When my alarm went off it was way too early. I looked over at Zoe as a testament on how tired she is, she has yet to acknowledge that the alarm has gone off.
I quietly and regretfully got out of bed making sure that I didn't wake her up. I could tell she has lost sleep over this drama. So I started the coffee and made my way to the shower. When I woke up she wasn't in my bed where I last saw her, but out on the balcony overlooking the pond that separates our places drinking some of the fresh coffee.
"Morning. You didn't have to get up this early. You are more than welcome to crawl back into bed and stay there as long as you want. I said joining her on the balcony with my cup of coffee.
"I know. But after our chat last night I did some thinking, so I'm going to finish up the files I have to do and then I am going to have a chat with Lavon, Lemon, Brick, and George. Not in that order but before the day is over I will have talked to all of them." Zoe rambled.
"Okay then. I'll be leaving in a few minutes. So if you make it into town before the Rammer Jammer opens let me know and I'll let you in." I said.
"Yeah. I see you in an hour or so." Zoe said. Then she did something that I didn't see coming...she kissed me on the cheek when she left the balcony and entered the house. By the time I realized what had happened she was already back at her place.
I put my cup in the sink noticing that it was right next to hers. And for the first time I loved seeing more than one cup in the sink. There they were two coffee cups next to each other in a sink, to most people that meant nothing but to me that meant I had a girl to share coffee with.
One of life's great pleasures is finding someone who enjoys the comfortable silence as you. Where there is no effort and your routines mix together without trying. This was all I thought about on the drive to work. That and how Zoe is putting the entire first move out there first. Tomorrow I am going to be the one that starts the kiss.
***
Zoe made her way into the Rammer Jammer. Through the entire walk all she thought was what she would say to Lavon, Lemon, Brick and George. She was dreading talking to all of them.
Once she arrived at the Rammer Jammer it was open. She made her way her way to the bar, spotted Wade waved at him and made her way into the back. The patrons of the Rammer Jammer have come to call the Rammer Jammer 'Drama Free Zone' a large part of that is to Wade's credit so therefore it was busier than normal at nine am.
It took me a few minutes to meet Zoe in the back. "Hey! Sorry about the wait." I said as I unlocked the door.
"It's okay. I don't mind." Zoe said as she got to work on the files and pulled out an empty box for her.
"As promised an empty box for you to carry all those files back to your office." I said placing the box on a far corner of the desk.
"Thank you." was all she said with a smile.
It was about three hours later when Zoe walked out of the Employee Only area with her box of files in hand.
"You going to talk to them?" I asked when she stopped at the bar to say bye.
"Yeah. After I files these. I'll start with Brick and then go from there. Not sure what I will be saying but it has to be done. And I'm sure this will be the talk of the town." Zoe said with dreaded huff.
"Well call me if you need me. Good luck. And I am pretty sure the town already knows you have reached your limit. If anything they will talk about how long it too you not what you said." I said as she waved good bye and left the building.
***
Brick was Zoe's first person t talk to. Addie had the day off so she spent her time organizing her files the way she likes them done while waiting for Brick to lock up for the day.
When Brick was done for the day she caught him closing the door to the public. "Brick can we talk?" Zoe asked.
"Sure." Was all Brick said as he motioned for them to sit in the lobby waiting area.
"Brick I'm tired of this. I know we are not the best if buds, at best we are coworkers. But I earned you personal and professional respect and what happened between your daughter, her fiancée and the Mayor happened before I came to town." Zoe started.
"I know. But you knew." Brick butted in trying to take over the conversation.
"Yes, I knew. But it wasn't my secret to tell!" yelled Zoe. "But that's not your concern. Your concern should be focused on is that your daughter may not be perfect. She cheated on her fiancée causing heartache for herself, George and the whole town of Bluebell. And because of that heartache the whole town is being forced to choose sides. I'm sorry but they shouldn't have to do that here! So we wither come to an agreement or we find a solution about or situation because we both learned how to act like mature professionals in Medical school, and at the moment only one of us is practicing it." Zoe completed with a fierce tone that Brick had never heard from her before.
"Well, um, since you put it that way. Give me an hour to think. I promise not to call Lemon because as you put it, it is between us." Brick said as he continued to sit in the lobby.
"Fine. I'll be in my office." Zoe said getting up and walking into her office showing great restraint on not slamming her door closed.
It was close to forty five minutes later when Brick walked into Zoe's office and sat down in one her chairs.
"I'm sorry Zoe. I've thought about what has been said and what has happened. And I have come to the conclusion that I have been acting like a four your old having a bad temper tantrum. So how about we declare a truce and start over with a fresh start. From now on I'll treat you with the respect you deserve and won't ask the patience to choose sides on drama that is not part of our medical practice. You pull more than enough of your weight around here and if you don't make your quota this month I'll call George personally and tell him what happened and fix it myself." Brick said in a professional tone while extending his hand for him to shake at the end of the conversation.
"Thanks Brick. That's all I wanted and I'll tell George to be expecting a call from you ." Zoe said as she returned his handshake feeling better about the Brick situation.
"I take it is George next on the list?" Brick said as they walked out of the office locking it behind them
"Yes. This maybe the hardest one yet. I feel bad for him you know. But yet at the same time it's neither my problem nor my fault." Zoe said as they started to part ways. "Brick if you don't mind. But could you be on call this weekend? I'll take next weekend instead?" asked Zoe
"You go it Zoe." Brick said as he got into his truck.
"Thanks." Zoe said as she made her way to the lawyer's office.
As Zoe walked into the lawyer's office she saw Didi.
"Hi Didi. I owe you an apology." Zoe said as she got to her desk.
"Yes you do. But I also know that is wasn't your secret to tell. I should have seen the signs. He told me there was someone that he couldn't get over. Good thing we broke up before all this happened. George is in his office. Just go right on in. I think it is best if he doesn't see you coming." Didi said.
"Thank you Didi, and for what it is worth I am sorry." Zoe said giving Didi a hug before heading into George's office.
George was hunched over paper work when Zoe walked in.
"Hi George." Zoe said as she sat down across from him.
"Hi Zoe. I was wondering when you'd stop by." George said.
"I want to start out by saying, though I knew the secret it wasn't mine to share. I know everyone thinks that because I am from New York that gives me the right to share all the latest gossip. But I am not that kind of person." Zoe said continuing with "for what it's worth I am sorry."
"Thank you. I understand where you are coming from, but it still hurts never less. But I also get that this isn't an 'I'm sorry' visit." George said.
"You're right." Zoe said gathering a huge breathe of courage. "You've been one of my closest friends and ally since I came to Bluebell, and Thank you for that." George just nodded his head in acceptance.
"But, I can't go choosing sides. I am just not wired that way and I can't do this he said, she said drama anymore. So please don't ask me to. So if you are going to be part of this drama let me know, so that I can treat you as my lawyer and my lawyer only." Zoe finished on the verge of tears.
George was quite aware of what this fiasco has been doing to Zoe, that and the heads up from Wade sure helped. He also never wanted anyone to be in this situation that should only be on a soap opera.
"I never wanted this to happen. But since it did here's what we are going to do. I'll continue being your lawyer. Friends in small towns are to get, and good friends are even harder to get let alone keep. So you can take some Kleenex and pull yourself together, or do I need to call Wade to get over here?" George said getting Zoe some Kleenex while she gave him a look.
"Wade called earlier today and gave me a heads up that you were going to be seeing me some time today. And like I told him, we are friends and we are only human. There are going to be times I am going to need to vent about this and since you two are my only allies in this town it will have to be you. But if at any point it becomes too much all you have to do is tell me and let me know so I can go and vent to Didi. How does that sound?" George finished.
"That's more than fare." Zoe muttered. "Oh and Brick will be calling about this quarter's quota." Zoe said as she got up to leave.
"Thanks for the heads up. Guess we need to have that conversation as well hey?" George said and Zoe nodded while leaving his office.
"Bye Didi. If you ever want to go and have a coffee or something let me know," Zoe said.
"Okay Zoe. I may take you up on that offer! Have a good day now." Didi said as Zoe exited the building.
She was on her way home when she called me. could tell that she was more than done having the same conversation over and over again.
"Hello. How are you holding up?" I asked.
"I am doing okay for the most part. All I want is for this day to be over or someone to do all the talking to Lavon and Lemon for me. But that is not going to happen so my big girl underwear is still on. Thank you for calling George and giving him a heads up. I broke down in his office." She said.
"I know. George called me after you left. He said 'you got yourself on hell of a woman Wade. And heaven couldn't help you if you piss her off or break her heart. And the worst part is I'll never be able to prove anything because I'll be scared to death of her.'" I said hoping to make her laugh.
"That is pretty sound advice." she said while laughing. "Well I am just getting to the front door now. I'll call you when I am done." she said as she hung up before I could say anything.
***
"Hi Zoe. What brings you by?" Lemon said as she answered in her cheery voice.
"I need to talk to you and Lavon." was all she said as she entered the house.
"We'll meet you in the kitchen. I'll go and get Lavon." Lemon said as we parted ways.
"Why Hello there Dr. Zoe Hart what can we do for you today?" Lavon said as he and Lemon entered the kitchen holding hands.
Lemon was busy getting waters for everyone while they all sat down around the island. They could all tell that this was not a personal visit to see wither the newest relationship of Bluebell was going, or the latest gossip that didn't include them.
"I hate the fact that you put me in this position Lavon. And Lemon you don't get away with this either. When will the both of you grow up and realize that you both ruined and hurt a lot of people? You're not. You're both stuck in a daze the you finally get to be together." Zoe said all too calmly.
"Don't even try to apologize. I want nothing more to do with the two of you! You both lost that privilege when you asked the town to choose. This isn't high school on some soap drama this is real life! The sooner you both realize that the better everyone will be. So I am done with any and all interaction. From now on all my rent cheques will be delivered in your mail box along with any repairs that are needed. And in the streets of Bluebell it will be a nod to the Mayor as respect and a forced smile to the lady on his arm."
"When you are done with this stupid drama let the town of Bluebell know. because we are all sick to death of it." And with that Zoe left the kitchen and headed out to Wades place where there was wine chilled.
"Well I have never..." Lemon started.
"Lemon stop. She's right. Hell we should have seen this coming." Lavon said as he watched another friend walk out of his life. Supporters can be won back but the friends he has lost may not come back to easily. And as much as he loved Lemon he was starting to think that she was not worth all this drama and as soon as she started to figure out that, the better the town of Bluebell will be.
***
"When do you get off work?" was all I got. Not even a chance to say hi.
"I am just pulling into the drive way now. I will be there in a few minutes. You at my place or yours?" I answered.
"Yours. It had chilled wine. I am out on the balcony." Was the reply and then she hung up.
There was only half of the bottle of wine left when I sat down beside her.
"Here. I'm guessing that you have yet to eat today." I said placing a Rammer Jammer meal down in front of her and taking away her bottle of wine.
"Thanks." Zoe said with a smile and didn't even notice that her wine bottle was gone and a water replaced it.
"How did it go?" I asked. I knew how it went with George but with the others I was curious.
"Well, Brick and I came to an understanding. Going to take some work, but the doctor's office is now a drama free zone. And well the other two...I didn't give them a chance to say anything. I just said my piece and left. Found the wine and here we are. You are feeding me and taking my wine away from me." Zoe said.
"Things will work out. I think Lavon knew this was coming. And Lemon will realize that not everything is okay when she tries to get her way. As for the wine...we have a big day tomorrow and I can't have you hung over." I replied.
The rest of the afternoon was spent with us enjoying each other's company. When the sun started to set Zoe headed home and I went to bed.
Both of us had smiles on our faces. We couldn't wait for tomorrow. I had nothing planned, but I think that was the beauty of it. No plans and a beautiful girl to spend the day with.
I just wanted to say. That I have been in Zoe's shoes when it came to having a friend cheating on her husband. This was how I handled it. Needless to say I haven't talked to the three of them in a long time. Not by choice though...
Next up will be the date in Mobile.