Paul's address:

Chapter 28

The sound of cups and saucers meeting each other was the only indication that breakfast had been served. Scarlett sat across from Rhett alone in the dining area of the hotel suite. Ella was sleeping late, and Wade had taken a horse over to meet up with Beau for breakfast at Uncle Henry's house.

The muffled sounds of Rosalie arguing with Vella behind the closed door, and the intermittent gurgles and protest of John. Rhett looked over at Scarlett as she concentrated on eating the last of her eggs, and sighed, "What is the plan?"

Her eyes popped open, her mouth full and her face flushed, "Hmm?"

"Your plan to handle Hugh and Eddie Elsing?"

Scarlett swallowed her food and pursed her lips, "I guess, I'll have to fire them both, and find a new manager."

"Wait, now that is-"

"Hugh is useless, and Eddies is even more useless. I need to have trust that while I'm gone the store is being well taken care of."

"You mean that you are making money, that you don't need."

"I do-"

Rhett stood and walked over to the window, "You don't need it, it's just your greed."

"Greed?" Scarlett asked, pushing her chair back and standing.

Rhett kept his eyes on the fire as it crackled in the hearth, and he smelled the lemons as Scarlett approached him, and grabbed his arm turning him around, his eyes were hard, as he stared at her, "Don't act so innocent, Scarlett."

"I can't believe you call me greedy! You know-"

His hand was under her chin, and his bore into her flaming glare, "Yes, you are greedy, and you know it!"

Scarlett jerked her face away, as if she was slapped, the truth hurt. She pulled on her gloves, and coldly stated, "Fine, stay here, and I'll go downtown and take care of everything."

Rhett was silent, as she continued to dress, watching him under her lashes, "I'll go and fire them both, and then-"

Rhett approached her, and dug his hands in his pockets, and asked, "Scarlett, if it's not greed, then tell me what is it?"

"Stop interrupting me, and let me talk."

Rhett stood silent and nodded.

"AFter I fire those two bastards, I'm going to advertise for a new manager, and I can run it until we find somebody."

"You're going to stay in Atlanta?"

"Just a few more days, maybe a week-"

Rhett's chuckling stopped her, "Scarlett, answer my question, why do you want to keep that godforsaken store open, it's rightfully Ella's, you could sell it and get her a decent dowry. Is it old Frank?"

Scarlett's face turned red, and then dissipated slowly, "No, you know that. It's successful, and Atlanta needs a store, and-"

"Why, my greedy little minx? Are you afraid, I'll die and leave you destitute?"

"Don't be an idiot, you have a will."

Rhett roared with laughter, "How do you know that?"

Scarlett bit her lip.

"Scarlett, did you snoop around my papers?"

"Leave me alone."

"Tell me, I want to know the chink in my armor?"

Scarlett started for the door, when a hand gripped her shoulder, "Rhett, you're hurting my arm."

"Then, tell me everything."

"Uncle Henry had approached me when we sold the house. He asked me about the store, and I told him it was out of the question. He assured me that I was in good standing financially and that-"

"Old Henry, so he's the weak link, and I supposed he gave you the exact same advice I am giving you, now."

"Well, yes. He advised me to enjoy the money, and that I had worked hard for it and that I didn't ever need to worry about money as long as you were living or dead."

Rhett roared laughing, "Henry Hamilton is the most cunning old coot. So, Scarlett, why don't you just sell it?"

"No, and yes part of it is the money."

"I don't fuss about money, whether you waste mine or yours."

"You are a dear, Rhett, but the money is stability, and mine. I worked for it. The store, if the store goes under, it will have all those old peahens clucking about me, and think that they ran me out. No, I can't sell the store."

"So, you are showing the Old Guard, that hell be damned you are still taking their money for your pleasure. I guess when the last one dies, you may consider selling, then?"

"Never," Scarlett smiled ruefully.

Rhett grabbed his cape, and went to the door, "Let's go, then."

Scarlett headed out towards the stair, and noticed Ashley standing in the lobby, disheveled and full of scruffy gray beards.

"Scarlett, I need to talk to you."

Rhett was at her arm, "Whatever you need to say, say it."

"I just wanted to apologize, and ask you to please reconsider about coming to Twelve Oaks, next week."

Scarlett spoke gently, "Ashley, we have made our decision, as you have made yours, and we are not going. Besides, I know Catherine is still up to stealing people's money."

Ashley's eyes filled with tears, "How can you be so cruel? I thought you loved Beau and me, like family."

Rhett took a quick intake of air, "Scarlett has said all she's going to say today, you best go home."

Ashley ran his hand through his arm, and chuckled, "If I could. India refuses to have us in her house, and Aunt Pitty is in a state over it. It was the best we could do was to take the children and stay with Henry last night."

Scarlett put her hand on Ashley arm, "Ashley, can't you see how this is tearing your family apart. I love you and Beau, and I promised Melly to do anything for you. If I'm going to keep my promise I need to be honest and tell you to abandon this seanance. You haven't seem India or Pitty in years, please, forget about contacting the dead, and enjoy the living. Melly wouldn't want to see you all fighting."

Ashley wiped the tears from his eyes, and sighed, the scent of whisky stung her nose, and Scarlett looked at Rhett. Rhett shook his head, "Tell me, does Henry know about the dealing of Catherine?"

Ashley looked down and twisted his hands, "He only knows that India and I had an argument, and she ordered us out the house."

Beau and Wade walked into the lobby and stopped seeing the three gathered at the foot of the stairs. Beau was the first to walk to his father, "We went to Uncle Henry's to look for you."

Ashley shook his head, "I had to go for a walk."

"Father, you can't go through with this. I just bought tickets to go back to New York the day after Christmas. I told Uncle Henry all about this, and he is furious."

"Beau, why?" Ashley's eyes were rimmed in red, as he clutched Beau by his cravat.

Rhett grabbed his shoulders as he pulled AShley off his son, "Stop it, the boy is taking care of you."

Ashley crumbled to the floor and sobbed. Wade and Rhett hoisted him by the arms, and brought him up to the room. Beau stood frozen as Scarlett placed her arm around his shoulder, he barely heard her say, "Beau, your father isn't himself."

Beau followed the trio with Scarlett trailing him upstairs to the suite. Ashley sat in the winged chair in the parlor and wept as he mumbled words like, "hope, Melly, please."

Beau stood next to Scarlett and watched his father breakdown in silence. Rhett brought a cup of coffee and Wade loosened Ashley's coat, the scene was very quiet, yet the actions spoke volumes, suddenly there was a howl, and everyone turned to Beau, who stood with his hands balled in fists at his sides, and his face contorted in pain, anger and fury as he yelled.

Ashley stood putting his cup down and went to his son, and was knocked to the floor with a punch from Beau.

"Don't, don't touch me. You are weak, you are pathetic, you have done nothing for me since Mother died. It's always been about you, you selfish coward."

Scarlett started, "Beau, your father-"

Rhett pulled her away to the nursery, "Don't he needs to say this, and Ashley needs to hear it. Go in with the children, Wade and I will handle this."

Scarlett looked over her shoulder, and her stomach lurched, and then her mind went back to Tara, on the stairs, with a dead Yankee in the foyer, and pale Melanie in a nightgown holding a sword in her hand to kill for Scarlett. Beau had Melanie's softness, but he also had her tenacity and bravery to save those he loved, even from themselves. Scarlett looked over Rhett's shoulder as Ashley held Beau in his arms on the floor of the parlor, stroking his fine brown hair, Melanie's hair, and cried, "I'm so sorry, son. I'm so sorry."