"Take it easy, don't rush it." I told her as she climbed out of my car. Zoe had been released around 4, and now we were home. She rolled her eyes.
"Wade, I've got a concussion, not a disability." She slowly climbed the stairs to the house, but stopped on the third step and startled wobbling. I put my arms around her to steady her.
"See?"
"Sorry, I jut got a bit dizzy." She said and I helped her climb the rest of the stairs.
"Let's get you to bed." I told her and led her to the bedroom. I had set everything up so she would be comfortable. She settled in with her back resting on the headboard.
"Are you hungry? Can I get you anything?"
"Wade, I'm fine, I promise." She smirked.
"I just want you to be comfortable and help you out as much as I can. I just don't want you to overexert yourself or anything."
"Babe, look at me," she put her finger on my chin, "I'm okay. I'm better than okay actually, I'm perfect, here with you." She told me. I wouldn't take looking in her eyes for granted anymore because for those 24 hours when I didn't see them scared me too much.
"You know you really scared us." I patted her leg.
"Sorry, next time I'll make sure to do it better." She joked. Even with a severe concussion she didn't lose her sense of humor.
"You better not. But you were just lying there, motionless. It was almost like you were dead."
"But I'm not. I'm very much alive. You can't get rid of me that easily."
"Don't even say that. Now you should get to bed. I'll wake you up in like 2 hours after I make dinner or something, alright?" She nodded and I kissed her forehead. I turned out the lights and shut the door behind me. I quietly shut the front door and went over to Lavon's to see what I could make for dinner.
"Hey Lavon, you got anything I can-" I stopped short when I saw that his kitchen was filled with people and food. All eyes were on me.
"Uhh, what's going on?" I nervously shut the door behind me.
"They all brought something for you and Zoe, and decided to stay." Lavon looked at me with pleading eyes, but I didn't know how to get rid of them either.
"Oh, wow, uh, thanks, this helps solve the dinner issue then. All she was talking about the ride home was how she wanted a home cooked meal." I smiled nervously at them. I hadn't expected to be bombarded by so many people only minutes after coming home.
"How is she?" Shula asked me.
"She's good, tired, sore. She's actually resting now, that's why I left the house…"
"Well when can we expect to see her?" Dash asked over the crowd.
"Um, I don't know what her visiting hours are specifically, but I'd give it a few days so she can get some strength back. But since everyone's here, I actually had an idea and I know it's a lot to ask, but Zoe was pretty bummed that she missed Planksgiving, so I was hoping maybe we could recreate it, ya know? Like the music, the food, the festival, all of it?" Everyone seemed to love this, and promised to keep it a secret form Zoe. We planned it for Saturday, a little under a week. I grabbed a casserole and left Lavon to the company of much of the town.
"Hey baby, I have a casserole if you want to eat?" I whispered to her. Her eyes drifted open slowly.
"Wade Kinsella with a casserole? What has happened to the world?"
"Well practically the whole town is in Lavon's kitchen with about 900 different casseroles, so you're gonna get tired of them pretty quick. They were all asking about you."
"Oh god, I can not handle that right now." She said and rubbed the side of her head, sitting up.
"I know, that's why I told them to wait a while until they visit." She nodded and slowly stood up and I followed her to her kitchen. We ate the chicken casserole and had a lot of leftovers. Lavon was gonna be eating good this week.
"So how's the head?"
"It hurts, but it's not unbearable. My neck is still sore too."
"Well you can have more of those painkillers in like an hour, so that should help and put you right to sleep."
"I hope so, I'm exhausted." She said and rested her head in her hands.
"You don't have to finish if you're tired babe." I told her as I finished my last bite of casserole. She nodded and got up to take her plate to the sink.
"I got it, you go back to bed." I took her plate from her hands and motioned back to the bedroom. She smiled and went back to the bedroom. I heard the shower start and smiled. She had been complaining about feeling gross all day. I washed our plates and then turned the TV on. I watched a few episodes of The Office and then realized that I too was tired. I slowly cracked open the door of the bedroom and saw her sleeping right in the middle of the bed. I hated to wake her quite yet, so I just took the blanket off the back of the couch and drifted off to sleep.
I was woken up by my alarm two hours later because I had to wake her up and make sure that she was alert and everything. She wasn't a fan of this, but that's what you're supposed to do with a concussed patient. I slowly made my way into the dark room and stubbed my toe on the bedframe.
"Dammit." I quietly cursed and grabbed my toe.
"Yes I'm alive and yes I want to go back to sleep." She murmured and I took that as my cue to go back out to the living room. I crawled under the blanket and fell back asleep quickly.
"Zoe, you still alive in there." I asked when the next alarm went off. She just grunted.
"I'll take that as a yes."
"They tell me I need rest and then they make you wake me up every two hours. How am I supposed to get any rest?" She grumbled and I laughed.
"Think about what it's gonna be like with a baby?" I asked her and she just moaned.
"Nope, we're not having any kids. Sorry." She said and flipped over. I smirked and shut the door behind me. I wouldn't have to wake her up again, so I was glad to snuggle into my blanket on the couch for the night.
The next week was more of the same, with Zoe slowly improving. Her head was usually fine during the day, it just hurt when she went to lie down at night. I had been given access to the bed again, which made me happy. Her neck didn't hurt anymore, and she was even considering going to work on Monday. I was nervous that someone would spill the beans about Saturday, but here we were, Saturday morning, and she had no idea. AB had taken Zoe in the early morning to Mobile to do some shopping so we could set up. This time, there were no streamers coming from the gazebo, though. We used the same hay and pumpkins form last week because no one really got to celebrate. We had the stage set up and a local band was performing and Tucker might hop up there, who knows? Thee was a pie eating contest taking place in the gazebo in two hours, and the feast would start at 4. Everyone had contributed, bringing main dishes, appetizers, dessert, and drinks. All we were waiting on now was Zoe. I saw AB's car pull up and Zoe got out and looked around. Her eyes landed on me and she walked over.
"Did you have something to do with this?"
"Maybe." I shrugged and smiled.
"You are the best guy I could ever ask for." She said as she kissed me. We broke apart and she went to greet everyone else. They were just as excited to see Zoe as I was. They haven't seen her much since the accident unless they came over, but I think everyone wanted to give her her space.
"This is nuts, you guys did all of this for me?" She asked as she looked around. Everyone in town told her how glad they were that she was okay and right before we sat down to eat, she pulled me aside.
"Thank you, so much, for all of this. I really needed this. I finally feel like I'm actually a Bluebellian."
"You are now, crazy as the rest of us." She smiled and laughed, knowing it was true.
"Come on, let's eat." I led her to the very long table that had been set up, with Lemon heading it.
"If I could have everyone's attention before we start, that would be great," she started and waited for everyone to settle down.
"I would just like to thank everyone for their efforts in making today happen. I know how hard all of you worked, especially you Wade. So thank you all for allowing us to have a proper Planksgiving. To Bluebell." She raised her glass and toasted.
"That was strangely nice of her." Zoe whispered to me. I nodded before continuing.
"Well, she came to visit you twice at the hospital. She felt awful Zo, like she was to blame. She stayed all night at the hospital. She really was worried about you."
"Really? That's hard to imagine." She remarked and I couldn't blame her. Lemon hadn't been the most welcoming person to her. We started dinner as the band played behind us.
"Hey, I'll be right back, okay?" I said as I stood up from my chair. She nodded and returned to her conversation with Lavon. I walked behind the stage that we had set up and grabbed my guitar, which I had put there earlier.
"Alright guys, we're going to take a quick break, but we do have some other entertainment for you, someone who I was told that you guys are pretty familiar with." The band's lead singer said, and I knew that was my cue. I took a deep breathe and felt my pocket for what seemed like the thousandths time that day. George met me backstage with his guitar.
"Ready? It's now or never."
"Thanks, that makes me feel a lot better about this." I told him sarcastically.
"You'll be fine dude, you know she's going to say yes."
"Yeah, but I'm asking in front of the whole town."
"It's okay Wade. It'll be fine, now let's go." Tucker led his way out with two chairs and I had one in my arm. He set one of them up near the back of the stage, almost invisible to the public sight. I could tell that a few people were watching, but the only person I cared about was busy chatting away. I set up the two other chairs close, facing each other. George took his seat in the back and looked at me to start.
"Uhh, if I could have everyone's attention. I have something I'd like to say to someone. And it would be a lot easier if she was up here." I said into the microphone. Eveyone was looking at me now and Zoe was blushing, but her eyes stayed fixed on mine.
"Well come on!' I urged and she got up form her seat and came up on the stage.
"What're you doing?" She whispered so no one else could hear her.
"You'll see." I remarked and sat her down in the seat across from me. I took a deep breathe and looked in her eyes before looking down at my guitar. George had his in his hands, ready for me to start.
Forever can never be long enough for me
To feel like I've had long enough with you
Forget the world now, we won't let them see
But there's one thing left to do
By the time I finished the first verse, she knew what was happening. There were tears in her eyes already.
Now that the weight has lifted
Love has surely shifted my way
Marry me
Today and every day
Marry me
If I ever get the nerve to say "Hello" in this cafe
Say you will
Mm-hmm
Say you will
Mm-hmm
My eyes stayed fixated on her. Her beautiful face, her lips, her eyes, just like the night she came back to town. Her eyes didn't dare move either.
Together can never be close enough for me
To feel like I am close enough to you
You wear white and I'll wear out the words "I love you"
And you're beautiful
The tears were coming down her face now, but there was a huge smile on her face. That calmed my nerves a bit.
Now that the wait is over
And love has finally shown her my way
Marry me
Today and every day
Marry me
If I ever get the nerve to say "Hello" in this cafe
Say you will
Mm-hmm
Say you will
Mm-hmm
I put my guitar down, but Tucker kept singing and playing his guitar. I reached in to my pocket and pulled out the box. I got down on one knee.
Promise me
You'll always be
Happy by my side
I promise to
Sing to you
When all the music dies
"Zoe Hart since the day you came struttin' into town I've been head over heels in love with you. Even though you drive me up a wall most of the time, I'm happier than I've ever been and ever will be. Now, I can't give you a boathouse wedding like you've always dreamed of, but maybe we can have one even better. Marry me Doc, in front of all our friends and family, and make me the luckiest guy in the world."
And marry me
Today and everyday
Marry me
If I ever get the nerve to say "Hello" in this cafe
Say you will
Mm-hmm
Say you will
Mm-hmm
"Of course I will! Yes!" She said through her tears as she tried to calm herself down. I broke out in a smile and took the ring out of the box. I shoved the box back in my pocket and slid the ring on her small hand. She had a huge grin on her face.
Marry me
Mm-hmm
She sprung up from her chair and wrapped her arms around me. She was still crying, but they were happy tears. She leaned up and kissed me passionately, for everyone to see. It took me a while to realize, but the whole town was clapping. I was a bit embarrassed, but I didn't care, all I waned to do was kiss my fiancée.
"Wade, I can't believe this! Is this why you put all of this together?" She asked when we finally tore apart.
"Well no, I put it together after plan A was ruined." I chuckled and she beamed. The smile hadn't left her face.
"God, it's beautiful. Was it your mom's?" She looked down at the ring and ten back up at me.
"Yeah, I hope that's okay."
"I wouldn't want it any other way." She said and grabbed my face again and pulled me into a kiss.
"God you're amazing." I said as we tore apart. We both became aware that the entire town was still watching us, so we left the stage and when we were out of everyone's sight, she pulled me into another kiss.
"I love you so much! I can't believe this! We're getting married!" She exclaimed.
"I know, I can't wait. But we should probably get you home, this has been enough excitement for one day. You're still recovering remember?" I reminded her and her whole demeanor changed.
"Maybe we should get home for another reason." She winked and yanked at my shirt.
"I like the sound of that." I bit my lip and we headed back to the table to grab Zoe's purse and say goodbye to everyone.
"Zoe! I can't believe it! This is amazing! I can't wait to start planning the wedding!" Annabeth came running up to us. Her and Zoe jumped around a bit before continuing back to the table. After a round of congratulations from everyone, we were finally on our way home. I led her inside and she went into the bedroom and shut the door. Maybe I had read her comment wrong when she said "Go back for another reason." I sighed and sat on the couch, still immensely happy, even if she was in bed, alone. I turned the TV on a settled on some random show. I heard the door crack open.
"Well, are we going to consummate this engagement or what?" She asked seductively and I could practically feel my mouth water.
"Oh hell yes." I said and jumped over the back of the couch. I found her lying on the bed with a bunch of candles lit, wearing lingerie.
"Why didn't I do this sooner?" I asked myself out loud and she laughed. I practically jumped on top of her on the bed.
