Disclaimer: I own nothing regarding GWTW
Author's Notes: Thank you for all the reviews and feedback.
Chapter Sixty-Six
Scarlett had a birthday party for Beau, but she didn't invite any other guests. It was going to be just family. Beau didn't know anyone but the people who lived in the mansion. He would meet a lot of boys once school started. Scarlett also knew Beau was going to be sad because it would be his first birthday without his parents. Therefore, Beau's thirteenth birthday was low-key with just supper, presents, and a cake. Everyone gave him a present even Olivia. Beau suspected that most of the presents were picked out by his Aunt Scarlett, but he was pleased with his gifts, nonetheless.
On the first day of school, Beau was nervous. He had never gone to school before. It was entirely different than anything he had experience before. He also knew that he didn't know everything he should know. He was going to have to work extremely hard.
One pleasant aspect was that all the boys were friendly although they had teased him about his accent. That was when Beau realized that nobody in the family had a southern accent but him. He wondered how long it would take him to lose his accent.
A week later, Beau came home with a note. It was from Beau's teacher. It said: Beau's education is lacking. There are gaps. You need to get him a tutor to get him caught up with the rest of the students.
The next day Rhett went to the school to speak to Beau's teacher. He needed to know where Beau's gaps were. After their discussion, Rhett hired Beau a tutor. Rhett had not been surprised. Women were not well educated in the South not even women like Melanie and India Wilkes. The women were well read but not well educated.
By the time, the first semester was over Beau was up to speed with his fellow classmates and the tutor was sent on his way. Beau had also asked Scarlett if he could have a room of his own which she allowed. By that time most of the time Beau was calling Rhett and Scarlett Mom and Dad. The only time he called them Aunt Scarlett or Uncle Rhett was right after he had gotten a letter from Ashley.
Beau wrote all his relatives in Atlanta faithfully, even Uncle Henry. Wade was not as diligent. Wade didn't like reading their letters there was always unkind comments in the letters about his mother and father.
Wade taught Beau how to ice skate and admittedly it took him almost two weeks before he could skate without holding on to someone else. In that respect, Ella had been the most helpful although Wade, Scarlett and Rhett all took turns steadying the boy.
One day Rhett quipped, "Beau doesn't have any athletic ability."
Scarlett laughed and said, "That is an understatement.
"Nonetheless, we are not going to let him stay in his room and just read books."
"No, we aren't"
"Did you find a philanthropic group to work with?"
"Yes, it is through the church. You know I am on that committee to help widows and orphans."
"Yes."
"We are going in search of widows and orphans to help. Women who want to start their own businesses and support themselves."
"Who is?"
"Mrs. Mills and me."
"I don't think I know her."
"No, she is new to the church. Violet is going to help us."
"What is her first name?"
"I don't know."
"What do you call her?"
"Mrs. Mills."
"Is she older than you?"
"No, I think she is the same age as Violet and me."
"That seems a little formal to me."
"You called Melly Miss Melly and you had known her for over twelve years so don't talk to me about being overly formal. I'm going to check on the children."
Rhett knew she wasn't going to check on the children. She never checked on the children. This was strange.
Over the next two weeks, Rhett pestered Scarlett about what her new friend's first name was and Scarlett kept saying she didn't know. Finally, Rhett said, "Why don't you ask her?"
"If she wants me to know she will tell me."
Finally, the first snow came, and Rhett and Dean took the children sledding. When Dean got to the hill they always met at he was laughing so hard he could hardly speak. Rhett said, "What is so funny?"
Dean held up his hand. Finally, he got control of himself. He said, "I am laughing in anticipation of how funny you are going to think this is. You know Scarlett and Violet's new friend. The one they are working with to help widows and orphans."
"Mrs. Mills?"
"Yes, guess what her first name is?"
"I don't know. Scarlett won't tell me."
"Violet wouldn't tell me either but for some reason I ask Hazel. She knew."
"And?"
Dean started laughing again and he held up his hand to indicate for Rhett to give him a minute. Finally, the man got out, "Olive."
"Like a green olive."
"Yes." Dean then burst out laughing. Rhett started laughing.
Finally, the men sobered, Rhett said, "Scarlett is going to be so unhappy when I call her new friend Green."
Dean burst out laughing again and finally got out, "You too."
Rhett laughed. He finally said, "I assume you call my wife Red all the time."
"Yes, and you call mine Purple."
The men were chuckling the rest of the afternoon.
A week later when Scarlett said, "I'm going to meet with Violet and Mrs. Mills. We are going to choose the first woman we are going to give money to."
"Great idea. Give my regards to Purple and Green."
"Her name is Olive."
"Not according to Dean."
"Does Dean call me Red?!
"Yes."
"You can both go to Hades."
"Have a good time with your friends Purple and Green."
Scarlett had already left the room. She was so mad at Rhett. When she arrived at the little café, she was meeting Violet and Olive at, she sat down in a huff. She turned to Violet and said, "Does Dean call me Red?"
Violet looked startled but hesitantly said, "Yes."
"Rhett calls you Purple," Scarlett turned to Olive and said, "And you Green."
Olive burst out laughing. She finally said, Hiram calls you two Red and Purple. I guess our husbands have the same type of sense of humor. Forget about them. Let's talk about who we are going to give money to start a business with. The hat maker? The dress maker? The toy maker?"
Scarlett finally let her anger go and began talking about the ladies that had asked them for a loan. They wanted to pick the right one so their project would be a success and then they could recruit more money. Right now, the money was coming out of their own pockets.
Scarlett didn't speak to Rhett for a week. He never apologized. He never said he wouldn't call her friends colors instead of their names. He never ran away either. Finally, Scarlett began to thaw. It took too much energy to not talk to him. Especially while he was still talking to her. Soon Scarlett was telling him about who she and the other ladies were going to loan the money to.
By the time Christmas came, Beau was accustomed to living a life of privilege. Although he did not take these special perks for granted like the other children. Scarlett and Rhett made sure to not overwhelm Beau with presents, but they did give him as much as everyone else.
The Butlers had the normal round of birthday parties. Gerry turned six, Wade turned sixteen, and Genie turned nine. Olivia had a third birthday party in April. Rhett and Scarlett celebrated their tenth wedding anniversary.
The woman that Scarlett, Violet, and Olive gave the money to was so far making a profit. It was a small profit but a profit, nonetheless. So, they decided to loan some money to a hat maker.
Much to Rhett's relief, Eunice had not gotten with child again. The Butlers still let her keep her child with her all the time. She and Mortimer were happy. Mortimer had looked for another job. That is when he found out that the Butlers paid better than anyone else. Therefore, the Hills had settled into their lives of working for the Butlers. Both Mr. and Mrs. Butler had accommodated Eunice's needs with the baby more than any other employer would have.
In June, Ashley wrote and asked Scarlett to tell Beau and Wade that their Aunt PittyPat had passed away. With her passing, Uncle Henry had moved into Hamilton House. Neither Scarlett nor the boys were upset about the old woman's passing away. Because Scarlett felt a little guilty about that she told the boys to pray for her soul although they all knew she was in heaven with Melanie and Charlie. That made everyone feel better about not really caring if the old woman was dead.
The summer passed and Beau was getting better at playing tennis although Scarlett could usually beat him fairly regularly. Rhett and Wade were playing all the time and Rhett was finding out that Wade was Scarlett's son when it came to winning the tennis match. Probably a lot of other things also. Rhett taught Beau how to work the sails on the yacht and he did alright with that. Everyone still enjoyed the pool. The Brooks were frequent visitors at the Butlers.
One day after the Brooks had left Genie said to Scarlett, "Lee wants us to get married again but I told him that I wasn't ready to settle down."
"That's right, Darling. There are a lot of fish in the sea."
"Mom, what do fish have to do with Lee and me."
"It just means there are a lot of men out there for you to choose from."
"And they will all be crazy about me."
"Of course, they will."
Brad and Gerry played well together but they weren't best friends. Josephine and Olivia played well together but they weren't best friends either. Ella and Hazel were still best friends which was nice to Scarlett because Hazel went to all the same parties and events that Ella went to. Although as Ella had gotten older, she had lost a lot of her shyness.
One day Rhett said to Scarlett, "You know hazel is a color also?"
"Do not start calling the child by a color."
"Of course not. That would be too much to say Green-Brown-Gold."
"Alright. Why did you bring it up?"
"Just thought I would share that with you."
Scarlett just walked out of the room. After ten years of marriage and seventeen years of acquaintanceship, she knew he couldn't help himself from aggravating her and everyone else. Thanks to the fact he was happy, there was no bite in his provocation of people. Well, not a lot of bite.
This year for Beau's birthday, the Butlers had a big celebration. They invited all of their friends, Beau's friends, Wade's friends, Ella's friends, and Genie's friends. They had clowns and acrobats. Punch, cookies, cake, and sandwiches
At the party Rhett said, "It was smart of us to not have this big of a party for Beau last year."
"Yes, it would have overwhelmed him."
"Now he is a mature fourteen."
Scarlett smiled and said, "At least, he isn't jaded."
"Yet."
"Hush Rhett."
"Yes, Dear."
The children went to school. It was Gerry's first year and he was so excited. Scarlett had gone with the children to school the first day. Cold-hearted Scarlett almost cried when she saw Wade take Gerry's hand as they walked to the building. When Beau took Gerry's other hand, she did shed a tear. She turned her head away so her daughters wouldn't see her crying. It didn't do any good. Ella said, "Gerry is going to do fine."
Scarlett said, "I know."
When Scarlett picked the boys up from school, she found out that just like Genie, school was not what Gerry thought it was going to be like. He too got a rude awakening on his first day. He had to stay in his chair, and he had to obey the rules. While Gerry was complaining about this his brothers were studiously looking out the window. All Scarlett said was, "Those are the rules, and we must follow the rules."
Once all the children were in the carriage, Scarlett took them to get ice cream. She knew she was going to do this so Olivia was in the carriage also. While Scarlett was fine with Eunice's child being in the nursery with her, Scarlett made it clear that Liam was not equal to her children. He would not get the same privileges her children got.
