This morning wasn't much different than the previous ones. She always woke up at around 9-10 am. She began the day with breakfast at the hotel and then continued according to plan. Sometimes she met with some friends from med school she found were living there. She was hearing all their stories about the crazy hours they spent in hospitals, some as surgeons and some as private doctors. It was in these moments that she was so happy about where life took her. Her friends, however, had a hard time understanding the choices she made. Yes, she loved medicine. It was her destiny, to be a doctor. But what up until 3-4 years ago sounded like the worst thing that could have happened, turned out to be the greatest blessing, the best thing that happened to her. Being a family doctor in Bluebell undoubtedly changed her. It wasn't that she completely rejected the idea of working again as a surgeon at some point. But for now that was the right thing to do. The right place for her. "I can't believe that I won't be able to practice medicine in the coming year," she thought to herself.
Other days she spent wandering around the city, doing shopping. But at some point it became boring.
One day, she met with a friend from med-school, Amanda, who offered to help her find a wedding dress. "It will be fun," she thought to herself. But for some reason, she could not bring herself to try on even one dress. She always made excuses. "Not my style", "too expensive", "don't like the designer". After passing through 7 stores, Amanda gave up. "Zoe, I don't understand you. Trying on wedding dresses was one of the favorite parts for me when I got married," she tried to persuade her for the last time.
"I know, I just haven't seen anything that I really liked. You know what, I think I will have more luck in London" she wasn't sure who she was trying to convince here.
When she returned to the hotel later, Joel was there. Surprisingly, he finished work early and waited for her.
"Hey, how was your day?" He asked. She sat on the bed beside him.
"Good. I met Amanda, did some shopping," she pointed to the bags that were placed at the door
"You know, I think it's time for you and I to go out shopping together"
She frowned, "Really? I thought you hate shopping"
"Well, we have something specific to buy that I must be a part of " he said as he took her hand, touching the place on her finger where the ring should be, "So what you're saying, want to go buy an engagement ring at last?"
"Yeah, let's do it," she kissed him.
But here she is today, two weeks after that evening, three weeks after they arrived in Los Angeles, and still, no engagement ring. What really surprised her, she didn't care. Somehow she always turned him down when he tried to suggest they go to buy it. It was always something different, one time she was too tired, other time she wasn't feeling good or wanted to stay at the room watch some TV show.
Today she decided to change the atmosphere a little. She was looking for some peace, something she missed terribly in recent weeks. She decided to go to the beach.
Smeared with sunscreen and with sunglasses covering her eyes she put a towel on the sand and lay down on it. "That's nice," she thought.
"Ouch," she put her hand on her head. There were some guys who were playing nearby. One of them threw a ball that accidentally hit her head. She turned to see who it was and saw a man about age 20, blonde and well built. He approached her quickly, "Hey, I'm sorry!"
"It's all right, just… pay attention next time ..." She smiled gently
"I promise. Can I buy you a drink?"
"Oh, um… I have a boyfriend. but thanks for the offer"
"Well, if you change your mind, I'm a bartender at the ace hotel, I promise you a drink on the house," he winked at her and left.
Great. Just when she thought she was able to calm down and refrain from thinking it had to happen. And of course it had to be a bartender. Not that there's anything wrong with that, except that it reminds her of a certain person she was trying to forget. Well, it's not that it really worked, right? In recent weeks, she thought of him every day. Their recent conversations were particularly prominent. She was still trying to figure out what caused her to ask that question. Why did it matter at all? Her Thoughts took her a year or two back, another period when it seemed that a doctor and a bartender could do it. Could be a couple. a really good couple. So many things have happened since then. He is no longer a bartender, he is now the owner. He fulfilled his dream. Despite everything, she was really proud of him. She was trying to remember how exactly they got to this place. What was her part in the events leading to the ... no. She doesn't want to remember this moment, that particular moment that made everything go down the drain.
No, she did not want to think about it at all. She picked up her phone and looked through the contacts. She found the name she was looking for and called.
"Hello?"
"Huh ... Lemon?"
"Zoe Hart"
"What ... what are you doing with Lavon's phone?"
"He's busy at the moment with some important Fillmore-related issues"
"Oh. Okay ... So ...could you please tell him I called"
"Is that all? How's life in London?"
"I'm not in London yet, Lemon. I will be there next week. I'm still in LA."
"Good for you."
"How is everyone?"
"Everyone is fine. Lavon is fine, Annabeth is fine, George is fine, Daddy is fine, everyone's fine."
"Good, I'm glad" she stammered, "Give my regards to everyone"
"I will"
"Um, thanks," she almost whispered,
"Zoe"
"Yes?"
"He's fine too."
"What?" She tried not to give anything away in her voice. It wasn't working
Lemon giggled "Bye Zoe"
She sighed heavily and put her head on the towel.
"What is wrong with me ...? She asked herself.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Back in Bluebell, things went on as usual.
Lemon and Lavon tried their best to take care of Wade, he in turn took care to reassure them and say everything is fine. He spent most of his time at work. In the evenings he would sometimes sit with Lavon and George, drinking and playing video games
One day Lemon discovered that the famous food blogger, Walter Wallen was in the area and did everything she could to locate him and get him to write a review about Fancies. She asked Wade to come with her and after a day filled with ups and downs, both were able to get him to write a review about Fancies and the Rammer Jammer.
The impact of the review was felt in the next few weeks, the Rammer Jammer was packed with people every night, and business flourished. Contrary to what happened in the summer, Wade looked fine and behaved normally. Still, Lemon would not leave him alone, constantly trying to make him talk. But she failed.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Zoe and Joel sat in the airport waiting for their flight to London. When the time to board the plane came, Joel got up and picked up his bag from the floor. Zoe continued to sit and stare into the air.
"Zoe, Honey?"
"Mmm?"
He smiled, "Come on, they called us to board the plane"
She closed her eyes for a few seconds that felt like an eternity.
"Joel" She faced him and took one of his hands in her hand, "I can't"
"You can't?"
"I'm sorry, I can't come with you" Tears filled her eyes.
He looked at her a long time without saying a word.
"I was wondering when you would tell me"
"What?" She asked through tears
"Zoe ... At first I tried to ignore the signs ... but when you kept postponing the wedding arrangements and buying the engagement ring, it was too much. Then I realized"
She dropped her head down. "I'm sorry. Even though everything is complicated in Bluebell, it is still my home. It's where my heart is. Where I belong"
He squeezed her hand.
There was another call for the passengers to board the plane
He sighed. He pulled her into a hug and said goodbye to her.
"Hey Zoe… tell Wade I said hi"
She seemed surprised and turned pale
"Yes, I know"
"I'm sorry" She nodded
"Bye Zoe"
"Bye, Joel"
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Fortunately, she managed to get a ticket to fly out to mobile in two hours.
She made all the necessary arrangements to get her luggage back and waited for the plane.
She picked up her phone and dialed
"Lavon?" She sniffled
"Big Z? Is Everything OK? Are you crying?"
"Yes, no... I'm coming back... I land in mobile at 12am. Can you pick me up?"
"Yes, sure. I'll be there," he didn't ask questions. He knew there will be enough time for that later
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
"Thank you Lavon. I don't know what I'd do without you," Lavon picked her up from the airport. They were in his car, on the way back to Bluebell.
"I'm just glad to have you here again" he stretched his hand towards her and rubbed her back
"You know, I'm at peace with the decision I took. I just can't help but feel empty. I mean, I, I could have gone to London, But I chose not to. We could be together right now. But I just couldn't. It was me." They arrived to the plantation. She got out of the car, her head facing the gate house. She noticed the lights were off.
She sighed, "What if I made the biggest mistake of my life and let the right person just walk away forever?"
"Yeah, I think about that every day" he helped her take her luggage inside.
Zoe hugged him "we'll be okay" she whispered. He nodded. "Good night Lavon"
"Good Night Zoe. Welcome home"