Disclaimer: I own nothing in regard to GWTW. I am not making any money on this writing.

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

Chapter Twenty-Six

That night Scarlett met Stuart and Kellyanne Townsend for the first time. Scarlett said, "Didn't you nurse at the hospital during the war?"

"Yes, I remember you also."

"That was such a long time ago."

"Not long enough. I would like to forget all about it."

"Let's go into the dining room."

The children were in the nursery. Rhett wanted to have an adult evening. He wanted to talk and socialize with other adults. He had an idea brewing in his head. To make it happen, he had to find acceptable people in Atlanta for him and Scarlett to be friends with.

After the two couples were seated and Scarlett rang the bell for the meal to be served, she said, "Weren't you married during the war?"

"Yes, my husband, George Conway was killed at Gettysburg. Fortunately, we had no children."

"I am so happy that Charlie, my first husband, lives on through his son. I don't know what I would do without Precious Wade."

"When my parents and I were struggling after the war was over, I was glad I didn't have another mouth to feed."

"I can understand that. After the war I had so many people depending on me. I will admit I resented most of them, but never Wade."

Stuart said, "Depending on you?"

Rhett said, "Scarlett single handedly kept eleven people alive. No small feat considering what General Sherman did to the countryside."

"Kellyanne managed to keep her parents alive after General Sherman force all the Southerners out of Atlanta."

"I think the only reason they stayed alive was because I kept saying, 'Who is going to take care of me if you are gone?' Full well knowing I was taking care of them and not the other way around."

Scarlett said, "What are your parents' names?"

"John and Diane Fitzpatrick."

Rhett said, "Wasn't that John's ….."

"Shush, Rhett, but no his last name was Fitzgerald. I remember your parents. Doesn't your father own a construction company?"

"He does. Although right now he is not taking on any large projects. He hasn't got the manpower for that."

"How are they doing now?"

"They are doing fine. Stuart and I are living with them until the school really starts making a profit."

"More like they are living with us."

Everyone laughed.

After a few more minutes of everyone enjoying the meal, Rhett said, "Let's talk about Ashley Wilkes and get it over with."

Stuart said, "Would you hire him?"

"Me – no. He is too honest to work for me." Everyone laughed. Rhett continued, "He would make a good teacher. He is truly knowledgeable. He would treat the boys with respect."

Scarlett said, "He would model how a gentleman was supposed to behave. I agree with Rhett. He would be a great teacher."

Stuart said, "How long have you known him?"

"All my life."

"I met him the day the war started. I met Scarlet that same day also."

Rhett looked over at Scarlett and smiled. She smiled back. They were both remembering the scene from the library. They had come so far. They loved each other so much. They knew each other so well. Him maybe more than her, but since he had left her mind, she had paid attention to him. Maybe was some residual Rhett presence still in her mind. They would never know.

Stuart said, "I will hire him part-time with your recommendation."

Before Rhett could speak, Scarlett said, "Thank you. Eat up everyone. As Rhett always says, 'Eat, drink, and be merry.'

At the end of the evening, Scarlett had made a friend. Kellyanne said, "I would love to call on you, but I just don't have the time."

"Then I will have to call on you."

"You will have to call on me at the school."

"I would like to see it anyway. I had nothing to do with Wade attending the school. Rhett made all the arrangements."

Rhett said, "I would like to go on a tour also. I saw it Wade's first day, but I haven't been back. Grady takes him to and from school."

Stuart said, "I will be happy to give you two a tour. I am immensely proud of my school."

Scarlett said, "We will take you up on your offer? Sometime in the afternoon while our daughter is sleeping."

Kellyanne said, "I would look forward to it. How old is your daughter?"

"She just turned two."

"Our son is eighteen months."

"One morning you will have to bring him over for a playdate with Bonnie."

"I would look forward to it."

The conversation changed to other subjects like what was going on in Washington, DC and when they thought the men would get the vote back.

It was an enjoyable time for both of the couples. There were promises that the couples would get together again. Scarlett said, "We will be having a party sometime in June. I will send you an invitation, although you may choose not to attend. There will be a lot of Republicans and Yankees there."

Stuart said, "Most of my students are the sons of Republicans therefore we will have no problem socializing with them."

Kellyanne said, "They pay quickly."

"True."

The next day Stuart sent Ashley a note. It said: Both Rhett and Scarlett recommended you for the job of French teacher. Can you come to work tomorrow morning?

Ashley responded: Yes. What time?

Stuart: Be here at eight so I can show you around. Classes don't start until eight thirty.

Ashley: I will be there.

Now Ashley had to go talk to John. He wasn't going to sell his half of the store because he still needed the income, but he needed to have every morning off. He walked over to John and said, "I need to talk to you privately."

"Sure."

"Let's go in the back. George, we will be back in a minute."

When the men were in the storeroom, Ashley said, "I have gotten a teaching position, and I will be taking every morning off."

"I think teaching would be a good job for you."

"Thank you. I don't want to sell my half. I will just take the waybills home with me every night and go over them."

"I am fine with all this, but I would like you to teach me to read better."

"I will get my sister to teach you. She doesn't have anything else to do anyway."

"Thank you."

"Do you want to come to my house in the evening?"

"No, have her come here in the afternoon. She can teach me in the back."

"That wouldn't be proper for you two to be alone in the back."

"Then bring your wife to chaperon. I am accommodating you therefore you can accommodate me."

"Very well. I start at the school tomorrow. India can start teaching you tomorrow."

"I can read a little bit. Just not very well."

"Fine. Let's return to the front."

"Great."

That night over the supper table Ashley said, "I have gotten a job as a teacher."

"Marvelous, Darling."

"I will be teaching French. I will be having to study the language to refresh my memory."

"Of course."

Uncle Henry said, "Are you selling the store?"

"No, it is only parttime. I can't afford to sell the store. John and I have come to an arrangement. I will have the mornings off and take care of the paperwork for the store in the evenings."

"Great."

"There is one more thing. He wants to learn how to read better. India, I told him that you would be glad to help him."

"Why would I do that? I am not going to associate with a man who is ….."

"Yes, you will."

"Why me?"

"You are the one with the most time. Melly and Aunt PittyPat are busy running the house."

"No, I won't do it."

Ashley looked at his plate then he looked at his sister. His sister, who had once been attractive, but now all anyone could see was her bitterness. He smiled gently and said, "Yes, you will, or you will be on a train to Macon. Times are different now and we need everyone to pull their weight."

Nobody at the table reacted. In truth, everyone at the table hoped India would choose to go back to Macon. She was a bitter, sour-faced person who did nothing to help around the house except maybe a few chores. She only did the chores when Melly or PittyPat ordered her to help them. She still acted like she was the daughter of a rich planter with hundreds of slaves to wait on her.

India looked around the table. She knew that nobody would stop Ashley from putting her on the train to Macon. She couldn't go back there. Honey's husband was Stanley Kowalski was a boorish, brute of a man. No, she could not move back there. India primly said, "I will do my best to teach Mr. Kennedy, but if he can't learn that isn't my fault."

"Of course not. Come down to the store after dinner and you two can get started."

"I will need a primer. Also, I have never taught anyone to read before therefore I may not be any good at it."

Melly said, "I am sure you will be great."

India gave her sister-in-law a perfunctory smile and said, "Thank you."

India was subdued for the rest of the meal. Later in bed she thought, 'It will give me something to do and while I am at the store teaching that bastard to read, I won't have to do any chores.'

The first month was rough for everyone. It was clear that neither of the Wilkes children had ever taught before, but before long they had learnt how to teach. Stuart would have fired Ashley in the first week if he had been able to replace the man. The truth was not very men were willing to work for what Stuart could pay them.

Every year Stuart's enrollment was up, but he didn't know what was going to happen when the Democrats got back into power and the Republicans and others left town. Or worse when the Yankees moved back to the North. It was plain that the Southerners couldn't afford to send their sons to school. One more casualty of the war. The next generation was going to be full of a lot of uneducated young men.

Stuart shook those thoughts out of his head. There was nothing he could do about it anyway. He had been lucky that Rhett had lent him the money to get the school started. It truly had been a chance meeting between Stuart and Rhett. It had been in June of sixty-seven. They each had been walking down the street in opposite directions. They had stopped and talked. They had then gone to a saloon and had a few more drinks. Stuart had said, "I would start a school if I had the money to get started."

"How much do you need?"

"Five hundred dollars."

Rhett had smiled and said, "I took a chance on a young lady once and loaned her five hundred dollars. She is going to be my wife in about a week. I will take a chance on you."

The men had gone to the bank and Rhett had withdrawn five hundred dollars. He had written on a piece of paper: Stuart Townsend owes Rhett Butler five hundred dollars. The men had signed the paper and walked out of the bank. Stuart would search Rhett out every month to give him a loan payment. He usually found him at The Painted Lady. Sadly, to Stuart every time he encountered Rhett, he had seemed to be getting angrier and angrier.

Although all that must be in the past now. When Stuart and Kellyanne had supper with Rhett and Scarlett, the man seemed happier than Stuart had ever known the man to be. In fact, he had seemed like he was the happiest man on the earth.

After Rhett had given him the money, Stuart had gone and bought a large house. It had needed a lot of repairs. That was how he met John Fitzpatrick. The man was earning a living as a handy man. Together the men had done most of the work themselves. John had invited Stuart to supper several times. Before long Kellyanne was the one inviting Stuart to supper. The couple had gotten married and immediately conceived a son. Stuart was doing his best to make sure that it never happened again. He couldn't afford to feed any more children.