Disclaimer: I own nothing regarding GWTW
Author's Notes: Thank you for all the reviews and feedback.
Chapter Fifty-Two
The family had Christmas dinner with an acquaintance of Rhett's. The man, Steve McQueen, had been a business associate of Rhett. Rhett liked the man well enough to make contact with him every time he was in Boston. Steve liked Rhett well enough to invite him to supper several times over the years.
The McQueens lived in a mansion as big as the Butlers' mansion in Atlanta. Judging by the size of their home and the jewelry Mr. and Mrs. McQueen were wearing Steve was as wealthy as Rhett. The couple had children the same age as Scarlett did.
Scarlett watched her children interact with the McQueen children. Wade was not shy or timid in the least little bit. Genie wasn't shy or timid either. Soon they were playing with the children. Ella chose to play with Gerry. One of the daughters who was probably the same age as Ella started playing with Gerry also. Scarlett watched as Ella became more and more relaxed. She smiled.
Scarlett decided that wherever they chose to move to was going to be hardest on Ella, but Scarlett cheered herself up by remembering that all Ella's friends would be moving away soon anyway.
Before the family left Boston, Rhett threw a first birthday party for Gerry. Rhett knew several businessmen in the area. He invited them and their families to the party. Rhett had gone as overboard on Gerry's birthday as he had on Bonnie's. Scarlett realized that Rhett had spent more money on Genie's birthday party than she had thought. Everyone had a good time though.
The day after Gerry's birthday party, Scarlett weaned Gerry from the breast. Rhett was happy that this Scarlett was so involved with their children, but he was also ready to not have to share his wife's body with anyone. Gerry was still sleeping in his bassinet, but he was now in the room with the other children. If he woke in the middle of the night, Mammy would have to deal with him. Scarlett was looking forward to sleeping through the night. Unfortunately, in the middle of the night Rhett woke up and decided to wake Scarlett up. She turned over and said, "I love you but no."
"No?"
"No."
Scarlett so rarely told Rhett no that he let her go back to sleep. He just pulled her close and went back to sleep also.
January third, the family was on the train to New York, supposedly they were just going to visit their friends, but Mammy knew better.
Wade was beginning to suspect something was going on. When he said, "We have to return to Atlanta soon. School starts in a week."
His mother said, "It is alright if you miss a couple of days."
Wade's mother never talked that way. She was always resolute that he and Ella go to school every single day.
When Wade said, "We have to start planning my birthday party."
His mother said, "We have plenty of time for that."
That was just crazy talk coming out of his mother's mouth. His mother had parties planned out months in advance.
Rhett checked the family into The Plaza. It was the hotel he always stayed at while in New York. He liked it because it was near Central Park. It was also in the center of town. Scarlett sent Violet a note telling her that the Butlers were in town. Violet had known they were coming so she was prepared to have them to supper. She sent a note back asking them to supper the next night.
Violet and her husband, Dean had been married for eight years. They had three children. A girl, Hazel who was the same age as Ella, a boy, Lee who was four, and another boy, Brad was a year and a half. After the Butlers joined the Brooks in their parlor, Hazel started talking to Ella. For once, Ella wasn't shy at all. She was immediately talking animatedly with Hazel.
The grownups were talking while Scarlett watched Ella. She smiled and nudged Rhett. She said, "Look at Ella."
Rhett, Dean, and Violet all turned to look at the little girl.
Violet said, "What about her?"
Scarlett said, "Normally Ella is a very shy child, but she certainly isn't around Hazel.
Rhett smiled and said, "I think we have our answer."
Scarlett said, "What school does your daughter attend?"
"Buckhorn Academy for Girls."
"Do you know of a good school for boys?"
"Yes, where we are going to send Brad and Lee – Rice Academy."
Rhett said, "Let us find a house first then we can register them for school."
Dean said, "Do you need a lawyer?"
"Yes, I do."
"I use Jesse Heiden. He has an office on Baker Rd."
"Thanks. We will go by tomorrow.
Wade who had been listening to all this, finally blurted out, "Are we moving to New York?"
"Yes, son. We are."
Violet said, "Great. I'm so excited. After you get settled in your house, I will throw a party to introduce you to everyone."
"Thank you."
"What about my birthday? What about Beau and Aunt Melly?"
"They will remain in Atlanta. We will visit them from time to time."
"I don't want to move to stupid New York."
Rhett said, "Mind your mouth, Son."
"Yes, sir."
Scarlett asked, "Do you know of any good restaurants in the city?"
"We know of a few, and I will give you a list of them."
"Any good French restaurants?"
"No but there are a few Italian restaurants that are fairly good."
Dean said, "I also know of a few good Jewish restaurants."
Haughtily Scarlett said, "Why would I want to eat Jewish food?"
Dean replied with a smile, "Because it tastes good."
"What about a bakery?"
Violet said, "Bonucci's over on Pineapple Street."
"Pineapple Street?"
"I know it is a strange name for a street but that really is the street's name."
That made everyone laugh. The adults talked some more. Scarlett was happy with Violet's husband. He was nice and outgoing. He was handsome but not as handsome as Rhett. Probably not as rich as Rhett either.
While everyone else was bright and cheerful, Wade didn't speak the rest of the evening. As the family was getting in the cab, Rhett said, "Wade, we will talk about it later."
"Yes, sir."
During the carriage ride home, Ella was talking non-stop about her new friend Hazel. Genie was talking about her new friend Lee. Gerry was making some sounds, but they weren't words. Rhett and Scarlett were responding to the girls in the appropriate manner. Wade was not speaking to anyone. He was mad.
When the cab pulled up at the hotel, Wade jumped out and walked rapidly into the hotel. Rhett sighed and said, "I will talk to him as soon as we get into the suite."
"Maybe you should take him for a walk."
"Are you kidding? It is freezing out there literally. It is thirty degrees."
"Well, then take him to the saloon around the corner."
"That I will do."
After the family was in the suite, Rhett found Wade in his room. The room he was sharing with Mammy. In Wade's mind things couldn't get any worse. Rhett didn't knock on the door but walked into the room. He said, "Come go for a walk with me."
"No, it is cold out there."
"We will talk in the lobby so we can be alone."
"We won't be alone."
"We will walk to the saloon around the corner. Let's go," When Rhett saw the mutinous look on Wade's face, he said, "Now!"
Wade got up and went with his dad. His dad never yelled at him, but he just had. His dad must be awfully serious.
After Rhett and Wade were on the street, they did walk to the saloon around the corner from the hotel. Wade and Rhett sat down, and a serving girl came over to their table. She asked, "What would you like to drink?"
"I will have a glass of brandy and he will have some water."
"We have lemonade."
Wade said, "Yes, bring me a lemonade."
"Certainly."
After the serving girl had left, Rhett said, "Do you remember when I told you why you didn't get invited to all the parties Beau gets invited to?"
"Yes, you said it wasn't my fault I didn't get invited."
"Do you remember what I told you was the reason you didn't get invited?"
"Yes, those people didn't like you or Mother."
"Those people still don't like your mother and me. All of our friends will be leaving the city in January now that the Democrats are back in charge."
At that moment, the serving girl came back with their drinks. She set them down and Rhett gave her some money. He said, "Keep the change."
"Thank you, Sir."
"Democrats?"
"That is the name of one of the political parties," Upon seeing Wade's confused face, Rhett added, "Think of the Republicans and Democrats as different teams in a baseball game."
"Alright. Why are your friends leaving?"
"Because they were Republicans, and they were voted out of office. The Democrats were voted into office. Therefore, we will not be able to make money off the government. People who are in charge will give contracts to other Democrats. All of the polite people in Atlanta who don't like your mother and me are Democrats."
"So, all my friends will be leaving also."
"Yes."
"The only friend I would have would be Beau and he is always talking about his other friends. The friends whose parents don't like you and Mama."
"You and Beau can write, and we will visit from time to time."
"It won't be the same."
"No, it won't."
"It will never be the same."
Sadly, Rhett said, "No, it won't, Son."
"I'm not going to be happy for a while."
"I know."
Back in the suite, Scarlett said to Mammy, "We are moving to New York. Isn't it exciting?"
"Miss Scarlett, I…."
"You are going to move with me, aren't you? You are all I have left of Mother. You are all I have left of the way things were before the war. The children can't lose you too. They will already be losing all their friends."
Mammy looked at Scarlett's expressive face and saw tears in the young girl's eyes and smiled. She said, "Of course, I am moving with you."
Scarlett gave a sigh of relief. She said, "Thank you." Scarlett then hugged the older woman. Mammy hugged her back. Mammy thought, 'It is just as well. I don't think I could live with Suellen now that she has gotten so bitter.'
Ella said, "Mama, I don't want to move to New York. I don't want to leave all my friends behind."
"I know, Dear, but you already have a new friend here. Hazel."
Ella smiled and said, "Yes, I do but I don't want to leave my other friends."
Scarlett squatted down and said, "All your friends who live in Atlanta are moving away from Atlanta also."
"Really?"
"Yes, really. Now get ready for bed."
"Alright."
Rhett and Wade walked back to the hotel then walked up the stairs to their suite. After they were in the common room, Wade saw his mother and he just said, "Good night, Mama."
"Good night, son."
Wade went into his room and got ready for bed. After he got into the bed, he cried. He hadn't cried since Mama and Dad got back from their honeymoon. He understood why they had to move away from Atlanta but that didn't mean he was happy about it. He would never move back to the South. No, from now on he would be Wade Butler and that made him sad also. He wasn't going to miss any of his relatives except Aunt Melly and Beau.
Scarlett asked Rhett, "How did it go?"
"As well as could be expected. Come on let's go to bed. We have lots to do tomorrow. Not the least telegraphing Mr. Powe and telling him to sell the mansion."
"Tell him to give Pork, Dilcey, Prissy and Jethro and extra twenty-five dollars. If any of them want to go back to Tara, tell him to buy them a ticket."
"Alright, Dear. I will tell Mr. Powe to sell all of my holdings in Atlanta and the rest of the South. What about Tara?"
"It is self-sufficient now. I will let Suellen keep my profits but I'm not ready to sell my part."
