Disclaimer: I own nothing in regard to GWTW
Author's Notes: Thank you for all the reviews and feedback. This is my favorite chapter.
Chapter Eight
On February 28th Rhett was back in Atlanta. He had sent Scarlett a telegram stating: I am in Atlanta STOP You will return to Atlanta tomorrow STOP
Her replied stated: The children and I will be on the nine AM train STOP
She, the older children, and Mammy were on the train to Atlanta. Bonnie's birthday was March the third and hopefully they would all be celebrating it together. She was hoping for a miracle. She didn't know what she wanted. To continue living with Rhett or continue living at Tara. She knew she wanted to live with all of her children. She was no longer willing to let Rhett have Bonnie. No, she was going to get all of her children.
She left the baby at Tara with Prissy. She prayed she would be home for his evening feeding. Her son. Their son was one month old. He looked more and more like Rhett every day. One of the other mothers at Tara was going to feed him. She hoped she didn't seep through, and Rhett see the telltale signs of a nursing mother.
Rhett was actually at the station to meet them. He looked so happy to see Bonnie, Wade and Ella. He gave her a cool smile. Scarlett thought, 'After not seeing me for ten months that is all I get. Then that is all he gets.' She gave him a cool smile and her cheek. She linked her arm in his.
"Where is your luggage?"
"We will talk about it when we are alone."
"As you wish."
As they got in the carriage there was a lot of noise and excitement. Bonnie insisted on sitting on Rhett's lap which Scarlett could see made Rhett incredibly happy.
When they got to the house, Mammy took the children to the nursery. Rhett showed Scarlett the house. As they were walking around the house, Rhett said, "How is your ankle?"
"Fine now."
"Why did you not bring your luggage?"
"I would prefer to live at Tara. I do not know if I want to return to Atlanta."
"You are my wife, and you will live where I live."
"That is reassuring to know I am still your wife. I wasn't sure after the last way we parted."
"While I am not opposed to a divorce, it would ruin Bonnie's social position."
"mmm"
By this time, they were on the second floor. Rhett said, "Wade's room is down the hall. Bonnie and Ella's room is across the hall from mine. You can have any room you want."
"Assuming we come to an agreement."
"Why bargain? You will just renege on the deal."
"I will swear on Bonnie's life that I will fulfill my end of the bargain if you are willing to do the same."
"I have never reneged on either of our bargains."
"Then you wouldn't mind swearing on Bonnie's life once we come to an agreement."
"What do you want in order to get you to return?"
"I want my children."
"Why? You don't even like your children."
"Oh Rhett, you don't know everything. I do want my children. All my children. Part of our agreement is you will never run away with any of my children again. That my children will always live with me.
"If the negotiating has begun, let us move down to the parlor where we can be more comfortable."
"Of course." She proceeded past him and down the stairs. When she got to the bottom of the stairs, she waited for him to lead her to the parlor.
When they got there Rhett asked, "Would you like a brandy?"
"No, thank you. I would prefer a cup of tea."
"You don't have to pretend with me. I know you drink, and I know how much you drink."
"As you informed me the night you forced yourself on me."
"I remember it quite differently. I remember you being quite willing." Rhett said with a sneer.
"Can I have a cup of tea?"
Rhett stared at Scarlett. He could not believe that she hadn't gone off like a firecracker with that last remark.
"There is the bell pull," said Rhett and pointed to it.
Scarlett got up and rang the bell. She sat down on the divan and studied the room. Rhett studied Scarlett. She seemed to be very calm. Always before even when she was stationary, she had a nervous energy about her. Before long a young woman appeared and gave Rhett a smile. She then smiled at Scarlett. Scarlett smiled at her, and said, "I am Mrs. Butler. What is your name?"
"My name is Zoey."
Scarlett said, "Zoey, would you bring me a pot of tea with some lemons and sugar? Do you want something Rhett or are you satisfied with your whiskey?"
"Nothing for me."
The maid curtsied and left.
Rhett said, "It appears that despite your lack of mothering skills, your daughter loves you a great deal. So much so that when she is separated from you, she becomes extremely unhappy. I am sure the reverse is true also."
Scarlett ignored Rhett's jab about her being a poor mother. She knew she was the better parent of the two of them. She said, "Bonnie does want to live with both of her parents, yes."
"I, of course, could just force you to stay here since I have complete control of you and your person," Scarlett just stared at Rhett. He continued, "What do you want to come back to Atlanta and go back to living together as we had before?"
"I don't want to go back to living together as we were before you abandon me in my time of need."
"I wasn't going to stay here and play the part of the cuckolded husband."
"So instead, you threw me to the lions. No, I think I will return to Tara where nobody thinks I am an adulterer."
"That you know of. What do you want?"
"I want you to speak to me politely. I want you to swear to never run away with any of my children ever again. My allowance is to remain the same. I want you to stop having relations with other women."
"What do you care who I have relations with as long as it isn't you."
"Because your behavior is shaming me. You claimed that my behavior shamed you and you didn't like it very well. I haven't liked being shamed for the last three years but I didn't run away. I will not tolerate being shamed anymore."
"I am not going to be a celibate monk."
"I suppose if we come to an understanding, we could resume marital relations."
Rhett just stared at her. Rhett wanted that very much, but he was also very suspicious. He was staring at her face to see if the answer to this change of attitude was written on her face. Zoey returned with the tea service. She placed it on the tea table and said, "Is there anything else, ma'am?"
"No, thank you, Zoey."
Rhett continued to stare at Scarlett as she poured her tea and fixed it to her taste. There was no emotion on her face. Finally, Rhett said, "Why the change in attitude?"
"I discovered there are worse things than having a child every year."
"It looks like you are already losing your waist."
"Yes, it does appear that way."
"I'm not going to ask for your forgiveness for these last years."
"Nor am I. We will just move forward."
"Of course, your allowance will remain the same."
"Fine."
"As long as my needs are satisfied, I will not use whores."
"Fine."
"I have a demand. You will never be alone with Ashley Wilkes ever again."
"I will do everything in my power to not allow that to happen. If it does happen you will give me a chance to explain before flying off the handle."
"As long as I find out from you and not the town gossip."
"Fine"
"I would like for you to travel with me."
"Is that at suggestion or part of our new agreement?"
"Part of our new agreement. What do you consider talking politely? I am going to say what I want to say."
"I want you to talk to me the way you did before we got married. I understand that every now and then you will be rude and unkind. That is just the way you are."
"I guess that will be a work in progress. I don't want you to call me names anymore."
"I will try but you must stop calling me 'My Pet."
"But it is what you are."
Scarlett started to stand up and Rhett said, "I was joking."
Scarlett sat down and said, "You have a mean sense of humor."
"I suppose you are right. I want you to stop spending time with the Scallawags."
Scarlett laughed, "That is funny since you introduced me to them, but I agree."
"So, we are in agreement."
"Let's write it down so there is no misunderstanding later."
"I agree completely."
Scarlett wrote down everything they had agreed upon.
Scarlett looked at the paper and said, "How often do you want me to travel with you?"
"At least once a year although I would prefer more often."
"Alright."
Rhett
Speak politely to Scarlett
Never run off with her children again
Allowance stays the same
Never use whores again.
Never call Scarlett My Pet again
Scarlett
Resume marital relations
Never be alone with Ashley again
Live in the same house with Rhett
Not spend time with the Scallawags
Travel with Rhett at least once a year.
She signed her name and Rhett signed his name. They both swore on Bonnie's life that they would abide by the agreement.
Scarlett said, "Let's have dinner."
They had dinner and the children were all talking at once.
Ella said, "We have a new baby."
Rhett said, "Did your sister have a new baby?"
Scarlett said, "Yes, the baby was born about a month ago."
Ella said, "But he isn't as cute as our baby."
There was silence then Wade started talking but Rhett silenced him when he said loudly and sharply, "Scarlett! Did you have another child?"
Scarlett smiled a slow smile of satisfaction like she had gotten the better of Rhett and said, "Remember you swore on … Yes, Rhett, we have a son. He was born a month ago."
Scarlett watched as Rhett's face turned florid with anger and he started to yell then he looked around at the frightened children. He stormed over to where Scarlett was sitting and jerked her up by the upper arm. Wade jumped up and Scarlett said, "It is alright, Wade, he won't hit me. He is just going to yell at me because this dumb country bumpkin got the better of him." Rhett didn't even pause in his actions and dragged her along with him to the parlor. He threw her on the divan and slammed the door shut.
Rhett said, "May God damn your cheating little soul to hell for all eternity!"
Scarlett stood up and with the courage of both her Irish and French ancestors she said, "Are you going to run away now Rhett? If so my children and I will return to Tara until you return."
"That agreement is null and void."
"Why?"
"Because I will not allow the Butler name to grace your bastard."
"That's rich after everything you have done to disgrace the Butler name. Yet it doesn't matter what you want. He will always have the Butler name because I was married to you when he was born. Of course, he could be yours."
Rhett stared at her.
Scarlett calmly said, "You remember the night you forced yourself on me. Or is it all a drunken haze to you. I can assure you that you completed the act three times. You may have been drunk but I was pretty sober not having been given time to imbibe my night cap."
"If it is my son, I am going to go down to Tara and get him. When I return my children and I will be leaving Atlanta forever."
Scarlett calmly said, "No you won't. You will honor our agreement because I didn't lie to you during our negotiations. You were not the least bit concerned that I might have been pregnant when you ran away last April basically branding your child as a bastard. In this entire time did it ever cross your mind that you might have gotten this fertile Myrtle pregnant? With my history of getting pregnant quickly it should have crossed your mind at least once."
"God damn it, you should have told me."
"Where was I supposed to address the envelope?"
"To my mother's. I told you I was going there."
"You also said and other places. After you drop Prissy off and told her to tell me you will see me in a year, you didn't provide me with an address. No, my baby and I weren't going to be gossiped about for six months. If you had come to Tara when I was too sick to travel to check on your wife, you would have found out the truth then, but you couldn't be bothered to take an hour train trip. If you had come down to Tara in order to spend Christmas with me when I broke my ankle you would have found out the truth then, but again you couldn't be bothered to take an hour train trip."
"You weren't really sick, and you didn't break your ankle"
"No, I wasn't and no, I didn't. If my baby had looked like me nobody would have ever believed he was your child. He looks just like you. I'm done talking about this. After lunch, my children and I will return to Tara. I will return tomorrow if you are going to be here. If not, we will stay in the country." Scarlett turned and walked to the door. With a mean little smile, she turned back toward Rhett and said, "Your faithfulness started the minute that paper was signed." She walked out of the parlor back into the dining room. She sat back down in her chair and smiled at her children. She continued eating her meal.
