Thank you all for reading and reviewing. It really helps to know what you think.
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Zoe arrives in New York and takes immediately a taxi to the hospital. The doctors fill Zoe in on her mother's condition. After that Zoe goes into her mother's room.
"Hello mom."
"Zoe, sweetheart! What are you doing here? Where are Wade and Oliver?"
"They're in BlueBell. I couldn't leave you all alone."
"You shouldn't have come. I'm fine. Well, I've been better."
"The doctors told me you're going to be released in a few days. I'll help you settling in at home and make sure you're not alone the first few days. How do you think you would handle that on your own?"
"Well, I'm glad you're here. Nevertheless. You must miss your two boys like crazy."
"I do. But a little father-son time won't hurt, right?" Zoe smiles as she looks at the picture on her cellphone screen that shows Oliver leaning against Wade's chest, looking over his daddy's shoulder at the camera while Wade plants a kiss on Oliver's temple. "Speaking of, I'm gonna call Wade and update him on everything, alright?"
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After a few days Candice persuades Zoe to fly back to BlueBell. Zoe refuses at first but agrees after she made sure that one of Candice's neighbors would take care of her. Wade and Oliver pick Zoe up at the airport.
"Aww, I don't know who to hug first!" Zoe says as she reaches the two of them.
"Look who's back." Wade tells Oliver who's holding Wade's shirt with his little hands. "Welcome home baby!"
Zoe kisses him and then Oliver. "I've missed you guys so, so much!"
Wade hands her Oliver to take care of Zoe's luggage. "How's your mom?"
"Much better already. And her neighbor Annie will help her with everything that she currently can't do on herself."
The drive to BlueBell is a calm one. Oliver's asleep in his car seat.
Wade pats Zoe's knee. "I'm glad you're back. Not an easy thing to be a single parent."
"I'm sure you were great with Oliver. Tell me what I've missed in BlueBell."
"It's BlueBell. What's there to miss out on? But wait until we're home."
"Now you've made me curious. What is it?"
"You'll see." He bites his lip to suppress a smile.
"Oh, come on!" Zoe says pouting.
At home Wade puts Oliver who has woken up on the baby blanket on the ground. "Alright Oli. Show your mommy what you've learned."
"What are you talking about Wade?"
"Give him some time. You'll see."
At that moment Oliver turns from his stomach onto his back.
"Oh my God! Wade he turned around!" Zoe exclaims.
Wade smiles broadly as he applauds his son. "Good job buddy!"
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"Because I knew it would have been even harder for you to be in New York." He wraps his arms around Zoe and presses her closer to him.
"My little baby! And I wasn't here when he turned around for the first time. I'll never leave him alone again!"
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Within the next few weeks everything goes back to normal. Zoe talks daily with her mother to see how she's doing but Candice is making great progress.
One day as Zoe's at work and Wade's at home with Oliver, Jesse visits him. "Hi Wade! What's up Oli!"
"Hey Jesse!"
"Do you need a hand?" Jesse asks when he sees Wade sitting in front of a laundry pile.
"Ugh, yes please."
"So how are you doing?"
"Everything's good. Did you get the job you applied for?"
"Yup. I'll start next month."
"That's great man!"
For a while the two brothers quietly fold the clothes.
"Ooh!" Jesse whistles when he catches one of Zoe's thongs. Wade snaps it out of Jesse's hands as he rolls his eyes. Oliver begins to cry to require a new pair of diapers.
"Hey, can I use your computer?"
Wade begins to change diapers and calls. "Sure. I think Zoe used the computer this morning and left it on the coffee table. Should be switched on."
When Jesse grabs the computer his gaze falls on the email which pops up on the screen. Jesse frowns as he skims over the text.
Wade comes with Oliver back into the living room and lays him on the ground.
"Uh Wade, I-I didn't mean to spy or something but this email just came in. Man why didn't you tell me?"
"Tell you what?"
"That Zoe gets a job in New York?"
"What?!" Wade shouts shocked and takes the computer out of Jesse's hands. He can't believe what he's reading.
"You didn't know?" Jesse asks uncomfortable.
Wade rubs his hands over his face. "No! Apparently, my wife has concealed this tiny piece of news."
"I'm so sorry Wade. I didn't mean to..."
"Yeah, it's not your fault. Don't worry."
When Zoe comes home Jesse hurries out of the house. "I better get going. Hello Zoe, a-and goodbye."
"Bye." Zoe says puzzled and then asks Wade. "What's wrong with him?"
"Nothing." Wade tells her.
Zoe shrugs and walks over to Oliver. "Hi Oli. How are you?" She strokes his head.
Wade picks Oliver up as Zoe wants to kiss him but she only catches Wade cheek slightly.
"I have to get Oliver to bed. He was up all the time. Must be exhausted."
"Okay." Zoe says as she looks at Wade astonished when he leaves the room.
When Wade returns he folds his arms and leans against the door frame.
"I brought dinner." Zoe lifts a bag. "Are you hungry?"
"Not really."
"Well I'm starving." She starts to unpack the food and tells Wade about her day. She notices how quiet Wade is and that he hardly talks. "Wade, what is going on? What's bothering you?"
Wade gets up and starts putting away the leftovers. "Me? I'm excellent. Maybe apart from the fact that you seem to accept a job in New York and don't even find it necessary to tell me." He looks at her clearly hurt.
Zoe drops her gaze to the ground and braces herself. "What are you talking about exactly, because..."
"No excuses!" Wade interrupts her. "I've read your emails."
"It's not what it looks like. I didn't plan this behind your back."
"Oh no?"
"No!" Zoe says upset. "When I was in New York, I accidentally saw my old boss. He wanted to know what I've been up to the last few years. We talked. And then he offered me a job as a surgeon. But I told him that my life is now in BlueBell. With you and with Oliver." She sighs. "When I got back he contacted me again and asked if a temporary job in New York would be an option for me since they're currently understaffed. And, well, I admit that I kinda like the idea of working as a surgeon again. It was my passion once."
Wade rubs his neck as he closes his eyes. "You don't have to feel guilty that you miss being a surgeon. But you should feel guilty because you haven't told me anything." He pauses. "We're married. How do you think that works? You think you can just decide whatever you want?"
"I, I..." Zoe stutters.
"I won't allow it."
"What do you mean you won't allow it? We have to decide it together."
"Now you want to decide it together? Just like we decided together that you're not telling me? You just present it to me as a fait accompli?"
By now Zoe is angry as well. "No reason to be mean! You make it sound so much worse than it actually is!"
"Oh now I'm the evil one?"
"Yes!"
"W-what? You've gotta be fucking kidding me! So you're saying you really gonna take this job?"
"Maybe!" Zoe replies defiantly.
"Well then go take it!"
"Fine!"
Wade turns on his heels and slams the front door when he leaves the carriage house. Zoe starts crying and collapses on the bed. Later that night she tries to call Wade but he doesn't answer the phone. That's when she begins to worry about him.
