Disclaimer: I own nothing in regard to GWTW

Chapter Twenty-Three

In September Beau and Wade went to a boys' school while Ella was still being taught at home. The governess, Miss Lucas, was a very good teacher and was getting the most out of Ella. Miss Lucas had told Scarlett that Ella was smart but she was easily distracted therefore she learned best one on one. Rhett, Scarlett and Nick went to Tara for the day one Sunday. They took the early morning train, Scarlett did the books, they had dinner with the Benteens, Scarlett went over what Will's plans were for Tara, the Butlers walked around the ground and they returned to Atlanta on the late afternoon train. On the way back Scarlett said, "I don't remember anything about Tara but every time we go there, I feel happy and at peace."

Rhett said, "You have always gotten a lot of strength from that red dirt."

In October Patsy and Ella celebrated their birthdays at a party together at the mansion. Patsy and Ella had become friends over the past year. Every child in polite society attended. The next week the annual fund raiser was held at the Butler mansion. There was a bigger turn out than the year before. Several people told Scarlett what a lovely party it was. Scarlett was now the Dowagers darling. Rhett was back in their good graces. Now people were saying that Captain Butler should have straightened Scarlett up a long time ago. Rhett and Scarlett danced and had a lovely time. They each danced with other people which was expected of them. Rhett bid one hundred and fifty dollars to dance with Scarlett again which made all the ladies smile and the men frown at him for making them look bad. Rhett didn't care. He had decided that he was not going to worry about her getting her memory back until it happened.

Later that night after the fund raiser the person who hated Scarlett Butler thought 'I could live on a hundred and fifty dollars for three or four months and he just throws the money away so she can lead the real. They do that just to rub their money into everyone's faces. All the Dowagers are always speaking so highly of Scarlett Butler now. About how she has changed and she is so gracious now but I know she is the same selfish, self-centered bitch she always has been. I am going to find a way to hurt her.

One week in late November of eighteen seventy-two Scarlett and Rhett were Christmas shopping. As they were walking along, they passed India Wilkes and Scarlett grabbed Rhett's arm and said, "That's India Wilkes. I stole her beau away from her. His name was … Stu? No. Stuart." And then she giggled. "That was so mean of me. I did it just because I hated her. Oh Rhett, I remembered something of my past."

Rhett said with a smile, "Yes, you did. Y'all still hate each other. I wonder what she is doing here in Atlanta. She is the one who caught Ashley with his arm around you and told the entire town."

Scarlett said, "The one that Melly kicked out of her home."

Rhett said, "Yes."

They found out later that she had come to Atlanta to make peace with Melanie and Melanie had forgiven her but had not welcomed her back into her home. She had tried to move in with Aunt PittyPat but because Scarlett supported her Aunt PittyPat would not let India move in. None of the other cousins would let her move in either. They didn't want to get on Melanie's bad side. She had to go back to Macon and continue living with her sister, Honey.

At first it worried Rhett that Scarlett had remembered India Wilkes but then he remembered what Dr. Dunn had said about her remembering old memories but not more recent ones. That memory was from before she had met him. That was definitely an old memory.

Rhett bought all the older children ponies for Christmas. Mammy told Mr. Rhett that Ella and Bonnie had to start riding side saddle like little ladies which Rhett then bought them side saddles and made them start riding that way. Nick rode around town sitting in front of his father just as Bonnie had. Rhett bought Scarlett a horse and then the entire family went riding together fairly often. Rhett had a riding habit made for each of the girls. Green for Scarlett, Yellow for Ella and Blue for Bonnie. He thought they were so beautiful. He had riding clothes made for Wade, Nick and himself.

That Christmas Scarlett promoted Hugh Elsing to manager and he started sending her monthly reports. She gave him a bonus and a raise. With four children and a husband she didn't have time to work. She knew her other self couldn't relax about money so she neglected her children and her husband in pursuit of it. She was not condemning her other self for she knew her other self had suffered a lot the year after Atlanta fell and had faced a lot of uncertainty. She knew her other self had felt the only person she could trust was herself. She did not have the memories of living through it so the feelings were not as intense or as raw. It really was like it had happened to someone else and in a way, it had because she was not that girl.

When Nick turned one Rhett had a huge party for him. Everyone was invited. There was food, punch, cupcakes, fireworks, a pony, more food and anything Rhett could think of to make it a big celebration. The week before he had hosted a party for Wade and the week afterwards, he hosted another party for Bonnie. Elizabeth and Rosemary Butler had come over for Christmas and had stayed until all the birthdays celebrations were over.

Scarlett marveled at her daughter Bonnie. Scarlett had been worried that Bonnie would be jealous of the time and attention her father gave to Nick but she never was. She seemed to accept Nick in Rhett's life as right and normal. These last eighteen months she had become a better-behaved child than she was when they got back from Rhett's trip. Bonnie was still a spirited child but she obeyed them most of the time.

The person who hated Scarlett Butler was thinking about all their wealth. She thought 'Captain Butler couldn't have a party for all three at once. No! He had to show he could afford to give each one of his children their own party.' Then she wondered, 'I bet Rhett Butler told the Yankees about the clan raid. That would be perfect. Wait until he knew Frank was dead then come to the rescue. What a perfect alibi. He didn't care who got killed as long as Scarlett was a widow. In fact, he may have killed old Frank himself.'

In April just she and Rhett had gone to Tara. It was much the same as when they came in October. They had left the children at home because it was too rough of a trip for them. Wade had complained about not getting to go because he missed being at Tara. Maybe they should build a house on the grounds. Rhett began to look in to making it happen.