A/N - I cried writing this chapter. I hope it touches you the same way.

Chapter 12 Summer in Bluebell

Earl, Wade and Zoe had attended Jesse's graduation in Tallahassee a week after coming home from New York. Jesse had accepted a job offer in Atlanta at a commercial real estate construction firm. Haley and Jesse were still going strong. They also would continue their long distance relationship. Haley seemed to have changed a lot in the last 6 months since the championship game. She was still driven but had started talking more about marriage, kids and Jesse.

During the car ride home, Zoe was in deep thought.The Kinsella men were so genuine. I thought they both took after the dad but the more stories I hear about their mom, I am starting to see which traits come from Jacqueline and which from Earl. I had always assumed that Wade had gotten his saucy, quick wit from his Earl but it must have been Jacqueline. He definitely gets his insightfulness from his dad and it seems that his heart of gold comes from both.

The summer in Bluebell was hot and humid. Zoe felt like her eyeballs were melting. Her hair was frizzy most of the time but nothing some New York hair product couldn't cure.

Wade only had one month in Bluebell before he had to report back to tuscaloosa for football practice. He kept in shape but not how Zoe expected. She thought he was a weight lifter to get those muscles sculpted but not once did he ever lift a weight. Wade Kinsella worked, that is how he got that incredible body. He painted, did roofing, built a rock fence, carrying creek rock,a quarter of a mile from creek to cabin and basically anything that needed to be done, Wade could do it. One thing he always did was take a morning run with Zoe. They would run from his house to this enormous plantation house lined with large oak trees. Zoe joked that Wade could probably build it. " A little out of my league baby."

"You need to have more confidence. You can be anything you want."

"Wish I knew what that is.."

"I am sure it is every little boys dream to be in the NFL, is that what you want?"

"Zoe, I really don't know. Things are getting real. When I get back to Bama and if I end up being the starter, that's a lot of pressure. Everyone will just expect that the NFL for my future, if things go right. I just don't know"

"Hey you are the one that usually takes one day at a time, don't start being me. We can only have one Zoe in this relationship!"

They both laughed. "What do ya mean , our relationship? The world can only handle one Zoe Hart!" She punched him in the side and then held hands for a brief walk before running the 3 miles back to the house.

The 2nd week, Zoe called Lemon, she was ready to talk to Brick. She suggested they have dinner together. The dinner went well. There wasn't talk of the daddy thing, Just conversation. Brick asked if Zoe would want to come by the practice later in the week. Zoe did. He had a practice with an older man named Harley Wilkes. Zoe noticed in this medical practice, Harley was the old soul, healing in old ways and Brick was all about new techniques, more prescriptive medicines, etc.

"Zoe, would you like to come help out as a receptionist a couple of days a week? Harley's niece needs some time off. I know Wade will be leaving in two weeks for Bama?" questioned Brick

"Wow, yes, that would be fantastic!" Zoe answered excitedly.

Wade was right, Lemon was right. I have to break down my walls and open my heart to possibilities.

Wade would get to come home on a few weekends between July and mid August so the week before he left, they had a huge party at the Breeland home. Their best friends were all there; Lavon, Lemon, Jesse, Haley, and then all of Wade's friends , which was pretty much everyone. He was still great friends with George Annabeth, Jake, Matt, Vivian and they all showed up along with the rest of the town. The were celebrating their college graduates, their NFL player and most of all their Bama QB. Yes, this town cared more about the Crimson Tide than the NFL. Brick was celebrating having another daughter. It was a Bluebell kind of night.

Brick made an announcement that Zoe was his daughter.

Gasps everywhere. Whispers wanting to know the backstory

But then everyone clapped.

The Hayes announced that they would be moving to North Carolina with Lavon.

Annabeth found out that her boyfriend, Jake was cheating on her with a girl named Joelle.

George brought a girl named Tansy to the party. She was southern in the opposite way of Lemon. Lemon is what Zoe called Southern Proper. Tansy was like a southern Country Girl, not refined. She heard her yell at George " George Tucker, you are not God's gift to the ladies. You think we want some buttoned up stuff shirt? We want excitement. Someone that doesn't mind getting dirty. Let's do something spontaneous!"

Wade held Zoe's hand or had his arm around her waist virtually the entire night. He wasn't letting her go. He was going to hate leaving on Sunday. He was in love. Zoe came off brash and snobby to most of the townspeople that didnt know her. Well let's face it she came off the same way to those who did know here but she had grown on them. They knew there was a marshmallow underneath that hard chocolate coating. Wade worried a little what would happen when he wasn't in Blubell to soften her.

Earl had been sober all summer. Zoe and Wade met Earl at the Rammer Jammer for dinner. When they arrived he was slurring his words. Wade said, " ok ol man , let's get home."

Wade knew it couldn't last.

"No. No, we are having your going away dinner and that is final." Earl insisted.

"Dad, please."

"Wade, let's just order. He needs some food and coffee" said Zoe quietly.

" You listen to my future daughter in law. I just need some coffee, I ain't drunk!"

Zoe's eyes widened and Wade saw the fear in her eyes of the mere mention of "daughter in law". Wade could tell, the thought had never crossed her mind. His heart dropped.

"Ya know, how about if we all just go home!" Wade stormed out.

Zoe didn't know what to do so she decided to run after him.

She finally convinced him to come back. When they returned to their table, Earl was nowhere to be found. Wade asked Wally and the waitress Janet but no one knew.

"Wade, where could he be?"

"I don't know Zoe, this is my family. You don't have to deal with it. Just go to Lemons. That's your family!"

"No, I am here for you like you have been for me"

"He isn't your responsibility. He's mine, all mine now that Jesse has a permanent job. Now go. Ask Brick and Lemon if you can stay with them for the rest of the summer." Wade snapped. "Get in , I will take you over there."

Wade finally found Earl in the gazebo. It had taken him awhile because he could see him passed out drunk on the floor. Wade picked him up and threw him over his shoulder and placed him in the car. Wade took off his shoes and socks and laid him in his bed.

About an hour went by before Zoe knocked and walked in.

"Wade?"

"What?"

"I can't let you leave tomorrow without talking."

"Zoe, now you know what it has been like for me and Jesse since my mom died. I thought he had been sober since you were here last in January. I thought he had changed."

"Wade, he is sad about you leaving tomorrow. Jesse made a decision not to come back to Bluebell. He feels like he is losing everyone. I know how hard it is because that is what I do."

"You don't drink yourself to death."

"No but I put all my focus on one thing to escape the feelings, it's the same thing. Wade I will take care of him until I go back to college."

"No Zoe!, you won't."

"You can't tell me what to do, you are such a pig. Thinking a man has the right to order "his" woman around. I am my own woman, I may be screwed up but I make my own choices just like my mom and Ethan did"

"You just said Ethan instead of Dad. Does that mean you feel like Brick is your dad now?"

"Who knows? But we are forging a relationship. But your dad is more like a dad to me than anyone."

"Zoe lets not pretend we are family, we aren't and you don't wanna be. I saw your face when Dad called you his future daughter in law."

"So that's what this is about?" Zoe probed.

"Please go stay with Lemon and Brick and let's just part as friends." Wade felt like he was going to throw up. He was telling the girl of his dreams that it was over. The first and only girl he had ever loved like this.

"Don't do this Wade. We are good together."

"Not good enough for you to ever think of marrying me? Maybe I just need to go back to bein' me"

"What does that mean?"

"Just day by day, not thinking of the future, having fun, playing pranks," as his voice trailed off.

"You brought me to Bluebell and now you are breaking up with me?"

"I didn't bring you, you asked to come for more reasons than me. Go build your family, I DO want that for you Zoe. I just can't invest more of my heart into someone that can't even think of the type of future that I want, marriage kids, all of that."

Zoe felt as if a knife was being twisted in her abdomen. She had felt hurt but never so intense. She reached up to kiss him and tell him in a different way, a way that he likes so much, what he means to her but he slipped away from her.

"It can't be over Wade, we love each other"

"Sometimes love ain't enough, I guess."

"I am not leaving, I am staying with your dad if he will let me. I am going to prove to you Wade Kinsella that we belong together."

"Zoe you can't prove that to me when you can't even stomach the thought of being married to me?"

"Wade, we have been official for 6 months, dating/talking for 10 months, I just… Well I just had not thought about it."

"Well I hadn't either but if your mom would have said something about a son in law, I would have at least smiled. The thought that someone thought I was good enough for you alone, would have put a smile on my face, not a look of terror."

She grabbed him urgently and brought him close to her. "I am not letting you go. Can you just hold me? I know you will feel different tomorrow."

Wade couldn't resist her, that was the thing. He held her all night long without kissing, hands roaming or anything else. He didn't sleep much but when he woke, he glanced down at Zoe's hair laying across his arm and chest and kissed her on the top other hair. Then eased out of the bed, packed his car and was gone.

XXXXXXXX

Zoe was sobbing. Earl was trying to console her. "I am sorry, this is all my fault."

"Earl it isn't your fault but you have to quit drinking. You have wasted 10 years of time with your boys. I love you Earl and I can't take losing someone else. I mean, I guess I already have since Wade and I broke up"

"Listen pretty little lady, my son will come to his senses. He just about as hard headed as they come." he paused. "His mother was a lot like you, ya know? She was a teacher, working on getting her principal license. She was driven, she was focused, stubborn, but she was fun to be around. Wade gets all of that from her. But,he has a tender heart Zoe, he can handle anything but heart break."

"Earl, can I stay with you? Wade says I should go to Lemon and Bricks.?"

"That little lady is up to you. You are welcome here whether Wade is here or not."

Zoe texted Lemon

Z- Wade broke up with me

L- What? No! What happened

Z- I dont really even know. He just blew.

L- Tell me

Zoe said I will just call you too much to text.

She told Lemon the whole story.

Lemon said, " I told you Zoe Hart, that Wade Kinsella is like glass taped together with duct tape. Do you remember me telling you that?"

"Yeah" Zoe said, starting to cry once again.

"Wade gave you his heart, brought you into his family and you sripped the duct tape Zoe, the duct tape! Wade's emotional anguish

lays just underneath the skin and then when just the right combination comes along, he blows, Kablang."

" All because I looked frightened and uneasy about his father saying the words daughter in law. How can he break up with me for that? I just don't understand."

"It's gonna be ok, we will get through this together. Sisters stick together. I will call him tomorrow and put some sense into that head of his."

Zoe was comforted just a little. He would listen to Lemon.

Wade called his dad and asked if Zoe was still there. Earl said she was. Wade gave him an ultimatum, " Dad, I won't come home if she is there. You understand?

"

Zoe overheard him on the speaker phone.

Earl knew he was serious. When they hung up, Zoe walked in and hugged Earl. " I will go stay with Lemon." Earl nodded and continued to hug her.

Wade was buried in practice, conditioning and playbooks. At night, when all was quiet, he couldn't keep that future lil' doctor out of his mind. He hasn't called or texted her even though Lemon had threatened him. He meant it. He wanted to be with a girl that loved him just as much as he loved her. He wanted what his parents had before she had died.

Three weeks had passed without Wade texting or talking with Zoe. She had tried texting him but he thought it better to have a clean break.

Zoe was staying with Lemon and Brick, working almost every day at the practice doing something. She would go to Wade's house everyday to see Earl. Their bond kept growing. She loved Earl. He had good days and bad days but more good than bad.

Wade returned home late Friday night. He hadnt called to tell anyone he was coming. He walked in seeing Zoe and his father on the couch watching Top Gun. His mom had loved that movie. He just stared at them before finally saying "Hey"

Zoe was startled, wanting to run to him and wrap her body around his, but she knew he wanted the opposite. She smiled, not big but to let him know that she was happy to see him.

Earl got up out of his recliner and hugged his boy.

Wade dropped his bag in the den. "I thought I asked you to not let Zoe stay here?"

"I'm not. Please don't get mad at your dad. I am just hanging out."

"With my dad, Zoe? We aren't together anymore"

Earl stepped in to try and ease the tension. They were in love. Why was his son being so stubborn? "Son, sit down and tell us about Bama football."

Wade told them how practice was going and how everything was different now that he is a junior and expected to be a leader. Right now they were running him as the starter but hadn't been officially named. He expected to be but nothing in life was certain. Zoe asked if the receivers were any good. Earl asked if he missed Lavon being there. They talked and talked. It felt good. Wade did miss Lavon at Bama, he was a person that knew everything about him.

Earl left , mumbling something about the bathroom.

"So, how often do you come to see him?"

"Almost every day."

"Zoe, why? "

"Why Wade? Because we need each other, that is why. Whether you care about me or not, your father does. "

"Do you know what you are doing to me Zoe?" Wade put his left hand behind his neck and rubbed. Then he just dropped his head into both hands. "Can you see being with me for the rest of your life? " Wade was choked up.

"Are you asking me to marry you?"

"Damnit Zoe. no. It is a simple question."

"Thought you were going back to the old Wade?" Zoe snipped.

"Quit being a smart ass and answer." Wade said although he knew the answer wasn't what he wanted. His eyes were welling up a frog in his throat.

"Wade, I have thought about it as maybe far off into the future. There is so much I have to do, so many years of school left, it just isn't in my short term plan, maybe my long term, I don't know"

At this point, Wade's heart felt like it was being rung out like a swimsuit before you hang it up to dry. He tried to keep the tears from falling. He couldn't, maybe if he was mad but he wasn' was broken into pieces.

" I do love you Wade. I really love you."

" I believe you Zoe, I do. My short term plan or dream is to be married to you after school. We are in different places and I cant wait 5-10 years until you are POSSIBLY ready for a long term plan. The way I love you must not be enough and that kills me Zoe. I have never loved so deeply for anyone and I just can't look at you everyday knowing you don't feel the same way."

" But I do feel the same way, I am just not sure about marriage and all of that."

"Like I said before, sometimes love ain't enough. I am going to bed. It's good seein' ya. Lemon tells me your relationship with Brick is on track. I am truly happy for you."

"Wade before I go, I want you to know I am not giving up, no matter how long it takes." she said as she trickled her fingers down his arm.

Tears still in both of their eyes. He smiled slightly. He wanted to kiss her so badly. He knew he couldn't.

"I didn't see your car, do you need a ride to Lemons?" he asked.

"I walked."

" Let me take you home."

He drove her home and she placed her hand on his leg. He put his hand on top of hers out of habit and she interlocked her pinky finger in his thumb. It sent a shiver through him and he pulled away. She slowly got out of the car and he watched her walk away.