Disclaimer: I own nothing regarding GWTW

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

Chapter Thirty-Nine

Rhett was pondering a way out of taking Scarlett to see the destruction of her home. Finally, he said, "Remember we may not be able to get onto the plantation. It may not even be Tara anymore. It might belong to someone else now."

"How?"

"Simply by paying the back taxes that weren't paid when Suellen made her epic trip to Savannah."

"I was so proud of Suellen for getting everyone to Savannah. I would never tell her that I was even more proud of her when she married Benjamin. She was accepting her lot in life and making the most of it."

"She will have a happy marriage because Benjamin loves her so much."

"I think she loves him too. I think they are going to make that paint business successful because Sue is no longer thinking of herself as a spoiled, pampered daughter of a wealthy planter, but as someone who has to work hard."

"I agree completely."

"I think she was just settling for Mr. Kennedy because he was the only man who would call on her."

"Was that because you wouldn't let her have anyone who was worth having?"

Scarlett giggled and said, "Yes."

"I can understand that. Why would any man want another woman when he could have the fabulous Scarlett O'Hara?"

"All my beaus agreed with you."

"Yet somehow you settled for me."

"Settled?! No! You are amazing and wonderful. I was not settling. I am the lucky one that you loved me too. That you humbled yourself and apologized just to get back in my good graces."

"I certainly did have to swallow a lot of pride and arrogance to get down on my knees to beg you to forgive me."

Scarlett giggled and said, "I know which is why I accepted your apology. I knew that the only reason you would do that was to get me to forgive you."

"I love you so much that I was willing to forgo relations just to be married to you."

"I'm so glad you didn't have to do that."

"Me too."

When the family got back to the hotel there was a note from PittyPat stating that she and her brother would be happy to receive the Butlers in their home at seven that night. Scarlett sent a note stating: Seven is past Wade's bedtime. Why don't you and your brother join us for a supper at the National Hotel at six instead?

An hour later Scarlett received a note from PittyPat stating: We will be happy to join you in a meal.

Neither PittyPat nor Henry wanted to share a meal with the infamous Rhett Butler, but they also knew this opportunity was probably going to be their only opportunity to get to actually see Wade. If they were lucky Melanie would send them pictures of Beau, Wade, Ashley, and herself.

Besides, it had been a long time since either sibling had a decent meal. With their acceptance of the supper invitation, they both were going to get to eat their fill that night.

After their supper plans were arranged, Scarlett said to Rhett, "We shall go down to Tara tomorrow then return home the day after tomorrow."

"Very good. Let me go to the train station and make all the arrangements."

"Thank you, Dear."

An hour later Rhett returned. He said, "It is all arranged. We will leave tomorrow afternoon at five."

"Alright. I guess you don't think we are going to want to spend much time in Clayton County."

"I think once you see all the destruction the Yankees caused, you aren't going to want to linger."

"Probably not."

The supper with the Hamiltons went as well as to be expected. Both Henry and PittyPat were polite and respectful toward Rhett and Scarlett. The older couple oohed and aahed over Wade. As much adoration as the couple bestowed on the boy, one would think he was the Crowned Prince of England. Scarlett and Rhett were glad to see it. Both of Wade's parents were acutely aware of how much Gerald's treatment of the little boy hurt the little boy's feelings.

Scarlett had told Pork that they were having guests for supper, and it would be best if Gerald stayed in his room. It was not because Scarlett was embarrassed by her father exactly but more to the effect that supper was more than likely going to be an awkward affair. Gerald's presence would just make it that much more uncomfortable.

The Hamiltons did not know Rhett except by reputation and his reputation was not all good. He had brought in much needed goods into the Confederacy, but he also was not received into any proper home in the South. There was also speculation that he had inflated his prices to gorge the most money out of the people who were suffering because of shortages.

The Hamiltons did not know Scarlett either. They had only met her once. All they really knew about her was that Charlie had loved her so much he defied his elders' wishes. Now that they could correspond regularly with Melanie, they had also found out that not only did she run a dress shop to support herself and Wade but even though she had remarried only three years after Charlie's death she was still running that dress shop.

Scarlett hardly knew her in-laws at all. PittyPat was a nervous, flighty woman and Henry was a gruff man who had kept trying to tell Charlie what to do with his life.

Rhett didn't know either of the elderly people at all.

Scarlett had brought Wade's booster seat, although she had decided that on his fourth birthday, she would let him sit in a chair without it. She placed the booster seat in a chair, then said, "Aunt PittyPat, Uncle Henry, you may sit on either side of Wade. Rhett and I will sit across from him."

After everyone was seated, Scarlett said, "Rhett and I drove by what once was the Hamilton House. It is such a shame the entire house was destroyed. Although, it does prove once again how smart Charlie and Melly were to sell it."

PittyPat said, "I didn't think so at the time, but it appears that they did make the right decision."

"Did your house on Acorn make it through the war in one piece?"

"Yes, no damage whatsoever."

"Now that the war is over it appears that Charlie and Ashley had been right to leave the Confederacy."

Henry said, "It would appear so. Although Charlie might still be alive if he had stayed in the South instead of moving North."

"It would have been highly unlikely that Charlie or Ashley would have survived four years of war."

"A lot of young men did."

"And a lot of young men didn't."

An awkward silence fell upon the table, which was not relieved until the waiter came to take their orders. Scarlett ordered chicken fried steak, Rhett ordered roast beef, PittyPat ordered rabbit stew, Henry ordered catfish, and Scarlett got Wade macaroni and cheese. It was something Wade loved, and she knew he would finish his dinner.

After the waiter left, Rhett said, "Did you hear about the book Ashley wrote? It was published in Monthly Anthology."

"Yes, Melly wrote and told us about that."

"It was a good book. He is working on another one now."

"Are Ashley and Melly returning to Atlanta anytime soon?"

"Probably not. They probably will never return to live in the South again. Besides the fact that Ashley will never be received in the South again, he is one of the star reporters for the New York Times. He has made a couple of contacts in the publishing business which is what he needs to get his next book published."

Henry said, "I told Ashley and Charlie if they turned their backs on the Confederacy, they would never be received in the South again."

Scarlett said, "Yes, you did and despite the fact they knew they were giving everything up for their convictions, they did it anyway. I will always be proud of Charlie for having done that."

There was a long awkward silence after Scarlett's statement. Finally, PittyPat said, "I meant would they be coming for a visit any time soon."

Rhett said, "No, they are trying to save money so they can buy a house of their own. Ashley is trying to finish another book. If he can sell another book, they will have enough money for not only a new home but furniture also."

Another awkward silence fell upon the table while everyone was trying to think of something to say, finally Henry said, "How long do you think the South is going to be under martial law?"

"A lot longer than the war lasted. The radical Republicans will want to punish the South for starting the war."

Once more an awkward silence fell upon the table until finally, PittyPat said, "That is an extremely attractive dress you have on. Is it in the latest style?"

"Yes, it is a Chanel Original."

"I have never heard of a Chanel Original."

"They are very popular in New York, and even Boston."

Rhett said, "Really?"

"Really. Coco told me that a couple of women who were from Boston came into the shop and ordered three dresses each then they paid extra to have them done in two weeks so they could take them back home with them."

"How much extra did Coco charge the women?"

"Two dollars a dress but I told her next time to get three dollars a dress because that is quite the inconvenience to our staff and our other customers. A couple of other women had to wait longer before their dresses were ready."

"When did this happened?"

"The day after Gerry was born. So, Coco was already down one seamstress. Fortunately, the dresses they chose were simple dresses, but Coco and Gabriella had to spend some late nights at the shop."

"That wasn't safe."

"Pierre came down to the shop to guard them." Scarlett giggled, and continued, "He made his mother watch the other children. Pierre's mother was fit to be tied but because she has nowhere else to live, she had to do it."

Rhett laughed and whispered, "I guess Pierre and Coco thought it was alright to treat her like a slave."

Scarlett nodded her head and laughed. When she stopped laughing, she said, "Coco got great joy out of that. Pierre told her he agreed with me that we need to get three dollars per dress next time."

There was another awkward silence, finally PittyPat said, "How are your sisters?"

"Suellen is living in Savannah. She married Benjamin Moore. Careen has chosen to become a nun."

PittyPat said, "Benjamin Moore? I've never heard of him."

"Of course not. He isn't a gentleman. Just a man in love with Suellen."

PittyPat said, "Oh my. I think I am going to faint."

Henry sighed.

Scarlett then thought of something, she said, "Does anyone know what happened to Frank Kennedy?"

Henry said, "He opened a store and is managing to keep his doors open."

Where is it located?"

"1201 Congress Ave."

"I'm finished, Mommy."

"Good job, Wade. Do you want some of my steak?"

"No. I want to get down and go play with Gerry."

"As soon as everyone gets finished then we will leave. Tell us about your lives since the end of the war?"

Henry said, "Just like everyone else, struggling to survive."

PittyPat told Rhett and Scarlett about the Merriwethers, the Meades, the Elsings, and the Bonners never realizing the couple didn't know any of these people.

Earlier Rhett had asked Scarlett to give him the money Ashley had given her. He said, "It will be easier for Mr. Hamilton to take the money from me."

"Easier, yes, but not easy."

"No, not easy."

Rhett said, "That reminds me. Ashley gave me some money to give to you. Twenty-five dollars."

Henry would have like to say he didn't need Ashley's money, but he truly did so instead he said, "That was very kind of Ashley."

Rhett took out his wallet and gave the other man the money. Soon everyone was finished eating. Scarlett said, "Wade, kiss Aunt PittyPat and Uncle Henry's cheeks and tell them bye. Rhett, I'm going to take him upstairs for Mammy to get him ready for bed. It is already past his bedtime."

Wade whined, "Mama, I don't want to go to bed. I want to play with Gerry."

"Certainly. Wade, we will let you play with Gerry tomorrow."

"Come along, Wade."

"Yes ma'am."

When the waiter brought the bill, Rhett took it and signed for it. He then stood up and said, "Thank you for joining us. We will be sure and share with Melly and Ashley everything that is going on with you. Good night."

Rhett didn't wait for a reply. He just turned and walked out of the restaurant. He heard the elderly people tell him goodbye, but he didn't turn around. He and Scarlett were finished with the Hamiltons of Atlanta.