Hey all! Happy Wednesday! So the second half of this chapter was intended to be chapter 13, but as I edited it, to me it felt better to put them together as one chapter. With saying that I will have an update for everyone on Friday, as that chapter is completely written out.
Also as I am slowly working on my 24 days of Christmas oneshots, if you have any meet cutes you want to see, let me know!
Enjoy!
Despite the date not going the way Wade had planned for it to be, Zoe still had a good time. It was never about what they did, it was about the time spent together, making memories, turning a horrible moment into something a little better. It's something that when together they excelled at. Something that she was happy to see hadn't diminished in the years since. If anything their first date has her wanting more and with Sofia being home, it's going to be a bit harder to figure out dates.
Tossing shorts, and a fun printed breezy blouse on with sandals. As much as she loves wearing heels, one of the things she's learned rather quickly is how much easier wearing flats is when dealing with her daughter. Wearing practical clothes and shoes with her daughter is the way to go. It's not like she has anyone to impress. Wade's seen her covered in mud on her worst day, so it's not like she can look worse for wear in front of him. But if she put a little more effort into her looks for lunch with her daughter and George, well no one needs to know except her.
Leaving the carriage house, she glanced a look at the gate house, curious if Wade was home or not. She didn't see his car sitting in the driveway. He had mentioned on the ride home last night that he was going to be heading back to the hospital to check on his brother. Zoe could hear a bit of guilt in his voice when he talked about Jesse and the distance that lingered between them. How he thought it would be too late to make amends now, and that if Jesse makes it out of this whole horrible situation then he is going to sit down with Jesse and work on their relationship. After all it is what their mom would have wanted. And in the meantime, he has his father to make amends with. It's something he can no longer hold off on.
Zoe encouraged him that it is the right thing to do, and that it won't be easy, but it will be worth it. Even if things don't end the way Wade hopes they will. He can't force his brother to easily forgive him. That is something Jesse will need to do on his own. All Wade can do is try, and do everything he can to fix what he left broken. Zoe assured him she will be there every step of the way, if he wants her to be there.
Zoe pushed all thoughts of Wade from her mind when she entered the Jammer. She scanned the place seeing if her daughter was there yet, but she would be the one waiting at their normal booth for her daughter and George to show up. Once she sat down she checked her phone to see if he had called or messaged her, and she missed it, but he hadn't. However, she did have a text from Wade. 'Give Sofia a big hug for me.' She had been texting him throughout the morning, wanting to let him know that they would have to take a raincheck on dinner plans because Harley had made it known that he wanted his daughter and granddaughter over for dinner, as he hasn't seen them enough over the past few weeks, and he misses his granddaughter. Zoe hated to cancel on Wade but she couldn't refuse to give her dad one night out of her week.
'I would, but we all know the second she sees you, she will give you the biggest hug she can muster.' Zoe replied, shaking her head. It is the truth. She doesn't know where her daughter's love of Wade has come from. In the stories she told, Wade had always been one of the main fixtures, but that is because Wade has been a huge part of her life growing up. It might have to do with the comfort and ease that she has around Wade, and it's something Sofia picked up on.
'That is true. It makes me feel extra special with the way she just loves me.' Zoe burst out in laughter reading his text.
"You are special. I have yet to figure out in what way!' Zoe quickly typed out, casting a glance around her to see her daughter sprint into the Jammer with a smile on her face, seeing her mom.
Quickly tossing her phone into her purse, Zoe stood up to catch her daughter who flew at her. Mother and daughter laughed as they embraced for the first time in a week. Neither one of them wanted to let go of the other, having missed each other greatly over the last 7 days.
"Mom, guess what?" Sofia asked, leaning back to look at her mom in her eyes.
"What?" Zoe asked, moving to sit back down, keeping Sofia in her lap as she joined George at the table.
"Look what daddy bought," she said, showing her mom the pink and purple best friend cupcake necklace.
"That's pretty, baby girl," Zoe smiled, happy to see her daughter happy.
"Oh just wait," George laughed, showing Zoe his keys, where a blue and green cupcake keychain resided. "She has one for you as well," he informed her. "She even gave AB an orange and yellow one," he shared.
"That was very sweet of you," Zoe told her daughter, kissing the top of her head, unruly hair, and all.
"Here, mom," Sofia smiled, handing her mom a matching pink and purple necklace to match hers. Because her mom is her very best friend in the whole world so they had to match.
"Who are you looking for, baby?" Zoe asked, seeing her daughter look around the Jammer as she finished putting the necklace her daughter got for her on.
"Wade," she commented, sighing, dropping back down to her spot next to her mom when she didn't spot him.
"She got Wade one as well," George spoke up, looking a bit guilty. Before Zoe could ask any questions about the look on his face, he caved and explained. "She was supposed to be sleeping," he stated giving his daughter a very pointed look. Sofia laughed, looking a bit sheepish at her father's words. "And I was telling AB that finally after years of friendship that you and Wade were exploring the other side of your relationship and going on a date to test it out. Sofia woke up because she needed the potty, and she likes Wade."
That is something that Zoe knows. Just how much Sofia likes Wade and vice versa. And the fear that Wade would leave her daughter, and ignore her if things didn't work out, now it felt ridiculous to think like that because Wade wouldn't do such a thing. As much as Zoe didn't want Sofia to know in case things didn't work out between them, she can't be mad about it. After all, it was an accident.
"It will work out, and no matter what, Wade wouldn't do anything to hurt her," Zoe shared. There wasn't much point in being mad over something that is out of her control. "I knew going into things with Wade it wasn't going to be easy, not while having a child. We'll make do, and I will make sure we explain things in better detail when we're not surrounded by half the town," Zoe commented, sure someone had already overheard what was said about her, and Wade going on date.
"It has been a long time coming," George shrugged, smiling when Wanda came to the table to get their orders.
While they waited for their food to arrive, Sofia recounted everything she did with her dad, AB, and the things they had done together. Zoe smiled, nodded, and made the appropriate comments listening to Sofia go on about her trip away from home. Zoe may have smiled a little bigger than she had the right to when Sofia commented that she was happy to be home with her mom because she missed Bluebell, and her mom, a lot. Even though Sofia was happy to be home, she wanted to know when they would be going on a trip.
"Mom, it would be so fun," Sofia pouted.
"We will see, Sofia. Before we go on a trip we would have to figure out where to go," Zoe told her.
"Disney, mom," Sofia stated with a bright smile on her face.
Zoe shared a look with George. She doesn't feel right taking Sofia to Disneyworld or Disneyland without George there with them because she doesn't like taking experiences like that away from him. If that vacation were to happen, it would be a bit more work to make it happen. But with the look on her daughter's face, it would be something they would have to figure out for Sofia.
"Going to Disney is something we will have to do with your Dad. It would be a family vacation, Sofia," she explained to her daughter. "For it to work, your dad, and I will need to sit down and figure things out, okay?" She asked. Sofia nodded her head. One look at George she can see the relief in his eyes that she had included him in that. It wasn't something they ever talked about. Taking family vacations together, but for Sofia, it's something they need to figure out.
Talks of vacation got put on hold for the time being, Sofia jumped back into telling Zoe stories of her time away. And how she has to see everyone before they head home. Not wanting to bring down Sofia's good mood, she said nothing about the possibility of not being able to go see Earl. No need to worry Sofia when the little girl doesn't need to be worrying about anything.
Sofia grew quiet when their food arrived. And that had pretty much ended any conversations going on, as they all focused on eating, and not on keeping the conversation flowing. Sofia, being halfway done with her lunch, decided that she wants to have ice cream. Not any ice cream but triple chocolate, a lot more chocolate than Zoe or even George would like. The next time Wanda came their way, Zoe put the order in for a small, very small bowl of triple chocolate ice cream.
"The best ice cream in the joint," Wade smiled, handing the small bowl of chocolate madness to Sofia, who had some very bright eyes. He thought it was over the ice cream he was giving her. In a flash Sofia climbed over her mom and launched herself at him, wrapping him up in a very tight hug. Wade easily returned the hug. He laughed, catching the look of told you so on Zoe's face.
When Sofia let Wade go, Zoe helped her daughter back to her spot. Sofia took a quick bite of her ice cream, before digging through her bag, telling Wade to wait when she saw him moving to walk off. Sofia pulled out an orange and green cupcake keychain, handing it to Wade.
"So you can match," Sofia told Wade, showing Wade the necklace she is wearing, as Zoe and George did the same, showing him they all got one.
"Thank you, Sofia. It's the best keychain I own," he told her, digging his keys out of his pocket to add the keychain to the few keys he has. The cupcake is the only keychain to adorn his keys.
Sofia gave him a bright smile, digging into her ice cream before it melted any further. Wade headed back behind the bar to get back to work, and George said his bye to his daughter, and took off, needing to do a few things himself. Zoe smiled watching her daughter make a bit of mess on the table and herself when the ice cream dripped off her spoon. Zoe tried her best to clean up the table when Sofia declared that she couldn't eat another bite. The table would need a good washing with how sticky they left it.
"How's your brother?" Zoe asked, leaning against the counter where Wade was busy working. Sofia had darted across the Jammer to jump on Lavon before they left to visit Harley. Sofia had been cleaned up in the restroom, so she wasn't covered in chocolate or a sticky mess.
"If you ask me, he's the same as last night," Wade sighed, wiping glasses dry. "But according to the doctors, he's made some improvement. Enough they're not as worried about him," he explained. "He's not completely out of the woods, but if he keeps improving the way he has overnight, then he can be moved out of ICU. There's not a timetable on when he might wake up though," he shrugged.
"I've never metmore stubborn men than the Kinsella's, so he will make it through this, he will wake up, but you know Jesse, it's going to be on his time. And he's improving, so that's a good thing, Wade," she told him, seeing her daughter, running back to her.
"That may all be true, but," he sighed, afraid to voice his concerns where his brother is concerned. In a way, he's happy that Sofia had entered from seeing Lavon.
"Hey Wade, you should join us tonight," Zoe offered him. With Jesse still in the hospital, and not wanting Wade to spend his night worrying about Jesse, and the outcome of it all, she figured it would be alright to ask Wade to join them for dinner at her dad's place. "Dad's making his famous ribs, and he'd be more than happy to have you join us," she told him. This is part of her trying to make things with Wade work.
"It's yummy, Wade," Sofia smiled, swinging her feet on the stool Zoe had helped her sit upon.
"You know what, I'll be there," Wade chuckled, if he couldn't spend the night with the two of them in Fairhope, well this is the second best option to spend the night with them. "It's been ages since I have had some of your dad's ribs. The last time was I believe when Graham was meeting your parents for the first time," Wade mussed.
"Who's that?" Sofia asked, looking between her mom, and Wade.
"He's no one of importance," Zoe told her daughter. "A friend from long ago," she tacked on, turning her attention to Wade. "Dinner's at…" she was in the process of telling him when he laughed.
"At 6 sharp, right?" Wade asked, his smirk growing when he saw the look of shock on Zoe's face. "It's hard to forget what time you had to be home by, so you wouldn't be late for dinner," Wade shrugged.
"What else is it you remember?" She asked with a smile on her face, pleasantly surprised that Wade had remembered the time her father ate dinner every night from when they were kids.
"Oh no, Doc, I ain't given all my secrets out. You get to find out the pleasurable way," he told her with a wink. Zoe shook her head, her smile staying in place, as she helped her daughter down from the stool to go explore together until it was time to head to her dad's house for dinner.
Wade left the gatehouse having showered after his shift at the Jammer. He grabbed Zoe's favorite wine and headed out. He checked to see if Zoe and Sofia were at home before he headed to Harley's place. If they would have been home, he would have offered to give them a ride, but luck in that way wasn't on his side as the carriage house was dark, and there wasn't any movement, the few times he looked in that direction.
He knew what Zoe had been up to when she invited him to crash her night with her dad, and daughter. He thought for a split second to pass on the invite, even if it was Harley's ribs, and he hasn't had ribs as good since he left Bluebell when was 18 and at 19 for the last time. He didn't want to impose on their family night or sit through a meal with Harley watching their every move like the night before. But his need to spend time with Zoe when they couldn't just go out on a date won out. They had to come up with ways to be together when they could. And he'd be a fool to pass up a night to spend it with Zoe, Sofia, and even Harley. The ribs were merely a bonus on how he wanted to spend his night. Because the last thing he wants to be doing is worrying about Jesse.
The drive didn't take long. With how nice the night is, he thought about walking, but he didn't want Zoe to be stuck walking a tired Sofia home, depending on how long the night wore on. Seeing her car sitting in place in front of the carriage house, he knew taking his car would be the right choice. He wanted to be prepared. Felt that when it came to winning Zoe's feelings, he needed to make sure that Sofia came first, in a lot of things. And he didn't mind that.
Wade found himself sitting outside with Harley. The wine he brought over was chilling in the fridge. Harley much like himself drank beer, the wine mostly a Zoe thing. With the ribs on the grill and beers in hand, Wade sat outside with his girlfriend's father. Harley is many things to him, but that as weird as it is to think, that is what Zoe is to him, his girlfriend. And he can only hope that Zoe thinks of him as her boyfriend.
"I hope I don't have to give you the fatherly talk and all that jazz," Harley said, bringing Wade from his musings about the official titles they have for each other. "It's not just my daughter I worry about, I have my granddaughter to worry about as well," he told Wade. If there's any man in Bluebell he trusts with his daughter's heart, is the one sitting next to him. If Zoe would have brought anyone else to dinner, they would have gotten the fatherly talk, complete with what their intentions are. With Wade, he knows it all. When it comes to Zoe, Wade likes to wear his heart on his sleeve.
"I have been in love with Zoe since we were kids, and I am not going to screw that up now that I have my chance, and I love Sofia. She makes it so easy," Wade told him a smile on his face. "My intentions with Zoe are pure," he told Harley. "But if you want to have the talk, go for it, I won't take that chance away from you," Wade smirked, taking a pull from his beer.
"I don't think the talk is warranted now, maybe at a later date when you guys have a fight," Harley told him. "Just treat her, and Sofia right. That's all I want for my daughter is to have someone care, and love her for who she is. Someone that can treat Sofia like their own child," he explained to Wade.
"Zoe wouldn't be with me if I couldn't treat Sofia that way," he shared. He wouldn't want to be with Zoe if he didn't think he could handle treating Sofia as his own. "Where is Zoe?" Wade asked. It's not like her to be late to family dinner with her dad. At least, he didn't think that it's like her these days.
"She had an errand to run. Called when she got caught up with something, saying they were running behind schedule. They should be here in a few minutes or so," Harley informed him. For Harley that had worked out perfectly when Wade showed up early. It brought a smile to his face seeing just how eager Wade is to make an impression on Zoe.
"I hope that you don't mind that I am here. I find it rather hard to say no to your daughter, and when you add in her mini-me, it gets harder than ever," he chuckled with a smile on his face.
"Wade, has there ever been a time that I have turned you down?" Harley asked, getting up from his chair to check on the ribs cooking.
"No," Wade chuckled, thinking back on all the times he has shown up at the Wilkes house unannounced. "All of you have never once refused to feed me," he stated. It's been more than that over the years.
"Then why would I start now?" Harley asked, closing the lid on the grill. Turning to face Wade, he gave him a very pointed look.
"Heck if I know," Wade shrugged, listening to see if he could hear when Zoe pulled up. He doesn't mind spending time with Harley, he, however, would like to spend time with Zoe and Sofia.
"Don't you forget that you are always welcome here, Wade. That isn't going to change, no matter what happens between you and my daughter," he told him. If things don't work out, he's not going to suddenly hate Wade over it. Some things don't work out, and you don't know what those things are if you don't try. The same can be said about things that do work out.
"Why would Wade forget that?" Zoe asked, joining two of the most important guys in her life in the backyard.
"Heck if I know?" Harley said, repeating Wade's words from earlier.
"Forget I asked," Zoe said, giving her dad a confused look, shaking her head, not sure what had gone on between her boyfriend, and her dad. They might not be using labels, but Wade is without question her boyfriend. That talk is one they need to have, and she will make time for it when they have fewer ears around to hear what's being said. "I only came out here to see how much longer before the ribs are done," she told her dad.
"Another 10 minutes," he informed his daughter. Zoe nodded, turning to head back inside to work on the side dishes.
"Need any help?" Wade asked, pushing himself out of the chair he sat in.
"Nope," she smiled, opening the back door. "I have the best two helpers in all of Bluebell," she said dramatically, hearing the chuckle come from the kitchen. Wade frowned having heard it as well.
"Just who else is in there helping?" He asked, raising an eyebrow in a challenge. Sofia being one of the helpers, and he can't say why that brought a smile to his face.
"Family," she told him, disappearing into the house, to see how Sofia is coming along with whatever Earl was having her help with.
Not wanting to have Earl sitting at home alone, waiting on a call from the hospital, to give him any sort of update on Jesse, she figured it would be the right thing to invite him along to dinner as well. She already invited one Kinsella along to her dinner with her dad, she didn't see any harm in inviting another Kinsella to their dinner. Her dad wouldn't mind, she can see that he misses having a busy house now that it's just him. And he always makes way too many ribs when he makes them. So if anything she was being helpful. Feeding those she cares about, and bringing some life back to her childhood home for a night.
Sofia got tired of helping in the kitchen and took off outside to see her grandpa. Zoe and Earl laughed when they heard Sofia scream in excitement upon seeing Wade sitting outside. For Zoe, it doesn't get old knowing how much Sofia likes Wade. It scares her because Wade has all the power in hurting Sofia, and herself, when being a father to a child gets to be too much. She doesn't want that to happen, but it's not like she can actively stop it from happening if that ever happens to be the case.
"I knew it would only be a matter of time for Wade to be wrapped around that little girl's finger of yours, but I didn't think it would be this fast," Earl commented, watching his son, and Sofia playing in the yard, smiles on their faces, and laughter falling from their lips.
"You would have thought that, if you were there for their first meeting," Zoe laughed, thinking back to that day, and it felt like it was a lifetime ago and not just a few weeks ago. That piqued Earl's attention as he left the window. "She told him her famous, 'I love you,' startled him more than anything, horrified me," she shared.
Earl laughed, shaking his head. He can see why it would startle his youngest. He's been on the receiving end of Sofia's 'I love yous' quite a few times over the years oncr she learned how to say those three words. He never minds because he loves her right back. But for Wade to be on the receiving end he can see why it would startle him, especially if he had been trying to get through town without being noticed.
"Zoe," Earl started to say, not sure how to put in words his fears of not being able to see Sofia if things don't turn out between her and his son. Their feelings are clear to see, always have been over the years they were friends. "You won't," he paused, not sure he wanted to finish his thoughts as he doesn't want to hurt her feelings over assuming things.
"Earl," she said, moving to rest her hand on his arm. "Whatever happens between Wade and me, you will remain a part of Sofia's life. I would never do anything like taking her away. It would hurt her, as much as it would me," she assured him.
She could see the turmoil written on his face. It hurt to know he thought something like that, but it's not like she could blame him. There's a lot wrapped up in whether or not things with Wade work out. If they don't, they will have to find a way to remain friends, because their lives are going to be entwined for years to come.
"Thank you," Earl smiled. He knew he was a fool for thinking otherwise, but in his old age, he couldn't help it. Sofia, much like her mother, has become a huge part of his life. Zoe squeezed his arm, giving him a reassuring smile.
"Funny how you had to make sure that I was here on time and yet you were the one running late," Wade commented, sitting on the kitchen counter that wasn't in use. Zoe rolled her eyes, as she finished working on the macaroni salad. Earl, having left her to it, going outside to visit with Wade and Harley.
"Shouldn't you be outside talking to your dad?" Zoe asked, barely glancing at him.
"He's in a deep conversation with Sofia about treasure hunting. What am I missing there?" He asked with a frown.
"A whole lot," Zoe laughed. She quickly explained how Earl has money hidden around his place, and it's a favorite pastime for Sofia. The money she finds being used on others, never on herself.
"My dad with his crazy ideas," Wade laughed. "I know I don't have to say it, but thank you for inviting my dad to this. I would hate for him to be sitting at home going crazy waiting to hear on Jesse," he sighed, pulling Zoe to stand between his legs when she finished with the macaroni salad.
"I didn't like the idea of that either," Zoe softly told him, taking a look to see where her daughter was, before stealing a quick kiss from Wade.