Disclaimer: I own nothing regarding GWTW

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

For all of you in the United States Happy Thanksgiving. For everyone else Happy Thursday.

Chapter Fifty-Seven

When Olivia turned six weeks, Rhett decided to not return to New York until August the first. He decided to tour more of Europe that they didn't get to see while Scarlett was carrying Gerry. She had been so worried about the baby's health that she had to be near her doctor. She had so much faith in Dr. Hickman. Rhett felt that faith was justified.

Rhett let the tutor go and made Mortimer and Eunice job offers. During the last two years, Eunice and Mortimer had a few deaths in their families. Mortimer's father had been dead for several years. His mother had passed away a year ago. Eunice's parents had just passed away in January. The couple had some siblings, aunts, uncles, and cousins whom they would miss, but they felt like this was an opportunity to change their destiny. Maybe Mortimer could get a better paying job in America. They didn't have a house because they had always lived with their employer. Eunice had sold her parents' house and Mortimer had long since sold his mother's house. They had a nice nest egg. If they accepted Mr. Butler's offer, he would pay their passage to America. Mr. Butler paid a nice salary therefore they would be no worse off in America. Times were hard for working people these days. Therefore, they accepted Mr. Butlers offer. Besides, this was the first time in their married life they had jobs in the same household. They were going to get to see the sights of Europe to boot. Something they knew they would never be able to afford.

The family saw Germany, Austria Hungary, Greece, Italy, Switzerland, France, Spain, and ended their tour in Portugal. The group had sailed out of Lisbon to New York.

Rhett had found Mortimer to be a big help with the trunks. Rhett had found Eunice was a big help with the children. One night, Rhett said to Scarlett, "How did we travel without Eunice and Mortimer?"

"You did most everything that Mortimer is doing, and Mammy did everything that Eunice is doing."

"What did you do?"

"Nothing more than I am doing now. I am taking care of Olivia."

"Yes, you are," Rhett looked at Scarlett nursing his child. It still amazed him that she allowed her child to nurse from her. No that wasn't right. That she allowed her child to take over her life. He understood about the weight loss benefits but the Scarlett of the first timeline would never have allowed another person to control her life that much.

Scarlett said, "Olivia rolled over today."

"Wonderful. She is meeting all her milestones just like Bonnie and Gerry."

"Yes, she is."

"Let me find my book to read to you."

"No, I am tired of The Scarlet Letter. I want you to read me some romantic poetry."

"I will have to buy a book of romantic poems."

"You don't have one?"

"Not yet. I will not be able to buy any books until we dock in New York."

"Then read to me from The Scarlet Letter."

"Do you not like the book?"

"It is good, but it is also so sad."

"Yes, it is."

Later that night as Scarlett got in the bed Rhett was quick to notice that she didn't have her hair braided. That meant she wanted to have relations. He would be happy to comply with her wishes. It always thrilled him to no end to know that Scarlett wanted him as much as he wanted her. It also thrilled him that she no longer wore a nightgown to bed. She had told him in the dark, "I like it being skin to skin all the time."

Rhett had replied, "I do too but people would frown on us going naked all the time."

Scarlett had laughed and said, "Only because they would be so jealous."

"Yes, they would."

The family sailed into New York harbor the third week in August. As they were going to their mansion, Rhett said, "When I telegraphed the butler to let him know we were returning, the housekeeper telegraphed me back that he had quit two weeks ago."

"Why didn't Mrs. Burt let you know?"

"She didn't know how to get in touch with me."

"What are we going to do?"

"I think we should promote Mortimer to butler."

Scarlett smiled and said, "Is this to ensure Eunice never quits?"

"Yes."

"What are you going to do when we don't need a nursemaid anymore?"

"You are a grown woman, and you still have your nursemaid."

"True. I don't know what I would do without Mammy."

"Ella, Bonnie, and Olivia will probably feel the same way about Eunice."

"I don't know. Part of the reason I feel that way is because Mammy loves me, and I love her."

"Eunice might grow to love our children."

"I doubt it. To Eunice it will just be a job."

"We will find something else for her to do if we don't need a nursemaid."

"Alright, Dear. Go ahead and make Mortimer the offer."

Scarlett and Mrs. Burt assigned the new staff their job roles and what they had to do to perform those roles. Eunice and Mortimer fit into the household quite nicely. Eunice and Mammy worked well together. Mortimer had what it took to be a butler. He took over the running of the house. Of course, after he became the butler, he was then known as Mr. Hill. Between Mrs. Burt and Mr. Hill, the house was running very smoothly.

Nonetheless the next two weeks were still a busy time for the family. Everyone had to get settled back into their lives in New York. As soon as the children's friends heard they were back in town the invitation started rolling in. Rhett and Scarlett's friends were just as eager for the couple to socialize with them.

Scarlett took Ella to the dress maker to make her new uniforms for the next school year. She paid extra to make sure they were ready in time. Rhett took Wade to his tailor and ordered the appropriate shirts, pants, and coats. He too paid extra to be sure the clothes were ready in time. The children had both grown so much that they could not fit into their old uniforms.

Violet and her children came over the day after the Butlers arrived back to their mansion. The children all had a good time. The two and a half years olds, Brad and Gerry, didn't remember each other but soon they were playing happily together.

Violet's baby was two months old which made her two months younger than Olivia. It was a girl. The baby's name was Josephine. Violet said, "I wonder if they will be best friends also."

"I hope so."

There were letters from Rene, Fanny, and Beatrice. There was nothing from Suellen which wasn't a big surprise. There were a couple of letters from Beau and a couple from Melly. Scarlett knew the ladies would continue to be friends until Wade could form his own relationships with his Hamilton relatives.

Beatrice had written that all three of the mares had gone into heat in April and she believed that all three had gotten pregnant. She had also enclosed a financial accounting of where they had spent all the money Rhett had given them. They still had two hundred dollars of the five hundred that Rhett had advanced them. Rhett told Scarlett to write Beatrice and tell her that if they need more money to contact Mr. Powe and he would advance it to them. He had also said to send him a letter with the reason they needed more money.

Beatrice wrote that Tony Fontaine had returned. There was no reason for him to stay away. The men that were now in charge would declare what Tony did as a justifiable homicide. The only person who might squawk would be Jonas Wilkerson's widow and Emmie no longer lived in Clayton County. She had married another Yankee and lived up North now. Beatrice updated Scarlett on all the residents of Clayton County. Reading that part of the letter was bittersweet to Scarlett. She wanted to know the news, but it was rarely truly happy news. Yet there was one piece of good news. Tony had started calling on Hetty. That made Scarlett smile. She thought, 'Maybe Hetty will get to change her last name.'

Rene had written that he and Claude were still doing a good business and making a good profit. They were saving their money in order to enlarge their current location. They had tried staying open until three, but the amount of traffic was not worth their time. So far, they hadn't had to turn anyone away although several customers had left because the line was too long. The customers usually came back later in the week and were at the bistro when they opened the doors. The size they were at now was perfect for just Claude and Rene. They could handle all the work involved, although Maybelle had started bringing Raul down to the bistro in the afternoon to wash dishes. They were making a nice profit and helping to support their households and even putting money in the bank. Rene finished his letter by saying – My mother-in-law is talking about getting out of the pie business. Every time she does Maybelle says, 'Then you can watch the children while I start selling pies.' Suddenly my mother-in-law is happy selling pies. - The last line made Scarlett smile.

Fanny had written about how well the two stores were doing which was a good thing because Anna Beth was with child again but fortunately, she wasn't. It seemed Claude didn't want any children. He was happy with just Louie. Fanny wrote - So am I. I never want to go through labor and delivery again. – That last line made Scarlett smile also. Especially when she thought, 'Neither do I.' Fanny also updated Scarlett on all the doings of the proper people in Atlanta.

Scarlett wrote them all back. She updated them all on hers and Rhett's lives. She knew soon the letters from Rene and Fanny would get less and less. They had both paid off their loans, so they were under no obligation to remain in touch with her. Scarlett was happy when they took the time to write her. She was also happy they were doing so well.

After reading the letters, Scarlett told Rhett, "Despite the panic, Rene and Fanny's businesses are staying strong."

"It is an incredibly good thing that the Picards were slow to expand. If they had expanded, they would not be weathering this crisis as well."

"Are you weathering this crisis well?"

"I have suffered some losses but just a few. I didn't invest in railroads or banks except the Bank of Atlanta which luckily, I had already sold my interest in when we moved North. I didn't get as much as I wanted for my business interest in Paris or Zurich, but I didn't lose money."

"This will affect the selling of the foals, won't it?"

"Yes, but Jim knows I would rather he keep the horses than sell them cheaply."

"Me too."

October came and Ella had a huge birthday party. She invited all the girls in her class. Wade was allowed to invite several of his friends. Scarlett invited a lot of her friends even those without children. It was a picnic on the lawn. Something they wouldn't be able to do much longer because of the cold weather.

When Olivia turned six months, Scarlett believed her eyes were getting darker. She patiently waited to see if they turned brown like Rhett's eyes. She never said a word to Rhett about the change.

In November, Rhett said, "Do you think Olivia's eyes are turning brown?"

"Yes, I do."

Later that day, Rhett presented Scarlett with a jewelry box. Inside was a necklace, ear bobs, a bracelet, and a tiara. The stones in them were brown.

Scarlett said, "Thank you. What is the occasion?"

"Not that I need an occasion to give you jewelry, but I bought it for you because now you have a parure to match the eye color of each one of your children."

"Thank you, Rhett. What is the stone called?"

"Brown Diamonds."

"Thank you."

"I could have saved myself a lot of money if I had given you these instead of the diamond parure I gave you."

"Yes, you could have."