Disclaimer: I own nothing regarding GWTW
Author's Notes: Thank you for all the reviews and feedback.
Chapter Twenty-three
When they arrived in Charleston, Rhett had the cab take them to a lovely hotel. He got them a three-bedroom suite so Mammy could have her own room.
Mammy would never say anything to Mr. Rhett, but he was wearing her down with all his special treatment. Although the thing that was softening her heart to him more than anything else was the way he treated Miss Scarlett.
After they were settled in their suite, Scarlett said, "Why aren't we staying with your mother?"
"She doesn't have room for all of us."
Scarlett knew that might have been true, but she also knew that wasn't all of it. She let Rhett's lie go by unchallenged. He would only get mad if she made him face the truth of the situation. Scarlett suspected that Mrs. Butler would be ashamed if people knew her son had stayed in her home.
Scarlett said, "I will send my aunts a note asking to call on them," With an impish smile, she added, "I am going to sign the note – Mrs. Rhett Butler."
Rhett laughed. He said, "You know they won't receive me."
"Hopefully, they won't receive me either, but we both know they will certainly receive my check."
Rhett laughed. He said, "We will be outcast together."
"Or we will be incast together."
Rhett smiled at Scarlett and said, "I love you."
"I love you, too."
The family had a lovely time in Charleston. They went to Mrs. Butler's townhouse every night for supper. Although the children were not allowed to eat supper with the adults. They would come to the townhouse about thirty minutes before supper was served for Mrs. Butler to visit with her grandchildren. It was clear to Scarlett that her mother-in-law was not a hands-on mother. She thought, 'No proper lady in the South would be. The children were turned over to the mammy to raise.' Rosemary and Mrs. Butler were very polite and gracious. It was the first time Scarlett had ever met her mother-in-law. Mrs. Butler reminded Scarlett far too much of her aunts. Scarlett smiled at her husband. He had been an outcast long before he had been disowned by his father.
Over the supper table Scarlett had studied her mother-in-law. She was a petite woman with blonde hair and blue eyes. She reminded Scarlett of baby Melanie and for a moment she was sad over the loss of her other daughter. She quickly shook it off. She thought, "Maybe if Rhett and I have another daughter she will take after Mrs. Butler.'
Rosemary was a tall, slim woman with black hair and dark brown eyes like Rhett. Scarlett assumed the siblings took after their father.
The family went sailing. They went to see Rhett's family plantation, Middleton Acres. Scarlett who knew nothing about rice, said, "Can this plantation be brought back?"
"Maybe with a lot of money. A lot of money that I don't want to spend. I wouldn't even pay the taxes on it to keep it in the family. Unlike you, my dear, it was not worth selling my soul for," Scarlett quickly looked at Rhett but there was no mockery or ridicule in his features. He smiled, "In some ways I admire your dedication to Tara and in a lot of ways I think you are a damn fool."
Scarlett flashed him a smile and said, "Me too. Especially after marrying Frank Kennedy. I have decided that was too high a price to save the family plantation. The only person who appreciated my sacrifice was Will Benteen."
"I certainly didn't appreciate your sacrifice because it meant you were married to that old man instead of me."
"I did ask you first."
"Aah yes but unfortunately I couldn't touch my money at that point in time."
"Would you have married me?"
"Yes, but your real question is would I have married you first. Unfortunately, Baby, I don't think so."
"I don't think I could have ever faced you again if we had done that."
"I would have worn you down."
Scarlett smiled. The couple kissed in front of all their children and Mammy. They didn't care. They loved each other and they wanted everyone to know it.
Later as both people reflected on the conversation, they both decided separately that Rhett would not have asked her to marry him. Rhett because he would have been so disappointed in relations with Scarlett. Scarlett because she would never be able to look Rhett in the face again after she had given herself to him without marriage. Despite his words about wearing her down she would have been at Tara and thus not available for him to wear down.
For the next several days Rhett pointed out local landmarks: Fort Sumter, the Battery, and Charleston Harbor. As they were walking along Scarlett would see people crossing the street so they could avoid their group. Scarlett said, "Do you think they are going to do that to us in Atlanta?" Rhett looked at her. She continued, "It seems like a lot of trouble just to let someone know that you don't approve of their actions that occurred over twenty years ago. No, Wait! That they still don't approve of your actions."
"Thank you, for marrying me my little warrior."
Rhett took her arm and linked it in his. She said, "It makes me mad. It was just a broken buggy wheel."
"Indeed, just a broken buggy wheel."
After their third trip out in a sailboat Scarlett said, "After being on the water for three weeks I would think you would be tired of it."
"I could never get tired of being on the water."
"I guess we will have to add that to our list of requirements for our future home."
Rhett smiled and said, "Most definitely!"
Rhett made Scarlett and Wade try all the local delicacies, but he allowed Ella and Mammy to eat whatever they wanted. When Rhett found out that Mammy was fond of saltwater taffy which was a specialty of Charleston, he started buying it for her every time they went out.
When Rhett gave Mammy the taffy, he would receive a genuine smile. That made him extremely happy. His thought was, 'Yes, I am wearing her down.'
One night for supper, Scarlett's aunts joined them. While her aunts had not welcomed them in their home, the old women had joined them for a very bountiful meal courtesy of Rhett. At the very beginning of the meal Scarlett said, "With my marriage to Rhett, I sold my sawmills."
Eulalie said, "It is about time you started acting like a lady. Of course, how quickly you got marry….
Rhett said, "Stop right there. You and your sister are not in a position to criticize Scarlett in any manner. She has always been acting like a lady. A lady that had a plethora of leeches she had to feed."
There was a long silence after Rhett's words. Finally, Pauline said, "We have been getting a check from a Mr. Hamilton since last April. Are you responsible for that, my dear?"
"Yes, I will continue to send you a check as long as the rental income continues. Although I am considering selling all my property in Atlanta. Once I sell the lots, I will not be able to send you a check because I will not have a source of income. Perhaps, Rhett would be kind enough to send you a check." As the silence stretched out Scarlett finally said, "Are you alright with taking money from Rhett despite ….."
"Of course."
"Of course."
"I am glad that is settled. Maybe next time we are in Charleston we can have supper at your home."
Rhett burst out laughing. He said, "Yes, maybe you could fix us a Savannah favorite? Didn't you live in Savannah once?"
Scarlett smiled at him and said, "You know I don't think I ever learned why the family moved from Savannah. Aunt Eulalie, why did we?"
"I don't know. It was something Pere decided."
"But why would you move because Grand Pere told you to? Weren't both of you married before you moved away from Savannah."
"Like I said I don't know why."
The silence stretched out for a long time. Scarlett knew her aunts were embarrassed. Probably because of their behavior towards their sister Ellen and because of Ellen's behavior all those years ago. Scarlett knew her in-laws were still embarrassed by Rhett's behavior. Not just twenty years ago but all through the war. All the ladies were all embarrassed they had to take money from Rhett.
Elizabeth started talking about one of the committees she was on. The rest of the meal was long and boring. Everyone talked about how wonderful things were before the war. Scarlett didn't bother to hide her smile when Rhett said, "Too bad we foolishly went to war over an issue that wasn't even in jeopardy." There was no more conversation that night. And judging by the pinched faces of the ladies at the table the aunts would not be joining them for another meal.
On the way home Rhett was as gleeful and joyful as a little boy who had bested his elders. Scarlett was all smiles. She certainly enjoyed not having to worry about a reputation.
Scarlett knew now why Rhett had wanted her to be his true love. It was simple. He thought she was a kindred spirit, and she was. It had just taken her a lot longer to realize it. Probably because she could not move as easily between the different worlds. Only through Rhett could she move into the seedy underbelly of life and still be considered a lady by them, at least.
Despite the family having a good time within five days they were on their way to Atlanta. Once they were in the private car, Scarlett sat next to Rhett.
Scarlett didn't question him about why they had left Charleston early. She knew it hurt him to be snubbed by everyone in Charleston. She also knew despite what he said about never redeeming his reputation he might just do it for his children's sake.
The couple watched Ella play with Genie. In this timeline the girls were barely sixteen months apart. Ella was keeping the baby entertained with toys. Ella really was such a happy, good-natured child.
Scarlett was going to work extremely hard at not letting Rhett spoil Genie beyond repair. It was easier in this timeline because Rhett was listening to her not trying to thwart her. The other reason was that in this timeline Genie was their child not just Rhett's child.
Scarlett sighed. Rhett said, "What is it, Dear?"
Scarlett smiled at Rhett. She said, "She so cute. She almost makes me want another one."
"Of course, you think she is cute. She looks just like you.
"No, I think she is cute because she is our child. I think she is going to have your personality."
"Lord help the world if that happens. A woman with your attractiveness to men and my brains. She will be ruling the world in no time."
"What about my brains?"
"My love, although you are very clever. Your schemes and plans are one to five steps. Her schemes and plans will be hundreds of steps and take many years to accomplish."
Scarlett couldn't help but hear the pride in his voice when he thought of Genie's schemes being like his schemes. She just smiled. The man was an arrogant bastard, yet she loved him because she now knew he was such a halfwit at times.
When Rhett, Scarlett and their children stepped off the train in Atlanta. The gossip mill went wild. Before the family had made it to the National Hotel half the town of Atlanta knew that Rhett and Scarlett Butler were back in town.
Rhett checked them into the hotel. Once they had entered their suite, Scarlett said, "Go on to Belle's. Find out the latest gossip while Mammy and I get us settled. Find out if she already knows you are back," Scarlett moved close to Rhett and even though all the children were in the room she kissed him full on the mouth. She whispered, "Go."
Rhett didn't care about the children or Mammy seeing him showing his wife affection. He pulled her close and whispered, "I love you."
"Me too."
Scarlett pushed him out the door with a smile on her face. Scarlett had felt Rhett's response to her being close to him. It always thrilled her. More so now that they had been married for over a year and had many sexual sessions. Scarlett didn't have the knowledge she needed to know how significant it was that Rhett, a forty-year-old man, always responded to her like a sixteen-year-old boy. Yet she was woman enough to know that Rhett always instantly responding to her was an excellent thing.