Happy Friday everyone! I hope every has a good weekend! This story ended up being five extra chapters longer than I had originally planned for this story. Again this chapter might feel a bit rushed to get everything cleaned up. I promise you that it's not how I planned on writing it when I sat down to write or while I was writing it.
Happy 4th of July weekend to my fellow American's. I do hope you have a fun and safe holiday weekend planned. To those of you that live elsewhere, I hope that you have a fun weekend ahead of you.
Thank you for all of the love and support with this story. Every review, every favorite, and every follow means the world to me. Thank You!
Enjoy!
Slowly over the months, Wade had been the shoulder Zoe needed when days were long and hard. She remained there for her dad, remaining strong for him, even when the outcome looked bleak, she was there. It was when she was with Wade that she would break down, in the dim light of the moon when they sat on the back porch or the dim light they used when sitting in his living room hours after Alex went to bed.
After a few months, they went from being friends to being best friends. With the potential for more. Something they both wanted, shared their thoughts with each other, with the promise that what they had to confess wouldn't ruin the friendship they created. It didn't, if anything it pulled them closer together. They have yet to act upon those feelings, for reasons they're just not quite so sure of.
Before Wade could say that it was because he wasn't over his late wife, is now, thanks to Zoe and his friends. He'd say it was because he wasn't ready to start a new life with the risk of losing Zoe at some point. He's not, but because the fear of losing her is bone crushing, but he knows that it would be worth it. Furthermore, he'd even say that it was because of Alex. And that's not the case at all! Alex loves Zoe, as she loves Alex. He's overheard his son slip up and call Zoe mom, it pained him in many ways and yet, it still brought a smile to his face.
The day that Harley was declared to be in remission, Zoe invited Wade and Alex over for dinner, wanting to celebrate with them as Wade had been there for her while she's been there for her dad. It only seemed right. With the time, they've spent together the one thing she's learned is that no matter the situation Alex always comes first, not only with Wade, but she's found that she does it as well. It's not hard to feel her heart full of the love she has for the little boy or his father. Even easier when she wants to spend the day with them because they have a day free, and she finds something Alex will like that she takes the both of them to, to surprise the little boy. She will forever want to see Alex happy. No matter how many times, Wade will waste his breath on saying she doesn't have to. She wants to, and she's not going to stop.
With her dad happy and healthy once again, she dived into her practice getting it going and finding that even with Bluebell being a small town, they have been able to keep her in business, helping her flourish. It does help that she always promises before and after an appointment that she can't repeat what has been said inside the four walls of her office. That always puts them at ease. And she can see why. Everyone in Bluebell loves their gossip and with her holding on to everyone's problems, she can easily spread it all around town.
The one thing she thought she wanted when it comes to her work, she doesn't feel that way any longer. For a long time, she wanted to have her own little building to house her office. Thought about turning part of the carriage house into her office. But the more time she spent at the practice, she liked it and decided that she was right where she was supposed to be. Having the office upstairs is nice. To have her dad on the ground level where she can just pop into his office, it's been nice. And like Harley tells her, the practice will always be hers. So, why move her office elsewhere?
"Have you even been listening to me?" Wade asked amused, topping Zoe's glass of wine off.
"Uh, sorry," she laughed, shaking all the thoughts of the past from her mind. No point in reminiscing about the past when she can live in the here and now. "What were you saying?" She asked with a flirty smile.
"I was saying or asking if you wanted to go out on a date," he told her. "But I guess with you daydreaming and thinking of other things, I've got my answer," he teased, winking.
"If you believe the answer is a no, you'd be wrong," she smiled, a faint blush covering her cheeks. "When will this date be and what will be the appropriate type of clothing to wear for said date?" She asked, sipping at her wine.
Wade winked, tossing the rag into the bucket. The Jammer has been officially closed for the night for the past hour. Zoe often stays late to help him clean, other times drinking a glass of wine to keep him company while he cleans the place up.
"There's this little movie playing in the Fairhope, Coeur Sauvage," he smirked, getting the name of the movie right for the first time.
"Don't you mean cured sausage?" She teased with a smirk. Finding it cute that he had a hard time getting the name of the movie she's been wanting to see right.
"Make fun all you want," Wade stated. "And I won't take you," he smirked, watching her pout.
"Wade, I would like to go on this date with you," she smiled softly. They've spent time together alone and with Alex. Yet, they haven't acted on the feelings they have told each other they have. They've been very respectful in waiting for the other person to be ready.
"We will pick you up in exactly ten hours," he said, glancing at the clock.
"And why will you and who, I assume, is Alex be picking me up at 1 in the afternoon?" She asked, quickly doing the math in her head.
"Because he wants to take you to the place I promised I would keep a secret for him," he smirked. It was all Alex's idea, wanting to surprise Zoe in the ways that she has been surprising him. Alex just needed a little help from Wade to do so.
"Then I won't ask," she smiled, moving from her spot to clean the glass she used, while Wade cleaned the spot she sat.
With the way they act, it may seem like they are dating, but like all of Bluebell will tell you, is that they are just that close in their friendship. And this date means that they are moving past the invisible line of them not being ready to move on from their pasts. It may have taken them some time to get here, but they felt it would be better not to rush into things and ruin what they have. It made more sense to take things slow.
When they showed up at a ceramic place to paint cups and other little knickknacks, Zoe smiled and helped Alex paint the little bear bank in an array of every color of the rainbow. Zoe picked out a mug to paint, Alex adding his touches to it. Wade too picked a mug, getting his input from Alex. And together they found a decorative plate to paint. Each of them getting ⅓ of the plate to paint. It didn't match in the slightest. Wade painted a beautiful sunset, Zoe trying and failing a bit for a skyline view of New York and Alex trying his hardest, his face scrunched up as he painted a dog, giving his dad a hint that yes he still wants a dog for his birthday.
It took a few more months, after Alex's 7th birthday, in which yes he was given a dog, or more like he was able to go to the shelter in Mobile to pick one out. Alex went for the dog that had been there the longest, wanting to give him the chance to have a home. Knowing he didn't have long to live. "He needs to be loved, like Mom was," his reply when Wade asked if he was sure. He didn't cry, even if he certainly cried over his son's answer. After that, it took them a bit to exchange I love you's because they had time.
It certainly wasn't a happy ever after. They have their days that are filled with an endless amount of laughter and good times. And you have the days that everything goes wrong, and they fight over the stupid things. He wanted to avoid fighting with Zoe over anything, he knows that he can't keep from fighting with her. She helped show him that it was the fear of losing her the way he had lost Olive rationalizing for him. So, they fight over the little things, so they don't pile up on them. They always make up, and they refuse to go to bed while mad at each other. They always talk things through, something Zoe made him do at first, and now it's something he'll gladly do time and time again.
It was just after their first true anniversary of 3 years, when he was simply a stranger sitting in her bar in the city, that they learned they were having a baby. Alex was more thrilled to be given the chance to have a sibling. He wanted a sister, not a brother. "So I can protect her from the evil of boys, dad," he would sigh every time Wade would ask why he wanted a sister. His answer never changed throughout the 9 months.
Alex got his wish with the birth of Chloe Jaqueline Kinsella. Their little family of four feeling complete. Alex proving to be the best big brother he can be. He made sure to keep his promise of protecting her from the evil of boys as they grew through the years. Annoying Chloe on more than one occasion as teens.
It's messy, but love isn't easy. The messier their love is, the happier they seemed to be. They wouldn't take it any other way or change it. Their love is theirs. Why change what works?