Disclaimer: I own nothing regarding GWTW

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

Chapter Sixty-Five

Robert had told Daphne all the methods there were to prevent making another baby except the pull-out method. There was no way he was going to do that. They had decided to use the sponge and the solution of iron sulphate method. It seemed to be the least invasive. Daphne was not alright with abstinence either. Those were special moments for her when she felt especially close to her husband that she was not going to give up.

Their life was so different than the way Daphne and Robert had always believed it would be. They had both thought they would live at Middleton Acres the rest of their lives. They had been excited when they had found out that Rhett didn't want to be the master of a plantation. Being the master and mistress of a fine plantation had been everything they had ever wanted.

Robert had been talking about becoming a lawyer, but his heart hadn't been in it. He had a connection with the ground, with growing things. That was the real reason they were going to have a garden. So, Robert and Daphne could feel that connection again.

On October fifteenth Scarlett and Rhett had Kenny's party. Rhett had helped Scarlett with the planning of Kenny's first birthday party. He wanted it to be an over-the-top celebration. Scarlett had cautioned him that most people were still struggling, not the least being their relatives. He allowed her to tone the event down, but he still did have pony rides and acrobats perform at the event.

Scarlett had the party on the lawn and Rhett had invited several of his business acquaintances and their families. Rhett had even invited Gordon and Ophelia Gardner to the party. Gordon had come and brought his daughter with him. The little girl was a pretty little girl of about two who looked a lot like Gordon, which Scarlett was sure was a good thing considering his hostile relationship with his wife. It was plain to Scarlett that Gordon loved his daughter very much.

Everyone had a good time even if the birthday boy had to go take a nap in the middle of the party. The acrobats were a big hit. As were the pony rides. Scarlett told Wade, "Now that the Galveston economy is getting better when it is your birthday, we will be able to have a big party also."

"That's great, Mama."

"I need to set you up for some play dates also."

"I would like that."

"You are going to be six on your next birthday so Dad will have to find a school for you to attend."

"Yes, ma'am."

"Now run along and get another cupcake before they are all gone."

"Thanks, Mama."

Scarlett got into a conversation with one of Rhett's business associate's wife, Myrtle. She said, "Did you hear what happened to Ophelia?"

These days Scarlett was as eager to hear about bad fortune befalling Ophelia as the rest of the other women were. She enthusiastically said, "No, what?"

"She enlarged her mansion so it would once again be the largest on the island."

"That witch."

"She added on another two hundred square feet just to be larger than your home."

"What did she add?"

"A doghouse." Scarlett rolled her eyes. The other woman said, "But listen to this. Walter Gresham and his wife Josephine have started building their home. It is going to be on the corner of Ave J and 14th Street."

"On that huge vacant lot?"

"It is going to be in the Victorian style. They have nine children. It is even going to have a basement. But here is the best part."

"Yes."

"It is going to be three stories and contain over nineteen thousand square feet."

"That is going to be twice as big as Ophelia's. I will have to invite Mrs. Gresham to tea."

"We all will, Sweetie."

"Yes, we all will."

Both ladies laughed. Scarlett couldn't wait to tell Rhett all about this.

That night in their bedroom as Scarlett and Rhett were getting undressed, she told him everything that Myrtle had told her.

Rhett said, "Gordon is a fool."

"Why?"

"He is continuing to try to win his wife's affections with pretty baubles while knowing she sees him as nothing but a checkbook."

"What should he do?"

"Take his daughter and moved to London. Cut his losses."

"Why do you think he doesn't?"

"Ego. Gordon is a man that has always had a way with women."

"Like you."

Rhett smiled at his wife and said, "Yes, like me. He thinks his charm (which has always served him well in the past) his personality (which also has always served him well in the past) his good looks (which also has served him well in the past) and his money will somehow soften Ophelia's heart. Unfortunately, for Gordon but Ophelia doesn't have a heart."

"I like Gordon. He is all those things. Charming, great personality, good looking, and rich. It is sad that his wife doesn't value him."

"Yes, it is. So, you think Gordon is good looking."

"Not as good looking as you."

"Charming."

"Not as charming as you."

"Has a great personality."

"Not as great as yours."

"Rich."

"Not as rich as you."

Rhett spun her around and said, "Who do you love the most?"

"You."

Rhett started kissing her. Things advanced. When Rhett never stopped to go get the sponge, Scarlett didn't remind him. She knew he wanted another child. She would just hope this was not a good night for conception.

The next day, Rosemary had gone down to the wharf to speak with Mr. Matthews. He had just docked from making a run to Pensacola, Florida. As she walked onto the ship, she saw the captain grimace but he knew better than to say anything. She joined him where he was watching the dock hands unload the cargo. She asked, "How was your trip?"

"Good."

"Any problems?"

"Not really. We ran into a storm outside of Mobile."

The couple talked for a few minutes more then Mr. Matthews said, "That older woman that was traveling with Miss Stein."

"Yes."

"She said her name was Elizabeth Butler. Is she related to the owner of the shipping line?"

"Yes, she is his mother."

"I remember her now. She was at the supper celebration we had at Mr. Butler's home."

"Yes, she was."

Rosemary told very few people of her relationship with Rhett. Everyone knew he was the owner. She didn't want people to think she had just gotten her position as manager of Butler Maritime Shipping because of nepotism even though that had been the reason she had been put in charge of Butler Maritime Shipping. Although she was pretty sure everyone knew of her relationship with Rhett, she still didn't talk about it.

Mr. Matthews said, "Will she be traveling with Miss Stein in the future?"

"Probably but do not worry Mr. Matthews, I will arrange for her to travel with Mr. Chisholm or Mr. Miller."

"No, Mrs. Bradberry that is not right. Every one of the captains should suffer the inconvenience of having women on their ship."

Rosemary stared at Mr. Matthews in stunned surprise. Not only was he volunteering to have women on his ship, but he was insisting on it. When she saw the slight blush on his face, she knew. The whole idea was so incredible to her that she couldn't do anything but just continue to stare at him. Finally, she said, "If you insist on transporting Mrs. Butler and Miss Stein also then I will arrange for them to travel with you in the future. At least a fair amount of the time."

"It is only right, Mrs. Bradberry."

"Yes, it is only right."

"Why has she started traveling with Miss Stein instead of you?"

"With all the extra shipping we got when Simmons went bankrupt, I have to stay in the office and manage the business. Miss Stein cannot travel by herself therefore Mrs. Butler volunteered to travel with her." Rosemary decided to throw Mr. Matthews a bone and added, "She has recently become a widow, so I guess she wanted something to help her forget her loss."

"I'm sorry to hear that she is a widow." Rosemary knew Mr. Matthews was not one bit sorry, her mother was a widow. He added, "How long has she been a widow?"

"Since July first."

"She is a recent widow. Why is she not wearing black?"

"She didn't want to spend the money. She said she could grieve her husband in yellow as easily as she could in black."

"What a practical woman."

"Yes, very practical. I will have your next shipment ready to go within forty-eight hours. I will have one of the runners bring you the bills of lading."

"Very good, Mrs. Bradberry. Just time enough for a good steak."

"Yes. Good day, Mr. Matthews."

"Good day, Ma'am."

For the rest of the week Rosemary tried to decide if she should tell her mother about Mr. Matthews crush on her. She finally decided that she would not because she was afraid it would make things awkward between her mother and the captain.

The day of Suellen's wedding had arrived. The O'Haras didn't go to mass that day but instead came over to the Butler mansion to help get everything set up. The wedding was going to start at one-thirty, which would give everyone a chance to eat dinner. It would be a small meal because they were going to have the reception quickly after the ceremony.

Scarlett, Suellen, and Careen were sitting in one of the guest bedrooms waiting to be told to come downstairs. Scarlett said to Suellen, "You look beautiful, Sue."

"Thank you, Scarlett. Thank you for everything."

"You're welcome. What did Mama tell you about relations?"

Suellen looked at Careen, but she said, "That it wasn't too bad except for the first time."

"Just don't think of it as a chore. Think of it as a time for you and Sam to physically tell each other of your love. Think of it as a time to play. You are going to have to do it so you might as well have as much fun as possible while doing it."

Suellen and Careen burst out laughing. Finally, Careen said, "That's my oldest sister – practical."

"True."

The girls then heard the knock on the door. It was their father telling them that it was time for them to enter the parlor. Scarlett went first, then Careen, then Gerald and Suellen.

The ceremony was over quickly, and Sam kissed his bride. The minister presented the couple as Mr. and Mrs. Sam White.

Scarlett had Mammy sit beside Rhett in order to take care of the boys. Not that Rhett couldn't have done it all by himself, but this way Mammy got to see Suellen get married.

The reception was very low-key. Enough low-keyed that all of the guests felt comfortable in the parlor of Scarlett's great mansion. The children were in attendance, and nobody paid them any mind. For the most part the Butler children were well-behaved.

The guests were an odd combination of people. There were people who had once been part of the gentry class and there were people who had never been anything but working class. Yet the guests found common ground.

Robert got into a conversation with a man who was an avid gardener. He was quite willing to share his knowledge with Robert. He, Bertram Rucker, had even invited himself over to Robert's home to look at the ground and give him an assessment. Robert was pleased.

Rosemary watched all the merriment and couldn't help but think of her own wedding. It, of course, had been much more elaborate than this wedding. Yet in the end all that had mattered was she was married to her true love. Rosemary wondered, 'Is it possible for me to find love again?' An image of Willis Chisholm popped into her head, and she thought, 'Yes. But let me get the business on solid ground first.'

Around four Scarlett watched her mother lead Suellen away. Mama was going to help Suellen change her dress. Scarlett had a misty moment when she thought, 'Thank God I got that feeling. Thank God Suellen supported me. For our lives would not be as good as they are now if Mama and Pa had died.'