Disclaimer: I own nothing regarding GWTW
Author's Notes: Thank you for all the reviews and feedback.
Chapter Fifty
Life was good for the Butlers and the Wilkeses the rest of sixty-seven. With the royalties from Ashley's book, he was able to afford some of the perks he and Melly had always wanted for their children and themselves. During the summer, Rhett taught the boys to swim while being extremely careful that nobody drowned. Neither mother would ever forgive him if he let that happen. He had even invited Claude to learn to swim also. The boy had come swimming with them, but he already knew how to swim. He hadn't said anything to Rhett because he didn't want Rhett to uninvite him. When Rhett found out Claude knew how to swim, Rhett had said, "Wonderful. You can help me watch the other boys."
"Oui, oui."
As Rhett watched Martha grow, he was a little bit jealous that he and Scarlett didn't have a baby girl of their own, but he calmed himself down and remembered that Scarlett didn't want children at all. Despite not wanting children she continued to have relations with him.
The Wilkeses celebrated Beau's third birthday. The Butlers celebrated Gerry's second birthday. Rhett and Scarlett celebrated his birthday then two weeks later they celebrated their third anniversary. The Butlers had people over for Christmas dinner again. All the same people. They had even invited Abner and Maude Robinson, who did attend. Paul wasn't even in town so there was no dilemma for Maude. By this time, she had given up on Paul ever settling down. Maureen had a new baby boy and Judy had a new baby girl.
Scarlett had once again sent out Christmas cards. She sent a picture of her family to PittyPat and Henry. She also sent a picture of her family to Suellen and Careen.
Careen wrote back saying Scarlett's family looked nice. Then Careen spent the rest of the letter telling about the outreach program the church had. They were teaching the Free People how to read.
Suellen wrote back telling her about her life. Ella was beautiful, sweet, and loving. Fortunately, Julianne was still willing to watch Ella while Suellen went on sales calls. Suellen wouldn't be making sales calls after the first of the year, but she would still be selling.
These days selling paint for Moore Paint Company was a full-time job therefore Benjamin had decided to hire a salesman. They had expanded where they made the paint because of the increased demand. Benjamin had decided to open a little shop on the site. With someone else doing the off-site selling he was going to have Suellen run the store. Ella was such a good child Suellen could bring her to work with her. When Suellen and Ella went home for dinner, Ella would just stay home with Julianne and her grandmother. The toddler could take a nap then.
Scarlett celebrated Wade's sixth birthday. He would start school next year. She wondered again where her baby had gone. It had been her and Wade against the world. At least, until Rhett got down on his knees and apologized.
Chanel's Dress Shop was still successful. Scarlett and Coco believed they were at a manageable level. They had a steady business with most of their customers being repeat business. Both Pierre and Rhett had cautioned the women about expanding too much, just in case there was a turn in the economy. The women had heeded their husbands' guidance because they were so busy that they couldn't do any more work than they were doing at that time. They didn't want to hire anyone new because right now everyone got along.
Their employees got along well enough that Louise moved in with Helen to save money on living expenses and Edith had moved in with Thelma. Both Helen and Thelma owned their own homes.
Coco had been worried about the women moving in together. She had feared that the women would be spending too much time together and familiarity would breed contempt but so far everything had worked out fine. One of the reasons the women were very tolerant of the other's idiosyncrasies is that because they were living together, they could enjoy occasional perks of life. For example: A bowl of ice cream or a piece of chocolate or a pastry or even a new book.
Although when someone bought a new book all the women passed it around amongst themselves. None of them were strong readers and they mostly bought those dime novels but all of them enjoyed the trashy novels. They enjoyed talking about them after everyone had read the novel. Scarlett would go out and buy the novel and read it. Just so she could follow the conversation. Scarlett would lend her copy to the Chanels, and they would all read it. Even Claude.
Scarlett would only read the novel when Rhett went out at night to conduct business otherwise, he would not shut up about how tasteless and tacky the novel was.
Rhett took all the boys ice skating, even Claude. In truth, Claude spent more time in the Butlers household during the day than he did in his own. The Butlers had lots of games to play, books to read, and good food to eat. The two things that made Claude a perfect guest was that he was well behaved, and he could entertain himself. Rhett made him work on his studies in the afternoon when the other boys were taking naps.
Rhett, of course, had bought everyone ice skates including Gerry. They always had fun on the ice. Rhett never took the boys to a pond or a lake. He always took them to an ice rink despite the fact it was usually crowded. It occurred to Rhett that he could build his own ice rink and he would do so during the coming summer. Maybe he would be able to get Scarlett out on the ice if it was just the two of them.
At first, Coco and Pierre were a little embarrassed by how much Rhett was freely spending on their son. When Coco mentioned it to Scarlett she said, "You are doing me a favor by letting Claude come over as often as you do. Rhett would like to have a houseful of children; therefore, Claude is just another son to him. As Rhett's son he is going to buy him everything he needs."
"You don't have to buy him anything."
"No, we don't. Coco, have you ever known me to mince my words?"
Coco smiled and said, "No, I have not."
"Rhett is just as blunt as I am. We will tell you if we don't like something."
"Alright."
"By the way, be sure and bring Claude down tomorrow. They are going sledding."
Coco smiled and said, "Claude really likes to go sledding." She started laughing and finally said, "You know what the second-best thing about Claude spending so much time with your family is?"
"What?"
"The best thing is that Claude is having fun and getting his studies done. Mr. Butler can answer all Claude's questions. Mrs. Chanel certainly can't do that. But listen. Mrs. Chanel is alone all day long almost every day. She has even started learning to speak English so she can communicate with the cook, the washer woman, and the maid."
"No!"
Coco giggled and said, "Yes."
"Wonderful."
"Yes, it is. Not that she is learning English but that she is being forced to learn it."
"Coco, you are so mean."
Scarlett laughed and Coco joined her. Finally, Coco said, "Yes, I am. Now let's get back to work."
"Of course."
In May of sixty-eight Melanie and Ashley had a first birthday party for Martha. She was a pretty little girl with soft brown eyes and brown hair. She looked just like her father.
The Wilkeses invited all their friends and a few of Scarlett and Rhett's friends. Ashley invited a few of his colleagues from the New York Times including Henry Raymond his editor. After Henry and Ashley had dinner together, they had become friends. They would always talk about ideas for a new book.
Henry had said, "I don't know how you dreamed up that Pam character, but she is a real pistol."
"I wanted a woman strong and determined."
"She certainly was."
It was early summer of sixty-eight and Melanie had returned the bassinet. She said, "We move Martha into Beau's old crib upon her first birthday."
Rhett had said, "That is a good time to do it."
After Melly had left, Rhett wondered if they would ever use the bassinet again. If he got Scarlett with child, would she want to stop sleeping with him? He certainly hoped not. No, she wouldn't stop sleeping with him, but she would make him practice the pull-out method. He didn't want to, but he would do it.
Scarlet had a secret. She had gone to see Ina May at Ina May's house because she didn't want Rhett to suspect quite yet. She wanted to get passed where she had miscarried before. She didn't want to talk about it yet, but she was with child. The baby would be born sometime either late January or early February. She hoped it was early February so everyone could have their own birthday month.
It was the middle of summer and Rhett was wondering why Scarlett hadn't told him that she was with child yet. She had not had a monthly since May. He believed she hadn't told him because she wanted to get passed where they had lost the baby last time. Did she think him not knowing would make the pain any less? Then again Rhett wondered if Gerry had been a miracle that they didn't even know they had received. If she miscarried again, could he stop having relations with her, so she didn't have to keep going through that pain and misery. Yes, he could. He would be celibate for her. He could never be with anyone else after he had experienced the physical and emotional fulfillment with Scarlett.
Summer moved along. Rhett got the ice rink built and then he decided to build a swimming pool all in their back yard. It was more of a wading pool than a swimming pool, but it was deep in some parts. The boys and Rhett swam in the pool every day. Scarlett would swim in the pool after the sun had gone down. That way her skin would not be exposed to the sun.
The days that Claude spent the day with the boys and Rhett, Rhett would walk him down to the shop at the end of the day. Claude would always say, "I don't need an escort."
"No, you don't. I am walking down to the shop to walk my wife home. She does need an escort. I don't want anything to happen to her."
"Of course, Sir."
"After all, we don't have a carriage. We don't need one in the city. We can take cabs everywhere we go."
"We don't have a carriage either. We take a cab to the shop every day. Although Pere does have a horse which he rides to work every day."
"Do you want to be a telegraph operator when you grow up?"
"Yes, sir. It is a good job besides, I will get a premium like Pere because I speak French fluently."
"What do you mean?"
"Because French is the international language all over seas telegraphs are sent in French therefore because I speak French it is easier to understand the dots and dashes coming across the telegraph wire. Of course, then the message has to be translated also."
"True. Have you ever listened to the dots and dashes?"
"Yes, they come fairly fast, but I know I can do it."
"I believe you can."
"Thank you, Sir."
"We are at the shop. I will leave you with your mother and I will collect my wife."
"Very well, Sir. I will see you tomorrow."
"Of course."
When Rhett walked into the dress shop, his heart skipped a beat. There was Scarlett all ready to go. She had her hat on and her purse in her hand. When she turned to look at him, she smiled so big. He resolved right then and there that whatever he had to do to keep her safe he would do it. Up to and including never having relations with her again.
