hubbub getting the
children's books and lunchbags sorted out and shooing them off to
schoolWhen the door closed behind them, Jamie kissed Maureen on
the
lips, Scarlett on the top of her head, Kathleen on her replica fendi spy che