Disclaimer: I own nothing in regard to GWTW

Author's Notes: I cannot begin to express how thrilled it makes me when I get a review. I am so grateful for each and every review. I certainly consider every suggestion made for the plot line. I have incorporated a lot of them.

There is always that one person who can make one laugh in spite of one's sorrow or grief. Cora May is going to be that person for Scarlett.

Chapter Six

When Scarlett arrived at Cora May's home, she like the house very much. It was a Victorian home with probably five bedrooms. It wasn't that large but it was a nice size.

While Scarlett was sitting in Cora May's parlor, she liked the color scheme very much and realized the reason she liked it was because it was soothing. The mansion was harsh and aggravating. She had never realized that before but once she recognized it, she knew it was true. If Rhett wouldn't let her go maybe he would let her redecorate the mansion or better buy a new home.

Cora May served the tea and offered Scarlett a scone which she turned down.

Scarlett said, "I like your decorating scheme. It is very soothing."

Cora May said, "Thank you. That was what I was going for soothing."

Scarlett said, "Maybe I will redecorate the mansion."

Cora May said, "Do whatever it takes to soothe yourself but don't turn to liquor. Soon the liquor will be a problem all in itself."

Scarlett said, "I drink a lot less now than I did before ….." She just couldn't finish the sentence.

Cora May said, "Good for you. I let liquor become a problem. I know you probably think I am a happy person but I'm not. I put a smile on my face and leave it there until I get home."

Scarlett said, "I just can't bother for anyone but Melly. She worries so." There was a pause and Scarlett said, "It was the first child I ever wanted and God took it away because Rhett and I didn't deserve it."

Cora May said, "That's not the way God works and you know it. You don't know anything about me so I am going to tell you my story. We came from Natchez. When I was sixteen, I was the belle of Natchez. There wasn't a man I couldn't get. At least that's what I thought. There was a man who didn't want me so in order to get him I compromised him. I got him. We had to get married and because of the scandal we moved to Atlanta. He is a very nice gentleman. A very nice boring proper gentleman who luckily is good in business. I hate him and he hates me."

Scarlett said, "I don't hate Rhett but he hates me. He is so mean to me."

Cora May smiled sadly at her and said, "When I had my first miscarriage, I thought it was because of how badly I was treating my husband. I strived to be the perfect wife. After I had my second miscarriage, I thought it was because I had been such an awful person so I went to church and repented. After my third miscarriage I accepted that I wasn't meant to have children. I was barren and that's all there was to it."

Scarlett said, "Dr. Meade said I was barren because of the accident. Does the pain ever go away?"

Cora May said, "Of being barren or of losing your child? The answer to both is - In a way. You get used to it being there." The ladies paused and then Cora May said, "Until something happens that makes it acute and sharp. Like a lady at the sewing bee announces she is with child. You have to sit there and smile and congratulate them."

Then Cora May got up and poured each of them a brandy. She sat down next to Scarlett on the divan then clinked glasses with Scarlett. They talked for another hour. Cora May said, "I think this is the beginning of a wonderful friendship. We can be catty and mean as only two former belles can be."

Scarlett smiled and said, "I hope so."

Scarlett and Cora May sat there for the rest of the afternoon and talked about other things. They had a couple of more glasses of brandy and Scarlett was amused by Cora May and even laughed a couple of times. It was the happiest she had been since the accident. Finally, Scarlett got up to leave and thanked Cora May. She asked if she could come back next week. Cora May said, "I would like that very much. I don't have very many female friends."

Scarlett smiled and said, "They were always the competition."

Cora May said, "Exactly!"

The ladies smiled at each other and Scarlett was smiling as she walked out the door.

Cora May sadly thought, 'She looks like a broken doll.'

On her way home she knew she felt a little better having someone to talk to who truly understood. She also thought with a smile, 'I'm glad I didn't marry Ashley. I would have ended up just like Cora May.'

That night at dinner Scarlett asked Wade, "How was school today?"

Wade replied, "Fine."

Scarlett said, "Are the other young men making your life miserable with their repeating of all the gossip about your mother?"

Wade stared at his mother. He thought, 'How did she know? He hadn't told anyone. Not even Beau.' What he said was, "It's not too bad."

Scarlett said, "If you want to leave the school you can. I will hire a tutor for you. We can always send you to a boarding school. Maybe one in Boston. I will ask your Aunt Melly where your father went."

Wade said, "Thank you Mother."

Scarlett said, "You shouldn't suffer for my misdeeds."

She turned to the girls and asked them about their day. Scarlett didn't understand all of it but she was proud that she understood most of it. She smiled at Ella and Bonnie and said, "Sounds like a delightful day."

Then she looked at Bonnie and said, "You are almost three. Would you like to have your own chair?"

Bonnie said, "Which chair mine?"

Scarlett said, "Any chair that isn't taken?"

Bonnie jumped down from Rhett's lap and walked to the chair that was next to Scarlett. She said, "This one."

Scarlett got up and helped the little girl into the chair. Then Scarlett said, "Let me get you a pillow." Scarlett walked to the parlor and got a pillow and placed it under Bonnie. Bonnie was beaming. Scarlett turned to Rhett and said, "Are you alright with this?"

All Rhett could do was say, "Yes." Because Bonnie looked so happy to be sitting in her own chair. Scarlett had figured out that the way to get what she wanted with Bonnie was to convince the child then Rhett would follow. She thought it was ridiculous that an almost three-year-old was leading a forty-year-old man around but she could work with it to get what she wanted. She wanted a relationship with her daughter.

She then turned to Rhett and said, "What did you do with yourself today Mr. Butler?"

Rhett told her about his day and marveled at the fact she paid attention to him the entire time. When he finished speaking, he said, "And you Mrs. Butler what did you do?"

Scarlett said, "I made a new friend. Her name is Cora May." She smiled at the children and said, "It's time to get ready for bed. Whoever gets ready first gets to pick the first song." She rose from the table and left the room. All the children followed her. Bonnie didn't even look back at Rhett.

As Rhett watched them walk away, he decided that she was becoming a decent mother. He was surprised when she brought up the subject of her misdeeds and gossip effecting Wade but he was happy with her solution. Rhett agreed that if Wade had options, he would be able to withstand the pressure at school easier.

It was the middle of October almost two months since Ashley had bought the mills when he dropped by the Butler's home to see Scarlett. When Pork informed her that Mr. Wilkes was waiting in the parlor for her.

Scarlett asked, "Is Rhett home?" Scarlett didn't want to see him.

Pork said, "Mr. Rhett is in the nursery with the children."

Scarlett said, "Please inform him that he has a visitor in the parlor." Scarlett was never going to be alone with Ashley Wilkes ever again.

Pork said, "Yes Miss Scarlett." Pork knew all the gossip about Miss Scarlett and Mr. Wilkes and approved of her decision to not even go to the parlor.

Pork informed Mr. Rhett that Miss Scarlett would like for him to meet with Mr. Wilkes. Mr. Wilkes was waiting for him in the parlor. Rhett went downstairs. When Rhett entered the parlor he said, "How can I help you?"

Ashley said, "I asked to see Scarlett. I need her help with the books at the mills."

Rhett wanted to say, "Don't you think you have done her reputation enough damage? How dare you come here unannounced? If I had not been here the gossips would have gone crazy with the two of you being here alone even with the house being full of people." Instead he said, "Leave the books. I will look them over and return them to you tomorrow morning at the mill. She already told you she doesn't want anything to do with the mills. Please respect her decision. Now leave."

Ashley laid the books down and walked out of the house.

Scarlett was pleased that Rhett had handled the situation and Scarlett thanked him.

Rhett did go out to the mills the next day after spending all afternoon straightening out the books. He gave Mr. Wilkes back the books and said to him, "Don't ever come to our home uninvited again." Ashley never dropped in again.

Ashley had needed help with the books but he had also wanted to see Scarlett. He needed help with the running of the mill and he had been hoping Scarlett would tell him what to do. He had wanted to see that adoration in her face and in her eyes also. It hurt him that she had not even wanted to see him.

Ashley's visit convinced Rhett to do something he had been thinking about doing. He had not wanted to do it because it made him look so bad and he had been trying to think of another way that could salvage Scarlett's reputation but there wasn't any other way that he could think of. He probably deserved to have some egg on his face after all he had tossed on Scarlett's. On his way home from the bank he stopped in to have a drink at Belle's. Belle served him a glass of whiskey. As she put it in front of him Belle said, "You haven't been here for a while. What's going on?"

Rhett said, "I'm spending time at home with my wife. By the way would you be sure it gets around that I believe completely in Scarlett's innocence. That my use of whores is the reason she kicked me out of our marital bed as any self-respecting woman would do. After much begging on my part she has finally decided to forgive me. It probably has more to do with her almost dying than my persistent begging. There is no doubt in my mind that the baby was mine. I left Atlanta because of my shame not hers." He put some coins on the counter and walked out of the establishment.