Disclaimer: I own nothing in regard to GWTW

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

Chapter Nineteen

After supper that night Wade, Scarlett and Rhett were in the family parlor, Rhett started the conversation by saying, "You are a very bright boy."

"Thank you."

"You are also an observant boy. We know that you know that Beau gets a lot more invitations to birthday parties than you do."

"Yes, sir. I used to get invitations from Mother's friends but now I don't."

"That is because your mother is no longer friends with those people."

"Why not?"

"What I am going to say will not make a lot of sense to you but as you get older you will understand better. Your mother and I want to be friends with just Southerners now. There are two groups of Southerners. We have been friends with the group called Scallawags, but we now want to be friends with the group called the Old Guard. We have done somethings that the good older women of the Old Guard don't think we should have done. In order to show their displeasure at our actions they won't be our friends and don't invite us to parties. Therefore, because you are our son, they won't let their children be your friend or invite you to any parties."

Wade sat there for a long time. That was a lot for an almost eight-year-old to take in and understand.

Finally, Wade said, "Like what?"

"Like your mother running the mills."

"What is wrong with that?"

"Women aren't supposed to run businesses."

"Why?"

"That is one of the rules your mother and I don't agree with the Old Guard about."

Wade doubtfully said, "Alright."

Rhett continued, "Your mother and I are trying to become friends with these people again for yours and your sisters' sakes."

"So, if you become friends with these people again, I will get invited to parties again."

Scarlett said, "Yes, sweetheart. That is why we can't invite anyone into our home that they don't approve of."

"They sound like a bunch of bullies to me."

Rhett said, "That is one way of putting it. You will understand more as you get older, son"

"Am I?"

"Are you what?"

"Your son."

"I told you that the day Bonnie was born. That you were my son."

"Then can I call you Father."

"I would prefer Dad."

The boy and the man hugged. Scarlett didn't say anything. She just wondered why she hadn't made this happen a long time ago. She knew why because before that awful day she hadn't cared about anyone but herself.

Scarlett finally said, "Go on upstairs and get ready for bed. Maybe next year we can have a big party for you."

"Thanks Mother."

After Wade had left the room Rhett said, "No regrets. Remember what I told you after Frank died and you were regretting your actions. Given the same set of circumstances you would do the same thing. You did what you thought you had to do to survive. I did what I wanted to do and made a lot of money while doing it," Rhett stood up and extended his hand. He said, "Come on, we have children to put to bed."

Scarlett took his hand and nodded. She said, "No regrets."

As soon as Ella heard Wade call Rhett Dad, she started calling him Dad also. Scarlett said, "It seems calling you Dad is something both our older children have wanted to do."

"I'm glad they do."

Bonnie would always be Rhett's favorite because she was his biological child, but she knew he loved her children too.

Scarlett had a small birthday party for Wade in the middle of January. She had not invited anyone but Beau and Melly. They had the party after the boys got home from school. Wade was happy and joyful throughout the entire party.

After the party Scarlett hugged Wade and told him, "I love you so very much."

The boy responded, "I love you too, Mama."

The mother and child hugged for a long time.

During the month of January Rhett went to see his friend Stuart. They talked for about thirty minutes. Stuart told Rhett that he and India were going to get married in June. It would be a simple ceremony because the Wilkes didn't have much money.

Rhett said, "If Miss Wilkes would like to have the ceremony in our backyard, I'm sure Scarlett would be alright with that. We could quietly help pay for the reception. You could do it as you ask me, so Miss Wilkes doesn't feel obligated to Scarlett."

"Really? What's in it for you?"

Rhett laughed and said, "You know me so well. I'm trying to get received again. Miss Wilkes' wedding is going to be the event of the summer. The Old Guard will have to either not attend the wedding or enter my home."

Stuart smiled and said, "You always were an opportunistic bastard. Let me talk to India about it. You are right. There are so many people who would be expecting an invitation."

"I can get Scarlett to get Mrs. Wilkes to help convince India."

"Sure, sure."

They talk some more about politics and business ventures. They both wondered how long they were going to be under Yankee rule. Finally, Rhett stood up to go and he said, "Can I have Mr. Wilkes curriculum vitae? We….

"I don't need a reason. I have heard the way he talks to India. It isn't rude per se, but it is clear he doesn't value her."

Stuart reached into his desk drawer and brought Wilkes' resume out. As Stuart handed it to Rhett, he said, "Have fun."

Rhett laughed and shook his head.

That night after the children were asleep, Rhett told Scarlett his next plan.

He said, "We are going to send his curriculum vitae," As Rhett saw Scarlett's puzzled face, he said, "Resume to every college and university in the South except for schools in Georgia."

"What if one of them actually offers him a job?"

"I will miss Mrs. Wilkes but it is highly unlikely any of them will be willing to offer him a job. He isn't qualified and he isn't General Lee."

Scarlett laughed. Even Scarlett had heard about General Lee being named president of Washington College even though he had no qualifications for being a college president.

Rhett went on, "He will get rejection letter after rejection letter."

"Brilliant!" She hugged Rhett's neck.

Rhett looked down at Scarlett and said, "We have to make copies of his resume. Probably about a hundred. We can start tomorrow night."

He grabbed her hand and they hurried up the stairs.

As they were lying there in the afterglow. Rhett said, "I offered to let Stuart and Miss Wilkes have their wedding here."

"Another brilliant idea. The matrons will have to enter our home."

"Yes."

They both laughed.

"I told Stuart we would help pay for the reception."

"Mmm."

"Do you want to help pay for India's dress?"

"No. Not unless a perfect opportunity arises where we can shame Ashley."

"Where is your hand going?

"You know where my hand is going."

"Hurry up and get there."

She laughed and obeyed.

It wasn't often at his age that Rhett's body could respond so quickly but talking about torturing Mr. Wilkes did work as an aphrodisiac on him and his wife also.

Scarlett talked to Melanie the next day while they were going to pick up Aunt PittyPat. She said, "Dear, please tell me if I am stepping over the line but Rhett and I really want to help with India's wedding. Rhett wants to help with the wedding because he and Mr. Townsend are good friends. He knows that neither Mr. Townsend nor India have a lot of money. So, he told Mr. Townsend that he would pay for the reception. It wouldn't be very elaborate, but they could have the ceremony on the lawn and then the reception on the back porch. In June it would be too hot to have it in the ball room. What do you think?"

Melanie thought it sounded wonderful. Ashley had unkindly told India that he wasn't spending a penny on her wedding. As far as he was concerned, they could go down to the courthouse. Melanie said, "Let me talk to her about it. I think I can talk her into it."

"Wonderful."

"She is going to wear that pink dress that you gave her last fall."

"She is not going to get a new dress to get married in."

"It is a not-needed expense."

"Alright. Whatever makes her happy. I do want the poor dear to be happy. I certainly never thought this day would come. Did you? Be honest, Melly."

Melly laughed and said, "No, I never did. It is like a dream come true," Melanie paused there then said quickly, "For her."

"Yes, a dream come true for her."

Scarlett thought India's pink dress would be pretty, and it certainly was new enough. Besides, she was finished helping India. She just wanted to have the service and reception at her house so the matrons would have to come into her house.

They sent out fifty resumes. They had planned to send out a hundred but after both of them had gotten writer's cramp from preparing the resumes they decided that fifty was more than enough. Luckily for them Ashley didn't have very much information on his resume. They even sent some to northern Colleges and Universities. They just sat back and waited for the results.

At the end of January Scarlett got an invitation for Wade to Maybelle's son's birthday party. As soon as Wade got home from school, she shared the news with him. Wade said, "Does that mean you and Dad are friends with the Old Guard again?"

"Let's start using the word matrons instead of the old guard. It means that the matrons are thinking about becoming our friends again."

Scarlett and Rhett attended the party and were extremely polite and courteous to all the other guests. Rhett was his charming self and Scarlett was his loving wife.

All the ladies were talking about Scarlett, but it was in a good way. They were saying that Scarlett was being kind, deferential, and respectful. What most of them were talking about was how relaxed Scarlett was. She never took offense at anything anyone said. She had even made a few jokes at her own expense. They wondered what had changed in Scarlett Butler's life to mark this great change in her.

Of course, the matrons were also talking about Captain Butler. They were talking about how charming he was being. How helpful he was being in his role as owner of the bank. How much he loved his daughter and how highly Captain Butler was speaking of Scarlett. Captain Butler had even told several people how badly he felt for having forced Scarlett to invite the Scallawags, Republicans, and Yankees into their home. He would look down at the ground and act so ashamed and say, "…. Especially Bullock." Didn't everyone love a repented sinner?

People were even beginning to say that the marriage between Rhett and Scarlett may have been a love match.

The matrons would be shocked to know that the reason Rhett and Scarlett were behaving so differently was because they were both getting sexual satisfaction in their marital bed, and they were both taking all their mean-spirited feelings out on Ashley Wilkes. Rhett did like to aggravate other people, but terrorizing Mr. Wilkes was working as a safety valve, and he was able to restrain himself most of the time. Although he would share with Scarlett all the comments he had wanted to make at people's expense. They would often laugh all the way home.

Wade getting an invitation to a birthday party was a positive sign, yet Rhett decided that they were going to have to put more effort into getting received before June. To achieve the goal of getting received again, the couple decided to forgo their afternoon nap although neither person was happy about the decision.

After dinner Rhett left to go to the bank and Scarlett either went calling with Melanie or checked on her businesses. Scarlett enjoyed spending time with Melanie now that Melanie wasn't her rival. The truth was that Scarlett now felt sorry for Melanie because she was married to that loser Ashley. Her favorite thing to do in the afternoon was torture Ashley now that Rhett and she weren't taking a nap together.

Rhett was not having nearly as much fun as Scarlett, but he did enjoy torturing the matrons while pretending to be helping them. If he could covertly aggravate the matrons, he would do that. He enjoyed making comments that could be taken two ways then looking innocent after he said them.

They had a small birthday party for Bonnie. Scarlett smiled when she thought about how different things were from a year ago. She felt a moment of regret that she had wanted to rid herself of the child. Thank goodness Rhett had not allowed her to do that. She regretted that she had ever thought of Bonnie or any of her children as an inconvenience.

She laughed when she remembered telling Rhett, "We will let Bonnie have a birthday cake for her first birthday."

"No, you will serve apple sauce. That is enough sugar for a one-year-old."

Scarlett had smiled and agreed. She smiled when she thought of how many of the matrons, he had asked about giving a small child sugar. Every one of them had said the same thing as Melly had said.

Mammy was pleased with the changes in her little lamb. Miss Scarlett was actually becoming a good mother. She was pleased with the changes in Mr. Rhett and Miss Scarlett's relationship. Mammy was hoping they would finally be happy.

Author's Notes: The word 'bully' is from the mid-16th century. It originally meant sweetheart or lover. It changed and became a term of friendship between men. i.e., pal or buddy. In the mid-17th century, it took on its current meaning: Someone who is habitually cruel, insulting or threatening to others.