Trapped at the Saw Mill

Summary: Ashley and Scarlet get trapped in the office of the Saw Mill. They both have a case of the hangries and Scarlett is six months pregnant.

Hangry definition: bad-tempered or irritable as a result of hunger.

Author's Note: I was thinking one day that if Scarlett had ever had to spend a lot of time with Ashley the magic would be gone because she would quickly find out how boring and incompetent Ashley was.

Scarlett Butler was at Ashley's mill the last day before she went into her confinement. It was late in the afternoon. She had planned it that way. She was hoping to have a few minutes alone with Ashley after all the workers went home for the day. She had mixed feelings about the visit. She wanted to see Ashley but she didn't want him seeing her with her being almost seven months pregnant. Scarlett didn't want Ashley seeing her in this grotesque shape but she had to see him one last time before she went into her confinement and she couldn't see him for at least five months.

When Scarlett got there, she told Jack Armstrong, the foreman, that the workers could quit working for the day. She was smiling her prettiest smile. She walked in the little office which was more of a shack. The building was just one room which was about sixteen by sixteen. It was painted beige inside and out. It held two desk, two stools and one chair. It was very bare and plain but it was the office for a sawmill after all. It needed to be rugged and utilitarian. There was no glitz or glamour here. There were only three windows that were a foot high and six feet wide. They were about five feet from the ground. She had not wanted people to be able to see in the building when she had it build. The windows provided air for circulation. She had been so glad when she had heard about the new device – screens. She had a screen door installed and screens over the windows. Between the door and the windows there was plenty of air moving through out the room.

When Scarlett walked in Ashley wanted to groan. He didn't have time for her today. This had been a bad day not the least being he had left his dinner at home. He had wanted to get out of the office early because he had a political meeting tonight. He just didn't have time to deal with Scarlett and her need to be flattered to day. He perked up a little at the look of adoration though. Ashley said, "Scarlett you look beautiful. What do I owe the honor of your company?

Scarlett said, "I have come to look at the books one last time before I go into my confinement."

Scarlett was disappointed. She wasn't feeling any of the excitement she usually felt when she was around Ashley. It was probably because she was uncomfortable with him seeing her in her condition.

Scarlett looked over the books and was satisfied with the results. It looked like Ashley had made a profit this month and he was selling to the Yankees again. Good. She was glad that the lecture she gave him a couple of months ago had sunk in.

As Ashley leaned over her to look at the books his smell nauseated her. Scarlett thought, "Is that a new cologne he is wearing? It is awful." She quickly moved away from him before she vomited.

She managed to smile at him with her best smile and said, "You did good this month."

Ashley said, "Thank you."

Scarlett said, "What are you doing with yourself besides working?"

Ashley thought, 'Now she wants to socialize. Not today. I don't have time.' Ashley said, "I am still working with the Democratic party trying to get the vote back for former Confederate soldiers. There is an oath now that most of us can take and our rights will be restored. If we can get all those Republicans out of office then we will be able to rule ourselves again."

Scarlett didn't understand why everyone was always talking about getting the vote back like it was the most important thing around. These same people refused to do business with the Yankees. They acted like doing business with the Yankees was a traitorous act. They seemed to forget the Yankees were the only ones with any money. She didn't want to talk about that and be lectured on the subject again especially not by Ashley.

Scarlett said, "And what else?"

Ashley then said, "I would like to stay and talk but it is time for me to get home. I have a political meeting tonight so I need to get home early. Melly will have supper ready. I forgot my dinner at home today so I am very hungry."

Scarlett felt hurt that he didn't want to extend their time together but she got up and smoothed her skirts down and started walking to the door. She had to get home too besides she was hungry also and she kind of needed to pee. She could make it home for sure. Having to pee all the time was another discomfort she had to endure while she was pregnant. Life wasn't easy for women.

When she got to the screen door and pushed it didn't move. She pushed again. Still nothing. Then Ashley said, "It gets stuck sometimes. There is a piece of molding that has come loose and it stops the screen door from opening."

Scarlett said, "So how do we fix it and get out."

Ashley said, "We can't fix it. Someone has to fix it from the outside."

Scarlett said, "How long has this been like this?"

Ashley said, "For about two to three weeks."

Scarlett said, "God's nightgown! Why have you not fixed it?"

Ashely said, "I keep forgetting about it until it happens. I forget about it when I get home and forget to bring a hammer to work with me."

Scarlett stared at him with an incredulous look on her face. Ashley said defensively, "When I get home the last thing, I want to think about is the sawmill."

That statement hurt Scarlett's feelings. She knew it was the way he said it like the sawmill was disgusting. She said with a little bit of anger in her voice, "So we have to sit around and wait for someone to find us."

Ashley said very nonchalantly, "It won't be long. Melly will come looking for me when I am not home by six. Oh wait. Tonight, I was going to have supper with the Bonners before the meeting."

Scarlett said, "So Melly won't know you are missing until after nine. God's nightgown! If someone drives by and sees my buggy and your horse, they will assume the worst."

Ashley looked at her like she was crazy and said with some umbrage, "Nobody would think that about me."

Scarlett said with frustration, "Everyone will think it about me."

Ashley naively said, "All we have to do is explain and then everyone will know the truth."

Scarlett just stared at him. Did he really believe that? Does he think that because he is such an honorable man nobody will believe awful things about him? Scarlett knew that he was right. Nobody would believe he did anything wrong but everyone would be ready to tar and feather her. Oh God! Rhett was her only hope. Fortunately, they hadn't had an argument in a while. Hopefully when she wasn't at supper, he would come looking for her. Oh please. He was just as apt to not care enough to come looking for her. Wait! He will come looking for his baby. Oh, please let it be so. Scarlett started looking around the room to see if there was any other exit. She saw the window and thought maybe.

She pushed one of the stools over to the window and climbed on top of it. As she was standing there, she knew she was too short to reach the window. She said, "Ashley come here and give me a push."

Ashley walked over and stood beside the stool and said, "How am I suppose to give you a push? I would have to touch you on your backside or your legs. I will not touch you there. It would not be proper."

Scarlett was getting angry now. She wanted to stomp her foot. She said, "This is not a time for being proper. Just put your hands on my bottom and push me up."

Ashley looked at her with pity and said, "Scarlett we must always be proper. That is what separates us from the heathens." He walked away and sat on the other stool. "Besides you wouldn't fit through there because of your condition."

Now Scarlett was frustrated, angry, embarrassed, hungry and she had to pee. Scarlett never dreamed that being trapped in the office with Ashley would be anything but heaven. It was not heaven. In fact, it was getting to be hell. She said with a bite in her voice, "You could at least help me down."

Ashley walked over and said, "Of course, my dear." He gave her his hand and she got down from the stool. She sat on her stool. She was glad he had moved back to the other side of the room. He really smelled bad. Her mind was racing trying to figure a way out of the room. Ashley started talking about the way things were before the war. He was going on about how great and wonderful everything was. How they had been gods and they hadn't even known it. He rambled on for a while because Scarlett wasn't listening. She recognized that whenever he talked about something she didn't understand she just stopped listening. But him talking about nonsense when they were in a crisis made her even madder. She was beginning to agree with Mrs. Fontaine. Ashley really was useless. He wasn't even looking for a solution to their problem. He was just sitting there waiting for someone else to rescue them.

She interrupted him by asking him, "If you had gone to New York to you think you would have like working in a bank?"

Ashley looked startled then said, "I wouldn't have liked it anymore than working here but at least working in a bank has some dignity. If we were up North, we would have been away from all this devastation. I wouldn't have to see what has become of The South. I wouldn't have to wait for change."

Scarlett felt like she had been slapped with his comment about dignity. She said, "Why don't you try to change what you don't like?"

Ashley looked at her with a look of condescension and superiority. She knew those looks well since living with Rhett. He said, "That is what we are trying to do by getting the vote back. We are stymied by the lack of money."

Scarlett said, "That's even more reason to sell to the Yankees. The profits you make can be used to get the vote back."

Ashley again looked at her with condescension and said, "It takes a lot of money to change things on a political level."

She was getting tired of Ashley looking at her with condescension when he couldn't even do the books right seven days in a row.

Ashley then said, "Beside not seeing what has become of the south if we were in New York we would be in the middle of the cultural world. The opera, the plays, the museums, everything new and avant garde. Melly would have loved it. Beau would be a well-polished young man. There may be medical help for Melly's problem. The leading medical minds in the world are in New York. …"

Scarlett let Ashley babble on about New York while she just stared at him. She was thinking, 'What did avant garde mean? Why couldn't he speak in plain English. He knows I don't understand those fancy words. Does he know me at all? Is he still talking about New York? Who is this man? I know nothing about him. I don't think I like him. How can that be? I love him. Or have I always just been attracted to his body. That would be ironic. All we have ever wanted from each other was our bodies. Him babbling on about nothing is making me mad.'

Harshly Scarlett interrupted Ashley to ask, "Why did you marry Melly?"

Ashley looked startled and a little nervous when he said, "Don't make me speak of all those things again."

Scarlett said, "I'm just trying to figure out how you could court me for two years and then suddenly marry another woman."

Ashley said, "I was not courting you. I never ever said anything like that."

Scarlett narrowed her eyes and said, "No you didn't. You just called on me every week for two years and did romantic things like read me poetry."

Ashley looked ashamed and looked away. Scarlett coldly said, "Refresh my memory. Why did you marry Melly? I seem to remember it was something to do with y'all being the same. Is that it?"

Ashley looked at her now with a very sad look on his face like he knew he was going to hurt her with his words. He said, "Yes. Melly and I understand each other. We are in each other's blood."

Scarlett said, "Were you forced to marry Melly?"

Ashley said, "We mustn't talk about these things."

Scarlett shouted at him, "Just answer that damn question and we can drop the subject."

Ashley said, "No. I wasn't forced to marry Melly. I chose to marry her because I thought we could be happy together. And we are."

Scarlett stared at him for a long time. She thought, 'I have no idea who this man is. I will never understand him. I am not interested in anything he is interested in. Oh God! All the wasted years." She said, "What time is it?"

Ashley said, "It is five minutes after six."

Scarlett said, "Good. Rhett will be here soon." She saw a look of distaste pass over his face. An hour ago, she would have been sure it was because of his jealousy of Rhett. She now knew that wasn't true but she did wonder why he hated Rhett.

They sat there for a while and Ashley took a book of poetry out of his pocket and began to read. Scarlett wondered how much time he spent reading poetry instead of concentrating on the mills. All Scarlett said was, "Why don't you read them out loud and entertain us both?"

Ashley started reading the poems. He had a nice voice and it made the poetry sound so nice. The words in the poem were about love creating a very romantic atmosphere. God's nightgown. She had to stop listening. She would have enjoyed just listening to him before but now she was all consumed with thinking about: them getting caught, how hungry she was, and how much she needed to pee in that order. Occasionally she would think: Rhett, please hurry.

As Rhett had entered the dining room at six the only person there was Wade. Scarlett was not home for dinner. Rhett was annoyed and worried. Where was she? He knew he shouldn't have let her run around unescorted while she was pregnant. He had thought he had the matter covered by insisting she use a driver but this afternoon she had foiled that plan. After dinner when she left to go to the store and the mills one last time before her confinement, she had told Elijah, the driver, that she didn't need him this afternoon. She told him that it was her last day out in public for a while and she wanted to drive herself around. Elijah, of course, did what his mistress wanted him to do. Rhett wouldn't have known anything about it if he hadn't seen Elijah walking around the stables.

Rhett knew she had saved Ashley's mill for last so she could spend time with him alone. She was so easy for him to read. At least he hoped she was at Ashley's mill. The worse possibility was that she was in a ditch somewhere dead or dying and his baby also. He was torn between going out there and catching them in the act or just ignoring her absence at supper. He had finally decided to catch her in the act. Then after the baby was born, he would take his child and leave her forever. He was sick of him doing everything for her and Ashley being the one she had on a pedestal. If she wasn't there, he could start a search for her.

Rhett told Wade he had some business to take care of and he would see him tomorrow. Mammy would get him ready for bed. Wade looked at him with huge eyes that had tears in them and didn't answer. Wade knew something was seriously wrong. Where was Mother? Where was Uncle Rhett going?

Rhett walked out to the stable and instead of telling the groomsman to saddle his horse he did it himself. After he was finished, he got on his horse and rode out to the mill on Decatur Road. He oscillated between being worried that Scarlett was hurt and anger that she was alone with Mr. Wilkes. Finally, he got to the mill and his blood began to boil. Right there for anyone to see was her buggy and Mr. Wilkes' horse. He came close to riding off but he had to prove to his heart that she really was a cheating bitch. He tied up his horse and walked to the office. He could see inside the shack and they were both in there but they were on opposite sides of the room. His temper began to cool with that knowledge. Maybe there was an explanation. Then he heard his wife say, "I wish Rhett would hurry up and get here. Everything will be alright once he gets here." That made Rhett feel very good that she had that much faith in him.

Ashley had put up with Scarlett for years now and he was damn tired of it. Her tempting him, her berating him for his lack of business skills, his having to put up with the snide comments about him working for a woman, her bullying him into staying in Atlanta and Melly going on and on about everything Captain Butler and Scarlett had done for her during the war. And he was hungry. And he was especially annoyed at Scarlett after all her snide comments. He said, "The great and wonderful Captain Butler. Always the hero!"

Scarlett said, "What do you mean by that?"

Ashley said, "Just that I'm tired of Melly thinking he is so wonderful when he is a sorry excuse for a human being."

Scarlett said, "How dare you say that about Rhett? Rhett is a wonderful person." Before being trapped in the office with Ashley for this hour she would have probably agreed with Ashley about Rhett's character. Rhett was pleased at the way she had jumped to his defense.

Ashley said, "Wonderful person, is he? I wonder if Abagail Jenkins would agree?"

Scarlett was totally confused and she asked, "Who is Abagail Jenkins?"

Ashley said, "The girl he ruined. We could ask her brother James but he is dead."

Scarlett shouted at Ashley, "What was he supposed to do marry a ninny because of an accident? Guess Rhett just didn't tell everyone the truth. Isn't that your solution if someone catches us out here alone? Just tell them what happen and everyone will understand and there won't be any harm to our reputations. And was Rhett supposed to let her brother kill him?"

Ashley shouted back, "If he is such a fine man how do you explain him leaving you at Rough and Ready?" Rhett wanted to groan. Not that again.

Scarlett shouted, "I don't know why he left us at Rough and Ready but he got us out of Atlanta. He stole a horse and a wagon and got us out of town. The next day when Sherman took over the city, he forced all the Southerners into the swamps. If Rhett hadn't gotten us out then all of us would have died. Rhett had faith in me that I would get us to Tara. Rhett thought that when I got to Tara my parents would take care of me. I don't think even he knows why he had to go fight in the Confederate Army but for some reason he did." Scarlett's defense of him made Rhett want to laugh because of all the times she had berated him for leaving them at Rough and Ready.

Ashley was furious and shouted, "You and Melly act like what he did at Rough and Ready wasn't the worst thing a man could do. Melly acts like he is such a misunderstood man. That Captain Butler is really a fine gentleman. She can't see that he is coarse, brutal and ruthless.

Scarlett was past mad now and she shouted, "Coarse, and brutal? My husband is not coarse and brutal. Why are you so jealous of him? Because he is successful and you are a loser living off of my largess. Or is it because he is married to me? Or is it because Melly admires him so?" When Scarlett said it, she knew it was all three. Rhett thought the same thing, it was all three. Rhett noticed Scarlett wasn't saying anything about Mr. Wilkes accusation of him being ruthless.

Ashley stared at her with hatred in his eyes and calmly said, "And I don't know the details but he let you down at the Fire House or you wouldn't have had to tricked Frank into marrying you."

Scarlett gasped when Ashley said she had tricked Frank into marrying her. It was true but she had never known Ashley had thought that of her. She shouted, "That's right you don't know the details. But let's not forget that you didn't do anything but moan and groan about not being a god and some God damn rug thing. Fine southern gentleman that you are you let me go to Atlanta to sell myself to Rhett. And if you didn't know I was going to do it then you are even more obtuse than I am. Don't speak of things you have no knowledge of. Although it is hard to believe that there is something you have no knowledge of since you are so stuffed full of useless information. Wait a minute. You don't have the knowledge of how to add either." Rhett thought, 'It's Gotterdammerung, my love.' He smiled when he heard her throwing everything he had ever said about Wilkes in Wilkes face. He had never thought she was listening.

Ashley gasped with that statement then said, "Then it really is too bad you bullied me into working for you. If you hadn't tricked Melly into helping you I would never have accepted this blasted job."

Scarlett said in amazement, "Blasted job? Why you ungrateful person. And you are ungrateful that Rhett saved your life."

Ashley said, "He never would have gotten the opportunity to save my life if you hadn't been stupid enough to keep driving yourself through Shantytown like you were invincible. Maybe that was the plan keep driving yourself through Shantytown until you got attack then even a wimp like Frank would have to act like a man and do something to retaliate. All Captain Butler would have to do then is wait until we went to avenged your honor. There was a good chance we would do it that very night. How did you let him know that we indeed were going to attack that night? I like a lot of others believe that your husband was in on the Yankees finding out about the raid on Shantytown. Maybe he was the one who told them. I wonder what his plan was? To get both me and Frank killed then he would have smooth sailing with you. Poor Tommy Welburn. He was in the wrong place at the wrong time. He got in between a ruthless man and his goal. I guess I foiled his plan by living. Too bad Dr. Meade was already with me so your husband couldn't finish the job." Rhett had heard that rumor and had never done anything to squash it. He liked people thinking he was that ruthless.

Scarlett looked at Ashley and said with incredulity in her voice, "You think Rhett murdered Frank to marry me? You think I was in on it? Rhett and I never did anything inappropriate when I was married to Frank. And if Rhett had tried to murder you, he would have succeeded." It actually thrilled her to think that people thought that Rhett loved her enough to kill to have her. She wondered if it was true. It made Rhett proud when she said that part about him succeeding.

Ashley said, "Sure, nothing inappropriate. What do you call him calling on you while you were still married to Frank? Nobody believes he was calling on Aunt PittyPat." Here Ashley did an eye roll at the ridiculousness of the idea. "He didn't wait very long to get you to the altar, did he? That in itself was inappropriate. I know he knows about our feelings for each other. I can tell by the looks of hate he gives me." Ashley looked rather pleased with himself that Rhett was jealous of him.

Scarlett said, "Those are not looks of hate those are looks of contempt and pity. He thinks you are a sad, sorry man who is willing to live off of a woman because you are too much of a coward to live in the world, we are living in. And what feelings do we have for each other? That we are both in lust for each other? You don't deserve someone as wonderful as Melly." Rhett again liked his words being thrown into Wilkes face. He couldn't believe her saying that all she felt for Wilkes was lust. When did Scarlett come to that realization? Some time tonight probably.

Ashley said, "You do deserve someone as selfish and self-centered as Captain Butler. Birds of a feather and all that. Do you know how it nauseates me when Melly goes on about how wonderful you and Captain Butler are? About all the wonderful things you and Captain Butler have done for us. I wish I could tell her you just married Charlie out of spite but she probably wouldn't believe me. She never believes me when I tell her the truth about your Scallawag husband."

They were quiet for a few moments then Scarlett said in a quiet voice, "I will buy you out of your share of this mill. We can never work together again!"

Ashley said equally quietly, "Fine! I will start looking for another job tomorrow."

Scarlett said in a sarcastic voice, "Why don't you try New York where all the culture is?"

Then there was silence. Rhett saw Scarlett stand up and start to walk to the door. A very happy Rhett walked rapidly back down the path to their buggy. He turned around and walked back and started shouting Scarlett's name. He heard her calling back and he saw her at the screen door. Scarlett said, "Oh Rhett! Thank God you are here. We can't get the door open because it is caught on the molding."

Rhett took the handle of the screen door and pulled it very hard. In fact, he pulled it hard enough to pull it off it's hinges. Scarlett looked at the screen door and said to Rhett, "I knew everything would be alright once you got here." She laughed then she was in his arms and kissing him like he was the most wonderful man in the world. She was smiling at him with what looked to be real affection. Rhett smiled back at her without his mask on. They started walking to the buggy immediately. Scarlett didn't even turn around but called over her shoulder, "Lock up Ashley and you can leave your keys with Melly. Rhett will pick them up tomorrow."

Scarlett hurried Rhett to the buggy. He tied his horse to the back and got in. As they drove away Rhett said, "What happened?"

Scarlett said, "I will tell you all about it on the way home but I got trapped in the office with Ashley. It was quite the informative visit. Right now, I'm hungry and I need to pee. Not a good combination in a pregnant woman." Rhett laughed and put his arm around her.

Ashley sat in the sawmill office thinking about what had just happened. Scarlett had made him so mad he had relinquished the last vestiges of his gentleman code. It wasn't just that he had gotten into a shouting match with a lady, using the term loosely considering it was Scarlett, but he had deliberately gone out of his way to hurt her. Surprisingly he didn't feel bad about hurting her feelings he just felt bad about forsaking his gentlemanly code. He did feel freer than he had since the war had ended. No, he would not go to New York even though he wanted to because Melly would never be happy away from her family and friends. He would go to work for Uncle Henry as a clerk. He got up, put on his hat, gathered up all his things and left the building. He did make sure to lock up. Now that Scarlett no longer thought herself in love with him, he was no longer immune from her temper. He didn't want to deal with her and her temper. He was smiling when he got on his horse and rode back to town. One slip of his gentleman code in thirty years was alright especially considering how wonderful the outcome was. He was finally free of Scarlett O'Hara. Her adoration had been an addiction he couldn't free himself from. Now she was completely Butler's problem. Ashley laughed heartily at that. Butler having to deal with Scarlett and her antics may be the best punishment that could ever be inflicted upon his arch enemy. He was going to enjoy watching the show.

After Rhett and Scarlett got past the fork in the road and Scarlett wasn't worried about Ashley riding by she made Rhett pull over so she could pee. There on the side of the road Scarlett relieved herself while her distinguished, elegant, sophisticated husband held her skirts. He had a big smile on his face. He didn't even care that she was probably peeing all over his new boots.

Scarlett remained cuddled up next to Rhett the entire rest of the trip home. She decided that Rhett did love her enough to commit murder. It made her very happy. She knew though any man that ruthless would not take kindly to her using his love against him. She decided it would be enough just knowing he loved her. Scarlett told Rhett what had happened at the sawmill office. She didn't go into a lot of detail and she didn't tell him about what she and Ashley had said to each other. She didn't want to deal with him getting all high and mighty about being right about Ashley.

Rhett ask a few questions but he didn't want her to know he had eavesdropped on their conversation. Again. Rhett remained silent the rest of the trip to their home. Rhett was thinking of all the ways he would start courting Scarlett now that Ashley was out of her heart. Now he had a real chance with the fabulous Scarlett O'Hara. The first thing he was going to do was be sure that the Old Guard knew that both he and Scarlett had been out at the mills just in case someone had seen her buggy outside the mill office. Rhett may not care about her reputation but he didn't want any rumors going around about his wife and Mr. Wilkes. He was tired of all the sly innuendos people made toward him about the two of them.

Epilog:

Three months later Scarlett gave birth to the Butlers first child. Rhett was besotted by his daughter. He could not believe the miracle of it all. Scarlett was amused by Rhett's outlandish behavior. After Bonnie's birth Scarlett tapped into her maternal feelings. She was not a great mother but she was much better to all her children than she had been before Bonnie's birth.

Two months later the couple had a discussion about pregnancy prevention methods but there was never any discussion about separate bedrooms.

A year after their daughter was born the Butlers restored their reputations which was a lot harder than they thought it would be. Rhett redeemed himself for Rough and Ready when it became apparent that the only reason the Old Guard let him into polite society was because of his Confederate Service. That and his love for his daughter. The Old Guard let Scarlett back in because she was Melly's best friend and she had sold her mills. She had learned how to play the part of a proper southern lady.

Bonnie Blue Butler was spoiled by both her parents but they also disciplined her in the right amount to keep her from becoming selfish and self-centered. They couldn't do anything about her being proud, fearless, arrogant and charming. Those were gifts she was born with.

Somewhere along the way they both knew that the other loved them but neither was going to be the first to say it. Finally, two years after Bonnie's birth Mammy walked into the parlor after the children were asleep and said to them, "You ain't nothing but a pair of stubborn mules. Miss Scarlett, Mr. Rhett loves you. Mr. Rhett, Miss Scarlett loves you." She then turned around and walked out of the parlor.

The couple had two more children because their form of pregnancy prevention was not one hundred percent guaranteed and separate bedrooms was not even something they would discuss.

The Butlers rarely socialized with the Wilkes. They only did when Scarlett couldn't talk Melly out of them getting together.

Author's Notes: I must say that I thoroughly enjoyed writing the argument between Ashley and Scarlett.

I do think that Scarlett would have been thrilled that Rhett would kill to have her.

The smell of Ashley making Scarlett sick is something that actually happened to me with one of my coworkers when I was pregnant. When ever the man was around me his smell made me want to vomit. I knew it was not him per se but my condition.