Disclaimer: I own nothing regarding GWTW
Author's Notes: Thank you for all the reviews and feedback.
Chapter Sixty-Five
Rhett turned the wagon around and he and Scarlett went back to Tara. After they got back to Tara, Scarlett said to Flo, "Get the children cleaned up for dinner. We will be returning to Atlanta right after dinner is over."
Rhett said, "No nap today, Gerry."
"Yes."
"We are going to see if you can behave yourself without taking a nap."
"I will, Daddy."
"We will see."
Over the dinner table Scarlett said, "Suellen, I am giving you all of Tara. We will not be back. Will, you will need to pick up the papers at Mr. Powe's office next time you go into Atlanta for supplies."
"Are you serious, Scarlett?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Because my life is in New York now. Rhett will never live here. I will never live here. If we want a farm, we can buy one that is in New York state. In fact, Rhett can buy me anything I want so he convinced me to give you Tara. For I am so lucky while you are not."
Rhett started laughing. He finally said, "So close. We were about to walk out the door to never see her again."
Scarlett gave him her mischievous smile and said, "I couldn't help myself."
Suellen said, "My life would have been good if you hadn't stolen Frank from me."
"No, Sue, it wouldn't have been. Children, let's go."
Suellen followed Scarlett out of the house, but Scarlett was ignoring her. In fact, everyone was ignoring her. Finally, Suellen said, "At least Mammy chose me over you."
Scarlett didn't even stop as she was climbing on the buckboard, but she said, "No, Mammy chose Mother over me. Which isn't a bad person to lose to."
When the wagon got to Jonesboro, Will stopped at the train station. He said, "Goodbye, Scarlett. Thanks for letting me stay. My life is better thanks to you."
"Even if you have to live with that shrew."
"Sue isn't that bad. You just bring out the worst in her. Goodbye, Rhett."
"Goodbye, Will. Let's get our children and get on the train."
"Alright."
After everyone was on the train, Olivia let Rhett hold her. Soon the rocking of the train had put her to sleep. Scarlett looked at Gerry and he was leaning against Flo. He was fast asleep also. Scarlett whispered, "So much for getting to skip his nap."
Rhett just smiled down at her.
The Butlers were going to return to New York on the Saturday morning train, hopefully. They spent the next day which was Thursday driving around Atlanta with their six children. Rhett rented an open carriage. Flo had to stay at the hotel because there wasn't room for her in the coach. Rhett and Scarlett pointed out all the landmarks. They pointed out where buildings used to be but had been destroyed by General Sherman when he took the city.
Beau said, "Our house on Ivy Street used to have a second story but one of Sherman's bombs took it off."
Scarlett said, "That's right, Dear," When Scarlett saw Beau tear up, she said, "It is alright if you want to cry for your mother. I'm sure you miss her very much."
"She was in so much pain her last days, but I selfishly didn't want her to die."
"That is not being selfish. That is not wanting your mother to go away."
Beau looked away and said, "Dad said men don't cry."
Rhett said, "When their mother dies, they sure do."
"Did you cry when your mother died?"
"I sure did. Big old buckets full."
When Scarlett saw the tears running down Beau's cheeks she said, "Let me have your handkerchief, Rhett."
"Of course."
As Beau was crying, he said, "I can't believe she is really gone."
Rhett said, "Just pretend that she is waiting at home for you. That is what I do when I think about my mother. I just think she is in Charleston waiting for me to visit."
"Really?!"
"Yes, really. That is why it will be nice you are living with us in New York. You can pretend she is in Atlanta waiting for you to come visit."
"Alright!"
"Rhett, there is the town hall they had the Hospital Bazaar at."
"Where we danced for the first time."
"Yes."
The family spent all day riding around soaking up memories of Atlanta. Rhett and Scarlett pointed out landmarks. Wade and Beau talked about their memories. Ella mentioned a couple of memories that she had. Genie made up a story that everyone knew was a total lie. When Gerry started to tell a story, Rhett shut him down by saying, "You don't remember anything about your time in Atlanta. You were one when we left."
When the family got back to the hotel there was a note from Mr. Powe asking them to be at his office at nine the next morning. Scarlett sent a note to Ashley to meet them at Mr. Powe's office. He replied he would be there.
The next morning not only did Ashley come to Mr. Powe's office, but he brought all his relatives with him. Scarlett thought, 'He couldn't tell them no.'
Although Ashley did make them wait in the waiting room. Scarlett had brought Beau with her. It would be the last time any of those people ever saw the boy again. It was sad but it was what was best for Beau. In truth, she felt sorriest for India. She had let her bitterness destroy her life. She was only five years older than Scarlett, but she looked like she was ten years older at least. Maybe more.
Rhett made Scarlett stay in the waiting room with Beau. He whispered, "So, they don't try to run off with him. Although I don't know where they would go except back to Hamilton House."
Reluctantly Scarlett said, "Alright."
The next thirty minutes were the longest of Scarlett's life. India was out and out making hateful comments to Scarlett and about Scarlett. Henry and PittyPat were begging Scarlett for them to leave Beau in Atlanta. All three people kept saying that this isn't what Melly would have wanted for Beau. They kept touching Beau and hugging Beau and kissing Beau. In truth, Scarlett wasn't sure if Beau wasn't more relieved to see the men walk out of Mr. Powe's office than she was.
Rhett said, "Scarlett, go sign the papers transferring Tara to Suellen and get your check."
"Alright."
As Scarlett emerged from Mr. Powe's office, she heard Ashley say, "Beau, give me a hug and a kiss. Promise me you will write," After that was accomplished, Ashley continued, "Kiss all your other relatives and promise to write them also."
Henry stood up and said, "Captain Butler, I insist that you bring Beau down here every summer to visit with us."
"No, Mr. Hamilton, I will never return to the South in the summertime, but I will consider bringing him back down in the wintertime. Come along, Scarlett, Beau."
As the trio walked out of the lawyer's office Rhett said, "Let us walk for a while to put some distance between us and them. Beau doesn't need to go through all that again. It is best to get things like this over quick and clean."
"Yes, Dear."
Scarlett put her arm around Beau and didn't comment about the fact she knew he was crying. She had made a point of bringing her handkerchief because she knew it would be an emotional moment. Therefore, she shoved it into Beau's hand.
After the trio went around the corner and had walked a couple of blocks, Rhett hailed down a cab. He told the driver, "Take me to the train station."
After the cab got to the train station, Rhett said, "I'm going to go arrange our private car to New York. It will take a few minutes."
"We will wait for you here."
Rhett and Scarlett both knew that Beau was going to need a few minutes to get himself together. Finally, he said, "That was awful. Dad wouldn't have done anything if Mama hadn't agreed with him."
"No, he wouldn't. He doesn't want you to go away but he knows this is what is best for you. That is what your mother would have wanted also. What was best for you."
"I know. I know Mama is dead, but it makes it so much worse when Aunt PittyPat keeps blubbering about it."
"Yes, it does. After Wade's father had been dead for over a year Aunt PittyPat would blubber over Poor Charlie's death. It just made the grief worse."
"Can I sit next to you, Aunt Scarlett?"
"Yes."
"Do I have to call you Mama and Dad?"
"No, you don't."
Scarlett put her arm around Beau, and they sat there quietly until Rhett returned to the cab.
Rhett got in the cab and said, "The train leaves for New York in three hours. We barely have enough time. We will pack our trunks and then go to Picard's for dinner."
"Of course, let's go."
The trunks were packed within the hour. The family was in the cab with Genie, Gerry, and Olivia sitting in someone's lap. They were at the bistro when the Picards opened the doors. When Scarlett walked past Fanny, she said, "We have to eat and run. Our train leaves in less than two hours."
"Phil, watch the counter."
Fanny followed the family into the bistro.
Rhett said, "What is on the menu?"
Claude said, "Bouillabaisse which is a seafood stew and Quiche Lorraine. The quiche is one of our most popular menu items."
"Which is quickest? We are in a hurry."
"Then you are in luck. They are both ready to serve."
Scarlett said, "Gerry and Olivia will get the quiche, Genie?"
"Bouillabaisse."
"Ella?"
"Quiche."
"Beau, Rhett, Wade"
"Bouillabaisse."
"Bouillabaisse."
"Bouillabaisse."
"Flo"
"I don't know."
"She and I will both have the quiche."
Claude said, "And all the croissants I have in the store."
Scarlett smiled and said, "Yes."
As before Scarlett made the children sit at another table with Flo. Scarlett smiled as she saw Louie join the other children. She also saw Fanny scowl at Louie, but she didn't say anything. She was too busy talking.
All the adults were talking over each other. They all knew they wouldn't see each other again for a long time if ever. As the family was getting up to leave, Claude said, "It is ten dollars."
Rhett gave him a twenty and said, "Keep the change."
Fanny and Rene looked at each other and she nodded at him. He said, "Thanks for taking a chance on us, Scarlett. We wouldn't be where we are right now if it wasn't for you."
"Thank you. Someone took a chance on me one time. I'm just doing the same for other people."
"Come on, Scarlett, children, Flo. We really have to go."
The trio watched the family walk out of the bistro and knew they were going to miss them. They heard Scarlett say, "Phil, give me a dollar's worth of candy but not any of that horrible black licorice. It turns their teeth black, and it takes forever to get it off."
Shortly thereafter the trio heard a quick thank you and then the door shutting. They smiled sadly at each other. The Butlers were out of their lives and that was not a good thing.
After Beau walked into the private car, he knew how much different his life was going to be now that he was a Butler. He had never been on a train before that he could remember. They could never afford to go anywhere. It hadn't been until Dad had gotten his job at the bank that they had been able to have some special things in their lives but not very many.
When the family got to the mansion, Beau was in awe. Yes, Aunt Scarlett and Uncle Rhett's home in Atlanta had been huge but this mansion seemed even bigger. There were seven bedrooms and Aunt Scarlett had said Beau could have one of his own, but he had replied, "If it is alright with Wade, can I sleep with him for a while?"
"That is up to Wade."
As it turned out, Wade was alright with sharing a room with Beau. Shortly after their arrival, another twin bed was placed in the room and another dresser.
Rhett took the boys to the tailor and Scarlett took the girls to the dressmaker to get their uniforms made. Beau learned to play tennis. He wasn't particularly good at it, but he kept trying. Scarlett could beat him pretty easily. She spitefully thought, 'I guess neither Melly nor Ashley had any athletic talent.'
