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Author's Notes: Thank you for all the reviews and the feedback.

Chapter Seventy-Five

That June Scarlett and Rhett had a picnic on their back lawn for all the children at the Asylum. Scarlett had thought about what that mother had said about the children never being invited anywhere and decided to have this event so they could see all their friends from school. She hoped to make it an annual event.

Rhett had also invited a lot of the cream of society so he could extort some more guilt money out of them. Rhett saw nothing pitiable about these children. No, he saw them as children learning how to function with their handicap. Most of them were happy. He knew that most of his acquaintances with money would see them as pitiable people so he knew he could wring a lot of money out of them. As far as Rhett's conscience was concerned his only thought was, 'I must be getting soft. I'm doing something for someone else that doesn't benefit me directly. Although I do enjoy being honored as a great humanitarian. I like being the center of attention also although not as much as Scarlett.'

At the end of June Scarlett received a letter from her sister Suellen.

Dear Scarlett,

Just in case Careen has not shared with you I am writing to let you know I am getting married in December. My fiancé is John Hammond. John is from New York and although he is a Yankee, I love him very much. John is fifty-five and a little stout but he is very nice and kind to me. I guess I like older men. John made a little money off of the republican government. When I start looking at things in a negative light, he always turns it upside down and makes me see the good and the positive in something.

He has hired a tutor for George. George needs to learn so much before he will be admitted to any of the preparatory schools here in Atlanta.

I miss Ella very much. I know that Ella is in good hands and that you love her very much. I don't regret giving her to you because I think that Ella will stand a better chance of getting married in the North with Rhett's money to provide a dowry. I do love Ella but Ella is not very attractive nor is she very bright therefore without a dowry she doesn't stand a chance of making a good match. Ella is very sweet and very resilient. Good traits to have in a wife. Whenever I get sad about having given Ella away John always makes me remember that Ella is better off in the North. He also reminds me that she is in a home where she is dearly loved. I do want Ella to have a better life than she could get here in the South. That is why I am going to leave her there with you. You have always been a better mother to her than me.

Believe it or not there are still people making comments about me getting Ashley Wilkes and Joe Stevens killed. I am barely received and people would ostracize Ella because of it. She certainly doesn't deserve that. It will be better for my baby to be far, far away.

After you moved to Hartford, I realized that Frank was never going to be anything more than what he was. It is a hard pill to swallow when your dream dies. He was a broken man. He never stopped blaming himself for Ashley's death. The guilt made him not want to live. He would often say he should have died that night instead of Ashley. Instead of helping Frank I ignored him and focused on myself and making money. I was so jealous of you and your life. I let that distort my feelings about Ella. I was so angry at Frank for having given me such a lousy life. I was so disappointed with my life and I blamed Frank. I let that distort my feelings about Ella. I said some cruel, awful things to her that I will regret for the rest of my days. I was consuming way too much brandy which loosen my tongue and because I couldn't lash out at you, I lashed out at Ella instead. She was my verbal punching bag. Our marriage was so bad that Frank left me emotionally. He had given up on life long before he died and he had given up on our relationship.

The day I met John and he wanted to call on me I went home and really looked in the mirror. I was fat, ugly and old. I couldn't see anything that John would be interested in but he saw something. I will always be grateful that he saw what I couldn't. That day I knew the brandy was ruining what was left of my looks. So, I stopped drinking that very day. I have been sober since that day. I started eating healthy and started losing weight.

The hardest part of being sober was the guilt of how badly I had treated Ella, that I said those ugly things to my own child and that I said those ugly things to her. John just tells me I was in a bad place at the time and he won't let me dwell on it. As he often says 'If someone hasn't done something they regret then they haven't lived.'

You don't need to worry I will not try to get Ella back or make trouble for Ella. I have enclosed Frank's mother's blue earbobs for Ella. Frank always wanted her to have them. I would appreciate you giving them to Ella on her wedding day. It can be her something borrowed and something blue.

If you can find it in your heart to write me and give me updates on Ella, I would appreciate it.

Your sister,

Suellen.

Scarlett gave the letter to Rhett and she said, "This solves one mystery. It was Suellen who found out that her dream was false and it was Frank that left her. He didn't physically leave her but he left her nonetheless."

After Rhett read the letter he said, "Sad. I am going to get Mr. Mason to look over the adoption papers to be sure they are legally binding."

"Do you think I should write her back?"

"If you want to but don't tell Ella and don't send her any pictures of Ella. Don't let her know how smart our daughter really is."

Scarlett smiled and said, "So don't let her know how truly wonderful the girl she gave away is."

"Yes, it might make her want to come get her," Rhett waved the letter in the air. "She is leaving her with us because she believes Ella is ugly and stupid. I don't want her to know the truth."

"Alright." Scarlett smiled at her husband. It always amazed her and pleased her how ferociously protective he got of all their children. Who would have thought that arrogant, cocky bastard could have turned into this man in front of her?

"What are you smiling at? It is almost like you are laughing at me."

"Not laughing at you, laughing with you." She kissed him and walked back to her desk in his office where she answered her correspondence. It also contained all their invitations to social engagements and the children's schedules. It also had the menus for the next several weeks. It was where she kept everything she needed to run this household. Scarlett looked at Rhett's desk. It was big and imposing just like him and just like him there was absolutely nothing on the surface. Her desk was of a French design. It was ornate and glitzy. It was totally impractical. It only had two small drawers. Everything was on top of the desk in full display just like her.

Scarlett started writing Suellen letters telling her what Ella was up to. Suellen wrote back but Suellen was still not a good correspondent. Scarlett felt compassion for Suellen. She knew what it was like to realize one day that you had nothing and no future. She also knew what it was like for someone to give one hope. Scarlett hoped that this John was Suellen's true love. If not her true love then someone she can be happy and content with like Scarlett was with Nick.

Rhett went to see his attorney the next day to be sure that Suellen could not get custody of Ella back. After several days, Rhett went back to the attorney's office and Rhett was assured that the adoption was iron-clad. There was no way Mrs. Kennedy could get the child back.

Rhett went to the Pinkerton Agency and told them to investigate John Hammond. In two weeks, Rhett had enough dirt on John Hammond to make sure him and Suellen would never try to take Ella away. It wasn't enough dirt to get him arrested but it was enough that Rhett could make trouble for Mr. Hammond if he and Suellen decided to attempt to get Ella back.

Henry and Elizabeth arrived July the first. They got settled into their rooms. They joined the family for supper. Henry thought, 'It is a crazy chaotic affair and I love it." He was rusty on his signs but he would get Melly to give him a refresher. He would get it back soon enough.

The next day everyone went sailing. Rhett said they had to go take their guests sailing. He was sure they could hardly wait to get out on the water. Henry, Elizabeth and everyone else knew the person who could hardly wait to get out on the water was Rhett. Rhett had sold The Katie. He had bought a new yacht and he couldn't wait to show it off. Henry and Elizabeth oohed and aahed in all the right places. Rhett was so proud of his new boat. It was much the same size but it was newer. He also called it The Katie. He knew it made his wife happy. He was no longer the foolish man of the first timeline. He no longer when out of his way to aggravate his wife. He did that with other people but never his wife.

While they were sailing Henry took Melanie aside and told her that Uncle Peter had died in his sleep. Henry had arranged to have him buried and had brought his few belongings with him to give to Esau. Melanie teared up. She was sorry that their old servant had gone on to be with the Lord but she was pleased with his long life. She suspected that Peter had been ready to move on ever since Aunt PittyPat had passed away. He had been a good and faithful servant and she would always be grateful that he had been in their lives. Melanie knew that she and Charlie had been better off because of his assistance.

The next afternoon Henry and Melanie told Esau the sad news. He smiled a sad smile and took the box with his great Uncle's possessions. He turned and walked away. He would rather grieve alone. Esau had no one now but Prissy and the children. He and his Uncle Peter had been each other's only known relative.

Scarlett had the photographer come to the house and she had him take all the pictures that he took last time again. She had decided that she was going to do this every year from now on. Wade would go to Harvard soon and then he really wouldn't be her little boy anymore but instead he would be a young man starting out on his own life. She didn't want to think about that so she didn't.

The family went to the 4th of July picnic the next day. Strangely the were a lot of older widows that stopped to speak to Scarlett and Melanie. These women had never really talked to them before. When the fifth widow walked away, the ladies looked at each other with questioning looks. Rhett laughed and said, "They want you to introduce them to the newest bachelor in town."

Both women at the same time said, "Uncle Henry?"

Rhett nodded his head and laughed. After that the ladies started introducing Henry to all the ladies that stopped by. It looked like Henry was going to be very popular in Hartford especially with all his southern gentleman ways.

The Butlers and their extended family were making plans to move to Northampton during the summer. Beau and Wade were not happy about the move. On August 1st they asked to speak to Rhett about a matter after dinner. He agreed to see them in his office at one. When they got there, they seemed very poised for two such young men.

Rhett said, "What do you want to talk to me about?"

Wade said, "We don't want to move to Northampton. It is my last two years and I don't want to have to learn an entirely new school and teachers."

"We are moving to Northampton for Bonnie's education. That is going to happen."

"Yes sir. I understand that," Wade looked at Beau then continued, "We are very responsible. We would like to stay here by ourselves."

Rhett laughed and said, "Do you honestly think your mothers are going to allow their sons to remain in Hartford?"

Beau said, "You could leave a couple of servants to take care of us. We wouldn't get into any trouble."

Rhett said, "I actually see some merit in your proposal. You are right. It would be difficult to learn a whole new set of teachers your last year. You have managed to intimidate your fellow classmates into never talking bad about the South in your presence. I would hate for you to have to start that process over again."

Both boys smiled a little cheekily but didn't volunteer any information. They were not going to talk about it where their mothers might hear what they had done and who had taught them these tricks. They needed Rhett more than ever right now.

Rhett looked at them and said, "I'm just not sure I can convince your mothers."

Wade smiled at Beau. They both knew Rhett could almost convince Wade's mother of almost anything. If Rhett convinced her then Beau's mother wouldn't be any problem. Beau's mother almost always did what Wade's mother wanted. Wade said, "Mama is always saying you could sell ice to an Eskimo. This could be your greatest job of salesmanship."

"Very good move Wade. Appeal to my vanity. I will try. It would be good for y'all to be here to keep the house safe. Y'all can take The Katie out also. I will leave Nate and Evie here to take care of your needs. But not Elsie. She is too good of a cook for me to leave behind. Go on. I have to think of my plan of attack.

Beau and Wade left in a hurry. They didn't want Rhett to see their victorious smiles. Ever since that day they had been sent to the principal's office for fighting they had known Rhett was their ally in their battles against their mothers.

They loved their mothers very much but they were overprotective of them. Maybe it was because they had lost their fathers that made their mothers that way. Although Wade's mother was overprotective of all her children especially Ella. Beau knew that he was all his mother had. Rhett was more inclined to let them have more freedom. It was nice except for when Rhett sided with their mothers then it was very disappointing.