Disclaimer: I own nothing regarding GWTW

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

Chapter Twenty-Five

Rhett went back to the Wilkeses' for dinner and to leave Wade with Melly. Rhett went to Gristedes and set up an account. He then bought everything that was needed. On the way back to the yellow house, Rhett thought, 'This setting up a household is expensive and time consuming.'

Once Rhett was at the yellow house, he said to Rachael, "You can go to Gristedes and buy the groceries you need to prepare the meals."

"You have to tell me what meals you want prepared."

"My wife and I will not be living in the house full time until January second. For now, the meals are just for yourself and the rest of the staff. My wife will come over tomorrow and go over the menu with you."

"Yes sir. I will go right now."

"Very good."

"I am returning to my other home."

"Very good, Sir. Do you care which rooms we choose?"

"Not at all."

Rhett was tired of all of this. He just wanted to go home, drink a glass of whiskey, smoke a cigar, and read a good book. And that was what he did.

When Scarlett got home that night, she was tired. It had been a long day with women picking up their dresses for the social engagements they were going to attend that evening. So many alterations. So many impatient women. All she wanted to do was put her feet up and drink a cup of tea which was laced with brandy. She didn't drink very often, but today she felt like she needed a drink.

When Scarlett got to the house, Wade running out of the parlor shouting her name gave her a thrill. It made her feel so much better. When she walked into the parlor with Wade on her hip, her husband's smile gave her a thrill. There was nothing improper in Rhett's smile, but it made her feel all warm and tingly. It made her anticipate their activities later that night.

Scarlett sat down on the sofa next to Rhett and said to Melly, "Would you ask Paula to make me a pot of tea?"

"Of course."

With that Melly got up and left the room. Rhett said, "Rough day."

"Yes, I felt like every woman in New York was picking up her dress for tonight's events. Of course, every one of them had to be altered slightly."

"Do you want to go to the Forbes' soiree?"

"No, Melly and Ashley are going out tonight therefore there is no one to watch the boys."

"Actually, there is. Our nursemaid started working today."

"Rhett, I am so tired that if I go anywhere, I will not have energy for our nightly activity."

"Then by all means let's stay home."

"Thank you."

"Tomorrow, you are going to have to talk to our new cook about our menu for the next week."

Scarlett whined, "Rhett, can't you do that?"

"No, I have done almost everything to prepare our home. I was happy to do all of these one-time chores but, this is going to be a weekly chore; therefore, I draw the line at planning the weekly menu."

"You have done the lion's share of our move into the yellow house. So, I will accept this chore."

"Thank you, Dear."

Melly came into the parlor with a pot of tea on a tray. Once the tray was set in front of Scarlett Rhett picked up the cup and saucer. He said, "You need a shot of brandy."

"Thank you, Dear."

That evening after Ashley and Melly had left and the boys had been put to bed, Rhett and Scarlett went to bed also. They, of course, weren't going to sleep but they did get into the bed.

The next day was New Year's Day, and everything was closed due to the holiday therefore Scarlett didn't go to work. After Wade woke Scarlett up for the day and she had sent him down to the kitchen to get his breakfast, Rhett got up and locked the door. He and Scarlett then celebrated the holiday. It was a very relaxed day. The weather was mild enough for the Butlers to walk to their new home.

Scarlett tried to remember all the training she had received from her mother on how to run a household. She guessed she could ask Melly if she had a question or Maureen. It was the first time Scarlett had been the mistress of a home and she was a little scared. She had not really been the mistress of the home she had shared with Ashley and Melly. At first, because she hadn't cared about running the household and later because she had been busy running the dress shop. She was scared but she was also a little bit excited. Alright, a lot excited.

Scarlett talked with Rachael and the two women planned the menu choices for the next week. Rachael had made most of the suggestions. Scarlett had never planned a menu before. She would have to find out more about Rhett's likes and dislikes in regard to food. Although when Rachael had suggested cauliflower as one of the sides, Scarlett said, "Mr. Butler, does not like cauliflower so much he will not even allow it to be in the house."

"That seems a little extreme."

"I agree but nonetheless we will abide by his wishes."

"Of course, Ma'am."

The next day was a Wednesday and Scarlett went to work. This was going to be their new routine. When Scarlett came home that evening she went to the yellow house. Rhett had moved the last of their belongings into the house that morning, she asked Rhett, "How was your day?"

"Fine. I had to firmly tell Melly that no, Wade and I were not coming over for dinner. That I had a nursemaid and between her and I we could take care of such a well-behaved child as Wade."

Scarlett smiled, "You boxed her in. She either had to admit the truth of your statement or claim that she was the only person who could make Wade behave."

"Thus, admit that he wasn't a properly raised child."

"I hope she has another child soon."

"I hope you have another child soon."

"I don't, but I am certainly happy to try to make one."

"Thank you, Darling. What is for supper?"

"I don't know."

"I thought you and Rachael decided that yesterday."

"We did but I can't remember what we decided."

It turned out to be spaghetti with a meat sauce. It seemed that Rachael liked to try new recipes. When Scarlett had told the cook all the food she and Rhett liked, Rachael had gone out and bought a cookbook. She had just a rudimentary ability to read but she could read cookbooks. Later that evening when Scarlett had complimented the cook on supper Rachael had said, "It is a new recipe. I bought the book today."

"How much did it cost. I will be happy to reimburse you."

"It was a dollar."

"Let me get my purse so I can give you the money now before I forget about it. Give me just a minute."

Rachael already liked the Butlers. She already knew they were generous people.

After Scarlett returned with the coin, Rachael said, "I hope there aren't any big words in the cookbook. My reading skills are very basic."

"Either Mr. Butler or I will be happy to tell you any word that you don't already know."

"Thank you, Ma'am."

That was how the Butlers life went for the next two weeks. They were slowly forming themselves into the Butler family. They had the Wilkeses over for supper once a week and the Wilkeses had the Butlers over for supper once a week. Scarlett and Rhett refused to have supper with the Wilkeses any more often than that. They wanted to firmly establish themselves as an independent family.

Scarlett was always happy to take care of Beau when Melly and Ashley went out to a social event although with Melly breast feeding the baby it was difficult for them to attend very many events.

Every Thursday Rhett took Scarlett and Wade sightseeing. They had seen St. Paul's Cathedral, the Italian Opera House, and the Museum of Natural History so far. Scarlett had agreed to go to an opera with Rhett.

Rhett usually went out at night once or twice a week to conduct business, but he was usually home early. One night after Rhett had returned, Scarlett said, "What are you doing when you go out?"

"Conducting business."

"Why can't you do it while I am at work?"

"Because what I am doing is not completely legal."

"Rhett, don't do that. What if something happens to you? What will happen to Wade and I?"

Rhett smiled this was one of the reasons he loved this woman, she was almost as selfish and self-centered as he was. She was always thinking of herself first. He said, "I don't do things so illegal that anyone would ever look at me. The only way I might get in trouble is if someone was trying to find some dirt on one of my associates and I got caught in the net."

"Rhett, you have to stop! I couldn't go on if something were to happen to you. It was hard enough to go on when Charlie died, and I didn't even love him."

"Relax, Sweetheart, you would be a rich widow. You would never have to struggle again."

"I don't want to be a rich widow."

"Baby, you are so strong. You could go on. You would have to go on for the sake of our children. You would still have the dress shop and you could send a note to Paul Newman and I'm sure he would come running back along with half a dozen other men."

"I don't want Paul or anyone else. I want annoying you."

Rhett laughed at her statement and said, "Baby, listen to me. Once I know we are going to have a child I will go straight. Nonetheless, I'm not going to die. The worst that would happen to me is I would go to prison. And probably not even that. I would just have to bribe a judge or two. I have a bank account in London which contains most of my money. After Mr. Marley gets all my cotton sold, I will have him bring me the money."

"He would sail across the ocean just to bring you your money?"

"He will be financially compensated. It will be like a paid vacation for him. This is the first time he is going to make the trip. Always before I have been able to go get my own money but now, I refuse to leave my wife behind, and she isn't ready to leave her dress shop."

"I am willing not to go to work one day a week."

"Which I greatly appreciate. I appreciate it so much that I refuse to have any business meetings on Thursdays."

"Will Mr. Marley stay with us?"

"No. I will put him up at Carter's with the meals included for a week then send him back to London."

"What if he wants to stay longer?"

"Then he will have to pay for his own hotel room." Scarlett smiled. Rhett continued, "I have a sizeable amount of money in bearer bonds that are locked in a lock box that is hidden in my trunk. I also have a lot of jewelry for a man who rarely wears jewelry. Speaking of which, why have you stopped wearing your engagement ring."

"Just when I am going to the dress shop. All the customers were always talking about how large the stone was in an unpleasant way. Coco told me that when our customers think they are financially better off than we are, it is better for us. Which works well with how plain my wedding band is, although I'm sure it was a lot more expensive than it looks."

"Yes, it was. I agree with Mrs. Chanel. It seems that she has another skill besides her skill with a needle and thread."

"Yes, she does. I put it back on as soon as I get home. And I refuse to take it off when we go to social functions."

"I know."

"Once Coco said it, I knew she was right."

"I would not have thought of it, but she is right."

"Why do you not keep your money in the bank?"

"A couple of reasons. I don't completely trust banks. The wrong manager can make a bank go bust and then I would lose all my money.

"I don't trust banks because they can be robbed."

"True. You should invest your money somewhere and not just keep it hidden in our room."

"What do you suggest?"

"U.S. savings bonds. They are a safe investment as long as the government doesn't go broke."

"Where do I buy them?"

"At a bank. If you want to buy some, we will do it on Thursday. We will then buy a fireproof safe to store our bonds and jewelry in. How much money do you have?"

Scarlett knew this was the moment of truth. Did she trust Rhett? If she didn't trust him, then did she really love him. Weren't love and trust kind of hand and hand things? What kind of marriage would they have if she didn't trust him?