There was a bounding on my door. That is what was ruining my moment. As I went to answer it I saw Rose leaving my porch. "Rose, what the hell is going on?" I asked as I was following her back to the Carriage house.
"Well I hope that the $100 dollars and the latest bimbo is worth it. Because what you just said to Zoe has her calling all these hospitals asking for any kind of internship she can get her hands on. But the only thing that is keeping her here is that she agreed to do year down here. So now she is packing so she can move into the practice so she can clear out Harley's things so when she leaves, Brick or whoever replaces her has a place to stay when they are on call." Rose stated, in an eerie calm voice. "Judson broke it off because he stated that she was having more fun pranking you than having a romantic evening with just the two of them. And to make matters worse is I stuck up for you! I told Zoe that you like her and that is why you go through all this just for the two of you to get together!" Rose continued. She also started to walk away as I was still standing there like an idiot. When I started to follow Rose again she turned around and still had more to say.
"And don't think that for a minute I wasn't asleep when you can over to drop my sweater over and didn't hear what you said after Zoe was about to tell you that you had a chance with her, and she likes you." Rose stated while continuing with "I think that it is best that you move on from her Wade, because once again you have proven that once a bad boy always a bad boy and no girl will ever change that. So congratulations on behalf of Bluebell, you officially have broke Zoe and in 3-6 months or sooner she will be back in New York, never to come back to this quiet, boring southern town. Good night Wade." And with that Rose was back in the Carriage house turning off the lights and ushering Zoe to bed without ever looking back to him.
"Great." Muttering to myself as I turn back to my place, trying to figure out how to apologize to Zoe and Rose.
The next morning I walked into the kitchen only to find no one there. Once I finished my cereal I heard Lavon and Zoe come out of the hallway where his office was. They stopped talking as soon as they saw me. "Have a good day Lavon, but I want to catch Brick before Addie gets there." Zoe said, not once looking at me walking out of the kitchen and on her way into town.
Lavon was just standing there. Looking at me... "What? I already heard it from Rose, so please don't you start." I said after a few moments.
"Boy, I have seen you do a lot of stupid shit and this is by far one of the stupidest things you have ever done. But that is not the point. The point is I am only going to say this once so listen. The funny thing about words is they can never be forgotten, or unsaid. They stick to a person and sometimes those words mean the world to the other and sometimes they are the most hurtful thing in the world. But what you said to Zoe last night was pure hatred and those words, well those words cut a person and leave them feeling like they are the fool. So my best advice is to stay away from Zoe, because what she said to me after Rose told me what you said, Zoe ain't ever going to forgive you for making her look like an idiot. So to re-estate what Rose said, I hope the $100 and the bimbo was worth it. Because you may have me as a friend, but you lost Zoe and once others find out, which they will, you may have lost a lot more." Lavon said then left the room.
"Hi Brick. I was wondering if I could have a few words with you before Addie gets here to open." Zoe asked while she was in the doorway of Brick's office. "Sure, Dr. Hart, come on it."
"I just wanted you to know that I will be moving into the apartment upstairs and cleaning out Harley's things. Also once this year is up I will be moving back to New York and you will have the whole practice. At lunch I am going to over and visit George so he can get started on all the paper work that it will require." said Zoe. Brick just sat there with this dumbfounded look on his face. "Well whatever you do with your half of the practice is up to you, so I really don't have a say. But you still have a while yet to finish this year and by last month's quota you had 40% of the practice so, my question is why you are going to leave. I could start to tell that you like it here in Bluebell and on some days you would rather deal with snakes and southern town gossip than be back in New York." Question Brick.
"Well let's just say that the town of Bluebell won and I am a big city girl and my short shorts are not welcomed in this town. I would prefer that I tell others that I am leaving. Also, would you like me to start looking for another doctor for my replacement or do you want the whole practice?" Zoe, was getting to the point and really just wanted this conversation to be over so that she can go and get on with her day.
"Okay. Here is the deal. Let me think on the practice, but let George know I will tell him what I want to do when it comes to your replacement if there is one." Answered Brick adding, "But I do have to say that it is just a dance, nothing to go and get upset over."
"The dance itself was fun and I wish there was things like that in New York, but sometimes you have to realize that people aren't going to change and no matter how you look at it, they will say something and it changes your plans. Sometimes for the better and sometimes for the worse. And at this moment I can't tell you if it is better or worse after those things had been said." Replied Zoe, and with that statement Zoe left the office to carry on with her day. Not knowing that Addie had been listening to the entire conversation and at lunch she was making plans to go and see a someone at the Rammer Jammer.
The thing about small towns is gossip always happens. Sometimes it is all that happens during the day. Today is one of those days and I was sick of it already. After the events with Rose and Lavon the last two people I wanted to see was Brick and Addie come into the Rammer Jammer for lunch and want to talk to me.
"I know what you are here for and if you give me a few minutes we can go and talk in the office." I said. They nodded and I finished my task before I lead them to the office in the back. "What do you two know?" I asked.
"Well we know that Zoe has made plans to go back to New York and forget about this little town. She won't go into details and well she isn't talking. And for Zoe that is worrisome enough." Replied Addie looking at me for answers. But I didn't have any, and if Zoe didn't tell them what she had told Lavon, it wasn't my place to tell them what had happened. "If Zoe didn't tell you then she didn't tell you. I know just as much as you. But I can say that the last thing she wants is more gossip on her behalf so let's pretend that this conversation never happened." I stated showing them the door. I was done with this. I am not the bad guy everyone thinks I am. But what really is bothering me is what Rose and Lavon said. Zoe may not have had many people in her corner, but the ones she did have were people who you shouldn't have messed up with them around.
Brick and Addie left the Rammer Jammer knowing that Wade was the cause of this and there was nothing that they did nor Wade could do for Zoe to change her mind. Because as quickly as Zoe came to town was as fast as she was leaving this town. Some would say that the town would never be the same and most of the town will be glad she is gone and glad that the town will be good old Bluebell again.
Zoe was true to her word. She moved into the apartment over the practice and cleaned it out. She sorted stuff into piles; one for her, one for the church donation and one for stuff to stay within the apartment. The town of Bluebell noticed a change with Zoe and surprising no one cared. They all thought that she finally came to terms with the small southern ways of Bluebell. But George, Brick, Addie, Rose, Lavon and I knew the full story.
Within months, well four to be exact. Zoe Hart had left Bluebell for good. She left during the night the only way that anyone knew was the fact a moving company came to gather all of Zoe's things to take them to where ever their owner was. Rose knew where Zoe went and kept it a secret. It was only then when I asked Rose how was Zoe I realized what I had done.
"Since when do you care? She is finally happy. In fact she sounds happy, looks healthy and is a family doctor. She gets respect and I think I have shared too much information with you. Wade you had your chance to apemt to make it better. To see it from Zoe's eyes and never once thought of anyone but yourself. So it is too late for you to make small talk with me to see how she is. If you want more information on Zoe ask someone else who knows. Because I am done talking to you." Rose stated and walked out of the Dixie Stop. Everyone was staring...they all knew why Zoe left; they just need confirmation as to their thoughts.
For the first time in months I felt like an idiot. But knowing full well that I would never be able to say sorry to Zoe made me think of Crazy Earl. And for the first time in my life I knew that I would be Crazy Earl's son, and the only one who thought differently I made them feel like an idiot. Once I got home I made my way over to Lavon's kitchen. If anyone was going to help me it was going to be him. I hope.
