Disclaimer: I own nothing in regard to GWTW
Author's Notes: Thank you for all the many reviews and the feedback.
Chapter Forty
Scarlett went to see Uncle Henry the next day to dissolve her trust fund she had set-up all those years ago to protect her assets before Henry found out she was leaving Atlanta and taking Wade with her. She knew he would not be happy with the idea.
She had told Henry, "I want to dissolve the trust because I want to set-up a trust fund for Ashley. I don't think he will ever be able to hold down a job again. With that and their other investments they should have enough to live on."
"Do you want me to set the trust fund up?"
"No, Rhett wants Mr. Taylor to handle all our legal business."
With that Henry handed her the certified check for the amount of money that was in the trust fund.
Scarlett would leave Henry Hamilton in charge over the Hamilton House. Wade was the sole owner now that Beau was dead. Scarlett would have sold it, but she couldn't. It was in trust until Wade was eighteen. She would make Wade sell it as soon as he turned eighteen. At that time, she would contact Mr. Taylor and authorize him to sell it. He was a good attorney, and he was a Yankee. He would not be bogged down by what was proper. He would just do what was legal.
Scarlett and Rhett had gone to Jim Taylor's office the next day. Mr. Taylor set up three trusts. One for the Hamilton House, one for Scarlett's aunts and one for Rhett's mother and sister. With all three of these trusts, once the trust was no longer needed what was left of the money went to a Catholic charity for widows and orphans.
Scarlett and Rhett authorized Mr. Taylor to sell the store, their home and all their other holdings in Atlanta although Rhett had already sold most of his business interest in Atlanta.
Scarlett was morose as they return to their home. To be honest Rhett was sad also. He was going to make a complete break with the South with their move to Australia. Rhett had smiled sadly when he thought, 'The ties that bind Southerners to the South are strong indeed. I didn't think I would feel any regrets, but I do. I know we have to leave yet I don't want to.'
They soon got an offer on the house and an offer on the store. They accepted both of them. Once the papers were signed, they knew they were at the point of no return. They quickly sold everything else they owned in Atlanta.
A week later after all the legal arrangements were made Scarlett arranged a meeting between PittyPat and Henry Hamilton. She said, "Rhett and I are moving to Australia. We want to go somewhere that Rhett will be received so all the children will get everything that they deserve. We, of course, will continue the Hamilton traditions. Rhett is a gentleman. He is just not received. He will train Wade in how to be a gentleman. I will make sure Wade goes to Harvard."
PittyPat said, "You can't take him away. He is all we have."
"I'm sorry for your pain but this is what is best for the entire family."
Henry said, "You should never have married Rhett Butler."
"I can see how you would feel that way, but I don't regret marrying Rhett. The decision has been made. I am just giving you the courtesy of informing you. We won't be home this Sunday but starting next Sunday, please, come by every Sunday afternoon to visit with Wade until we leave.
The family went to Tara for a week. They had pictures taken of Tara and everyone that lived there. Scarlett knew it was all she would have of Tara soon. Her pictures and her memories.
Scarlett gave Suellen the papers that gave her fifty-one percent of all their holdings. Scarlett said, "You are the boss of Tara and our cotton gins. You are a fine manager. I am so proud of you. I am so proud of what you have done with Tara. We are moving to Sydney. I will write you."
"Sydney?"
"Yes, Sydney, Australia."
"Australia?"
"Have you not heard of it?"
"I have heard of it. I just can't believe you are moving halfway around the world."
"It is what is best for our children."
"Yes, it probably is."
"Just put my share of the profits in the Tara bank account. If you need money in an emergency, it will be there. If you ever want to buy me out, make me an offer. I won't give it to you, but I will accept a reasonable offer."
"Thank you, Scarlett. I will be happy to put your profits in the Tara account but when I think there is more than enough in the account, I will send you some money. What about Mammy?"
"Mammy is coming with me even if I have to kidnap her."
Suellen laughed and said, "I am more than happy to have her if she refuses to go."
In the end Mammy moved to Australia with Scarlett. She loved Miss Scarlett almost as much as she had loved Miss Ellen. The other reason was she didn't want to spend the rest of her life with Miss Suellen. Although Miss Suellen was happier now than she had ever been before Mammy still didn't want to live with her.
Pork, Dilcey and Prissy had gotten other jobs with Yankees. The pay was better than with Southerners. Scarlett knew that Prissy would soon be married for she had been spending a lot of time with one of the footmen. Scarlett was going to miss them, even Prissy, but it was time for her servants to be on their own. Rhett gave each one of them one hundred dollars for their service.
Rhett had told his fellow businessman, George, that the cook, Ethel Brewer, was going to be unemployed soon. George was over the next day asking Ethel to come back to work for him. She even got him to offer her thirty cents an hour.
PittyPat and Henry did come to the Butlers home every Sunday from two to four. These visits were so very tedious to Wade. To him they were just two incredibly old people that he was somehow related to. All they wanted to talk about were people he had never met or Aunt Melly and Beau. He didn't want to talk about Aunt Melly or Beau because he missed them too much. He didn't want to talk about his father or his grandfather. Probably because he had never known them, he felt no kinship with them. He knew it was probably wrong, but Dad was his father and that was all there was to it. Uncle Henry had said something about him going to Harvard, becoming a lawyer and returning to Atlanta. That was the last thing Wade wanted to do. He wanted to be a ship's captain like Dad.
They sold everything except their personal items, their clothes, favorite toys, jewelry and their pictures. Ella and Genie had cried when their ponies were led away. When Rhett had said to the girls, "I will buy you another pony when we get to Australia."
His opportunistic five-year-old daughter had said, "A bigger pony?"
Rhett had smiled and said, "Yes, a bigger pony."
Genie stopped crying and said, "Alright then."
Before Ella had said a word Rhett turned to her and said, "Yes, yours will be bigger also."
Ella stopped crying and said, "Great. Let's go Genie and finish packing."
Rhett had been morose when he had to sell his library. He had spent a lot of time amassing the best literature. He had sold the library intact to an uneducated Scallawag who had just wanted the books to impress other people. Later that night in the parlor, Scarlett said, "You and Wade will have so much fun buying new books in Sydney."
Rhett had smiled for his son loved books almost as much as he did. He said, "Yes, we will."
Through the process of dismantling their lives in Atlanta there were moments when Scarlett felt such hatred and anger toward Rhett. It was his fault that they were having to leave everything behind. It was his fault that she was having to move halfway around the world to protect her children. Then she would force herself to calm down and accept yes, he was the reason they were moving halfway around the world, but he wasn't that man that had taken advantage of her anymore. He loved her and he loved his children. He wanted what was best for their children. Yes, all his chickens were coming home to roost and if she was honest all of hers too.
Before Paddy's second birthday the Butlers were heading to Sydney, Australia in a very roundabout way. Everything they owned was in seven large trunks. Scarlett and Rhett knew that they were going to buy new stuff once they were in Australia, yet it was still sad that their lives had been reduced down to seven trunks.
They went to Charleston. When they got to Elizabeth Butler's home, she said, "Welcome. Is this my newest grandson." She had taken Paddy out of Rhett's arms. Later when Elizabeth heard Genie calling her brother Paddy, she said, "Really, Rhett, you need to put an end to that."
Although Rhett knew exactly what his mother was referring to, he said, "An end to what?"
"An end to them calling your son Paddy. It is just too ….." Elizabeth stopped and realized she had just made a faux pas. She blushed. Neither Rhett nor Scarlett said anything. They just let Elizabeth sit in her embarrassment. Finally, Rhett said in a cold voice, "Are you by chance referring to my son's nickname?"
"No, of course, not. How could I object to such a cute nickname?"
"I don't know how you could either. Come along, my Irish rose, let me take you and the children for a walk on the boardwalk."
Scarlett was thrilled. She would always be thrilled when Rhett jumped to her defense. After the family had walked for a distance Scarlett said, "Thank you, Rhett."
"What? There is nothing wrong with his nickname."
Scarlett just smiled. After that even Rhett started calling the boy 'Paddy.'
Rhett hired a photographer to come to his mother's house and take pictures of them. He had paid more to be sure the photographs would be ready in time.
Their last night in Charleston over supper Rhett said, "We are moving to Sydney."
Elizabeth and Rosemary stared at Rhett in stunned silence. They were dumbfounded by his announcement. Rhett let the silence draw out. At last, Elizabeth said, "Sydney, Australia?"
"Yes, Sydney, Australia."
"Rhett."
Rhett said, "I have set-up a trust fund with my attorney Jim Taylor to continue sending you a support check until you both die."
Elizabeth said, "Will I ever see you again?"
"Probably not unless you come to Australia."
In that moment Elizabeth felt all the regret of her actions. Instead of embracing her son she had turned her back on him. Not just when Charles had disowned him but every time he had come to town, and she had refused to go out in public with him. She had chosen Charleston over him time and time again. She turned and looked at her grandchildren and knew she would never see them again. With real heartbreak in her voice, Elizabeth said, "Rhett."
Rhett smiled kindly at her and said, "This is what is best for my family."
Elizabeth quickly looked at the children again and both Scarlett and Rhett saw the tears in her eyes. She said, "Yes, it is."
"You know I will never be received in the South and I want the finest things for my children."
"Maybe if you…."
"No, Mother. I will never humble myself that much. I wouldn't do it when I was twenty and I damn sure am not going to do it when I am forty."
Yes, of course. You are right this is best."
Rhett picked up Scarlett's hand and kissed it. He said, "We think so."
Scarlett felt such compassion for her mother-in-law. She had done what was supposedly right yet in the end it wasn't what was right. Just like Ashley, he had always done what was supposedly right and in the end, it wasn't what was right.
The rest of the meal was a somber affair. The family left early the next day. Neither Elizabeth nor Rosemary got up to see them off. Although the children were disappointed, Rhett and Scarlett knew Elizabeth had not come to say goodbye because she would not have been able to maintain her composure.
Rhett had left copies of the pictures on the table in the entry way. He was so incredibly sad.
The family had breakfast in their private car. Scarlett and Mammy took care of the children while Rhett grieved the loss of his mother.
Over the next several days, Rhett had come to terms with the fact he would never see his mother again. It was the second time in his life that he had faced the prospect of never seeing his mother again. Unfortunately, this time he had no hope that he would ever see her again. He knew it was for the best. His past actions dictated his actions now. His children would be received into the finest homes in Sydney. He would do right by his children and by Scarlett most of all. He would never let her feel another minute of shame if he could prevent it. Yet despite all of that it hurt to say a final goodbye to his mother. He had thought about Scarlett's question 'If he had loved his mother?' and he now knew that he had. He was hurting too badly to not have loved her. Yet even in the midst of his pain he knew he loved Scarlett and his children so much more.
He would get through this pain with Scarlett's help. He thanked God again for the miracle of Scarlett's love. Yes, he truly did believe in a higher power now. That was the only thing that explained how an awful man like he had been, could have achieved this much happiness.