Happy Tuesday! I hope everyone had a good weekend.
Enjoy!
"You know, I'm not surprised in the least," George said, as they sat at a café in Mobile, Sofia playing a game on her dad's phone as they waited for their food to arrive.
"Not surprised that he finally moved home?" Zoe asked, dreading this topic of conversation. They had ridden together to Mobile for lunch, it didn't make much sense for them to take two separate cars when they would be going and coming from the same place. A good chunk of the drive had been Sofia filling her dad in on how much she likes Wade and how he's her very best friend, 'still not more than you dad,' to assure George that he hadn't been replaced in his daughter's life. "We all knew at some point that he would return," she stated, looking at her daughter instead of at George.
"That's not what surprises me. He actually stayed gone longer than I would have thought," George sighed. "I mean the fact that Sofia loves him, I shouldn't be surprised by that," he stated. He has no problem with his daughter being friends with Wade. Having spent a good portion of his life with Wade and Zoe, he could see how they cared for each other. How if they let themselves they could have been happy together. George isn't so sure about it now because he hasn't had the chance to see Wade and Zoe interact with each other. Hasn't even seen them in the same place. Heck, he's barely said 10 words to his former friend since he learned he was back home, a week ago.
"And why's that, George?" Zoe asked, trying to keep her emotions of it all under control.
"Because he's been a big part of your life, and I am sure at some point in the future you two will be back to that point," he shrugged. "And it's nice to know that Sofia likes him, as it makes things easier," he informed her.
That statement alone floored Zoe. She doesn't know what the future holds for her and Wade. She hasn't thought about it. The only thing she has thought about when concerning Wade is how they can get their friendship back to where it once was. The very last thing on her mind has been dating. Though now that it's in her head, it's nice to know that Sofia and Wade get along, and it's one of those things that won't have to be worried over. Dating without having a child is hard enough at times, but it's another level when you do have a kid. It's not just about her, but it's about Sofia as well, and she won't ever put anyone over her daughter. Sofia will always come first. And those few times they've been together, as awkward as they were, he'd been excellent with Sofia.
"There's a lot that needs to be worked out where Wade is considered before I even think about what the future looks like," Zoe told him. "We're barely friends these days and right now, I just want to rebuild that part of our relationship," Zoe stated, wanting to be done talking about Wade and what her feelings are towards him.
"Fair enough," George nodded, taking his phone from Sofia as their food was placed in front of them. He took to helping Sofia get some ketchup on her plate for her fries and no doubt for the grilled cheese sandwich she wanted. "I know it's short notice, but I will be out of town next week," he shared between bites of his food.
Zoe nodded, glancing at her daughter, wondering what she would have to tell her when her daddy didn't show up for one of the many play dates in the afternoon. She gets it, work can't always be put on hold because you want it to be. However, she hates when things have to be rearranged when it comes to Sofia.
"I hate it and I tried to do everything I could to push it back," he sighed. He has always made his schedule work around the time he has with Sofia, this is the first time it hasn't worked out that way. "I was thinking she could come spend the week with me in Nashville," he told her.
Zoe sighed. She doesn't like when Sofia can't spend time with her father. Normally, George gets her when he's in Bluebell, and he has more than a few hours to spend with her. With it being summer, George gets her every other week, it's something that has worked for them and still does. During school, George would be the one to pick her up, and they would spend a few hours together before he'd bring her home. Except for the days he needed to be in Nashville. He's been travelling between Bluebell and Nashville, setting his office up in Bluebell. He tried to live in Nashville, but he didn't like being that far away from his daughter. It took him a while to figure things out and once he had, it was like a weight was lifted off his shoulders.
"I don't know," Zoe sighed. She doesn't have a problem with Sofia going with George for the week. She'd miss her little girl, and she doesn't know how a week without her daughter would be. It'd be different from when George had her in Bluebell because she'd still see her daughter on the streets. This time there will be miles separating them. "How'd that work? With your meetings, where would Sofia be?" Zoe asked. She'd need to know more details before agreeing to anything.
"Annabeth is going to be with. She's more than happy to spend time with Sofia while I need to be in the office. I wouldn't ask if it wasn't important to me," George sighed. "I want to avoid disappointing her. You know that feeling, I know you do," he told her.
"That I do," Zoe sighed. "I am okay with it, but it has to be something Sofia wants to do because I won't make her go if she doesn't want to," Zoe told him.
"I'm not a monster, Zo," George stated, rolling his eyes. "I would never make her do something she doesn't want to do," he told her, turning his attention to his daughter. "Sofia, sweetie," George said, gaining the attention of his daughter. He knows that she had overheard everything they had said. "How would you like to come with Daddy to Nashville for a whole week?" He asked.
"What about Mommy?" Sofia asked, looking between her parents.
"Mommy would stay home in Bluebell. It'd be a special trip with you, Daddy and Annabeth. Is that something you would like to do?" Zoe asked, giving her a smile, letting her know that she is okay with her saying she wants to go with George. Zoe won't be the reason why Sofia won't do something. She wants her daughter to go and have fun, whether that is with her or with George.
"Okay," Sofia nodded, giving her parents a bright cheesy, ketchup smile. "I go, Daddy," she smiled, stuffing a fry into her mouth.
"We'll have lots of fun," George promised her. "I will find other things for her to do that have an educational feel to them," he promised Zoe. They would have plenty of fun and learn something while they were doing it.
"I don't doubt that," Zoe smiled. "Just take care of her and show her a good time," she said, putting a smile on her face. She's going to miss her daughter greatly, but she won't stop Sofia from going and having a fun time with her dad. Sofia needs to spend time with George too, and she won't deny her daughter that time to make memories with George.
"Since when do you bartend?" Zoe asked, taking a seat at the bar, letting Wade pour her a glass of wine.
"Since this morning," he told her. "Where's your mini me?" He asked, with a slight frown. He has yet to see Zoe go anywhere without Sofia with her.
"Spending the night with George. She wanted to hear all about the things they can do in Nashville for the week," she informed Wade with a sigh.
"From that tone, I am going to guess she's never been so far away from you for quite so long," he stated.
"She hasn't," Zoe confirmed. "And I don't know what I am going to do when she leaves," she frowned. She thought about jumping into more work at the practice, but in reality that wouldn't be much extra work to begin with.
"I would think it would be a perfect time to spend it with your friends, kid free," Wade commented. Zoe shook her head.
"Annabeth is going with George and Sofia, Lemon is headed to see her grandmother with Magnolia, and Crickett is headed somewhere with her girlfriend," she told Wade, telling him that her friends are busy and won't be in town, so her schedule will be wide open.
"There's a lot to unpack in that sentence," Wade commented, leaning across the bar top on his forearms. "Crickett has a girlfriend?" He asked, Zoe nodded her head to confirm yes she does.
"Everyone thought Stanley was gay, and they were going to renew their vows when it all came out, turns out Stanley is straight and Crickett very much prefers woman," she filled in for Wade. A small smile flitting across her face at how much happier her friend is now that she came out not only to the world but to herself as well.
"Good for her," Wade nodded. "Now I know Lemon and George didn't work out, but AB?" He asked, with a frown. He never saw that pair coming.
"It's still the early stages," Zoe told him. "And not very public, at least here in Bluebell. I only know because of Sofia," she shared. When they realized that they wouldn't work out as anything more than friends who share a child together, they made a few rules when it came to dating and bringing people into Sofia's life.
"And Lemon?" He asked, curious to know about the ongoing of Lemon's life, if just to keep Zoe's mind from focusing on the fact she's going to be without her daughter for a week.
"From what I heard, she had a thing with Lavon, but something happened, and they went their ways, remaining friends," she said. She hadn't been in town, just heard from Lemon what went on, and still didn't get all the details on why it hadn't worked out. "She's still trying to find Mr. Right," Zoe told him. "So you still have a chance," Zoe teased him.
"I'll get right on that," Wade chuckled, standing up. "Anything else I can get you?"
Zoe put in the order for her and her dad, getting a confused look from Wade. "You want to know why it's just dad?" She asked.
"I do, but I didn't know how to ask without making it sound rude. I heard rumors, but I preferred not to believe them, but I just haven't seen her," he shrugged. "You don't have to tell me," he quickly assured her.
"It's okay," she nodded. "After I left for college, she wanted to be closer, and it was something they fought about. And one day she moved back to New York. They tried to make the marriage work with the distance, it just couldn't hold up," she sighed. "Even after I returned home to Bluebell, she refused because work was better for her in the city than in a small town, and she felt it would be better not to sacrifice her career again. Sometimes you love a person enough to stay and other times you love your career more," Zoe shrugged. She still has a good relationship with her mom, despite the miles and states between them.
"I couldn't imagine going through that," Wade commented. He saw first hand how much Zoe had hated moving from New York. But over the years he was able to see first hand how happy she was, and how perfect her family was.
"It wasn't easy," she sighed. "But they're in a happy place these days and while my dad only ever wanted my mom and me to be happy," she shared. Harley is happy, finding his happiness in life, and while that's all Zoe could ask for when it comes to her dad. He doesn't need to find someone else to spend the rest of his life, as he doesn't need someone to be happy. He has everything he wants with his daughter and granddaughter.
"I'll get that order put in for you," he nodded. "And Zoe," he said, getting Zoe's attention before she moved from the stool she sat to find a table to wait for her dad. "Think you can find time in that schedule of yours to help me get accustomed to Bluebell?" He asked. A huge part of him taking the job at the Jammer was needing to be busy, and a small part of him knew that taking the job would help him sort out all the gossip the town holds, filling in the blanks he has when it comes to the people and his friends in this little town.
"If you bring the wine," she told him with a soft smile.