This is going to be around 5 chapters. I love writing Christmas stories and this is that story. I hope you all like this one. And I'm sorry if I happen to get anything wrong with Acute lymphoblastic leukemia. I don't know any child that has it, so what I know is what I found online. I promise you that this story will be a happy one.
I don't own Hart of Dixie or the characters.
Enjoy!
Zoe laughed to herself as she entered the small practice. Never once growing up had she ever thought she would trade high-rise buildings and an overcrowded city that she had fallen in love with as a toddler for a small town that loved their gossip. She had been in town less than 20 minutes and she knew just about everything there was to know about the people of Bluebell. She also knew that she was the latest topic of conversation. But that didn't bother her; she wasn't in town for that, she was here for something else, someone more important than her dream job. Helping her was her dream job; it was kids like her that made her make her mind up on becoming a pediatric cancer doctor.
She could suck up the townspeople coming up with a bunch of different stories, them finding a reason to hate her. They could think that she was just some snob from the city she knew that was the furthest thing from the truth. She couldn't afford to let what they say about her affect her in any way because she was here for one reason and that reason was for the little girl she could hear throwing a fit.
"I want Dr. Z!" Bounced off the walls, Zoe smiled stepping closer to the door. No she wouldn't trade this small town and that little girl for anything, giving up her dream job at one of the best hospitals in New York was worth it in her mind.
"Dr. Hart is not here and Noelle we need to start your exam." She heard Dr. Breeland say. Taking a deep breath she went to push the door open when she had been stopped.
"Ma'am you can't go in there."
"Didi right?" Zoe questioned looking up at the woman behind the desk. She nodded to confirm. "I'm Dr. Zoe Hart. Dr. Breeland knows I was coming, I'm here to help with the young lady in there, Noelle Kinsella," Zoe informed her.
"Oh right, he mentioned it. I swear I'd lose my head if it wasn't attached," Didi told her. Zoe nodded her head understanding how that went sometimes. "Go right on in Dr. Hart," Didi told her. Zoe smiled and pushed the door open, seeing the face of Noelle light up at the sight of her.
"Dr. Z," Noelle shouted excitedly.
"Miss Noelle," Zoe smiled, walking over to hug the little girl. "I hear you were giving Dr. Breeland a little bit of trouble," Zoe said, pulling away from her to get ready.
"I'm sorry, but he's not gentle like you," Noelle said. Zoe smiled at the 6 year old.
"It is okay this once but you need to let Dr. Breeland do his job as well. I'm sure he was gentle with you. He doesn't want to hurt you," Zoe told her, sharing a look with Dr. Brick Breeland.
"But he's not you," Noelle told her with a pout. Zoe gave the little girl a smile. It had taken Zoe over a month to get her to warm up to her and really trust her. She had been through so much already in her little life.
"No, he's not. Do you know what I want to know about?" Zoe asked moving what she needed closer. Noelle shook her head. "I want to hear about this big move you took with your Daddy," Zoe told her.
Noelle launched into her story about how scary moving somewhere new was going to be but Bluebell was magic. Her daddy was happy to be home and she loved spending more time with her grandpa and her uncle, because they were a hoot. She went on to say that she liked being able to run outside without running into a grumpy stranger and she really enjoyed breathing in the fresh air that didn't stink like the air in the city. Everyone was friendly and they made her laugh.
"You'd like my Uncle, Dr. Z," Noelle told her. "You should come with us to dinner and meet him," Noelle suggested in her cute and adorable voice that Zoe had yet to say no to
"I believe you on that sweetie, but I still have to get settled into my place," Zoe was saying politely trying to decline the offer.
"But you have to eat, say you will, Dr. Z, please," the little girl begged.
"Okay but first why don't you go play your favorite games in my office while I talk to your Daddy, okay?" Zoe questioned, holding her tablet out. Noelle took the tablet and went to Zoe's office.
"Thank you, Zoe. You were amazing, you're going to be an amazing fit in the practice here," Brick complimented her.
"No thank you Dr. Breeland for letting me come in here," Zoe replied back leaving the room, seeing the man she was looking for leaning against the wall. "Jesse come into my office and we'll talk," Zoe said with a smile, Noelle's file in hand.
Jesse followed behind Zoe, a smile on his face watching his little girl playing some sort of game in the comfy oversized chair that seemed to swallow her whole. Seeing her smiling and laughing brought a bigger smile to his face. Over the last few years laughs and smiles were rare. There were times that he didn't think they'd make it out of those dark days. He's pretty sure that if it wouldn't have been for Dr. Hart that things wouldn't have turned out the way they have. He was told that Dr. Hart was the best pediatric cancer doctor in New York and he needed to have the best doctor for his little girl. When he was told that his little girl was sick and that she had cancer, Acute lymphoblastic leukemia to be exact he was devastated, the last thing he wanted was for his healthy little girl to get this sick. He did his research, knew everything he could about it, found the best doctor in Dr. Zoe Hart and with the outcome he was given last week he was pleased with how normal his life had become once again. He couldn't thank Dr. Hart enough for the very important role she had played in his daughter's life and his own for that. She had been there every step of the way becoming more than his daughter's doctor, she had lent him a shoulder to cry on, lent him her ear when he had to talk things through. She had became like family to him over the last two years and to have her uproot her life because he wanted to move back home to be with his family now that his little girl was clear, was astonishing for him to think about. He hadn't asked her to do that, he told her his plans and the next thing he knew she was telling Noelle that she'd be here in Bluebell because Noelle didn't want to leave Dr. Zoe. Sitting in front of Dr. Hart's desk, he realized for the umpteen time in the last two years that he had found the perfect doctor to take care of his baby girl.
Not only had Zoe been there as a Doctor to Noelle but over time they really had built a bond of friendship and Zoe told him all about her own childhood, Jesse in return shared his own childhood, speaking fondly of his little brother Wade. They talked about their personal lives, because Zoe could tell it was something that still bothered Jesse. His girlfriend, Noelle's mother had taken off when they found out that Noelle had Acute lymphoblastic leukemia. He still hadn't heard anything out of her and he was okay with that, Noelle was the only girl in his life that mattered to him.
"Once I get the results back, I'll know more. But from the information I have right now, she's a healthy and happy 6 year old little girl. From what I have seen today and the last time we were in New York, I have no worries that the cancer will come back. I do believe we're still in the clear. There is that rare chance that it'll come back, but I have hope that everything with Noelle is going to be okay and she's going to outlive you, Jesse," Zoe told him a smile on her face as she looked over at the little girl. "Do you have any questions or concerns, Jesse?" Zoe asked turning back to him.
"I don't," Jesse told her, shaking his head. "We've been over this all before, I know what to expect when it comes this. That it could come back at a moment's notice. But the thing is she's happy and healthy now and that is what matters, that she can still have somewhat of a normal childhood. That's what I want for her," Jesse replied. Zoe nodded. "We'll get out of your way," Jesse told her, getting up. "If I have anything concerning Noelle I will come see you, it easier living in a smaller town," he joked.
"It is," Zoe replied back getting up and walking with Jesse to where Noelle was sitting.
"Are you still coming with us?" Noelle asked, handing Zoe the tablet.
"What are you talking about sweetheart?" Jesse asked.
"Zoe and Uncle Wade," Noelle said. Zoe found it hard not to laugh at the very confused expression on Jesse's face.
"She was telling me how much I would just love her Uncle and invited me out to dinner with the three of you guys. She wouldn't take no for an answer," Zoe clarified for him.
"We all have to eat," Noelle said with an eye roll.
Jesse laughed and looked over at Zoe. "We're headed there now, if you can get away," Jesse informed her.
"I can my only patient for today was Noelle. She was the only reason that I came in today, I don't officially start work until tomorrow," Zoe informed them going over to her desk and getting what she needed. "Shall we?" Zoe asked, walking over and pulling the door open.
