Disclaimer: I own nothing regarding GWTW
Author's Notes: Thank you for all the reviews and feedback.
Chapter Fifty-Three
Later that night after Rhett and Scarlett were in bed, he said, "It is for the best."
"It is what is best for our family because of our reputations. Besides, I agree with you completely. Southerners' standards are cruel and inflexible no matter what the circumstances are. I was criticized for running a business despite the fact I was feeding thirteen people with the profits from that business."
"I was expected to marry the girl in the buggy incident despite the fact I had proof the buggy wheel had broken."
"The worst part is that those judgmental hypocrites would take our sins out on our children."
"They would never forget or let anyone else forget."
"Melly had said that she could get Wade receive but he would always have to bear the shame of being my son."
"Like a scarlet letter."
"What?"
"It is a book about a young woman who was found guilty of adultery and had to wear a scarlet A on her dress as a sign of her shame."
"How horrible."
"I am going to buy it for you. You might enjoy reading it."
"I doubt it."
"I'm buying it anyway."
"Go ahead and waste your money if you want to. I am too busy to be reading books."
"Alright, Dear."
The couple just laid there wrapped up in each other's arms. Both were lost in thoughts about their future. Finally, they fell asleep.
By the end of the week, Rhett and Scarlett had found a house that was a couple of blocks away from the Brooks and Rhett had made the seller an offer on it. Scarlett had gotten Wade and Ella enrolled in their schools and had found out the requirements for their uniforms. The principals had agreed to let them wear regular clothes until there uniform clothes were ready. Scarlett had taken the children to the dress maker that very afternoon. She had paid extra to have the clothes made in a hurry.
Scarlett had written Melanie and told her the family was moving to New York and as soon as she had a permanent address, she would let Melly know what it was. She didn't understand why she had felt the need to write Melly over everyone else when she didn't even like the woman. She would think about it later. She would wait to write the Tarletons, Fanny, and Rene when she knew what her new address was going to be.
When Melly got the letter, she was happy and sad. She was happy Scarlett was going to be out of her life. She was sad that she wouldn't get to see Wade regularly but since she refused to enter the mansion, she really hadn't gotten to see the boy very much in the last six months. She was ecstatic that she wouldn't have to worry about seeing Captain Butler ever again. Except when the Butlers came to visit which wouldn't be very often.
After two weeks, the Butlers were now owners of a mansion at 77 Shadow Street. It was large but it was not any larger than their neighbors. In fact, their mansion was probably smaller than their neighbors. Scarlett and Rhett remodeled and redecorated their new home. They argued about most things but what they didn't argue about was an oversize bed, water closets, a water heater, and the main staircase. In their opinion the main staircase was too steep, so they had it ripped out and another one put in. It was a toss-up who was happier when the remodeling was done. Scarlett and Rhett or the contractor.
In those two weeks, the children all learned to ice skate. Rhett bought a couple of sleds and took the children sledding. Rhett would invite Dean to go with him and usually Dean accepted and brought his children. Dean lived off of a trust fund, but he managed the money himself. Therefore, he and Rhett enjoyed discussing money, ways to make money, and finances.
Because the Butlers had not had a home, Violet had offered to host Genie's birthday party and invited all her friends. At the party, all the children met a lot of other children. They became reacquainted with the children they had the playdate with last year in April. At the party, the family had met a lot of people.
Rhett and Scarlett found the people they met interesting and knowledgeable. Scarlett quickly learned that she was going to have to start reading the newspaper to become more learned. The women in the North were a lot more educated than those in the South. She had also quickly learned that when a woman was talking about her special causes not to ask questions. Once a person asked questions the woman thought she wanted to get involved also. That was the last thing Scarlett wanted to do. Between Rhett, the children, and trying to get them settled in their new life she just didn't have the time.
Rhett and Scarlett met a lot of people at the party and began to receive invitations to social events. Rhett met men to do business with and Scarlett met women who were willing to be her friend. She knew most of that was that she had matured and was no longer that spoiled brat that she was at the barbecue. She would often laugh at what a foolish child she had been that day. She had just known that once Ashley knew she loved him he would stop at nothing to marry her. She had been so wrong, thankfully. No, Rhett had been the one who would stop at nothing to get her to marry him.
After a month both Ella and Wade were happy enough at their new schools. Both children were fairly likeable so most of their classmates like them.
As soon as the papers to purchase the Butler's new mansion were signed, Scarlett wrote Suellen, Fanny, Rene, and the Tarletons about their move to New York. Fanny and Rene wrote back expressing shock and unhappiness about the Butler's move but also gratitude for Scarlett loaning them the money. Scarlett wrote them back asking for monthly updates on the status of their businesses.
Beatrice wrote and expressed sorrow over the Butlers move but also understanding. She had written…. There isn't anything left from our old life. Just the results of a foolish decision. Thank you for providing us with a way to provide our daughters with a future. The girls can run Brentuart after Jim and I die. After Scarlett read those words, she got lost in thought. Thoughts about the past and what they had thrown away by their foolish decision. Scarlett shook off those thoughts and went to play with her children.
No surprise to Scarlett, Suellen hadn't written her back.
Three months after Gerry's first birthday, the Butlers moved into their new home. They bought new horses, a new carriage, and a new buggy for Scarlett. The carriage was black and staid, and the buggy was red and shiny. Rhett rarely rode in the buggy so it could be as gaudy as Scarlett could find.
Wade got to decorate his room with Rhett's help this time. Ella and Genie got a room of their own and they got to decorate it with Scarlett's help. Gerry was still in the nursery. Mammy slept in the room next to his.
As Rhett and Scarlett got into their new bed, he said, "I would like to have one more child."
Sourly Scarlett said, "We will probably have a lot more than one more."
"No, I know of a procedure that can render me sterile."
"How?"
Rhett explained the procedure to Scarlett then said, "If you let me get you with child again, I will get the procedure done."
"No, Rhett. I just got my body back."
"Come on, Baby. That will be it. You will never have to worry about getting with child again. At least not by me."
"You promise."
"I promise."
"Alright."
"Thank you, Dear. Shall we try tonight?"
"No. I would like to have another month of having my body to myself."
"As long as I am breathing, you will never have your body to yourself."
Scarlett smiled and said, "Let's not start trying until May then maybe he will be born in March."
"March seventeenth."
"Alright."
The Butlers had an open house/fifth anniversary party but instead of it being a party in the evening it was held in the afternoon. They had a giant picnic and invited everyone and their children to the party also. There was lots of food and lots of alcohol. There were circus performers. Rhett had even hired an opera singer to sing a couple of songs to the crowd at the top of each hour.
A week later, Howard Lufkin, a photographer came to the mansion and took pictures of everyone. There was a picture of the entire family, one of Rhett and Scarlett, individuals of the children, and one of Mammy, Scarlett, and the children. Taking pictures made Scarlett think about Pork and his family. She asked Rhett, "Has the mansion sold?"
"Yes, about a month after we put it on the market. I gave Mr. Powe my power of attorney for him to sign all the contracts. He has wired the money into our New York bank account."
"What happened to Pork and Dilcey?"
"I don't know. I will ask Mr. Powe."
"Thank you, Rhett."
Rhett didn't try to stop Scarlett as she left the room. He knew that she had been moved by the loss of her former Tara servants. She and the servants had been through so much together. She would always be concerned about the people she considered family.
A week later, Rhett informed Scarlett, "Prissy and Jethro found new jobs in the same household while Pork and Dilcey returned to Tara with their son, Flynn."
"Thank you, Rhett. It is good to know they are settled."
"You're welcome, Sweetheart."
Scarlett was working hard at not just making friends for herself but friends for her children also. Rhett didn't want any friends. He just wanted friendly acquaintances. He had seen too much ugliness in his life to ever be trusting again. He had trusted partners and they had betrayed him. He had trusted other businessmen and they had betrayed him. He had trusted Belle and she had betrayed him. He had trusted his mother and she had betrayed him. He had trusted Miss Melly and she had betrayed him. He knew now the only person who had never betrayed him was Scarlett. Yes, she had believed herself in love with another man, but she had never lied to him about that. Maybe backing out of their agreement had been a betrayal but he had already betrayed her by treating her so badly their first year of marriage.
Scarlett truly was a miracle. After all the ugly things he had done in their first timeline she had forgiven him. After him being blatantly unfaithful with a whore she had forgiven him. In this timeline, she had not believed either of the women that had tried to blacken his name. He knew he was so lucky. Like he had said before he would fight with everything he had to keep what he had.
Scarlett would get letters from Rene and Fanny once a month updating her on their businesses.
Fanny's second store was a success. The Elsings now had money in the bank. Fanny's mother had given up trying to get Fanny to find another husband. Fanny wrote… She is focused on Anna Beth because my sister-in-law is with child. Hugh said the other day, 'Starting a second store was really smart of us.'
Scarlett smiled when she read that and said, "Yes, it was."
Rene wrote that they were doing quite well working out of Fanny's store. He had put a menu board outside near the entrance to Elsing's. He had gotten a lot more customers since he put the sign out. They had suffered a decrease in customers after the Republicans and the Scallawags left town, but they were still doing well enough to be making a profit even after they paid on their loan.
Everyone was still living at the Merriwether's including Claude, but Mrs. Merriwether never said a word. She was enjoying all the fine food the Picard cousins were providing and the extra money she was putting in the bank. Rene wrote … Now my mother-in-law tells everyone how smart and brave I was to start a French Bistro. I tell her all the time that I couldn't have done it without you. Nonetheless, she never mentions you.
Melanie wrote occasionally but her letters were about Ashley, Beau, and her committees. After reading one of Melly's letters, she felt sorry for the woman. She had a pretty dismal life. That would have been my life if Ashley had married me instead of Melly. Thank God that didn't happen.