Disclaimer: I own nothing in regard to GWTW

Author's Notes: Thank you for all the reviews and all the feedback. It really makes me heart sing when I get a review.

Chapter Eighty-Two

Wade came home for the summer. Rhett got Wade a summer job working for his lawyer, Herbert Mason.

That June Nate asked Rhett for a few moments of Rhett's time. They went to Rhett's office. After Rhett had sat down at his desk, Nate said, "Mr. Butler, you know Evie and I have the one child."

Rhett nodded.

Nate continued, "We just found out we are going to have another baby."

"Congratulations."

"I cannot support my family on the salary I am making especially with Evie not working."

"Go on."

"I know that you pay me a fine salary for my position. I also know that as long as Esau and Prissy are in good health there is no room for promotion. Therefore, I will be looking for another job. I just wanted you to know."

Rhett knew that Nate was hoping Rhett would give him a raise in order to keep him but Rhett also thought it would be better for Nate to get another job where there was room for promotion. Rhett said, "Mrs. Butler and I are very fond of you and Evie. Y'all will be missed but I think it is best that you go find another job. I happen to know of a man who needs someone to take care of his yachts. He has several of them. Let me give you his name," Rhett wrote a note with a personal recommendation put it in an envelope and wrote the other man's name on it. "Of course, Evie can continue working here until the baby arrives if she wants to."

Nate smiled and said, "Thank you, Mr. Butler."

Rhett was going to miss them but it was time for them to move on to better opportunities. Evie had been a good nursemaid but they didn't need a nursemaid anymore with Alex being nine. In the last three years Evie had been preforming the role of Housekeeper in Prissy stead while Prissy had been with them in Northampton. There really wasn't a position for her now.

Within the week Nate had other employment. As it turned out Nate's new employer needed a nursemaid and they were happy to employ Evie also. Scarlett shared Rhett's feelings. She would miss Nate and Evie and was sad to see them leave their employment but it was time for them to move on for better opportunities. Nate was right. As long as Esau and Prissy were in good health there was no room for promotion for Nate and Evie.

They had their annual picnic for the children at the Asylum. Rhett squeezed more money out of his rich acquaintances. Rhett smiled. It all depends on how you look at it. There was food. There was punch. There were games. There were cookies. The children on the lawn were having a great time. Rhett's rich friends couldn't see anything but their handicap. Rhett exploited it to the maximum.

Rhett loved making people feel so guilty they would give the Asylum lots and lots of money. These same people failed to see how truly happy these children were.

July 1st came and they took more pictures. It was bitter sweet because Elizabeth Butler was no longer in the pictures but she would have wanted them to carry on.

They spent the summer at home. It was much more difficult to travel now because the children wanted to spend the summers with their friends and they had activities they wanted to attend.

Scarlett got a letter from Suellen. She had sold the store and the Hamilton House. John had built her a new house. It was bigger than Scarlett's house on 5th street which made Scarlett smile. Scarlett decided that Suellen couldn't help herself but to compete against her. She would let Suellen win any of the battles in regard to possessions. Scarlett didn't care. She had the most precious thing that Suellen had ever had, Ella.

Suellen had tried to let India continue living with her but India's bitterness over life was too hard to handle now that Suellen wasn't bitter and drunk. Suellen asked India to move out. India moved to Macon to live with Honey. Suellen felt so sorry for India but Suellen wasn't going to let India steal her happiness. Scarlett also felt sorry for India. It must be horrible to be filled with so much unhappiness and bitterness.

George was going to St. Matthew's Preparatory Academy. John thought he could get him an appointment to West Point.

Mrs. Merriwether had died and Rene and Maybelle were running the bakery now. Mrs. Elsing had passed away also. Scarlett smiled and thought, 'That was the last of the matrons that had made my life so miserable. Then she read that after Mrs. Elsing passed away Hugh Elsing and Mary Clark had run off to Mexico together.

When Scarlett told Rhett about John getting George an appointment to West Point, he said, "Anyone can get their child an appointment. You just have to grease enough palms. My father just called in favors."

Scarlett was still pleased for George.

The news about Hugh and Mary made Scarlett laugh. When Scarlett told Melly they both looked at each other and laughed. Finally, Melanie said, "She fooled us."

"Yes, she did."

"I guess Hugh couldn't handle the censure from his mother."

"I guess."

Scarlett asked Melanie, "Do you correspond with your sisters-in-law?"

Melanie without a trace of embarrassment said, "No, Honey is a nitwit and India is just too filled with anger and bitterness."

Scarlett smiled and Melanie smiled back.

Much to Rhett's dismay, Scarlett decided that her daughters would go to a finishing school. The girls thought it was a great idea.

That September the girls started at Hartford Academy. Scarlett was afraid it would be awkward for Ella being far older than the other girls since she was almost fifteen but as it turned out there were a lot of girls her age at the school.

Prissy found a school for Rachel and Thomas to attend. Rhett made a donation to the school for the purpose of buying supplies.

Beau started his last year at Watkinson Academy and nine-year-old Alex started his first year. After they had moved to Northampton Wade and Beau were picked up just by the coachman in the carriage. Rhett just continued having the boys picked up that way.

The first week Alex had already gotten in trouble. Principal Stewart had Alex in his office and one of his parents would have to pick him up. When Beau got home, he told Rhett that he had to go get Alex because Mr. Stewart would not release him to anyone but one of his parents. As Rhett got in the coach he thought, 'I told Mammy boys were more trouble than girls.' There was a smile on his face nonetheless. As Rhett walked in the principal's office, he saw Alex sitting in the outer office. When Alex saw his father walk in, he gave him a mischievous little smile. Rhett kept his face stern by a sheer act of will. Mr. Stewart said, "There is no denying he is your son. He looks just like you"

Rhett said, "Yes, Mr. Stewart, he is definitely my son."

"It seems he got his name on the board for talking and he wasn't supposed to go out to recess. He chose to go to recess any way. When Mr. Bennett told him to go back into the classroom because his name was on the board. Alex told Mr. Bennett that his name wasn't on the blackboard. When they got back in the classroom Mr. Bennett showed him his name that was written on the blackboard. Your son out and out denied that was his name on the slate. At that point Mr. Bennett brought him down here to see me. After Mr. Bennett told me what had happen and he was leaving your son gave Mr. Bennett what could only be described as a mocking bow."

Again, Rhett controlled his features by sheer will. He so wanted to burst out laughing. Yes, indeed Alex was his son.

Rhett said, "I will take him home and have a long talk with him."

"Mr. Butler he has to treat the teachers at this academy with respect."

"I will make sure he understands that."

"He has to apologize to Mr. Bennett."

"I will make sure he understands that also."

"Thank you, Mr. Butler."

As they walked out of Mr. Stewart's office Rhett put his stoniest face on but Alex just smiled at him. Rhett knew Alex thought he could charm his way out of trouble. He was in for a rude awakening. He would have to make sure Scarlett didn't coddle him. It seems all his actions were coming home to roost.

Rhett said in a cold voice, "Let's go Alexander."

Alex slid off the bench and walked over to his father. He still wasn't worried. Yes, indeed. His son was in for a rude awakening.

When they got in the coach, Rhett asked him why he disobeyed his teacher and Alex said, "I didn't disobey Mr. Bennett. My name wasn't on the blackboard."

"Mr. Bennett says it was."

"Mr. Bennett wrote a name on the board that started with an 'A' but it wasn't my name. He wrot c. My name has an x at the end not a c."

Rhett smiled but not at his son. He smiled because this little boy beside him was every bit his child. He also knew what Mr. Bennett had been thinking when he wrote ALEC on the slate. That the boy was a smart-aleck.

Rhett lectured Alex all the way home then took him into his office and lectured him some more. Finally, Rhett ended the session by telling him that Alex would have to apologize to Mr. Bennett for being rude to him. Rhett saw some of Scarlett in their son. Alex's mutinous expression was the same as his Mama's.

At the end of their session Rhett said, "Do you have any questions?"

"Yes, why do you and Mama call me Alexander when you are mad at me?"

"We are not mad at you. We are speaking sternly to you because you have misbehaved. We call you Alexander because that is your full name and it is our way of telling you that you are in trouble."

"Alright."

As Alex left Rhett's office, he was pleased. He was sure that Alex understood how he needed to behave when he was at school.

After they had retired and Rhett told Scarlett what Alex had done, she couldn't stop laughing. Rhett was laughing also but he knew that the reason Scarlett thought it was so funny was because Alex was behaving as Rhett would have behaved.

To be on the safe side Rhett decided to pick his son up from school from then on which was just as well because when Beau got in the coach the next day, he said, "Alex is in the principal's office."

Rhett got out of the coach and went to get his son. Yes, the boy was definitely his son. When he got to the principal's office, Alex was sitting in the outer office again. He gave his father a cheeky little smile and even a small hand wave.

Again, by sheer will he kept his face neutral and said to Mr. Stewart, "Did he not apologize to Mr. Bennett?"

Mr. Stewart said, "Step into my office."

Rhett did and Mr. Stewart shut the door.

"He apologized very politely then he informed Mr. Bennett that he found out that his real name was not Alex but Alexander and he would appreciate Mr. Bennett calling him that from now on. Mr. Bennett tried to comply with your son's request but when your son was shooting spit balls at another student Mr. Bennett loudly said Alex stop what you are doing. Your son ignored him and continued shooting the spit balls. With that Mr. Bennett got mad and jerked your son up and brought him down here. After the story was shared with me. Just the spit balling story. I asked your son why he hadn't stopped. Your son said, 'He was talking to some boy named Alex. My name is Alexander. I told Mr. Bennett about my name change this morning.' Mr. Butler we can't have your son changing his name randomly."

"Yes Mr. Stewart. I will talk to him again. I suppose another apology is warranted."

"Indeed, it is Mr. Butler."

As they walked out of Mr. Stewart's office Rhett put on his stoniest face again. Alex just smiled at him. Rhett knew that Alex really did think he could charm his way out of trouble. Rhett hadn't made his awakening rude enough. Yes, all Rhett's actions were coming home to roost.

Rhett said in a cold voice, "Let's go Alexander."

Alex slid off the bench and walked over to his father. He still wasn't worried. Yes, indeed. His son was in for a very rude awakening.

Rhett lectured Alex all the way to the house. Beau stared out the window the entire time. Rhett could tell that Beau was trying very hard not to laugh. When they got to the house Beau jumped out of the coach and ran into the house. Rhett could still hear him laughing.

As they walked in the house, Alex saw his mother and ran and hid his face in her skirt. He was wailing, crying and calling out Mama in such a heartbreaking way. Scarlett looked at Rhett and smiled. She said, "Obviously he isn't as good an actor as I am but he will get better."

Rhett smiled back and was pleased that Scarlett wasn't going to interfere. She had her hands completely up in the air. Rhett just grabbed the boy's shoulder and led him away. Alex looked back over his shoulder with his best 'woe is me' expression but it was wasted. His mother wasn't even looking at him.

Scarlett was not interfering. She was so glad that Rhett was handling Alex and all his misbehavior. Scarlett didn't want to have to deal with Rhett in miniature. She had a hard enough time getting full-size Rhett to do what she wanted. Beside she thought it was poetic justice that Rhett had to deal with Rhett in miniature. Rhett had turned into a pretty good father. He still had a tendency to be soft on Bonnie and Ella but she guessed he was like every other father in the world.

That night after Rhett told Scarlett what Alex had done, she laughed so hard she cried. Rhett knew she was not just laughing at Alex's misdeeds but at him having to deal with Alex and his misdeed. He knew this because every time she got a hold of herself and she looked at him she would start laughing again.

Finally, she stopped laughing long enough to say, "If I had known this would happen to you, I would have had ten in our first timeline." Then she started laughing again. If Rhett hadn't like to listen to Scarlett laugh as much as he did, he might have gotten mad but he just pulled her close and let her laugh to her heart's content.

At least once a week Alex was being sent to the principal's office. Rhett was not enjoying this at all. It was no longer amusing to him although Scarlett still thought Alex's antics hilarious. So much so that Rhett had been tempted not to tell her what their son had done. He did though because secretly he was a little proud of his son being so much like him so he had to tell someone.

Two months into the school year Mr. Bennett said, "Alex's problem is that he gets his work done so fast he has lots of time to play."

Rhett said, "Then move him up to the next grade."

Mr. Bennett was all for that idea. Then Alex Butler would be someone else's problem.

The next day Alex was moved up a grade. He was now with the ten- and eleven-year-olds. After that Alex did better but he was still a spirited child thanks to his mother and a smart-aleck thanks to his father. Rhett still picked him up every day because he wanted to deal with his son when he had misbehaved. He was afraid Alex would charm his mother into being soft on him. Rhett knew his son was going to be a charming, personable, smart ass when he grew up but Rhett needed him to learn there was a time and a place for that behavior.

For the rest of Alex's time at Watkinson Rhett would have semi-regular meetings with Mr. Stewart. Most of the time Alex misbehaved for two reasons. One he was bored and two he enjoyed aggravating people. Like Rhett he did it because it was funny to him to see people get upset. Rhett often felt like a huge hypocrite lecturing Alex on not behaving that way. Nonetheless Rhett knew that Alex had to conform to society's dictates for now.