Chapter 53 Summary

It is Ashley's birthday and Melanie is throwing a surprise party for him. It is Scarlett's job to keep him busy at the mill until it is time for him to come home, as the planning is running late. Ashley asks Scarlett why she is not at the house helping Melanie plan for his party, and explains that men warn each other of these things so they do not embarrass their wives.

The two begin to talk and reminisce of old times before the war took its toll on all of them. Ashley tells her that when she is old she will still look the same to him and he remembers how she looked at the last barbecue at Twelve Oaks. Ashley wonders what would have happened to him without her. Ashley tells her that he can no longer be sad for it...