Disclaimer: I own nothing in regard to GWTW
Author's Notes: Thank you for all the reviews and feedback.
Chapter Forty-Four
Scarlett was up and about within two weeks. She was not completely healed but Rhett and Dr. Harrison knew they couldn't keep her bed ridden any longer. She took a nap every afternoon just like Bonnie and Alex. Scarlett made a point of spending time with Wade. She couldn't promise Wade she wouldn't die but she could make the most of the time they had together. She hoped and prayed for the best possible outcome for their lives.
Mammy was right Scarlett did not like that scar on her tummy. The only thing that appeased her about the scar was that the only person who would see it was Rhett.
Rhett had said, "It is beautiful to me. It is where Dr. Harrison cut you open to save yours and Alex's lives. It will always be beautiful to me."
Scarlett had said, "Oh my darling."
Rhett had finally figured out that charm worked so much better on Scarlett than mocking her and making her mad. He still aggravated and teased her but not in a cruel way. He did it to her because it was so much fun but he was never mean any more. He still loved to see her green eyes blazing but he now preferred them to be blazing because someone else had made her mad instead of him.
While Scarlett was still on bed rest Wade and Bonnie continued to come to their room at night but they didn't get in bed with them. They slept on the floor at the foot of the bed. Wade brought his blanket and his pillow and Bonnie laid next to him. Rhett had been trying to decide when to tell Wade he would have to sleep in his own bed from now on. Surprisingly though once Scarlett had been released from bed rest and appeared to be making a full recovery Wade never returned to their bedroom. Bonnie soon dropped down to one or two times a week until she wasn't getting up in the middle of the night at all.
As soon as Scarlett was mobile Wade's face lost that worried look about it. He began to look like a carefree happy ten-year-old little boy. Scarlett would catch him looking at her every now and then with a concerned expression on his face but Scarlett would always smile and he would smile back. As time wore on Scarlett would see that concerned expression less and less until she didn't see it at all.
When they were finally intimate Rhett would kiss the scar like he had kissed her baby bump. It made Scarlett feel so fantastic. She didn't know why but it was so erotic to her. That and the other stuff he did down there. Scarlett did reward Rhett for being a good boy while she was incapacitated. She did that thing he really liked a few times.
Rhett had birthday parties for Wade and Bonnie at the park because Scarlett was not able to receive guest. The parties were well attended by all the members of polite society.
Around the first of February Rhett finally felt comfortable enough about Scarlett's health to leave the house for an extended period of time. He went to his attorney's office. James Taylor was a Yankee who had come to Atlanta during reconstruction. He was from Ohio. He had been single so he decided to seek his fortune in the South. He had been fortunate that Mr. Butler had liked him and used his services. For Mr. Butler had helped him weather the lack of business when he had first arrived in Atlanta. They had met over the card table at The Painted Lady. They had seemed to be compatriots and had formed a bond. Mr. Butler had given him a lot of business. Of course, Mr. Butler had won a lot of his money back over the poker table until Mr. Taylor had learned never to play cards with Mr. Butler.
They spent about an hour going over all of Mr. Butler's accounts and finally Mr. Butler was satisfied that everything was in order. Mr. Butler was a meticulous man were his investments were concerned. As Rhett was getting ready to leave Mr. Taylor had said, "Did you hear what happened to that skin flint Ethan Russell?"
Rhett was all ears. He hated the bastard. He was uncomfortable with the man being in Atlanta and still harboring a grudge against him. Rhett responded, "No. What?"
"It seems he was very good friends with the former Governor Bullock. They both had to flee the state with charges of corruption, conspiracy to defraud the state, and malfeasance."
'Where did Russell go?"
"I heard Wyoming."
Rhett burst out laughing. When Mr. Taylor asked, "What is so funny?"
Rhett said, "That doesn't surprise me. An old friend of his ran away to Wyoming also."
"Who bought his half of The Painted Lady?"
"Tom Wilson for twenty dollars."
Rhett laughed some more. As Rhett was walking out the door he stopped and said, "Mr. Taylor are you still single?"
"Yes, I am. None of these southern belles will have anything to do with me since I am a Yankee."
"Go to Wallace's General Store and ask for a lady named Peg Wallace. I just know you will get along."
Rhett walked out the door. He was so happy Ethan Russell was no longer in Atlanta. He didn't know what had possessed him to play matchmaker with James Taylor and Peg Wallace but he thought it would be a good match.
When Alex was six weeks old the matrons came to visit. The ladies kept going on and on about how Alex looked just like his father except with the same blue eyes as Bonnie until Scarlett wanted to scream. Melly sat beside her and made polite conversation with the matrons. If the ladies chose to stay longer than an hour Rhett would walk in the parlor and say, "I'm sorry but it is time for Scarlett to lay down. She is still not completely recovered from her ordeal." He would pick up his son and extend his hand to his wife and they would leave the parlor. Melly would perform the chore of seeing the ladies out of the house.
Rhett would make Scarlett lay down whether she wanted to or not. He would smile when she pouted and he would tell her, "Just push that lip back in. It isn't going to do any good." Scarlett would smile and lay down and even though she claimed she wasn't tired she always took a nap.
Rhett loved to watch her sleep almost as much as he loved to watch Bonnie and Alex sleep. It was a miracle to him. A miracle that he was sitting there watching Scarlett sleep and they had three children down the hall. Wade was his son, dammit.
When Alex was two months old Rhett took the family to Tara to get away from the gawkers as he called them. Gerald was excited about another one of his grandchildren having his eye color. They only stayed for a week then returned to Atlanta.
Scarlett didn't carry Alex around all the time like Rhett had with Bonnie. She was willing to share her child with others but when Scarlett looked at Alex, she got that dreamy look on her face that she used to get when she thought of Ashley Wilkes. According to Scarlett everything Alex did was wonderful. She was still loving and kind to all the children in the household but it was obvious that she thought Alex was very special. Rhett now knew the pain that Scarlett had experienced in their first life-time when he was gaga over Bonnie and never paid her any attention. He was jealous of his own son. He was jealous of his own son but she was still loving and kind to him. How it must have hurt her for him to be gaga over Bonnie and be cold and hurtful to her. And she had forgiven him. Rhett didn't know what was a bigger miracle her forgiving him or Alex.
One night, Rhett and Scarlett sat in the family parlor and watched their children play. Scarlett said, "Isn't he beautiful?"
Rhett had replied, "Handsome."
"You are handsome. He is beautiful. He is a miracle."
"I think that is the first time you have ever complimented my looks."
"I'm always telling you that you look good."
"No, you are always telling me; My suit looks good. You like the way my shirt looks. You like my ring or my watch. Never my looks."
Scarlett smiled and said, "You are the most handsome man on the planet."
Rhett puffed up and said, "I know."
"That is why I never compliment you on your looks. My son is so precious. I can't believe we got him."
"He is a miracle. It was a rough four months."
"You were wonderful through it all. I'm sorry I accused you of misbehaving. I…."
"Stop! You forgave me and I forgave you. Enough. They are all miracles."
"Yes, they are."
"I'm sorry baby that I kept Bonnie from you. I'm sorry that I said you were a bad mother. I didn't understand.
"I didn't understand it either. I thought that if I had enough money, everyone I loved would be alright."
"I didn't understand your need for money because through me you had lots of money. I wanted you to come play with me but you were still driven to make money."
"I thought if I had enough money nothing could hurt me ever again."
"Fate doesn't care how much money you have she will strike you down any way."
"Why is fate a 'she'?"
"I don't know it just is. The same way a ship is always a she."
They bantered back and forth about what was a 'she' and what was a 'he' and enjoyed the rest of the evening. They were happy to end their evening on a lighter note. Although Rhett would never tell Scarlett he was a tiny bit jealous of the love she had for Alex. And if he was honest, that she loved anyone but him but he had always been possessive of his stuff.
Bonnie was alright with Alex in her life although on more than one occasion she had tried to convince her Papa to leave Alex at the park. By the time Alex was six months old, Bonnie had accepted he was a permanent part of her life. Although she did complain that all his crying in the middle of the night was disturbing her sleep. At least that is what Rhett thought she was saying. She was only three after all and her speech was often not clear.
Elizabeth came in July. Elizabeth was crazy about Alex but she spent a lot of time with the other children also. They went to Tara for Gerry's third birthday. Careen had news. She was with child again. The baby was due in January. Scarlett laughed and said, "January 7th, 15th and 26th are taken. And February 2nd. First come, first serve."
Careen laughed and said, "I'll keep that in mind when I am in labor."
Everyone returned to Atlanta for George's second birthday. Scarlett noticed that the party guests were talking to Frank but few were talking to Suellen. Scarlett thought it was sad to watch Suellen repeat her mistakes. There was no point in Scarlett trying to talk to Suellen. Suellen would never take her advice.
Elizabeth stayed until Beau's birthday party then returned to Charleston. She did enjoy all of the children in Atlanta. More than she enjoyed Robert's children but she like Robert's children well enough. Bonnie and Alex were so full of energy.
Gerald, Careen and Gerry came up for Ella's birthday. It would be the last time Careen would be seen in public until her baby was born. Scarlett noticed that Frank and Suellen were not a happy couple. Suellen had the same scowl on her face that she had when she had been married to Will. Scarlett wondered if there were people in the world that were just destined to be unhappy. She wondered enough about it to remember to ask Rhett about it when they got in the bed.
Rhett said, "I guess so. There are people called pessimists. They see the worst in every possible situation. I think your sister is one of those. They have moments when they are really happy but negative thoughts always return. There are people who see the best in every situation. They are called optimist. Melly is one of those kinds of people. She has moments when she is sad but she always bounces back. We are realist. We see the world as it is but we think we can create the life we want by our sheer will."
"Like I thought I could make Ashley love me."
"Or I thought I could make you love me."
"I do love you."
"So, I succeeded while you fortunately failed."
"Rhett Butler, how dare you say that!"
Rhett pulled her down on top of him and said, "But aren't you glad you failed and I succeeded."
"Yes, but I don't like you saying it."
"You, my love, didn't even have to try to make me fall in love with you."
That statement appeased Scarlett. She smiled and gloated. Rhett knew she thought she had won in some sort of battle between them and he didn't care. As he kissed his wife he thought, 'Maybe she did.'
Scarlett and Rhett went out to supper and dancing to celebrate his birthday. They had a lovely time but too soon for Scarlett Rhett was taking them home. Rhett kept wondering if she was going to do that thing he really like for his birthday and every time he thought about it, he felt his body responding. Dancing with her had been too much for his self-control. He was forty-four years old yet Scarlett made his body respond like he was sixteen years old without even trying. Rhett had long ago accepted that he was helpless around her.
