Disclaimer: I own nothing in regard to GWTW

Author's Notes: Thank you for all the reviews and the feedback. Thank you to everyone reading my story.

Chapter Thirty-Seven

On November 16th Rhett went to First Atlanta Bank to get some cash. He and Scarlett were going out to dinner and dancing tonight. They were going to celebrate his birthday. Rhett was smiling just thinking about the night ahead. He was hoping Scarlett would do that thing he liked so well. That thing she only did on special occasions. It was his birthday after all.

At the bank he saw Ethan Russell and tried to avoid him. The man looked meaner and even more miserly than before. As Rhett turned to leave the bank, he heard Russell call his name.

Rhett said, "Russell. How is the saloon business?"

"Butler, you got the better of me."

"How so?"

"That whore that ran The Painted Lady sold her half and ran off to Wyoming with half the other whores."

"When?"

"A year and a half ago."

Rhett was amazed that Belle had been gone from Atlanta for over a year and a half and he hadn't known. He smiled and thought, 'I didn't know because I am not part of that life anymore. He said, "Haven't you already gotten your investment back?"

"I got my investment back in eighteen months but it was a lot more work than you led me to believe especially after that whore ran out on me. I have to be there every night or those whores will try to cheat me."

"Why don't you get one of the girls to run it."

"They are all too stupid and lazy to run that whore house. Either that are they will try to cheat me."

"It is hard to get good help. I've got to go."

"Wait. What are you going to do to make up for cheating me?"

Rhett smiled and said, "How did I cheat you?"

"You told me that it ran itself. That was a lie."

"When I owned it, I never had to do anything but pick up my check. That sounds like the problem is yours. Bye Russell."

As Rhett walked out of the bank, he had dismissed the entire conversation from his mind. The only thing he thought was, 'I need to hurry and get back to the house to get ready to go out.' Rhett never thought of Belle again. He didn't even remember to tell Scarlett that she had left town. Scarlett already knew that Belle Watling had left town. Melanie had told her. It was the talk of all the sewing bees and committee meetings for weeks after she had left Atlanta. Belle Watling was the most famous madam in Atlanta after all.

Scarlett had again invited Rhett's mother to spend Christmas with them in Atlanta. She had come again and stayed again until February. Everyone in the Butler household enjoyed Rhett's mother's company. No one ever mentioned Rosemary except to be polite. Melly did ask what she was doing for Christmas one time and they found out she was spending it with Robert and his family.

Gerald, Will, Careen and Gerry came to Atlanta for a few days at Christmas. Gerry was four months younger than Bonnie. The two toddlers had a lot of fun together. Scarlett had gone to get Ella and George to spend time with their Grandpa. George could not go because he was still being breast fed. Ella and the toddlers had a great time with their Grandpa and Grandmother. Gerald and Elizabeth spent a lot of time with Wade and Beau also. Scarlett remarked to Rhett, "It is nice that your Mother and my Pa act like grandparents to all the children."

Rhett had replied, "I would expect nothing less from those two people.

Everyone from the Hamilton House and Uncle Henry came to the Butlers for Christmas dinner. They had all the traditional Christmas fare except yams. Again, PittyPat ask why there weren't any yams. Everyone looked at her and Henry said, "They were sold out at the market."

PittyPat said, "That's unusual."

Frank started telling a story about something that happened at the store. When he was finished Gerald said, "That was a real nice story, Bodach."

Frank puffed up and Suellen preened.

Suellen said while looking at Scarlett, "George is cutting his first tooth." Then she smirked.

Scarlett smiled and said, "Poor thing. He must be miserable" while not portraying any emotion on her face. She was so tired of everything between her and Suellen being a competition.

Soon dinner was over and Rhett got the members of the Hamilton House out the door. Henry dawdled while getting his hat and coat, Rhett said, "Mr. Hamilton there is a matter I would like to discuss with you."

Everyone moved into the music room. Gerald had already handed out glasses of whiskey to the men and wine to the women. Gerald called Rhett Boyo and Will Bhuachaill and gave them a glass of whiskey. Rhett gave the children candy. They talked, sang songs, and played games. It was a nice afternoon. Scarlett smiled as her Pa kept getting louder and louder the more he drank. Yes, she did like her Pa to be less dignified. He was a lot more fun. In that moment she finally understood why Rhett had worked so hard to get her to stop behaving like a lady. Ladies were people like his sister Rosemary, and India Wilkes. Just not any fun. She smiled at her husband and for once she knew he didn't know what she was thinking.

Careen, Will, Gerald and Gerry stayed another day then returned to Tara. Scarlett was happy that she and Careen were friends as well as sisters. She was also happy Will and Careen still seemed to be so happy. She was afraid that Suellen was now unhappy with her lot in life. Suellen had gotten what she had thought she wanted but it had not turned out as she had expected. That would have been her fate if she had married Ashley.

Scarlett and Rhett had a small party for Wade's birthday which everyone attended and a small party for Bonnie's birthday which was equally well attended. It looked like Rhett was received again although no one would be crude enough to actually say so.

By two Bonnie could turn the knob on the door and leave the nursery. Scarlett told Mammy not to try to scare Bonnie to keep her in the nursery at night. They had a guard rail made to keep Bonnie from falling down the stairs in the middle of the night but besides that they were fine with her roaming the halls at night. She really didn't roam the halls. She went from her little bed to her parents' big bed. Rhett always reached down and put her in the bed with them. Rhett did not put Bonnie in between them. He put Bonnie on the other side of Scarlett. Rhett loved Bonnie but he always wanted to sleep with Scarlett pressed up against him. Besides Scarlett's side of the bed was empty.

Scarlett remembered during the war that Wade would come and get in the bed with her. She remembered how comforting that little body was. Bonnie's little body was equally comforting.

Things were different this time around. Rhett let Scarlett and Mammy discipline Bonnie and Rhett had learned to say the word 'no.' Not as often as Mammy or Scarlett but he did say it.

Rhett was an overindulgent father but he listened to Scarlett and Mammy this time around. Rhett and Scarlett still argued over the right amount of discipline for Bonnie. He was better about not saying 'Yes' to everything Bonnie asked for.

Bonnie was a strong-willed spirited two-year-old who hated the word 'no.' Unfortunately for Bonnie both of her parents enforced the word 'no.' Her Papa let her get away with more than Mama but once she was told 'no' Papa would not give in to her wishes. She loved her Papa more than her Mama but she loved her Mama an awful lot. More importantly her parents loved her and each other and showed it.

As often as possible Scarlett went and got Ella. Ella and Bonnie had great fun playing together. It would make Rhett and Scarlett smile at the way Bonnie would boss Ella around. It didn't surprise them though; she was their daughter. Wade and Beau liked to play with the girls also although the girls were usually the Yankees in their pretend reenactment of the war. Rhett and Melanie spent a lot of time playing with the children. Scarlett spent a lot of time watching the children play but they always knew she was there.

Suellen and Frank didn't understand Scarlett's attachment to their daughter but Suellen let her take the child as often as she wanted to take her. Scarlett often came and got Ella and kept her for long periods of time. Suellen was fine with it because George's birth had taken a lot out of her. Frank was sick a lot and Suellen was just too busy with the store and George to really worry about how much time Ella was spending with her aunt and uncle. Frank was not alright with Ella spending so much time away from home. He wanted his daughter home with him. His children were one of the few joys he had in his life.

On the day that would have been Ashley's surprised birthday party the most amazing thing happened. It was amazing to Scarlett and Rhett anyway. Hugh Elsing was caught with his arm around Mary Clark. They were both married. They had been childhood friends. They were claiming it was an innocent hug between friends. The strangest part to Scarlett and Rhett was that they had been caught by Fanny Welborn, Mrs. Bonner and Archie. The Butlers had not known that Tommy Welborn had hired Archie as a handy man. He had driven the ladies out to the mills so they would be safe for them to pick Hugh up. PittyPat had come over to share the gossip. The older woman didn't know the details but it seems that Archie and Fanny hated Mrs. Clark so they were out telling everyone what had happened. Aunt PittyPat, Scarlett and Melanie had been in the parlor when they were talking about the gossip. Scarlett said, "What does Mrs. Clark say happened?"

PittyPat said, "Nobody has asked her. She ran out of the mill office and went straight home."

Scarlett stood up and pulled Melly with her. She said, "Let's go find out her side of the story. Do you want to go Auntie?"

Melly didn't know why Scarlett was insisting they visit Mary but if she was going so was Melly. Both ladies were walking out to the foyer when PittyPat scurried behind them wringing her hands. PittyPat said, "Do you think that is a good idea? What will people say?"

Scarlett said, "Before we spread nasty gossip about someone don't you think we should find out if it is the truth. Come along Auntie."

Scarlett had her hat on and she looped her arm in PittyPat's arm and dragged the older woman to the carriage. PittyPat fretted all the way over to the Clark's house.

At first Mrs. Clark did not want to receive them but Scarlett told the butler to tell her, "We are your only hope of saving your reputation, if we believe you."

Soon the butler led them to the parlor and told them, "Madam will be with you momentarily."

Finally, Mary Clark arrived at the parlor. It was plain to see that she had been crying.

Scarlett and Melly knew Mary to speak to her but they were not good friends with her.

Scarlett said, "We will skip the pleasantries. What happened?"

Mary said, "Why should I tell you anything?"

"Because if we believe you and stand beside you then your reputation will be saved. If not, you will never be received in any decent home in the south again."

Mary gasped with the bluntness of Scarlett's statement. PittyPat stared at Scarlett with her mouth open. Melanie just smiled kindly at Mary.

Mary said, "Sarah, Hugh's wife is throwing him a surprise birthday party tonight," Scarlett gasped. Mary looked at her. Scarlett did a hand motion to continue. "We were getting all the food and other decorations ready for the party when we ran out of time. Sarah needed me to delay Hugh coming home while she and her sister put everything away."

Scarlett said, "When you got there you found out that Hugh already knew about the party."

"Yes, he did. He said all the other gentlemen told him. We started talking about how different things were from when we were children. Hugh mentioned some of the boys we had grown up with that were killed in the war. It made me cry because of all the deaths."

"I don't like to look back for that reason. It always makes me cry also."

Mary nodded, "Hugh put his arm around me to comfort me and that's when everyone walked in and saw us. Hugh shoved me out the door and I don't know what happened after that."

Scarlett said, "Do you think Sarah will believe the gossip?"

"No, not Sarah. She would never believe that Hugh would act dishonorably."

Scarlett looked at Melly and Melly said, "I believe her."

Scarlett said, "I believe her too." Scarlett turned to Mary and said, "We will stand beside you. Send a note to your friend Sarah and tell her there will be four more guests at her party tonight. Aunt PittyPat would you like to ride over there with us."

That was the last thing PittyPat Hamilton wanted to do but as she stared at Scarlett and Melly's determined faces she said, "Of course."

Melly said, "Don't even think of not showing up tonight. If you don't show up that would be admitting guilt. You are innocent so you have nothing to be ashamed of." If Scarlett was brave enough to take on the matrons Melanie was going to stand right by her side.

With that the three ladies got up and walked out the door.