Chapter Nine

Scarlett looked at Rhett and said, "They are all well-behaved children I will not let you ruin them. It is okay to give them gifts but they must have loving discipline also. They know what the word 'No.' means. They must learn they don't always get everything they want. It took their mother too long to learn that lesson. They all have chores to do. They don't have a problem with it. We don't have any servants."

Rhett looked at her and said, "I will try but you might have to correct me several times on the excessive gift giving but I will back you up on the discipline. I will never countermand you."

Rhett enjoyed himself at dinner. He enjoyed talking to Andi. He was proud of how well-behaved Bonnie was. He knew he wouldn't have been able to do that. James sat in a high chair next to Rhett. Scarlett would not let Rhett hold him on his lap. Scarlett sweetly said, "This is where James knows he is expected to sit."

After the younger children were in bed Rhett told Scarlett he was going back to the hotel to check out. He asked Wade to come with him. Wade looked at Scarlett for permission and she nodded. In the cab going back to the hotel Rhett said, "I treated your mother very badly in the first years of our marriage. I should never have treated the woman I love so badly no matter what she did. I have spent the last two years repenting for my mistakes. I am very grateful that your mother has given me a second chance because I know that I wouldn't have found her if she hadn't let me find her. I don't expect our lives to be argument free but I am going to try very hard to never treat her that badly again. I expect you to hold me to my promises."

Wade looked at him and nodded. He said, "I wasn't kidding when I said I would kill you if you hurt her."

Rhett said, "I'm glad we reached this understanding."

Wade smiled and Rhett knew he was on the way to mending his relationship with Wade.

They talked about Wade's classes and classmates the rest of the trip over there and then moved on to other subjects.

When they returned to the house Wade helped Rhett bring his trunk into the house. Scarlett told them to put his belongings in her room. Rhett looked surprise. "We have six bedrooms and all of them are in use. So unfortunately, you have to share a room with me." Scarlett said and smiled.

Wade then kissed his mother's cheek and said, "Good night. I will see you in the morning." Scarlett walked behind him and closed and locked the door. Scarlett then walked over to Rhett and started kissing him. Before Rhett knew it all his dreams were coming true. When he told her, "I love you" She responded with "I love you too."

Andi had written her attorney to tell him that Rhett and Scarlett had started building their life together. The first year was difficult but they expected it to be difficult. Rhett learned to not give his children everything they asked for. He learned to back Scarlett up when she disciplined his children. He learned that Scarlett was busy most of the time. He wanted to get some servants so she would have time to spend with him. She agreed to hiring a cook and a maid but nobody else. They went home at the end of the day. She didn't want any strangers sleeping in her house.

After six months Rhett asked about Andi. Was she going to live with them always? Scarlett said, "She can live with me the rest of her life if she chooses. She did share that she had escaped from an abusive relationship. I wish she would meet someone and get married." Rhett thought not very likely. Rhett couldn't decide if she was a man dressed as a woman or a woman with mannish ways who liked other women or if she was a woman who was still healing from her abuse and didn't want to find anyone to marry. Rhett had no problem with Andi living with them the rest of her life either. She was a friend to Scarlett and his wife didn't have very many friends. Andi had seen them at their worse and still wanted to be with them.

During the summer of 1874 they went to Atlanta to pay their respects to Melanie Wilkes. The matrons of society called on them at their hotel. The Butlers were polite but after thirty minutes remembered they had another appointment. They found out that Ashley was no longer a respected member of society. The women of Atlanta blamed him for Melly's death, if he could have just controlled himself. Rhett thought this was hilarious. Scarlett was amused also. They called on Aunt PittyPat and caught up on all the news. They found out that Ashley, Beau and India were living with her. Ashley was there and Scarlett was shocked at his appearance. He was a gray haired, stoop shoulder man that smelt bad. Ashley was a sad, miserable man. So much so that even Rhett felt pity for him but he still never let go of Scarlett's hand. Beau was a delightful ten-year-old. He talked with Rhett and Scarlett and then went to play with Wade and Ella. Rhett leaned over and asked Scarlett, "Do you want to see if we can take him with us to go to school at Esters? Scarlett nodded her head. Rhett then stood up and asked Ashley to step outside with him. Scarlett didn't know what Rhett had said outside but when they walked back in Rhett nodded his head at Scarlett. Rhett whispered in her ear, "I told him we were going to Tara for two weeks and when we came back through Atlanta, we would pick him up. Mr. Wilkes agreed." Scarlett gave Rhett a questioning look and he said, "Later." Scarlett nodded her head. She knew Rhett would tell her everything when they were alone. They didn't keep secrets anymore. As they walked back to the hotel with their children. Rhett proceeded to tease Scarlett about her one-time paramour. Scarlett let him go on for a while then she told him to stop. Rhett now knew when he saw the sparkling green eyes, he had to stop no matter how much fun he was having. Scarlett was actually happy that Rhett was comfortable enough in her love to tease her about Ashley.

They went to Tara and stayed two weeks. Scarlett comprehended that Tara was no longer a majestic plantation but just a farm with share croppers. She still loved the view and the red dirt but she knew that Tara was part of her childhood now. Suellen was the mistress of Tara now. Rhett telegraphed Ashley and told him to meet them at the train station. When their train pulled into Atlanta Rhett got off and met with Ashley and Beau. Rhett shook Ashley's hand and led Beau onto the train. As Scarlett looked on, she grasped that Ashley never expected to see Beau again. That Ashley was giving Beau to them so Beau could have a better life.

They went to Charleston and stayed with Rhett's mother for a month. Rhett showed her all the sights. She saw her aunts again but understood there was never going to be any love. She had a wonderful visit with her mother in law. They invited her to join them for Christmas in Boston. After all there would be a new Butler baby by that time. Elizabeth said, "I'll see what I can do." They returned to Boston and got ready for school. Scarlett took them to buy most of their school clothes but Rhett took the two boys to a tailor to have the school blazars made.

Rhett and Scarlett decided they were not ready for Ella to go to school. She was doing so well with Andi. Scarlett would talk to Andi about Ella going to school and Andi would assure her that when Ella was ready Andi would let her know.

It seemed Rhett's second favorite activity was teasing Scarlett and fortunately Scarlett had developed a sense of humor. Sometime though enough was enough and Scarlett would get mad and yell at Rhett. Instead of provoking her further he would sooth her ruffled feathers and bring her back into a good mood.

She read magazines and Rhett pressed her into reading a couple of books by Mark Twain which she enjoyed. She no longer had the restless energy that personified her in her early years.

In November 1874 Melanie Anne Butler was born and she also looked just like her mother. Scarlett had used Dr. Harrison because he gave the mother's chloroform during labor. Rhett said, "I'm glad I like the way my wife looks since it seems all my children will resemble her." Scarlett just giggled. Scarlett told Rhett later, "I will never have another child without chloroform. It was divine. Not like you make me feel divine but pretty close." She fell asleep. Rhett took the baby out to show her to the children. Rhett assured them that their mother was fine. She was sleeping right now.

Rhett was nervous Scarlett had gone to see Dr. Harrison for a confirmation that all was well. He would feel better once they had resumed their sexual relations. Scarlett breezed in to the parlor and asked Rhett if she could see him in their room. Deja vu all over again. When he closed the door she said, "We can resume our sexual relationship anytime we want." And then she giggled. She knew he was nervous. She was trifling with him.

He wrapped her up in his arms and said, "Now?"

And she smiled and said," Now!" Before they proceeded Rhett explained all about prophylactics. She sat there for a minute and said, "I was such a ninny." After that there was little conversation.

Occasionally Rhett would get restless and Scarlett would urge him to go out and play cards and drink whisky. Rhett would go but he rarely drank these days and his poker playing skills were lacking. He would always come home a little poorer but a lot happier. Whenever he went out, he saw it as a picture of what his future could have turned out like. When he climbed in bed with Scarlett, he would hold her close and was grateful for her and their life.

Melanie was a sweet docile child. She was very obedient. If she didn't look so much like Scarlett her parents would have sworn, she was someone else's child.

They went to London during the summer of 1875. Rhett had heard of a new procedure called a vasectomy. It would make it where he could not father anymore children. He was well into his forties and that would mean he would be into his sixties when Melanie Anne left home. Scarlett was just turning thirty which would give her at least ten more years of fertility. He did not want to be having children while he was in his fifties or worse his sixties. As fertile as she was, he was not trusting their luck to prophylactics. And he didn't want to wear a prophylactic for the next fifteen years. So, this procedure seemed perfect for them. They talked about it. Scarlett's only comment was 'as long as it doesn't affect your functionality or virility.' This made Rhett laugh. He asked, "What about my health?" And she said, "That too." And smiled her saucy smile.

Rhett found out that becoming sterile was not instantly after surgery. A man had to use other protection for 60 days. It was a perfect plan except Rhett decided that 59 days was enough time. He was sure he was sterile now. He was not. Their fourth child was conceived that night. When Scarlett found out she was pregnant she laughed and laughed and would go through the house saying, "The great and intelligent Rhett Butler is not always right." Whenever she said this all he could do was laugh. He would laugh at anything she said right then because she wasn't mad about being pregnant again and he didn't want her to get mad.

When Melly was nine months old Scarlett said, "She's just like her namesake." And then did something she rarely did, burst into tears. Rhett held her until she had cried herself out then let her go to sleep. Later Scarlett said, "I'm just emotional because I'm pregnant." And Rhett pretended to believe her.