Disclaimer: I own nothing regarding GWTW

Author's Notes: Thank you for all the reviews and feedback.

Chapter Fifty-Nine

Wednesday night everyone in the family showed up for supper. It wasn't like any of their relatives were going to pass up free food. The Wilkeses and the O'Haras were getting by comfortably although there was no extra money in the budget. At least nobody was worrying about where their next meal was coming from. Another reason everyone always showed up at the Butler Mansion whenever they were invited to dinner or supper was that the food was always very good. Careen's food was certainly edible, and the Wilkeses' cook decent enough, but their meals were never as good as the meals Mrs. Cloud prepared.

After everyone showed up, Wade was pleased that everyone had brought him a present. He was glad they hadn't listened to Mama although he had gotten a lot of nice presents from Mama and Dada this morning. He had gotten to open them after Aunt Rosemary had gone to work. He got another pony which Dada had promised him before they left that other city, he got some fabric, he got some new shoes, new socks, and a lot of toys.

After everything was opened, Mama had said, "Remember, Wade, you must be generous and let Meg and Kenny play with your toys also." Wade didn't like the idea of having to share. Mama had smiled and continued by saying, "If you can't share them maybe Mama will have to give your toys away."

"Yes, ma'am except the pony."

"Yes, Dear, the pony is all yours unless you want to let someone ride your pony."

"Does he have a name?"

Rhett said, "It is a girl. And yes, she has a name. It is Peaches."

"Can I ride her now?"

"She already has her saddle on, doesn't she?"

"Yes.

Wade had gotten to ride his pony that very morning while Scarlett took Kenny and Meg back to the nursery. Rhett had stayed outside to make sure nothing happened to the little boy. Wade got to ride the horse, until it was time to go into the house and get cleaned up for dinner.

The supper was one of Wade's favorites fried chicken, mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, salad, and rolls. For dessert Scarlett had served a spiced cake with vanilla icing. As everyone sang, Wade blew out his candles. Ellen came to stand next to her daughter. Ellen said, "Do you remember the day he was born?"

"Like it was yesterday."

"I'm glad your sons are healthy boys."

"So am I. Mama, how did you stand the pain of losing your son?"

"Sons. I had your father. His quiet strength got me through it."

"That is comforting to know for I know I will have Rhett's strength."

"No, my dear, if he ever loses a child, he will need all your strength to get through it."

"I don't want to talk about this. How are the girls' suitors working out?"

"They both seemed to be decent men, and both have good jobs. Mr. White owns a house and Clyde has all his body parts."

Scarlett burst out laughing. When she sobered, she said, "Did you ever think one of the things you would list as an attribute was that the young man had all his body parts?"

"Indeed, not. Or that they have a good job."

"Mama, this is our new world. The world we brought on ourselves by going to war."

"I don't know enough about politics to discuss the merits of the war, but I do wish it hadn't happened."

"Me too. I wish Charlie hadn't had to die so young. Don't get me wrong I love Rhett, but Charlie was a good and decent person. He deserved to live a very long life."

"Yes, he did, Sweetheart, but we often don't get what we deserve. Whether it be a deserved blessing or an undeserved blessing."

With those words Ellen looked at Gerald and smiled. He was definitely an undeserved blessing. Scarlett didn't question her mother's statement. She just knew it would be the wrong thing to do. This was not a special feeling just a feeling of having observed the circumstances. She knew Pa wasn't the love of Mama's life, but he was a very important part of her life.

Wade opened his presents, and they were all very small items but, he thanked everyone for the gifts and acted appreciative. He knew Mama would want him to behave like that.

Whenever one of the other children had a birthday, Scarlett always gave the child fabric and a small toy. Not because she couldn't give the child more but because she didn't want to embarrass anyone of her relatives with a gift that was too fancy.

Winter rolled into Spring. Rosemary and Gertrude had made two more business trips trying to drum-up business in the North. While in Galveston, Gertrude and Rosemary made inroads into stealing other shippers' customers away from them but especially Simmons.

At one of these meetings, the customer was wavering but after Gertrude offered him a one-time five percent discount. The customer agreed to use Butler Maritime Shipping.

Once the women were outside on the street, Rosemary said to Gertrude, "Don't ever do anything like that again without getting permission first. I will not allow you to bankrupt Butler Maritime Shipping in your quest to bankrupt Simmons' Shipping."

Gertrude was frightened by the expression on Rosemary's face. She looked away and finally said, "Yes ma'am."

"Now, Miss Stein, you are an excellent salesman. Your instincts were probably correct in that was what you needed to do in order to get that customer to use our services, but you will talk it over with me first next time."

"Yes ma'am."

"Come along. We don't have time to wallow in self-pity and guilt. We have another sales call to make."

"Yes ma'am."

Later that day as the women were leaving the office, Gertrude said, "Mrs. Bradberry, about this afternoon…."

"No, Miss Stein, I have said all that I am going to say on the subject. This business is too important to all of us to let anything no matter how important ruin us. I'm not saying that if we get a chance to kick Mr. Simmons in the shins, we aren't going to do it. It is simply this. Butler Maritime Shipping always has to be the most important entity."

Gertrude smiled and said, "You are right Mrs. Bradberry. Butler Maritime Shipping is the most important entity. But I do have one question."

"Yes."

"Why didn't you overrule me in Mr. Kane's office?"

"Because, my dear Miss Stein, we must always present a united front to the outside world."

"Yes ma'am, we must."

Rosemary had learned that from Luther. No matter what they never fought in front of his parents. They had both known that if his mother could spread discord between them, she would. She had tried to.

Alice didn't know what had happened, but she sensed whatever it was had been resolved. She smiled and said, "Indeed, I could never go back to earning a living sewing pieces of fabric together."

Alice started walking towards the boarding house while pulling her wagon with her children behind her. No, they could not let Butler Maritime Shipping fail. She was making more money and Mrs. Bradberry even let her bring her children to work with her.

Rosemary followed behind Alice and called over her shoulder to Gertrude, "Come along. It is time to get home. I am hungry. I wonder what Scarlett is going to serve the family tonight."

All spring long everyone worked their businesses. Scarlett put the finishing touches on her home. At least once a week, she took the boys and went to visit with Melanie and her parents. It was like when she went to visit Melly and Cathy that winter of sixty-three, nobody really had time to sit down and visit with her.

Rhett had made some business acquaintances. Rhett and Scarlett had attended some social events including suppers a few times. While the women were very polite, Scarlett didn't feel any bond with them. They never had anything to talk about but the weather, their homes, their servants, or their children. Occasionally the women would tell Scarlett the latest gossip but since she didn't know any of the people, they were talking about it was boring to her. There was one woman who the women were always gossiping about Ophelia Gardner.

One evening after the women had left the men to their cigars and whiskey and the ladies were in the parlor someone said something about Ophelia Gardner.

Scarlett said, "Who is Ophelia Gardner?"

"Ophelia Hudson Gardner is just a fast piece."

"Why?"

"She grew up in Galveston. She was quite beautiful, and she had to have all the men at any social gathering under her spell. She would not hesitate to try to steal a man away from another woman. Her father was Marcus Hudson, the cotton broker. They were extremely wealthy."

"The key word being were. They lost everything in the war."

"It doesn't matter. Ophelia ended up in a fine position once again."

Scarlett said, "What did she do?"

"She married the president of First Galveston Bank for his money. The man, Gordon Gardner, is old enough to be her father. He spoils her and buys her anything she wants. Mr. Gardner it seems is still wealthy."

"It is rumored he did some underhanded deals with the Yankees."

"I still don't understand what is so wrong with Mrs. Gardner. It is not her fault that other men preferred her to other women. She was smart enough to know that she had to find someone to support her, or she and her family would starve so she married a man she didn't love. Women do it all the time. From what you say he is old and unattractive."

"He is old, but not unattractive. He is quite attractive for an older man."

"Does she have family?"

"Yes, a mother and two sisters."

"What happened to her father?"

"He died from some disease."

"It is rumored it was a gun to his head."

All the ladies laughed which Scarlett thought was kind of cold. She said, "Is she the oldest?"

"Yes."

"I think she just did what she had to do to support herself and her family."

"My dear, that is not the worst thing she has done. She invited some of those Yankee soldiers and their wives into her home."

"That wasn't very smart of her but maybe there was a good reason."

"Yes, she said her husband made her invite them to supper because it was time to make peace with the North. The war was over."

"That's true. And the Yankees have the money." When all the women stared at Scarlett she said, "Well, they do."

"It is clear he doesn't need money he let her build a huge monstrosity over there on Avenue M."

"Not to mention that vulgar diamond he gave her as an engagement ring."

"She always wears far too much jewelry."

"Every time I turn around, she has a new dress on."

Scarlett said, "All she is doing is enjoying what Mr. Gardner can provide for her."

"No, she just built her house that big to rub it in our faces that she is rich, and that we are poor."

"Everything she does is an attempt on her part to make us jealous but all she is doing is proving she is nothing but white trash.

"I have heard that the interior has lots of mirrors and red wallpaper everywhere."

"Using lots of mirrors is the latest in-home interior design."

"Maybe for those Yankees but not for good Southern women with taste and decorum. As Myrtle said she is no better than white trash."

The men entered the parlor at that time and joined the ladies. After a few minutes, Scarlett said to Rhett, "Can we go home? I have a headache."

"Of course, I have concluded my business deals."

Once Rhett and Scarlett were in the cab, she said, "Those women were so mean to a lady named Ophelia Gardner."

"How so?"

"I have heard them talk about her before and no matter what she does it is wrong."

"How so?"

"It seems that on Wednesdays she has her cook make a pot of soup. Anyone who wants some can just show up and she will give them some. Those ladies said that the only reason she does it was to show off her wealth or she is hoping one of them will show up for a free handout and she can shame them."

"They hate her because they are jealous of her. She is just one of those women who women are always going to talk about. Unlike you who had always tried to be above reproach she seems to have gone out of her way to try to make the women jealous of her."

"So, you do think she is handing out free soup to shame the other people."

"And to let them know how much money she does have."

Scarlett giggled. She said, "They said she decorated her home with red wallpaper and lots and lots of mirrors."

"Like you wanted to."

"I would so like to see the inside of her home."

"Who is her husband?"

"Gordon Gardner. He is the President of First Galveston Bank."

"I will go into the bank tomorrow and make his acquaintance. Maybe he will sell me some of his bank. I will manage to get us an invitation to supper at their home.

As they were getting out of the cab, Scarlett said, "Why would he sell you part of his bank?"

"Everyone needs money right now. I hired you a driver so starting tomorrow when you have the boys with you, he can drive you around in your buggy."

"Thank you, Rhett."

"Let's go upstairs."

"Alright, my dear."

When Scarlett turned to kiss Rhett as they were walking up the stairs, he knew it was going to be a good night.