Hey guys
Thank you so much for your thoughtful reviews. Keep them coming! J
As for the letters – Wade read only a few. I promise he'll read the rest. Just not in this chapter.
Sorry for my English mistakes
Enjoy!
The Weeks that have passed from the moment she came back from Atlanta were difficult for her. The Town's people more or less understood that something had happened, but everyone tried not to remind her about him. Still, it was quite difficult because his presence was still there everywhere in Bluebell. She was relieved that at least she didn't have to see him every day because it would break her.
And here she was today. A week since he returned suddenly from Atlanta. A week from the moment he entered the Rammer Jammer and she couldn't stand it and just slipped away quietly. She knew that he saw her, but she couldn't deal with it at that moment. And this week she did everything she could to avoid him. She didn't know to explain why, but the thought of seeing him, talking to him made her feel mixed feelings.
She sat on the couch in her home when there was a knock at the door.
"Big Z, are you dressed?" He shouted outside
"come in, Lavon" She chuckled to herself, "What's going on?"
"You tell me. He has been here for a week now and you haven't talked. You weren't even in the same room together"
She sighed, "Don't you start. I already heard everything from Lemon"
"Good, because we can't understand you"
"There's nothing to understand. The ball is in his court now"
"But how does he supposed to do something if you keep on running all the time?"
"If it's so important to him, he'll find a way," she murmured
"Right ... Anyway, this is yours" He handed her a package
"What is this?" She asked while starting to open it "Oh"
"Yes ..."
"He gave them to you?"
"Yes. He wanted to return it to you himself, but ... you know. Anyway, he says that it doesn't belong to him ... it's yours. Lemon had no right to intervene and he didn't want to read it without you approving. .. "
"There are some open envelopes" she raised an eyebrow
"Well, you cannot blame him ..."
She nodded and smiled sadly to herself.
"Thanks Lavon"
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
No one really knew why he came back. On the one hand he said he came to see his father. But his father felt better already. Others thought he was coming to check on the Rammer Jammer. But people close to him knew exactly what the reason he was back in Bluebell was.
The first two days he tried to talk to her, get to her somehow. It didn't work. In retrospect, he was grateful because he had no idea what he was going to say. In the following days he decided to give her some space, he thought that time would help and she would come to him when she's ready.
"You have to do something before it's too late," Lemon noted in his face. They sat in Lavon's Kitchen and prepared breakfast. He hoped that she would also come, but like last week, she was nowhere near there.
"What do you mean too late? What do you know Lemon? He said, his voice concerned
"I don't know anything, really. But she will not wait for you forever. It's not fair to her"
"What do you want me to do? I'm trying, she runs away from me"
"maybe You didn't try hard enough."
"I don't know what else to do"
"First of all, go to Brando Wilkes' wedding"
"I don't know ... I like Brando and it was nice of him to invite me, but ..."
"But nothing. This is your chance"
He sighed to himself. He knew Lemon was right.
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Zoe stood on the side of the room and watched them all. The wedding ceremony was beautiful and at this moment she was so happy that she got the chance to meet that side of her family. She saw in the distance Vivian Charles and little Harley. They looked happy, looked like they were a united family. Her thoughts were interrupted at the moment when someone tapped her on the shoulder. She turned back
"Joel!" She exclaimed enthusiastically. She was really happy to see him. She wasn't surprised that he was there, of course, it was his grandmother who got married. "I didn't see you"
He laughed, "Yes, I noticed. You were engrossed in the ceremony." She blushed slightly. "How are you?" He smiled warmly
"I'm fine. What about you? How is London?"
They spoke for several minutes, laughing and telling experiences. As if nothing has changed, the friendship part of their relationship always worked fine.
Her eyes suddenly caught him standing across the room, staring at her intently. It seemed like her heart stopped beating as she stared back, trying to read his look. She thought that there was a bit of angry note to it, but she couldn't say for sure.
He felt stupid. About how he got there, about how he stared at her. About The fact that he wanted to see her. There he was, seeing her with her ex-boyfriend, from whom she recently separated, standing relatively close, both smiling. He felt frustrated.
Joel noticed that she was distracted and saw the reason. Zoe put her hand his arm "I'll talk to you later. It was good to see you"
She moved across the room, to the place where he was standing.
"What are you doing here?" She almost whispered. She knew her uncle loved him very much, but she didn't think he would actually come.
"Your uncle invited me"
The answer he gave her didn't satisfy her, and he knew it.
"So. You and Joel," he said in his bitter tone
"Don't. Don't you dare even" she said firmly, trying to keep a calm face
"Shakespeare wants you back"
She opened her mouth to speak, but decided not to. She grabbed his hand and pulled him along.
"Wade, my friend," Joel called and grabbed Wade for a hug.
"Joel" Wade couldn't deny that he was glad to see him. He was very fond of Joel, despite everything.
"How are you, buddy? I hear you're in Atlanta now, that's great!"
"Yes ...well, now I'm here again" he said almost quietly and didn't elaborate. It was the first time he mentioned something about it.
"Oh, Wade, I want you to meet my date," Joel introduced him to the girl standing next to him, "Carly. Carly, Meet Wade, he's the inspiration for my new book. Wade, Carly and I met on a campaign to promote the book and you know, we just clicked" Carly and Joel looked at each other, both smiling
Wade felt stupid. "Nice to meet you." He smiled sincerely. He felt ... guilty.
Suddenly he saw Zoe trying to make her way through the crowd.
"Go," Joel gestured for him. Wade nodded to him and followed her.
"Zoe," he called her. She didn't turn and went into an empty room. He rushed after her.
"Stop it. What the hell was that, Wade? You and Joel." She repeated it as if it disgusted her
"I'm sorry okay? I ... I was Jealous"
"You have no right to be jealous. You didn't want me, remember?"
He shut his eyes and sighed
"I'm tired of us always hurting each other. And for the life of me, I can't figure out what you want"
"Maybe I just want some time"
"I gave you enough time," she snapped, the anger in her voice surprised him "a month. It wasn't enough for you to figure out your feelings"
"Zoe ... I never denied what I feel. You know what I feel. But there is more than that. It is not just that"
"Yes, yes, you don't trust me. We've been there, remember?" She waved it
"Can you just listen to me?"
"What do you want, Wade?" She took a deep breath, trying to keep the tears from coming out
"I came here hoping to see you, okay? I hate what we are now"
"It was your decision." She said in a choked voice
"It wasn't"
"Yes it was" she shot back, this time aloud.
"You know, it's funny. I sat one evening in the bar in Atlanta. I looked around; I saw how the place I helped create has become so successful. And all I could think of at that moment was all you told me when you were there. And at that moment I knew I couldn't stay there more. Because it didn't make sense without you. So I left"
"Why would you do that?" She narrowed her eyes, she looked tired
"You know why"
"Wade ... What are you saying?" She asked. She didn't dare to hope that what he was saying was what she wanted to hear, but she also prayed that it was.
He approached her and put his hand on her cheek. And then everything exploded. The tears began to flow from her eyes
"You are the love of my life, Zoe Hart. There's nothing in the world that I'm more sure of. I ... I just need some time. Please"
She nodded. Her face showed every emotion she experienced ever.
"Okay ... but you'll have to do something for me in return"
"Ok ... What is it?" He said apprehensively
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
They stood at the entrance to carriage house.
"Wait here," she went inside, he was still trying to figure out what she wanted him to do for her
She came out a few minutes later
"Here, take this," she gave him back the stack of letters: "I want you to read the rest"
"Are you sure?" He whispered
"Yes. Promise me you will read everything"
"Okay, I promise. Goodnight Doc" He kissed her on the cheek
"Good night Wade" she smiled as she watched him go away.