Disclaimer: I own nothing in regard to GWTW

Chapter Twenty-Four

June of 73 the Butlers spent in Charleston. They had a lovely time and Elizabeth gave Scarlett a birthday party. Elizabeth had invited Scarlett's aunts. Scarlett's aunts criticized her through the entire party. At one-point Scarlett had to get up and leave the room. She told Rhett later, "My love for your mother is the only thing that made me not tell those old cows off. Don't we send them a check every month?" Rhett had nodded. "You would think they would be more grateful. I would cut them off but they would just get money from your mother."

Rhett had said, "Yes they would. During the war my mother got money from them which came from you. It was when my father was still alive and he would rather starve than take money from me."

Rhett showed Scarlett all his favorite haunts. Rhett took her and the children out every day and they visited the wharf often. During one of these visits Rhett told her about his first time sailing and the subsequent falling out with his father. He at first wasn't going to tell her about the beatings because he didn't want her pity. He decided to tell her so she would understand him better. When he told her, she looked sad and said, "That poor little boy. No wonder you hate him." She then totally shocked him by saying, "Do you think your father engineered the buggy accident?" It was something Rhett had often thought and he agreed with her. He was a little surprised that Scarlett thought it also but she was a devious person also. Rhett said, "Maybe. My mother had set the buggy ride up and implored me to take the young lady out. I don't think my mother knew anything. I think she was doing it because her husband had told her to do it. The young lady, Agatha Jenkins, would not have said anything. Her father met us at the door and before I could say anything, he was already yelling about how I had compromised his daughter. Her father and my father made quite a commotion about it. If the fathers had supported our story, I don't think her reputation would have been damaged. Afterall we had the broken axle as evidence. The Jenkins were a powerful family in Charleston at the time and by that time my father was a powerful man. Nobody would have questioned the story. I have often thought that it was a win/win for my father. He would either have forced me to marry Agatha or forced me out of the family. I was quite the embarrassment to him."

Scarlett said, "After Ashley refused to marry me, I thought I should have compromised him instead of throwing myself at him. He would have married me then because honor was so important to him." Scarlett looked at Rhett and said, "Isn't it weird how snatches of my memory come back?"

Rhett looked at her and said, "It is very strange and a little disconcerting to me."

Scarlett said, "Me too. We need to never give our children an ultimatum. I know they would not react well to it."

Rhett said, "No they wouldn't. We need to always give them a choice. What we want them to choose or something God awful."

This made Scarlett laugh.

Scarlett said, "What happened to the girl?"

Rhett said, "She married my brother Jacob." Scarlett turned her face to him with a shocked look. "Unfortunately for her she died two years later from typhoid fever. Her parents were bitter the rest of their lives. They both died from diseases. Her mother a year after Agatha did and her father about five years later. Her brother had called me out but I refused to participate in a duel. The rumor mill has that I killed him but I refused instead. I didn't want to ruin Agatha but I wasn't going to marry her because of a buggy accident and I wasn't going to kill her brother over the same buggy accident. She was a ninny but her brother was an even bigger one. After I refused to accept the duel then my father kicked me out. He became a lawyer but he was killed in the war."

She said, "Did your brother remarry?"

He said, "Yes he married the girl he had wanted to marry in the first place. They are both still living but my brother doesn't talk to me. He believes like my father that I dishonored the family. As do most of the good people who live here."

Scarlett asked, "Would you like to move back?"

Rhett said, "Not really. I'm happy in Atlanta with you especially since you have redecorated that house of horrors."

Scarlett laughed and tried to push him down. She knew she couldn't but she liked trying because she always ended up in his arms. After Scarlett got her hug from Rhett she said, "Let's take the children and get ice cream."

Rhett smiled and said, "Alright."

They arrived back in Atlanta the first of July. Scarlett went to visit Melly and found her unwell. Scarlett asked, "What is wrong with you?"

Melly lied and said, "I just have a bad headache and some nausea."

Scarlett knew Melly was lying. She asked, "What did Dr. Meade say?"

Melly said not meeting her eyes, "He hasn't seen me yet. I haven't called for him."

Then Scarlett knew what was wrong with Melly. She said with love, "You ninny. I'm requesting Dr. Dunn right now." Scarlett sent a note to Dr. Dunn asking for him to come see Mrs. Wilkes.

After Dr. Dunn examined her, he told Scarlett that Melly was pregnant. He told her that it would be a difficult pregnancy and they needed to go see a doctor that knew more about the female reproductive system. He knew of a doctor at the teaching hospital that was the best in the country. He would telegraph the man and ask him to work them in. The man was in Philadelphia. His name was Brad Shaw. For now, Mrs. Wilkes needed complete bed rest.

Scarlett saw Dr. Dunn out and then went back into the bedroom and told Melly that she needed complete bed rest therefore she and Beau were coming to live with her for a few days. Melly said, "I can't walk." Scarlett said, "Can you if I help you." Melly said, "I think so." Scarlett got Melly and Beau out to the buggy somehow. When they got to Scarlett's home, she told Beau to go to the nursery where Wade was.

She ran in to get Rhett to carry Melly inside the house. She knew Melly wouldn't be able to get up the stairs without help. Scarlett found Rhett in his office. She said, "Melly has gotten herself with child. She is in bad shape. Dr. Dunn says she has to have complete bed rest. I have brought her here. She can't walk from the buggy so I need you to carry her upstairs. Dr. Dunn has given me a name of a doctor in Philadelphia that is renowned for working with females who are with child. When we get Melly settled in the guest bedroom you can get her an appointment and a private car."

Rhett said, "Where is Mr. Wilkes?"

Scarlett said, "Who cares? He is the one that got her in this condition."

Rhett got up and put his coat on and followed Scarlett out of the room. He was not going to argue with her now. He would later when she was not anxious about Miss Melly.

Rhett got Melly out of the buggy and he carried her up the stairs into the bedroom that used to be his room. Rhett then said to both ladies, "I am going to find Mr. Wilkes. Scarlett come with me."

As they stepped out of the room Rhett said, "The Wilkes can discuss treatment plans for Miss Melly. They will decide what is best for them."

Scarlett said, "Rhett!"

Rhett said, "No. This is their decision. Not ours. We will help them once they decide what they want to do. Do you understand?"

Scarlett said, "But…" and she looked at Rhett and knew he wasn't going to budge on the issue. She said, "Yes."

Rhett left in search of Mr. Wilkes. Rhett found Mr. Wilkes at the newspaper office and asked him to return to his home with him. Rhett was going to let Mr. Wilkes retain a little bit of his masculinity as long as Wilkes sent his wife to Philadelphia. Scarlett had never understood the nuances of a man and his dignity and he doubt she would understand now. If she had she would have let Wilkes go to New York all those years ago. On the way back to the mansion Rhett explained what Dr. Dunn had said. Rhett also said, "I will take care of the expenses if y'all decide to go to Philadelphia. Mind you this is probably the only way to save your wife's life." Rhett wanted to call Mr. Wilkes a bunch of names and then pound him into the dirt but he restrained himself from doing any of those things.

When they got to the mansion Ashley ran into the house and Scarlett escorted him to the bedroom Melly was staying in. Scarlett stood outside the door and listen. When Rhett came up behind her, he put his hand over her mouth and led her away. Scarlett hissed, "I want to hear what they are saying."

Rhett said, "I don't want you to get caught eavesdropping."

Scarlett said, "Oh."

Rhett said, "They will tell us soon enough. Now come on downstairs to the parlor and have a brandy with me."

Scarlett said, "Alright."

Rhett said, "Remember this is their decision."

Scarlett said after taking the brandy from Rhett, "Even if it kills her."

Rhett said, "Yes. I think they will do the right thing."

Rhett came over and took her elbow and led her to the divan. They sat there for a while in companionable silence. Finally, Ashley came downstairs and said, "We have decided for her to go to Philadelphia. If you would make the arrangements, we would appreciate it. Scarlett if you could travel with her, I think it would go easier. Beau of course will stay home with me.

Scarlett said, "Of course I will be happy to travel with her."

Rhett said, "All the children will stay here including Beau. It will make it easier for you Mr. Wilkes. I will go make the arrangements." Rhett left the house.

Ashley sat down and said, "Melly can't die. I can't live without her. She is the only dream that has ever come true."

Scarlett thought with irritation, 'It's always dreams with him.' Then she thought that's not the first time I have thought that. He must really irritate me with all this talk of dreams. She knew he was always talking about hypothetical things. He had his head in the clouds and she knew she had never understood anything about him. She felt there was something at the edge of her consciousness that was part of her old memories and she deliberately stopped thinking about it. She did not want her memories back. She was happy, loved, and accepted now.

Scarlett said, "Melly is not going to die. The doctor in Philadelphia will fix her." Then she thought 'Or you are going to die Ashley Wilkes. What a weak man he is.' She said, "Ashley why don't you go to your house and pack some clothes for Melly for me to take with us to Philadelphia."

Ashley said, "That's a good idea. I will pack some for Beau too."

Scarlett said, "Great." And she walked him to the door. She hurried up the stairs to sit with Melly until Rhett came back.

An hour later she heard someone coming in the house. She looked over the banister and it was Rhett. She hurried down the stairs and Rhett ran up to meet her and slowed her down. Rhett said, "No more accidents for you." They walked down the stairs and into his office. "I went to the bank to use their telegraph system there. I was able to get a message to Dr. Shaw's office. He had heard from Dr. Dunn and wants you to come to Philadelphia as soon as possible. When y'all get there, he will work you in that day. I have reserved a suite at the Morris House Hotel for Wednesday. Today is Monday so you should be able to get there in plenty of time. You will leave tonight around eight. I have arranged for a private car all the way to Philadelphia. It may be more difficult to get a private car on the way back. Telegraph me and I will see what I can do. I am sending Wade and Mammy with you to help you. You will need to leave the other children here. It will be easier for Pansy, Prissy and me to take care of them. That will free you up to take care of Miss Melly. We both know that Mammy will want to be with you and Miss Melly." Rhett smiled at Scarlett in that knowing way. They both knew that Mammy was getting too old to really do much work anymore.

Scarlett knew that Rhett was telling her to take Mammy to get her out of the way but still make her feel needed. Scarlett said, "Alright. I need to go get packed. I will take Mammy. Yes, you are right. I will need Mammy." They were talking in code because one never knew where Mammy was and what she would hear. Neither one of them wanted to hurt Mammy's feelings. She turned and walked out of the office then she turned back around and came over and hugged him. Rhett smiled to himself. He heard her calling for Mammy and telling Pork to get her trunk.