Chapter 2
Wade and Emma came closer to the plantation quietly, hand in hand. She was happy he didn't reject her. It was a little fear she had during her road trip in the bus, even if Zoe had written she could count on him no matter what in her letter. She looked at the white house in front of her with amazed eyes..
"This house is huge." She stated. "It's almost bigger than our house in the Hampton's."
"Why does it sound surprising that your mother owns a house there ?" He asked sarcastically.
"What do you mean ?"
"Never mind." He responded opening the door.
"You don't knock ?"
"Usually, I do but not here." He said squatting in her height. "Don't worry I will always welcome in this house. And I'm sure so do you. Now come on in."
"Okay." She came in. Wade led her in the kitchen.
"Lavon. Are you here ?" He yelled.
"Shut up. You're gonna wake the baby." Lavon said coming from upstairs. He looked at the little girl beside Wade. "Hello, I'm Lavon Hayes." He greeted with a big smile handing his hand to her as she shook it.
"I'm Emma. You're really tall."
"And you're really tiny." He replied smiling. He approached Wade's ear. "Did you kidnap her ?" He whispered.
"What ? No !" Wade said. He turned to Emma. "Look, there is some toys over there. Go play with it while I talk to Lavon, alright ?"
"Okay." She said running inside the other room.
"Where did you find this girl ?" Lavon asked when Emma was gone.
"I didn't find her. She came to me at the Rammer Jammer earlier."
"What does a little girl want from you ?"
"I think you should sit down."
"Spell it out, Wade."
"I'm her father." Wade sighed.
"You said what now ?"
"Apparently, she is the little gift of my relationship with a tiny crazy doctor from New York ten years ago."
"You and Zoe had a child together ? Why didn't I know ?"
"I didn't know."
"She didn't look pregnant when she left."
"I think she got pregnant during the night before she left." Wade said putting his head in his hands.
"Where is Zoe ?" Lavon asked suddenly.
"In New York, I guess, wondering where the hell her daughter is."
"The girl came here all by herself." The Mayor concluded scandalized.
"Yep. Zoe didn't want to answered her questions. She found a way to do it by herself."
"It's insane."
"Well, that's why I'm here. I need to warn her. Do you have a way to contact her ?"
"No. I didn't speak to Zoe in years. I kept in touch with her during a few weeks after she left and then after her email, nothing."
"I've always thought we deserved more than that as a goodbye. Now, I know I deserved way more than a stupid email."
"I'm sorry, man. How are you feeling ?"
"I'm angry but I can't let it go because I have to take care of this adorable little girl who came to me and count me." Wade stated as Lavon gave him a tap on his back.
"Did you try to ask the girl about the phone number ? She probably know it."
"I don't think she'll give it to me. She is angry at her mother."
"Explain her softly that it's the right thing to do." Lavon advised.
"You're right, I can try." He paused. "Emma, come here please." He said squatting as the blonde girl arrived with a big smile."
"It's so cool here."
"I'm glad you're enjoy it. Look, I know you know your mum's phone number. Can you give it to me ?"
"No. I don't want to see her."
"You think she don't care about you but you're wrong. I'm sure she does because every parent does and you and I, we both need to have a conversation with her. We both deserve it, don't you think ?" He said slowly and she nodded.
"Where do I find some paper and pen ?" She sighed.
"In the study." Lavon said pointing the room as she walked to it. Wade stood up and looked at Lavon.
"Where is your wife ?" He asked.
"She is picking up the kids at school."
Wade sighed "What am I gonna tell Luke ?"
"The truth."
"I can't, not until I talk to her. He already troubles after what happened. He can't know until I know what I'm gonna do next. He's dealing with so much right now."
"It's your decision." Lavon concluded as Wade's phone buzzed. He looked at it.
"Damn, Wanda needs me. I have to get back to work. Why did I give her Friday night ?"
"So that she could spend more time with her son."
"Well, now I regret it. Can you watch Emma tonight ?"
"Sure. How do I introduce her to the kids ?"
"Tell them she is the daughter of an old friend. It's partially the truth."
"What about her ? She is Zoe's child, she is probably chatty."
"Good point. I have to convince her it's best for everyone that people can't know everything about her until we don't speak to her mother." Wade stated just before Emma came into the room. She walked to them and handed a piece of paper.
"There." She said with a sad face. Wade squatted in front of her, put his hands on her shoulders.
"Hey, don't be sad. It's gonna be okay, alright ?" He said sweetly. "You're gonna stay with Lavon because I have to work tonight but I promise I will find the time to pass by, okay ?" She nodded. "You're gonna have so fun here. Lavon is amazing. He's gonna show around, your mum's house for example, right Lavon ?"
"Sure." Lavon responded smiling.
"He and you mum were best friends, I'm sure he can tell you a lot." Wade continued as she started to smile. "Some kids are about to come, you're gonna play with them but you have to promise me to not tell them who you are and why you are here, okay ?"
"Why ?"
"They are younger than you, they won't understand and we have to figure out why your mum didn't say anything first."
"Okay, I promise."
"You're a good girl." Wade said touching her face with his fingers. She put her arms around his neck and hugged him. Hugging her back, he caressed her hair. When they broke apart, Wade stood up. "I have to get back to work now. You're nice with Lavon, alright ?" He asked as she nodded and walked to explore the house. Wade turned to Lavon.
"You're good with her."
"I know it sounds crazy but it's natural between us. We are strangers to each other but it fells like I've always knew her."
"It's a good thing."
"I'm not complaining." Wade stated walking to the door. "One more thing, can your wife be nice for once ?" We added turning around.
"What do you mean ?"
"Knowing her past with her mother, I don't know how she would react and Luke says she is always behind him."
"It's because he's a troublemaker."
"No, he isn't. Anyway, take care of her."
"Don't worry she'll be fine with us." Lavon said putting one hand on his friend's shoulder and the other on the handle to open the door.
"Thanks Lavon. I really appreciate what you're doing." Wade said walking outside.
"Anytime." Lavon nodded, closing the door.
He turned around to face the little blonde. "What do you want sweetheart ?"
"Is it true that mum lived here ?"
"Not in this house but Lavon Hayes can show you his property." He said handing his hand as she took it. They walked outside.
"You have big hands."
"It was useful when I was professional football player."
"You played football ?"
"Lavon Hayes was a NFL former linebacker for ten years."
"Why did you speak to the third person ?"
"Because I'm the Mayor." He said as she giggled. They walked for longs minutes enjoying the view. When they arrived to the pond, Emma froze in place. "What's happening to you ?"
"Is that an alligator ?" She asked scared pointing the animal. Lavon laughed
"Don't worry, honey. It's just Burt Reynolds. He's my pet 'gator. He won't do anything to you. Plus, he is too old now to run after you."
"You have an alligator as a pet ?"
"You're just like your mother. She was also scared of him the first months she was here." They sat down on the pontoon between the two houses. "You see the house over there." Lavon continued pointing the carriage house as Emma nodded. "Your mum lived there."
"In this house ? It looks different than our apartment in Manhattan."
"I can imagine."
"It's hot here. We don't have this temperature in November in New York." She said moving her hands in front of her face to make some fresh air.
"I'll ask my wife to give you some fitted clothes when she gets home."
"Thank you." They stayed in silence for a few minutes. "Can I asked you a question ?"
"Sure."
"How did my parents meet ?"
Lavon giggled. He pointed the gatehouse "Your father lived in this house. They had to share the electricity. On her first night here, he blew the fusebox and she stormed into his house to yell at him. This argument went on during months."
"They were neighbors."
"Yep. They argued in his house, in her house, beside the fusebox or in my kitchen."
"Did they argue a lot ?"
"All the time, about anything, they were driving each other crazy and I was in the middle of this." Lavon stated with the big smile as she laughed. "One night, during a big storm, your mum blew the electricity again but instead of fighting again they expressed their feelings for each other."
"That's how they got together."
"Not exactly. It took a few more months to get there."
"Why did they break up ?" Emma asked looking at him intensely with her big hazel eyes as Lavon sighed.
"Let's just say that your father made a really big mistake which hurt your mum a lot. That's why she left for New York. She was supposed to be gone for a few months but she never came back. And that hurt your father a lot." He said as she nodded, looking around her, processing what Lavon told her.
"So, you and my mum were best friends ?"
"Yes, we were. She told a lot of things. Sometimes, things I didn't wanna know."
"Like what ?"
"You're too young to know that." He said standing up. "Let's go to the main house. Let me introduce you Lavon Hayes's wife and children."
Wade was sitting at one of the terrace table of the Rammer Jammer. He stared the piece of paper that Emma gave to him. He didn't know if he was ready to hear her voice again. He thought one last time about Emma when he pressed the button "call". Someone picked up after the third ring.
"Hello." A female voice said, her voice. "Hello, is someone there ?"
"Hey." He said. "Doc, it's me Wade." He could felt her frozen.
"Hi." She responded after a long silence.
"I think I have what you're looking for."
"Emma is with you ?" She asked almost eased.
"Yeah, she found me." He answered coldly.
"Look Wade, I ..."
"Don't." He interrupted her. "Just get on a plane and be there tomorrow morning. I'll take care of her tonight, don't worry she is safe."
"Thank you."
"Bye." He said before to hung up.
