Disclaimer: I own nothing in regard to GWTW
Author's Notes: Thank you for all the reviews and feedback.
Chapter Forty - Four
After much discussion on the best way for Wade to approach his mother, Rhett said, "I think you should discuss it with her by yourself."
"I don't know Dad. She can be scary when she gets mad."
Rhett smiled and said, "Yes, she can."
That night over supper Wade said to his mother, "There is something that I would like to talk to you about after supper."
Scarlett looked at her son and he had an anxious look on his face. She looked at her husband and he had his mask on so that was no help. She said, "Alright."
Wade and Scarlett went into the front parlor. Wade handed his mother the letter about his acceptance to Emory University. As his mother stared at the letter, she heard Wade say, "I want to go back to Georgia and take over the running of Tara when Will passes," When his mother didn't say anything he went on, "My cousins don't want to live in the country. Someone has to take over the running of Tara."
"Yes, someone does."
"Tara is my favorite place on earth."
"Mine too."
Wade didn't know what else to say. He looked at his mother as she stared at the paper in front of her. Finally, Scarlett said, "Are you miserable here in London?"
"Not miserable. I think I will be happier in Atlanta and at Tara."
"I thought you were going to go to Harvard and become a lawyer."
"No, that was Aunt Melly's dream for me."
"You may not be received into any decent house in Atlanta because of Rhett's reputation."
"Aunt Melly will get me received."
Scarlett smiled at that. Her son had always been a very observant person. "How old were you when we move to London? Eleven?" Wade nodded. "Have you been planning this the entire time?" Wade nodded again.
No Scarlett didn't want her son across an ocean from her. She admitted to herself though that if she didn't love her children more than Tara she would be there right now. Maybe it was meant to be, that Wade would live at Tara. Will wanted him there. Suellen's daughters didn't want to live in the country. Scarlett did want her son to inherit Tara. She looked at her son's anxious face. He wanted this so much. The honest truth was that she could keep her son with her, but he would never be happy in England when he wanted to be at Tara. She was so much older and wiser.
"Yes. I can think of nothing better than for you to take over the running of Tara.
When Rhett heard, Scarlett had agreed to Wade going to school in Georgia and taking over the running of Tara. Rhett said, "I'm surprised you agreed so quickly."
Scarlett said, "It makes me feel good to know that Wade will be running Tara. It will be in safe hands."
Wade was not happy when he found out that the entire family, Mammy, Mrs. Giles, Mrs. Jones and Tory were going with him to Atlanta. He was miserable when he found out he had to live with his Great Aunt PittyPat. His unhappiness lessened when he remembered that his cousin Beau and Aunt Melly lived behind the house. He had missed them. He and Beau corresponded but it wasn't the same as actually sitting down and talking to someone. He wanted to be his own man, but he was also a little afraid of the prospect of being entirely on his own.
Rhett had rented a house for their summer visit. With him, Scarlett, his mother, their now seven children, Mammy, Mrs. Giles, Mrs. Jones, Tory and their servants even the largest suite at a hotel was not big enough. Actually, two of the largest suites weren't big enough.
The group except for Mammy, Mrs. Giles, Mrs. Jones and Tory would go down to Tara every couple of days. All the children loved being at Tara. The house at Tara was too small for them to spend the night. The sisters were cordial and polite. They didn't make snide comments at each other. They treated each other as polite strangers which in a way was what they were. They did come to an agreement regarding Tara. Scarlett bought Suellen's share of Tara. The Benteens would continue living there until Wade was ready to take over which everyone knew meant until Will passed away. Scarlett now owned all of Tara. She was smugly happy.
Mrs. Jones had taken control of the largest room on the ground floor of the house. She had Vicky, Tory, Kenny, Charlotte and Chris that she was teaching. Admittedly Chris was only there in the morning, but Mrs. Butler's children were all smart, strong willed and so very charming. They kept her on her toes. It was wonderful. Mrs. Butler paid all her expenses and paid her a fine salary. Mrs. Butler didn't pay for hers or Tory's clothing and other personal items, of course. She had been saving almost all her wages. Rebecca was putting at least seventy-five percent of her wages in the bank.
Mrs. Butler had been right. She had been Mrs. Jones for so long now she almost believed she had been married and lost her husband tragically.
During the first week Rhett visited a few of his old haunts but there was nothing there for him. As he looked at the bars and saloons and remembered how much time he spent in them. He asked himself, 'Is this really what I chose over a life with Scarlett? I really was a stupid, stubborn bastard.'
That Wednesday night, Rhett went to the Democratic party meeting at Wilkes' store. He was greeted a lot more cordially than he ever thought possible. Even Mr. Wilkes had greeted him warmly.
Forrest Brown said, "The Thursday night committee still meets at my home. Our purpose now is to make sure the clan stays out of Georgia. Seven."
"I'll be there."
Bob Baker said, "You and your wife will have to come to supper while you are here. Where are you staying? Let me talk to Thelma. We will send an invitation."
"That sounds nice." Rhett was a little surprised that anyone in polite society was going to welcome him into their home.
Russell Davis pulled him aside and told him one of the raunchiest jokes he had ever heard.
Wednesday night when Rhett came home from the Democratic party meeting, he was so happy. Happy like a little boy promised a trip to the circus.
Scarlett was definitely not happy with this turn of events, but Rhett was a good husband and a good father she guessed he deserved a night out every now and then. It certainly was much better than him spending all his nights at Belle's in the earlier timeline. Even after all these years, that still hurt.
After her getting hysterical the night before Charlotte's birth, Rhett rarely stayed out past supper time. And when he did, he always sent a message telling her he had been delayed.
On the Monday of their second week in Atlanta, Fanny Bradley called on Scarlett. They talked for about thirty minutes. It was a very pleasant conversation. Fanny said, "I was rude to you the day you apologized for your part in Tommy's death, and I am sorry for behaving that way."
"I forgive you."
"Are you moving back to Atlanta?"
"No, we are just here for a visit and to get Wade settled. He is going to Emory University in the fall."
"I'm surprised he isn't going to Harvard. I thought all the Hamilton men went to Harvard."
"Wade may look just like Charlie, but he is all O'Hara on the inside. He wants to take over the running of Tara."
"I guess I will have to start thinking about where to send Louis soon."
"Where did Tommy go?"
"University of Georgia. You heard I married Tom Bradley."
"Yes, congratulations."
"It caused quite the stir."
"Tom is certainly better looking than Jim Hicks. That man was ugly."
Fanny looked at Scarlett for a long moment and said, "Yes, he was. I just couldn't bring myself to marry him just because he was a Southerner."
"And not marry Tom just because he was a Yankee."
"You and Captain Butler must come have supper with Tom and me. How about Thursday night?"
As much as Scarlett would have liked to say yes so Rhett couldn't attend his meeting, she said, "No, Thursdays aren't good for us."
"Then Friday."
"Yes. If Rhett has made other plans, I will send you a note."
"I live at 92 Third Street."
"Thank you for stopping by."
As soon as Fanny was out the door, Scarlett grabbed her hat and was on her way to Melly's. When Melly opened the door Scarlett said, "Fanny Bradley just called on me. What is going on?"
"Things have changed in Atlanta since y'all moved to London. Mrs. Merriwether, Mrs. Bonner and Mrs. Mead have all passed away. There are other matrons, of course, but they aren't as dedicated to maintaining the old social structure as those three ladies were. The men are all doing business with the Yankees now. They had to in order to survive. Several young ladies of good families married Yankees. Those were the only men that could support a wife and family. Mrs. Elsing is encouraging people to deal with the Yankees."
Scarlett sat down and said, "Do you think Rhett and I could move back to Atlanta and be received into polite society? That my children could make good matches?"
"Yes, but let's test the waters. I will give a supper party and invite four other couples. We will see how they behave around you."
"Who shall we invite? You have to invite my mother-in-law for sure."
"Alright. I will invite Fanny and Tom Bradley since Fanny has already called on you."
"Alright."
"Rene and Maybelle Picard, Aunt PittyPat, Uncle Henry and Mrs. Elsing."
"Let me talk to Rhett and see if there is someone he wants to invite."
"How about this Saturday?"
"Yes. Melly this is so exciting. I so want to move back to Atlanta to be close to you and Tara."
The Butlers had supper with Thelma and Bob Baker on Wednesday. There were several other couples there. Everyone there was friendly to Rhett and Scarlett.
The couple had supper with Fanny and Tom Bradley on Friday. There were several other couples there. They were mostly Yankees with southern wives. Rhett and Scarlett were well received.
That Saturday Melanie had Rhett and Scarlett over for supper that night. She had invited everyone on their guest list. Everyone there was kind and social with the Butlers. By Monday there were two invitations to social events the next week.
Ladies came to call on Scarlett and Elizabeth. Although Scarlett didn't want to, she attended a couple of sewing bees with Melanie and Elizabeth. Scarlett had a good time. Nobody was talking about the war or anything to do with past. Nobody was talking badly about her misdeeds.
Maybelle said, "How did you managed to get the infamous Rhett Butler to the altar. That man was a confirmed bachelor."
"I have been trying to get that man to the alter since we danced together at the bazaar. He just would not commit to marriage. When I married Frank, I guess he decided he would have to marry me or lose me.
Annabeth said, "It was smart of you to run off to London to get married. If you had stayed here the matrons would have made your life miserable."
"I was afraid to give Rhett time to change his mind. When he said he had to go to London on urgent business I suggested we go ahead and get married in England. I told him we could weather the social storm later. He had laughed and said, 'I don't care. I'm already not received.' We got married the same day I arrived in London."
Elizabeth said, "I just wished I had been invited to the wedding."
Everyone laughed.
Melanie said, "Don't feel alone in that. I didn't get an invitation either. Maybe they thought we couldn't keep a secret."
In that moment Scarlett knew that she and Rhett had been received into Atlanta society. They could return to the South. She could once again live within twenty-five miles of Tara.
That evening after they had retired. Scarlett said, "Isn't it wonderful Rhett? We are received in Atlanta. We can return and our children can make good matches."
Rhett wasn't really thrilled with the idea. He enjoyed living in more an Avant Garde environment and living in a more sophisticated city. He enjoyed going to first class plays, operas and museums none of which interested Scarlett. Rhett had replied, "If we move back to Atlanta, we won't be able to go to Paris every spring for you to get the latest styles in dresses."
"I get all the latest fashion magazines. I can bring Paris to Atlanta."
"What about all your friends in London?"
"I can make new friends and my best friend lives in Atlanta."
Rhett knew he had lost the battle. He could make her return to London, but she would never be happy like she was before this summer. Rhett wasn't ready to throw in the towel yet. He said, "Let's have a party and if we get at least fifty guest we will move back."
"Twenty-five."
"Thirty."
"Deal but they all don't have to be here at the same time. Some people only stay for a few minutes."
Scarlett prepared for the party. Melanie helped her with the guest list. Scarlett invited every person Melanie knew in polite society and a few that technically weren't part of polite society. The night of the party there were well over fifty people in the house and on the lawn. As Rhett walked around speaking to everyone, he didn't need to count how many guests they had. He knew they were returning to the South.
After all the guest, had left and Rhett and Scarlett had retired for the night, he looked at his wife and she was so happy. He guessed she was just a southern girl, and she would never be genuinely happy unless she was living in the South. He didn't know if he was just a southern boy, but he did know that wherever she was, would be where he wanted to be.