Disclaimer: I own nothing regarding GWTW

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

Chapter Sixty

Within the week, Rhett had accomplished two things, he had bought twenty-five percent of First Galveston Bank and he had gotten an invitation to the Gardner's home for supper. Rhett had bought into the bank so he would have a way to account for his money. As long as he continued to play the part of a loving husband (which he was) and a loving father (which he was) nobody would look too closely at his actions. He was going to quit doing dirty deals soon, but the money was so good. Once his daughter was born, he would quit all that dirty dealing. He had to live to protect her from men just like him. Scarlett was just too naïve and trusting. Afterall, she had trusted him. Rhett smiled in that one instance her faith had been accurate. He smiled again. She trusted him not to do anything naughty. She had complete faith in him that he would be faithful to her. Once again, her faith had been correct. Or was it her faith that made him be a better man. He smiled. This was like that chicken or the egg question. Which came first? It didn't matter. The results were that he would never be unfaithful to her and destroy that trust. That trust that he could never put back together again if it was ever broken.

It was a week later when the couple were going to have supper with the Gardners. They had sat at the dining room table with Rosemary, Wade, and Meg. They had eaten a little bit but not that much. They had done it to give Wade the security he needed. Most of the time he didn't show it, but the war years had marked him. He upon occasion got anxious about his mother and to a certain extent his Dada. He believed his world was perfect but both Scarlett and Rhett knew that was because he had faith in them to keep his world stable and together. As the children and Rosemary were eating their dessert, Scarlett and Rhett got up from the table. Scarlett said, "Wade, we are going out to supper, but we will be home before tomorrow morning."

"Aunt Rosemary will take you to Mammy for her to put you to bed."

"Alright."

The boy finished eating his dessert and the couple quickly left the room before the crying started. He probably wouldn't start crying because he had Mammy, Meg, Aunt Rosemary, and even Kenny.

When Rhett and Scarlett showed up at the Gardners, they both noted that the house was in a Swiss Chalet design. Rhett said, "That is pretty ugly."

"I like it."

Rhett and Scarlett entered the dining room and found they were not the only guests invited to supper. They had known it was a supper party and were not surprised that there were over twenty other couples in the parlor. Most of the men wore suits but there were a few men with Yankee uniforms on. That made Scarlett uncomfortable.

Mr. Gardner walked over to Rhett. The men shook hands. Gordon said, "So, nice of you to attend. I would introduce you to my wife if I knew where she was."

Rhett, Scarlett, Gordon heard a woman laughing and Gordon said, "There she is over there. Come along."

The trio walked across the room and Gordon said, "Ophelia, can you tear yourself away from your paramour long enough to give your husband some attention."

Ophelia frowned at her husband and said, "He is not my paramour. He is my friend."

"It doesn't matter. Give me your attention."

"What?"

"Ophelia, I would like for you to meet Rhett and Scarlett Butler."

Rhett recognized the woman as the woman from his attorney's office. He knew she would not recognize him because to her men were just objects she could use to further her goals.

The women sized each other up in mere seconds. Scarlett knew that the woman in front of her would try to steal her husband just to strap his heart on her belt. Ophelia decided that the woman in front of her could give her a run for her money, but Ophelia was sure she would still win.

Scarlett took Rhett's arm and he put his hand over her hand. She smiled up at him and he smiled down at her. Ophelia said, "Mr. and Mrs. Butler, how nice to meet you."

Scarlett said, "Nice to meet you too. Did you see this décor featured in Harper's Bazaar?"

"Yes, don't you just love it?"

"I wanted to decorate our home like this, but Rhett wouldn't let me."

"Now that I see it in person, I am so glad I didn't. It is hideous."

Ophelia said, "Of course, you would say that. You are like all Southern men antiquated and outdated."

There was something about this woman that brought out the worst in Rhett. He had sized her up and knew that she would use as many people as she needed to use to get to her goal. It surprised him at the anger he felt for the woman because before Scarlett that was exactly what he would have done. Maybe that was why he instantly hated her. She was a mirror of who he could have been except for Scarlett's redeeming love. Rhett said, "And you, Mrs. Gardner, have no taste but in your mouth if you think this is beautiful."

Gordon burst out laughing. He finally said, "Just what I told her."

Scarlett said, "Mrs. Gardner, would you show us the rest of your home?"

"No, I don't have time to walk through the entire house. It is the biggest in Galveston."

"It used to be but with the expansion of our mansion, now our home is the largest."

"I guess I will just have to enlarge my home."

"No, Ophelia, you will not. I will not have you spending a lot of money to restore your misguided attempts at glory."

Ophelia scowled at her husband, she said, "Gordon you can be such a varmint." She turned back to Scarlett and said, "If you want to see the rest of the house, you can wander around by yourselves."

"Rhett?"

"Yes, Dear, let's go look at the rest of the house."

When Rhett and Scarlett were far enough away that they knew they couldn't be overheard, Scarlett said, "Now I know why everyone is always talking badly about her. She is a rude shrew."

"The décor doesn't get any better the longer I look at it."

"I don't like all the mirrors. The red wallpaper makes the house too dark."

"Aren't you glad I didn't let you decorate our home like this."

"Of course, Dear."

In truth, Scarlett still liked the décor but she wasn't going to get it so she could speak some …. What is the term Rhett recently taught her? Yes. Sour grapes about it.

After touring the entire downstairs, Rhett and Scarlett returned to the dining room to find that Ophelia chose to start serving the meal despite the fact that not all her guest were present. They also saw that the two empty seats were far away from each other which was not unusual but still. They had accomplished what they wanted to accomplish. They got to see the inside of Gardner mansion.

Rhett turned to Scarlett and said, "Shearm's?"

"No, that Italian restaurant, Maggiano's."

"Perfect."

The couple turned and walked out of the dining room. They heard hurried footsteps behind them, and Gordon said, "Mr. Butler, don't leave. I will get Ophelia to apologize. She is sometimes such a stupid bitch."

Scarlett said, "No, need. We really don't want to eat supper with a bunch of Yankees."

"Nor do I but they are the ones that have the money."

"That is true."

Rhett said, "I will come by the bank later in the week and you can tell me your plans for its future. No hard feelings directed towards you. Good night."

Gordon smiled at the couple and Scarlett saw his charm and charisma. Much like her husband's. She also marveled that he truly was still a handsome man. She smiled at him. He said, "Good night. She said she had to start serving the meal or the entrée would be ruined."

Scarlett replied, "Probably would have been but that is not the type of meal one serves at a supper party with so many people. With that many people things are never going to go according to plan. Good night."

Gordon watched the Butlers walk to the front door where the butler opened the door for them. Gordon returned to the dining room. Biggest mistake he ever made was marrying Ophelia, but he had wanted her too damn much to resist. Also, he thought his charm would soften her disposition, but it hadn't. If anything, she had just gotten bitchier.

The couple chatted happily on their way to the restaurant in their buggy. They ate at Maggiano's. They enjoyed themselves immensely, even if they both ended up with garlic breath. At the end of the evening when they were walking up the stairs, Scarlett said, "Why do you think he was so mean to her?"

"He loves her, and she doesn't even know he is anything but a checkbook."

"That is sad."

"She is just a selfish, self-centered bitch."

"Yes. I don't want to think about them anymore."

"Then we won't. We will just talk about what we are going to do once we get in the bed."

"You know what we are going to do. Nothing. I'm not with child again."

"Oh yeah. I forgot."

"I wish I could forget."

Rhett smiled and followed her into their bedroom.

Scarlett never spoke to Ophelia Gardner again. She would occasionally see her at supper parties they attended with Rhett's business associates, but Scarlett always managed to avoid her which wasn't hard because Ophelia had no desire to talk with another woman. Scarlett no longer felt sorry for Ophelia when other women said nasty things about her.

During the first week of June Rosemary balanced out the month of May. When she was finished, she jumped up from her desk. They had made a ten-cent profit. She sat right back down. She had to go over the figures one more time to be sure.

Thirty minutes later, the results were the same. Rosemary and her team had made a profit. It was small but it was a profit. She didn't tell the girls because until Rhett verified her results then she wasn't one hundred percent convinced it was true.

Over supper, Rosemary casually said, "Rhett, I have balanced out the month of May, if you want to look at the results tonight."

"Sure, I'm not going out tonight."

"I will meet you in your office after supper."

"Fine. Scarlett, you will have to find a way to amuse yourself for thirty minutes. I will be unavailable."

"I don't know if I can, but I will find a way to survive without you for thirty minutes. I will, of course, be counting the seconds until you return."

Rhett and Scarlett smiled at each other. Rosemary smiled too. It was at times like these that Rosemary missed Luther the most. She fleetingly wondered if there could be another man as wonderful as Luther out there that she could meet.

Thirty minutes later, it was confirmed. Butler Maritime Shipping had made a profit. Rhett said, "Just be aware that next month, you might take a step backwards and not make a profit. You and your team should be very excited and proud. This is something that not a lot of men could accomplish. Be proud of yourself."

"Thank you, Rhett."

"I will get Scarlett to serve a celebratory meal tomorrow night for all the family."

"Thanks. Can I invite Miss Stein and Mrs. Toklas?"

"Yes, invite your captains also if they are in port."

"As a matter of fact, they both are. Thanks, Rhett."

Rhett stood up and watched Rosemary hurry out of his office. She was so happy and proud of herself. Not that she didn't have reason to be proud. What she had accomplished was amazing.