Chapter 5

The next day at the jewelry store Rhett pointed to the ring he had bought her the first time. She did ooh and aah over it then he told her the stone was too big and too vulgar.

Scarlett asked innocently, "How can a stone be too big?"

Rhett looked at her and said, "I want you to have friends now that you are happily married. We can't give anyone any more reasons to be jealous of us. After all we are such a perfect couple."

Scarlett giggled at this statement. Scarlett said sadly, "I have never had very many girlfriends, Melly and Cathleen Calvert are the only ones who have ever been nice to me."

Rhett said gently, "You have to think about other people's feelings and desires to have friends." Scarlett's temper started to rise to the surface. So, Rhett hugged her and said, "Let's find the perfect diamond ring so all your dreams can come true." They both laughed but it was a forced laugh for both of them. They found an emerald in a marquis cut with tiny diamonds around it. It was a little bigger than he liked but she looked so hopeful he had to agree. She smiled so big and was so grateful he couldn't help but be happy. He realized another mistake they had made the first time. They had never been a couple. They had always been two people living together. They had never compromised. He had just given her what she wanted even when he knew it was the wrong choice. She had just accepted these gifts as her due not really appreciating the gift or the gift giver.

The ring needed to be sized. Their wedding rings matched and hers went well with the emerald. Everything would be ready in two days. Rhett also bought her the large, vulgar diamond because he knew she would love it. She could wear it around the house as long as she promised to wear nothing else.

The house hunting was definitely a chore. They squabbled. They fought. Rhett mocked. Scarlett pouted. In the end they chose a pretty Victorian style house. It wasn't Rhett's preferred style but he liked it well enough and Scarlett was so happy. Again, Scarlett had to compromise what she wanted with what she got. The house had a dining room, breakfast nook, sitting room, a library and a living room on the first floor and on the second floor was five bedrooms. The master bedroom was not especially large but it had a sitting room attached to it. Rhett decided that when the first baby arrived, they would change it into a nursery. Scarlett smiled at him and thought what a baby crazy man he was. Rhett also allowed her to have indoor plumbing installed. What a luxury!

The decorating of the house was again a chore. They squabbled. They fought. Rhett mocked. Scarlett pouted. When they moved into the house it was a home, they both were proud of. It was much showier than he would like but it also reflected a blend of his and Scarlett's taste. It was a house that reflected the Butler's taste. This time he didn't want there to be a winner and a loser but a couple who gave a little and took a little so that both of them were happy.

Something that surprised Rhett was that Scarlett never had nightmares. He asked her if she had ever suffered from nightmares like Wade and she had told him not as a child. She had nightmares when she was at Tara but none since she had started sleeping with him. She supposed he made her feel safe. Wade rarely had a nightmare now that they were in England. When Rhett made a comment about not having nightmares Wade told him that was because the Yankees were on the other side of the ocean. Rhett thought it might be just that simple.

They hired staff for the house and even let Wade have a say in who his nanny was going to be. After a month in the house Rhett and Scarlett when to Paris for a week for clothes shopping. One mistake Rhett knew he had made the first time was giving Scarlett and Bonnie too much. By giving them so much neither had appreciated their gifts.

He bought Scarlett clothes but only about three dozen dresses plus everything to go with them including a new green hat very much like the old also bought her four maternity dresses so that she would feel as beautiful as he thought she looked when she was with child. He explained to her that the method they were using to prevent pregnancies was 99% effective which still left a small chance of her getting with child. He wanted her to have clothes just in case. She smiled at him and patted his arm but didn't comment. Scarlett thought he such a sweet man.

After six months in the house Rhett took Scarlett out to the back yard where he had a fire pit. It was a cool clear day. It was April 12th 1866. Rhett had several dozen roses in his arms.
He said to Scarlett, "I know you hate to look back. You suffered a lot of lost during the war. You need to acknowledge everyone you lost. You need to mourn them or the pain will continue to affect you.
Scarlett looked at Rhett and said, "This is silly."
Rhett replied, "Then indulge your husband. I have some people I want to mourn also. Let's get started. Take a flower, say their name and a short prayer."
Scarlett said, "Let's get started."
Rhett replied, " Here is the first flower."
Scarlett said, "I need two for the first one. Brent and Stuart Tarleton. My best friends."
Scarlett went through quite a few names. She was crying but Rhett didn't think she realized it. Finally, Scarlett said, "Ellen O'Hara." With that Scarlett really started sobbing. She was finally mourning her mother. Rhett took her upstairs to their bedroom and let her cry in his arms for a while. She fell asleep. He hoped it had a cleansing effect on her emotions.

Rhett wanted Scarlett to get pregnant right away but he knew she needed to enjoy life for a while. They had a busy social life. They usually when out three to four times a week, usually dancing. Scarlett had met some ladies and had been included in their sewing circles. These afternoon groups bored her to tears but she had met some ladies that she liked so she kept on going.

He was happy and content and knew she was happy and content but he wanted her love!

On their first anniversary they went to dinner and exchanged gifts. They both gave each other a book. Rhett had given Scarlett "Fanny Hill." Scarlett scowled and said, "A book? Really Rhett! It's bad enough you make me read a book a month but now I'm getting them as gifts. I feel cheated. Go on open your present."

Scarlett had gotten him a signed copy of Charles Darwin's 'Origins of a Species.' Rhett was stunned. Scarlett usually was not so creative with her gifts. She usually gave him a cigar case, a cravat or a picture. Rhett's face was blank because he couldn't think of what to say.

Scarlett looked anxious and said, "You don't already have a copy, do you? I couldn't find one in your library."

"No I don't. It is a signed copy. This is beautiful. Thank you. What made you purchase this author?" Rhett wondered.

"Oh I remember you and Melly having an incredible long and boring conversation about Mr. Darwin and his theories." Scarlett said with a smile.

Rhett laughed and said, "You didn't pay the least bit of attention to the conversation, did you?"

Scarlett said, "Of course not."

When they were in bed that night Rhett asked Scarlett to read to him from her new book. Scarlett huffed and went and got the book. Reading was not what she wanted to do right now. She got the book and got back in the bed. She turned to page one.

When Rhett said, "No. Read me the title first."

Scarlett sighed and thought he is going to drag this out. Scarlett read, "Fanny Hill: Memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure. Oh! Rhett this book is improper for me to have much less read."

Rhett was laughing and said, "Can we at least look at the pictures?"

Scarlett turned beet red and said "No"

Rhett started kissing her and said, "If you read the book I will let it count as your book for the month."

Scarlett moaned and said, "Okay." Only thinking about the pleasures of the night to come. Rhett was thinking I can't wait for that book report.

Scarlett did read the book and kept thinking Oh my! or Really! Finally, she asked Rhett." Are all those things possible?"

Rhett said, "I don't know. Let's try them and see."

Scarlett giggled.

About a month after their anniversary Rhett got a telegram informing him of Langston Butler's death. He was angry and couldn't figure out why. After dinner while they were in the library Rhett downed three brandies in quick succession.

Scarlett asked him, "What is wrong?"

Instead of answering her he chose to mock her by saying, "What makes you think anything is wrong? Maybe I just wanted to get drunk. Don't go all wifey on me now."

Scarlett stood up and although his words hurt, she knew him now. She knew when he was hurting the most is when he pushed her away the hardest. She really didn't know how or why but she had grown up since that day in the jail. Even more when she had heard him say all those wonderful things about her. She felt like she had to live up to his belief in her. She didn't want to lose his love but sometimes she just had to go Irish on him.

"It doesn't take a genius to figure out something is wrong when you start tossing back drinks. At this rate you are going I will have to have another bottle brought in. I don't want to deal with you when you have a hangover tomorrow morning so that is why I am asking 'What is wrong?' And for getting all wifey that is what I am, your wife. Now what is wrong? We both know you are going to tell me sooner or later. I would prefer sooner and I would prefer to not be told in a rude, sarcastic, mocking way." Scarlett shouted at him.

Rhett stared at her with his face a solid masked. He didn't say anything.

"I am going to bed and I plan to make a lot of noise in the morning. Good night." Scarlett said as she walked out of the library.

Rhett poured himself another brandy and sipped it slowly. He had to admit she was right. He was going to tell her. It was just a matter of how rude he was going to be first. He loved his life this time around. Rhett had not told her that he loved her but he didn't hide his love either. Strangely she never asked him if he loved her. She just acted like they should both know they loved each other. Rhett put the stopper back in the decanter, finished his drink and headed upstairs to their bedroom. He couldn't get drunk now because Scarlett would make a lot of noise in the morning. A really lot of noise.

When he entered the bedroom, she was brushing out her hair but she was scowling at him. Rhett said, "My father passed away and I am mad. Why would I be mad? I hated the bastard."

Scarlett turned and said, "Because he died before telling you how much better than him you are. We can't win the game if the other person forfeits. It is a win because we lasted longer but it is not a triumph."

Rhett looked at her and smiled. He sat on the bed and thought that's exactly why I mad. I won but I didn't grind him into the dust like I wanted to do.

Scarlett asked, "When do we go to Charleston? Can we go to Tara also?"

Rhett replied, "Yes, my love. I will make arrangements tomorrow. We will take the first ship out.

Scarlett said, "Thank you and I will start packing tomorrow. Is there anything I can do to make you feel better?"

Rhett smiled and said, "Yes, my love, that thing you do with your mouth."

Scarlett proceeded to make Rhett very happy.

Within the week they were on a ship to Charleston. Rhett had telegrammed his mother with their expected date of arrival. He let the people of Tara know they would be coming for a visit also.