Disclaimer: I own nothing regarding GWTW
Author's Notes: Thank you for all the reviews and feedback.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Later over supper, Scarlett was cold to Rhett, but she was still speaking to him, so all was good. He engaged her and Wade in conversation.
Rhett then shared some stories with the family. When Ella had turned two, she started eating her meals with the family, but she didn't contribute very much to the conversation or really understand what the conversations were about.
After Wade had gotten ready for bed, Rhett sat with him for a minute while Mary was getting Ella ready for bed. Rhett said, "Son, I want you to know the reason you don't get invited to parties or events by other boys from the South like Beau does."
"Why?"
"Southerners who are members of the gentry of Atlanta don't like your mother and father."
"What is the gentry of Atlanta?"
"The more proper people of Atlanta," When Rhett saw Wade's confused face, he continued, "I will explain that another time. That is not important right now."
"Why don't they like you and Mother?"
"They don't like your mother because she behaved mannishly in their opinion."
"Mother!?"
"Yes, your mother. She ran a sawmill and that was a man's job."
"But she had all those people to support."
"Yes, she did. Even though she is now married to me, and I am willing to support her relatives she still wants to run her businesses"
"Why?"
"Because she enjoys running a business. That is why I would never make her stop. She does get such great pleasure out of making money."
"Why don't they like you?"
"Because I have never done what they have wanted me to do. I like making money so I spend time with people I can make money with."
"What is wrong with that?
"These same Southerners think it is wrong to spend time with Yankees."
"They are the enemy."
"No, my son, they were the enemy. That is more than you will truly understand for right now. My point is you are not invited to their parties and events because of your parents, not because of you."
"Alright, Dad.'
Rhett stood up and gave the boy a hug. He went to Bonnie's crib and looked at his sleeping child. He didn't touch her for he did not want to wake her. He then left the nursery without another word.
That night when Ashley got home from work, Melly asked him what she always asked him, "How was your day?"
Usually, Ashley didn't say a lot about his day but today he said, "Scarlett came out to the mills today."
"I didn't know she was back from Europe."
"I think she just got back yesterday and, of course, on her first day back she had to go check on her precious mills."
"She should stay home with her baby. What did she have?"
"A girl."
"I would like to have a little girl."
Ashley ignored Melly's statement. He said, "They have named her Eugenia Victoria, but Captain Butler has decided to call her Bonnie because her blue eyes are the same color as the Bonnie Blue Flag. Have you ever heard of anything so silly?"
"I think it sweet."
"Really, my dear, no man should behave so foolishly over his child."
"I'm sure Captain Butler will soon grow tired of his child and start behaving like every other father."
"Scarlett might indeed be thinking about staying home with her child. She said she was thinking of selling her mills."
"Why?!"
Ashley got a stunned look on his face. He didn't know what to answer. The reason Scarlett gave was that it was just torture to be around him if they couldn't be together but he couldn't tell Melly that. As Melly looked at her husband, she really wanted to know what Scarlett had said. Was Scarlett getting over her crush on Ashley? Melanie would have to fix that right away. Hopefully, Scarlett would call tomorrow. No, she would call on Scarlett to see the baby, of course.
Finally, Ashley said, "She said she was tired of working that hard when she didn't have to do that anymore."
"Does she honestly think Captain Butler is going to stay in Atlanta and take care of her? He will abandon her when he gets bored with being a husband and a father."
"I wonder how long he will remain faithful."
"He has probably already been unfaithful to her."
Ashley laughed and said, "Probably. Poor Scarlett."
"Yes, poor Scarlett but that is what is to be expected from an unreceived man. Let me see about supper."
As Melanie walked into the kitchen to see about supper, she was devising a plan to cause friction between Scarlett and Captain Butler. Even if she had to lie.
That night as they were getting ready for bed, Rhett said, "I want to restrict Wade's time with Miss Melly and Beau."
Coldly Scarlett said, "Why? Beau and Wade are the best of friends and Melly adores Wade."
Judging by Scarlett's frigid tone she was still mad at him but as long as she was still speaking to him all was good. He said, "Yes, all of that is true but when Wade is at his Aunt Melly's house if other boys come over to play, he gets snubbed. Or they talk about parties that they are going to attend that he is not invited to or events that have happen that he didn't get an invitation to."
"What does it matter if Wade isn't invited to those parties? They are just children's parties."
Rhett sat in his favorite chair without a stitch of clothing on and watched Scarlett brushing her hair. He met her eyes in the mirror and said, "It matters because our son is being hurt by being left out."
"Why doesn't he get invited to parties and events?"
"To punish you and me. The matrons would rather have freedmen and freedwomen at their event than us."
Scarlett giggled. She said, "I just had a mental picture of a bunch of freedwomen in Mrs. Merriwether's parlor."
Rhett smiled at her. He said, "We can make sure that Beau comes to our house to play that way Wade won't be snubbed."
"If you think that is best Rhett."
"I do."
After Rhett's conversation with Wade, he decided that not allowing the boy to go to the Wilkeses home would be a good thing. That would force Miss Melly to come to their home where Rhett had a better chance of monitoring the situation. He also thought about what he had said to Wade about Scarlett getting such joy out of running her businesses. He wondered if he could take that away from her.
A couple of weeks ago Rhett had remembered what his older self had said - that he didn't need to worry about Scarlett and Mr. Wilkes's relationship. It was all built on fantasies. Rhett knew that Scarlett would never be unfaithful to him physically. He might just tolerate that relationship because it kept her too busy to spend much time with Miss Melly. Rhett knew that Miss Melly was the greater danger. Mr. Wilkes was just a man trying to hold on to one of the few things that were part of his old life, Scarlett's adoration. When Wilkes realized he had lost Scarlett's adoration he would accept the loss as one more loss in his life. Miss Melly would not accept that Scarlett no longer had a crush on Mr. Wilkes. Miss Melly would actively cause problems between Rhett and Scarlett for her own personal benefit. Cause problems and hope that Scarlett ran back to Wilkes for love and comfort. Rhett would not trick Scarlett into selling her sawmills but if she decided to sell them, he wouldn't stop her either.
After Rhett and Scarlett were in bed, he leaned over and kissed her. She didn't resist him, but she didn't kiss him back. he drew back, she said, "I'm still mad at you."
"Aw, Baby, you were right. You weren't late."
"Rhett, you are my best friend."
"I am also your husband."
"Yes, you are. My point is that I would never deliberately hurt you."
"I know, Baby. Nor I you."
"Do you want to exert your husbandly rights?"
"Do I ever?"
Scarlett giggled and Rhett laughed.
Afterwards as Scarlett was lying in Rhett's arms listening to his stories, she thought about what Ashley had said about when he thought about her in Rhett's arms. She thought, 'Who else should be touching me but my husband? I wonder if he would be so high and mighty if he and Melanie could have relations? I didn't notice him hesitating over his Christmas furlough.'
After Scarlett had nursed Genie the next morning, she took the baby down to the nursery. She was going back to sleep. She got back in the bed and looked at her husband asleep. She giggled when she saw him. Her always dignified husband was sleeping with his mouth open. She giggled again. There was even a little bit of drool on his lips. She giggled again. Rhett opened his eyes and saw her looking at him. He smiled. He said, "Did I have my mouth open?"
Scarlett giggled again then said, "Yes."
"Was I drooling?"
"Yes"
"I'll teach you to laugh at me."
Rhett rolled her over and started kissing her. A while later, Scarlett said, "I don't think I learned my lesson. You might have to teach me that lesson again."
Rhett laughed and said, "Gladly. Get up and have breakfast with me."
"No, I'm going to lie here and rest until Prissy brings my breakfast tray."
"Suit yourself."
Scarlett unashamedly watched her husband get dressed. Rhett absolutely had a fine body. She knew he knew that she was watching him. She also knew that he was taking a long time to get dressed. She didn't care. She was enjoying the view. She was so glad she had left being a lady outside her bedroom door.
Scarlett was still lying in the bed when Prissy came to her room. Prissy said, "Mrs. Wilkes and Mr. Beau are here."
"Great balls of thunder! Melly must be very anxious to see the baby. Go tell Rhett that Melly is in the parlor and for him to take Genie down so Melly can see the child. Tell Wade to go get Beau and take him up to the nursery. Then come back and help me get dressed," Prissy left the room. Scarlett looked at her watch and said, "Melly is not going to get much baby time today. I will tell her to come around ten thirty from now on."
Rhett was quite pleased when Prissy told him that Miss Melly was in the parlor, and could he take the baby down so Mrs. Wilkes could see the baby. Wade left the nursery as soon as he heard that Beau was in the house.
Once Rhett was in the parlor, he could just stay. He looked at his watch and smiled. Scarlett would soon have to nurse the baby; therefore, he could give Miss Melly the heave ho and get her out of the house. He was glad that Scarlett thought he was so baby crazy because she would not think anything about him remaining in the parlor with his baby. Of course, he was baby crazy. Baby crazy about his baby. His and Scarlett's baby.
As Rhett walked down the stairs, he was almost run over by two little boys. As he walked into the parlor carrying his daughter, he gave Miss Melly his most charming smile. He had always thought of Miss Melly as a fellow sufferer in this travesty, but he knew now she wasn't. He said, "Miss Melly, how wonderful to see you."
"Thank you, Captain Butler."
"I know the real reason you have come to call and here she is."
"That's just not true, Captain Butler. I came to see both mother and child."
Rhett walked over and put the baby in Melly's arms."
"Bonnie? Is that her name?"
"No, her name is Eugenia Victoria Butler, but her eyes remind me so much of the Bonnie Blue Flag that I just have to call her that."
"What will you call her when her eyes turn brown?"
The question startled Rhett because of the events of the previous timeline but because of his poker face he didn't show any emotion. He said, "If her eyes turn brown, then I guess I will call her Genie."
Melly did want to have another child. Hopefully, a girl. She just had to figure out a way to trick Ashley into giving her one. She knew those doctors were wrong.
