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Lavon drove Wade and Zoë back to the plantation. Due to Zoë's condition he drove back to the carriage house instead of making her walk the distance. "How long are you two staying in Bluebell"? Lavon asked while he helped Wade unload the suitcases.
"Indefinitely" Zoë grumbled as she walked past him with one of the smaller suitcases.
"Indefinitely? Don't get me wrong. I'm glad to have both of you back in town but don't you have a fellowship to finish, Zoë"? Lavon asked surprised.
"I do but genius over there decided to show up in New York unexpected. He has a panic attack and passes out in the middle of the hospital thus causing me to go into pre-term labor". Zoë finished giving Wade a pointed look.
"If someone had told me that she was pregnant with my child, I wouldn't have had a panic attack in the middle of the hospital to begin with". Wade returned Zoë's pointed look with one of his own.
"Do what"? You two better start this story from the beginning." Lavon demanded.
"I showed up at the hospital. I saw that Zoë was pregnant and I had a panic attack. Zoë went into pre term labor. The baby is fine". Wade reassured Lavon. "Zoë was called by an intern the night I took her home from the hospital to come back and do a surgery. I told her no. She left anyway. Then she promised to come back to Bluebell and stay here until Brick released her to go back to New York". Wade finished.
"Wow, that was an exciting trip but you know the whole Brick releasing her thing might back fire on you, Wade". Lavon pointed out.
"We should go see Brick. Now". Zoë said in a hurry to get back into the navigator.
"Thanks a lot, Lavon". Wade said closing the back gate to the navigator.
"My bad" Lavon said sheepishly before he walked to go get into the driver side seat of the navigator.
As they drove through town Zoë looked out the window at everything that she didn't know she missed. The little town of Bluebell was so beautiful because of the small population and pride of the citizens. People would stop in the middle of their trips to different stores and talk to everyone they ran into. Everything was so simple here, which probably made it the perfect place for raising a child.
Lavon parked the SUV by the medical practice. Lavon climbed out of the vehicle at the same time as Wade. Wade opened Zoë's door and helped her climb down out of the vehicle.
Zoë took in a breath as she looked up at the practice. This was another part of Bluebell she didn't realize she missed. Zoë lead them up to the front door and inside to see Brick. Zoë walked straight to the front desk.
"Hey Adie" Zoë said with a smile.
"Hey Zoë" Adie returned in confusion.
"Could you let Brick know he has a new patient"?
"OK, what's the patient's name"?
"Dr. Zoë Hart". Zoë said while looking anywhere but at Adie.
"You are going to be a patient of Brick's"? Adie asked in shock.
"I have no choice. Wade is making me".
"Why on earth would Wade Kinsella bring you back from New York to become a patient of Brick's"? Adie asked with disbelief that Wade was making her do this.
Zoë stepped back from the counter so that Adie could get a good view of her stomach. Adie's jaw hit the floor.
"Please tell me that you ate a ridiculous amount of pizza when you got back to New York and that is not what I think it is". Adie pleaded.
"Do you honestly think I would come back here if I had gained this much weight? I would be the talk of the town in no time flat not that I won't be soon enough because of the real reason I am here". Zoë said exasperated.
"Ok, I'll go let Brick know. Have a seat". Adie said before she stepped towards Bricks office.
Zoë went and sat next to Wade and Lavon in the waiting area. "What are you two smiling at"? Zoë said grumpily.
"Nothing, we were just thinking that if watching you tell Adie was that entertaining, we should go get popcorn for when you tell Brick". Wade said trying not to laugh too hard.
"I can't believe that I have to raise a child with you". Zoë said turning in her seat to face away from Wade.
"Zoë, I'm sorry. No one expected this from the responsible doctor and so their reactions are quite amusing. Everyone expected this from me and is probably surprised that it took this long". Wade tried to sooth Zoë.
"I know. I feel like an irresponsible teenager every time I have to tell someone". Zoë said with guilt.
Wade and Lavon were laughing as Adie came out in to the waiting area. "Brick wants you to come back. He has one of your old patients and he needs a hand". Adie said with a somber look.
All the laughing stopped in an instant. Zoë scrunched her face in thought of who would be giving Brick any trouble. She walked over to the examining room and knocked on the door. Brick told her to come in. Zoë opened the door and quickly shut it behind her when she saw Earl Kinsella.
"Pretty Lady" Earl exclaimed with a smile.
"They call me Zoë for short". She tried to return Earl's smile but couldn't.
"Wade's hearts going to be broken when he sees you". Earl said after doing a once over.
"Damn hormones". Zoë said in frustration as she wiped her face. She knew there had to be something wrong with Earl for him to give Brick a hard time.
"Zoë" Brick said quietly to get her attention. He then handed her Earl's file.
Zoë read over his list of symptoms: numbness in the legs, problems urinating, nausea, vomiting, and speech impairment. Most of Earl's symptoms are associated with being drunk or hung over. It was the numbness in the legs and problems urinating that made Zoë lean towards another diagnosis. Zoë then found a set of lab results in his file. Earl had a deficient level of : vitamin B1, vitamin B6, , Vitamin B12, vitamin B3, vitamin A and folic acid. Zoë closed her eyes before she announced her conclusion. "Alcoholic neuropathy".
Earl looked from one doctor to the other waiting for an explanation. "Well, what is that"? Earl said with his loss of patience.
Zoë took a deep breath before she went into complete doctor mode. "Alcoholic neuropathy is a disease connected with constant alcohol abuse that is distinguished by damage to the nervous system. It can affect nerves anywhere in the body. The exact cause is unknown but it is thought to result from alcohol-related nerve damage, as well as poor diet and vitamin deficiency, which are linked with excessive drinking".
"You sounded like you were reading it right from a text book". Earl said in amazement.
"It's called detachment. It's hard to tell Wade's father that he drank himself into nerve damage". Zoë said frustrated.
"Zoë get off your feet and have a seat at my desk". Brick offered before they went into treatment options.
Zoë went and sat behind Bricks desk and absent mindedly starting rubbing her stomach. She tried to think of how she could possibly tell Wade about his father's condition. Zoë knew they were not going back to New York any time soon now.
"I can schedule you to have a nerve test in Mobile. They will test your nerves to see how much damage there is in your body. We can also start you on vitamin supplements and pain control medication". Brick told Earl.
"Let me think about it and I'll get back to you". Earl said as he jumped down from the table and left.
Brick turned around to give Zoë a huge smile. "So, how is my newest patient feeling today"?