Disclaimer: I don't own Hart of Dixie or any of its characters and I am making absolutely no money from this fiction.

Title: Holding Hearts

Chapter Four: Geesh!

"Aw come on Zoe you have to help. The whole town's pitchin' in."

"The whole town isn't talking to me Lavon. There is nowhere in the world I want to be less."

"Wade will be there."

She fixed him with a glare.

"George will be there…?"

"Ha very funny Lavon."

"It was worth a try. Look Z, if you show the town you are still a part of it, they'll begin to forgive you. To be honest some people are beginning to wonder if there's anything to forgive at all. You ain't bin seen with George since the wedding was called off. People think your involvement is just a rumour."

"Hmmm" she took a sip of her coffee, "I wish it was."

Lavon leaned forward and gave her his best puppy dog expression. "Please Z?" he begged, drawing out his words.

Zoe sighed. "Fine, I'll help with the…clean-up?"

Lavon shook his head.

"Restoration?"

He shook his head again.

"Dance?"

He groaned. "We're painting the covered bridge Zoe!"

She laughed at his exasperated expression as he threw his arms dramatically in the air.

"Okay, okay" she giggled, jumping off the stool she had been perched on, "What time do I have to be there?"


Zoe was surprised by just how soothing painting Bluebells newly restored covered bridge was. Most of the town had turned out to help and even more surprising than the calming effects of the painting was the fact she was not shunned or ignored by them. Neither was George, although his reception by the townspeople of Bluebell was a frostier one than Zoe's. However he bore it well and Zoe did not doubt for a second that it wouldn't be long before he was the town's golden boy once again.

By unspoken consent they both worked at opposite ends of the bridge and never took breaks at the same time. Wade had not shown up so she only had avoiding George to worry about. Although as the day wore on she found that she did not want to avoid George himself, she just wanted to avoid being seen by anyone from Bluebell anywhere near him. Zoe knew this did not bode well for maintaining a serious relationship and she sighed as she dipped her brush into the paint tray again. She had to remember that even if she had not slept with Wade this would have been a major problem for them. She should not let it affect her decision but it was a problem she just could not ignore. How long would it be before she did not feel guilty about being seen with George?

By the time the work was finished, and the covered bridge was gleaming, Zoe's back and neck were aching and she joined in the townspeople's cheer when Lavon announced that there was enough money left in the restoration budget to buy everyone a drink at the Rammer Jammer. When the initial excitement died down on the walk over to the bar Zoe began to wonder whether being in the same room as both Wade and George was really a good idea. George would play the perfect poker face she knew but could she count on Wade to keep his cool when all three of them where together?

The Rammer Jammer was already packed when she arrived. Lavon stood in the doorway handing out drinks as people entered and he passed her a glass of wine with a broad smile. As she weaved her way through the crowd towards the back corner of the bar she was grateful for her small stature. Out of the way at the back was definitely the best place for her. Standing too close to the bar would convey a message to certain patrons she wasn't really sure she wanted to convey yet. As would standing to close to where George was. She leant against the wall and sipped her wine. Helping out Bluebell had given her a warm, glowing feeling inside she hadn't felt for a while. She looked around the room and smiled and waved when Rose caught her gaze. The pretty teen stood up and began to fight her way through the crowd towards her but a commotion near the entrance caught Zoe's attention and she lost sight of Rose in the crowd.

Lemon Breeland was gesticulating wildly in the entrance to the bar and it looked as if she was shouting at Lavon. A wave of silence rolled over the patrons from the entrance to the rear of the Rammer Jammer, until Zoe could finally make out what she was shouting.

"Are you saying I cannot come in Mayor Hayes? Why on Earth not?"

Lavon shifted uncomfortably and tried to keep his voice low. But the room had grown so silent his every word could still be heard.

"Lemon I think you might be drunk. Maybe you should go home. I'll get someone to take you now."

"I'm just letting my hair down Mayor Hayes. Maybe you'd be a gentleman and escort me home."

Zoe stiffened and out of the corner of her eye she saw George stand up.

"Wade you got some coffee?" Lavon asked his voice tight and controlled. Wade nodded and turned towards the kitchen. He stopped in his tracks though when Lemon called out his name in a sing-song voice.

"Wade. Wade, Wade, Wade. Wade and Zoe…Zoe and George…"

"That's enough Lemon," Lavon cut in. George was walking towards them now and Wade had his back to the room, his shoulders tensed. Zoe felt her stomach plummet. This was not good. She wished there was a back door she could sneak out of. People had begun to stare at her and she tried to arrange her face into an expressionless mask and stared straight forward as the accusing eyes began to fall on her.

"Come on Lemon," George said in a low voice, reaching out for her arm. "Let's get you home. Can someone call Brick?" he asked over his shoulder. Lemon snatched her arm away from him like his touch burnt.

"Don't you dare touch me! Did you know your little fancy piece has been runnin' around town with someone else? That's right everyone. Zoe Hart stole my George and not a day later was flirtin' with Wade Kinsella. She's a harlot."

Everyone was looking at her now. Zoe felt her eyes burning and she forced herself not to cry. Lavon took the lull in Lemon's outburst as an opportunity to bundle her out the door. Nobody else moved.

"It's not like that," she said quietly. People had begun to shake their heads and Zoe knew if she stayed a moment longer she was going to break down in front of most of the town. As she hurried towards the door the crowd parted for her almost as if they couldn't bear to be near her and she could feel hot tears spilling from her eyes even before she reached the door.

The tension did not dissipate with Zoe's exit. George still stood near the door hovering as if he couldn't decide whether to follow her or not and a few people glanced surreptitiously at Wade to see if he would. Wade had turned to face the door and while both men avoided looking at each other it was evident they were both waiting for the other to act. The tense silence was finally broken by Rose Hattenbargar who stopped to glare at both Wade and George as she stormed out after Zoe.

"Geesh! Men!" she shouted before slamming the bar door shut.


"Zoe! Zoe wait!"

Rose was panting slightly as she jogged up next to Zoe. "Gee you walk quickly when you're upset."

Zoe gave the teen a small smile.

"Hey Zoe do you need to talk?"

Zoe shook her head. How could she unload her problems onto a fourteen year old girl? Rose might be mature for her years but this was definitely an adult problem.

"I've got myself into a real mess Rose but I can't. I've got a really difficult decision to make."

Rose smiled at her. "I think right now you need to go to the Dixie Stop and buy a gallon of ice-cream. Then I'm going to share it with you and if you want to talk we can but if you don't we don't have too."

Zoe smiled and stopped walking to pull Rose into a hug. "Thanks" she whispered. Rose hugged her back tightly.

"Rocky Road or Cookie Dough?"


Zoe smiled as she pulled the covers over the sleeping Rose and tucked her in. She might only be teenager but sometimes the girl had more insight and understanding than most adults. Zoe picked up the last of the tub of Cookie Dough ice-cream and made her way out onto the porch. She curled herself into the chair and pulled her baggy jumper down over her knees. She was surprised at how her stomach fell when she saw the cabin across the pond was in total darkness. How was she supposed to make a decision when she knew for sure she would lose either George or Wade? She had wrongly wanted George for so long but now she could really have him she had begun to realise that Wade had always been there in the background. He may have been smirking and making suggestive comments but he had always been there, strong and steady.

The tub of ice-cream was lying empty on the porch floor when the sound of a car engine broke the calm of the night. She watched as Wade drove up to his cabin and parked. He must have spotted her from the car because he made no move to enter his own home but instead wandered almost nonchalantly over to hers.

"Hey" he said when he reached the bottom of her stairs, "You alrite?"

"Not really."

"Lemon's hurtin'. She'll calm down eventually."

"Eventually could be a long time coming. I don't think I can do the whole town hating me again. I haven't got the strength anymore."

Wade was on the porch in a heartbeat. "Course you have Doc. You won them over. They'll forgive you."

"Your being unusually insightful this evening," she said smiling up at him.

"There are many levels to Wade Kinsella," he smirked, "Care to unwrap a few more?"

"Wade" she said warningly but he was already there, his face swimming in her version. "Wade…"

Then he was kissing her and she forgot everything except his lips on hers, the feel of his hands as he wrapped his arms around her. Then he was lifting her up and she was wrapping her legs around him and he was carrying her towards her door.

"Wade…Wade" she murmured insistently. "We can't. Rose is in there."

He glanced back towards his own cabin but Zoe shook her head.

"I can't leave her by herself."

Wade groaned and slowly let her down to her feet. "Have you ever noticed how somethin' always gets in the way?"

"Maybe someone's trying to tell us something."

Wade's expression tightened and he took a step back from her. "There wasn't anythin' in the way of you and Golden Boy then?"

"Wade don't…" she pleaded. "You should go."

"Look Doc I ain't just fadin' into the background this time without a fight. You and I both know there is somethin' here now. But you know I ain't the kind of guy who's gonna sit at home pinin' till you make up your mind. So choose because this is what you'll be getting with me."

As he invaded her space again her heart raced and as he kissed her she thought it actually might beat out of her chest.

"So hurry up Doc" he murmured.