Disclaimer: I own nothing in regard to GWTW
Author's Notes: Thank you for all the many reviews and the feedback.
Sorry for the late posting but fanfic wouldn't let me log on.
Chapter Thirty-One
When Scarlett had expressed concern about Wade being away from school for a month Rhett had said, "He can get caught back up when we get back."
Scarlett had smiled at Rhett's pride and confidence in his son.
On the trip to Charleston Rhett asked Scarlett, "Why is the sawmill office shaped like an 'L'?"
"I don't know. It was that way when I bought the mill."
Rhett smiled for he knew Scarlett had never wondered why the sawmill office was that way and she wasn't going to wonder now. She really did have a small spectrum of things she thought about. He was just glad he was in that spectrum, him and the children.
Dilcey had made him a jug of her secret drink for Rhett to take with him. Rhett would have been amused to find out that there was nothing special about the drink Dilcey had made him. It was just bitter tea with some spices including St. Johns-wort. It had two main benefits. Dilcey had so confidently told Rhett it would take away the cravings so he believed it would. It also gave Rhett something to do while he waited for the craving to pass.
Several days after their arrival in Charleston, Rhett dropped in on the man he had invested in. The man's expression was quite comical when he realized that Rhett Butler was in his office. The man, Samuel Goodwin, at first tried to convince Rhett that he was not cheating him. He showed Rhett the books and the books convinced Rhett even more that the man was an idiot. Finally, Rhett said, "Mr. Goodwin, you are either a cheat or an idiot. It doesn't matter to me which one you are. Just give me my investment back."
"If I give you your money back, I will be bankrupt."
"I am sorry that is going to happen to you, but that statement alone makes me determined to get my investment back."
"Let's go to the bank."
As they were walking towards the bank, Mr. Goodwin tried to run away from Rhett. It was quite comical to Rhett for the man was six inches shorter than Rhett so Rhett could easily catch up with him which Rhett did. They walked the rest of the way to the bank arm in arm. By the time they got to the bank Mr. Goodwin was mortified.
Mr. Goodwin withdrew all of the money in the account and gave it to Rhett. Rhett had lent the man a hundred dollars but there was only ninety-five dollars in Rhett's hand. Rhett smiled at Mr. Goodwin and said, "You have caught me on an incredibly good day. I just want to be finished with this business so I will just take the ninety-five dollars and we will call it even."
"Thank you, Mr. Butler."
"Good day and goodbye Mr. Goodwin."
That night when Rhett told Scarlett about it, she placed her hand on his forehead and said, "No, you aren't running a temperature, but you must be sick to have been that kind to the man."
"You know what they say, 'You can't get blood out of a turnip.' I took the man's last dime so I got all I could get."
"Please tell me this foolish man didn't have a family to support."
"No, he lives with his parents. He will not starve."
"Alright. Good."
"You won't tell anyone I did something nice will you?"
"No, your secret is safe with me."
They laughed. They soon occupied themselves in other ways.
As they laid in the bed afterwards Rhett said, "This is when I miss my cigar most."
"Post-coitus?"
"Yes, but I meant when we are lying here together, and I am telling you stories. There was a perfectness about those moments."
"There is still a perfectness because we are going to be doing it for many years."
Scarlett heard the smile in Rhett's voice when he said, "Yes, we are."
Rhett took his family sailing almost every day. His children loved being on the water also. Scarlett really didn't like it because it was boring to her, but the rest of the family was having a good time, so she tolerated it. It certainly was more fun than staying at the townhouse with her in-laws. Although both ladies were polite and kind there was no warmth between them. More than that they had nothing in common. Rosemary and Elizabeth loved to read, and Scarlett never read. Rosemary and Elizabeth wore plain, boring, clothes in muted colors while Scarlett wore the latest fashion in the most outrageous colors. Rosemary and Elizabeth talked positively about their committees they were on while Scarlett hated attending committee meetings. Rosemary and Elizabeth talked enthusiastically about how much money they had raised for the monument fund while Scarlett thought monuments were a waste of money. If it weren't for the fact that all three of her children had Elizabeth's smile Scarlett would have sworn Rhett was adopted.
As Scarlett gazed at the water she thought about Rhett and his childhood. He never really talked about it except for that one night but that was enough to let her know he had been lonely for an exceedingly long time. She knew why he had instantly fallen in love with his son. Wade was someone who wanted Rhett to love him and who wanted to love Rhett. Someone who wouldn't reject him.
She smiled sadly when she thought about what he had said when they were on their honeymoon. He had said, 'They are not my friends. I am not a likeable person.' It was true, but as she looked at him she knew she liked him. He was her friend and her husband. She hoped he felt the same way that she was his friend and his wife. She smiled as she thought, 'I'm not a likeable person either.'
Soon they were heading back to shore, and Scarlett started thinking about where Rhett was going to take them for supper.
Several days later Elizabeth had agreed to watch the children while Rhett and Scarlett went sailing alone. -Elizabeth had gotten over her horror that Rhett had brought his bastard children into her home. Rosemary had never seen the connection between Rhett and the older children or if she did, she had never said anything about it. Elizabeth suspected it was the first because Rosemary although intelligent was a simple child. She believed most everything anyone told her. Elizabeth believed it was because in Rosemary's mind she wouldn't think anyone would behave dishonorably even though Rosemary knew that Rhett had often behaved dishonorably.
Elizabeth had gotten over her horror because Rhett loved his children and his wife. Rhett had always needed a lot of love and unfortunately, she and Charles had not had a lot of love to give. They had not loved each other, and Elizabeth knew that she had truly not loved her children. She had loved them because they were her children but not because they were special human beings. As she had gotten older, she had loved them more and more.
Elizabeth loved spending time with her grandchildren. All of them. She no longer cared about their parentage. Rhett had done right by Scarlett. Rhett loved his children so very much. They happily reminded her of the days when Rhett and Robert were young boys before everything went wrong. They happily reminded her of their life before the war. When she looked at Ella, she reminded Elizabeth of Rosemary when the girl was a child. So happy, so carefree. Elizabeth hoped that Ella's world never crashed down around her.
Elizabeth thought, 'No, I was not happy being married to Charles Butler, but I accepted my life as my lot in life. My unhappiness bled over into my relationship with my children especially Rhett because he looked so much like Charles.'
She had married Charles and saved her family from destitution. Her parents had a good life after her marriage to Charles. Her brother had brought the family plantation back from the brink of destruction with Charles's money only to lose it all in the war. Her brother was dead now. Her sister had made a good match, yet she too had been traded for money. Elizabeth smiled sadly. Her sister was living in genteel poverty but would not accept her charity because Eleanor knew where Elizabeth got her money.
Elizabeth smiled when she thought, 'Maybe Rhett had been the smart one to reject that life and make his own way.' She knew he was happier outside the bounds of proper society than he would ever have been inside it. She knew that she would never be happy outside the bounds than inside. She would always behave as a proper Charlestonian woman.
While Elizabeth was doing all that contemplation, Rhett was behaving badly once again. He and Scarlett were having a tryst in the sand at Rhett's former family plantation. Rhett had laid a blanket on the sand. They had sat on it and watched the water. Rhett had started kissing Scarlett, but she had resisted. She said, "No, someone might see us."
"There isn't anyone else on this peninsula. It is deserted."
"How do you know?"
"Because it has always been deserted even when I was a kid."
"Are you lying to me?"
"I have never out and out lie to you."
"We shouldn't, Rhett." But this time there was no firmness in her tone.
Rhett said in a coaxing voice, "Really, baby, I spent my youth on this peninsula. Even then there was never anyone way out here."
Scarlett didn't say yes but she certainly didn't say no. Fortunately for Rhett no one came upon them and interrupted their encounter. Rhett really didn't care if someone came upon them as long as that person didn't interrupt them. Rhett was incredibly turned on with the idea of his wife and him doing it on the beach in front of anyone who might walk up upon them. He was damn sure that Scarlett didn't share his excitement of being exhibitionists although she did have a lovely time.
When they were finished Rhett was lying on the blanket naked while Scarlett was quickly covering herself up. His thoughts were, 'Wow that was wonderful. I wish I had a cigar. I didn't do what I needed to do to keep her from getting pregnant. Damn! Surely we can't be that unlucky every time.'
When the Butlers finally returned from Charleston all the hoop rah had died down. In the end nobody had believed India's story. Especially after Captain Butler said he was there at the time. Most people were glad that India had gone to Macon. She was just a sour, bitter, old maid. Sure, Scarlett had stolen her beau, but one can't steal a willing heart. If her beau had really loved her Scarlett would not have been able to steal him away.
When Scarlett missed her flow again in the first part of June, she knew she was pregnant again. She wasn't unhappy about the event although she would never tell Rhett so. She would never give anything up without compensation. The only thing she was unhappy about was that she was going to have another baby born in January/February. She would like to spread the birthdays out although she did like being pregnant in the winter when her built in heater was a benefit.
Scarlett went to see Dr. Harrison. He confirmed that she indeed was with child.
That night after they had gotten in the bed, Scarlett said, "We are going to have another child."
As they laid there Rhett said, "We oopsed In Charleston!"
Scarlett said, "Yes, when we went sailing. Just the two of us."
"Damn it! I'm sorry, baby."
"We can't undo what is done."
"I was having too good of a time."
"I had a good time also although I got sand in places that I didn't know I could get sand in."
Rhett laughed. He was so scared, but he hid it behind a smile. Scarlett was already pregnant. Rhett thought, 'At this point we don't have any choice but to go forward.' He said, "I will be with you the entire time making your life happier especially during your confinement. Of course, you know that if we lived in Paris or London, you would not have to go into a confinement."
She smiled at her husband. He always did use every weapon he had available to get what he wanted. She said, "You know I want to live somewhere they speak English. So, London, Sydney, New York, or Galveston. I heard they are building an opera house in Galveston."
"I told you I will not live in the wilderness."
Scarlett smiled and said, "Soon, my dear, I will be willing to leave Atlanta and the South."
"I hope so. I don't want our children not to get everything that is rightfully theirs."
"Nor do I, my dear. I am even more glad you quit smoking and drinking. You can't leave me alone with all these children."
"No, I can't."