Hey all! Happy Friday! I am sorry for the lack of updates for the last two weeks. There was a bit of tragic personal stuff going on, which still hasn't been completely taken care of. And school starts next week here, so it's been a bit crazy getting my nephew and niece ready for school and get all of that taken care of. With school starting back up, I should get back to my regular updating schedule of Tuesday's and Wednesday's if not next week then the following week.
Have a good weekend everyone and to my fellow Americans have a good Labor day weekend!
This chapter is only the first part. I didn't want to take any longer to get something posted for you all, so I split the chapter into 2 parts.
Enjoy!
"Mommy," Sofia pouted, the orange crayon going limp in her hand, her eyes focused on her dad and not on her mom. "Daddy is right there," Sofia pointed out, giving her dad a wave at the bar when he looked her way with a smile on his face. George waved back to his little girl. "Why can't he join us?" She asked with a slight pout.
Saturday morning breakfasts went from being a Zoe and Wade thing to not even existing. The memories of the past Saturdays spent in Bluebell a hurtful reminder of the things she doesn't have. Mostly her friendship with Wade. Once Sofia was old enough she picked up the Saturday tradition with her daughter. It wasn't often when George, Harley, Earl, or Jesse would join them. She never complained about the people ruining her Saturday traditions. As it didn't matter, as she didn't think it would ever go back to a Zoe/Wade thing. It hurt, but that is the reality she had come to know. Until now that is.
"Because Dad looks busy," she told her daughter, seeing the papers laid in front of him. She wasn't sure how awkward things would be if Wade and George were both at the table. When it comes to George joining them when they are out, he's always been free to join them, she's never once told him otherwise. She has never once been greedy where it came to Sofia. She's not that type of parent, and she doesn't want to be one. As long as George wants to be there for his daughter, she is going to make it happen. If he ever decides he can't be a father to Sofia, sure it will hurt, not only Sofia but Zoe as well. But Zoe can't make George stay in his daughter's life if he decides he can't be her father, for whatever stupid reason. Zoe can only hope that it doesn't come to that, as she would hate for Sofia to go through a father not wanting you. It's a hurtful type of pain she prefers her daughter to never experience.
"So, he gots to eat too," she pouted once more. Knowing that as adults they could all suck it up, as it's the way it's going to be when it comes to Sofia, she gave in. Wade and George can deal because it's about Sofia and not about them and whatever ego they may have over the situation. Wade will have to understand that to be with her means that George won't be far behind.
"Go ask him," Zoe nodded, sighing to herself. This is the reality she is going to be in. Wade and George will have to play nice because George will forever be a part of her life. She doesn't mind dealing with George, not when it comes down to having Sofia. There's nothing that would ever make her want things to be different.
Seeing the bright smile on her daughter's face was enough for her to let her trepidation go. Because her mind wants to go to a dark place where things with Wade and George are going to end up being bad, doesn't mean that is going to happen. She doesn't want to think like that, at times it's hard. Wade didn't sign up to date her to have George as an extra on the side, to tag along on their dates, with or without Sofia.
"Say the word and I can come up with an excuse to leave," George said softly, giving Zoe a hug hello. The very last thing he wants to do is ruin something for his friend where it comes to whatever it is she has going on with Wade. And the same could be said about ruining things for Wade. They both deserve to have love and if they can find it with each other, it would make him a dick for ruining it.
"You'll be fine, George. I won't make you run off once Wade shows up. This is was bound to happen and if I were a gambler, I would bet it won't be the last time it's going to happen," Zoe commented, seeing that Sofia was back to coloring her picture.
"I would hate to…" George trailed off.
"Whatever you're about to say, save it. We all have to get along, there's no way around that and if it's something Wade can't get over, then things with him won't work out. Dating with Sofia is harder than not having a child, more people are going to be involved and I can't change that. And if it's something Wade can't deal with, I would like to know sooner rather than later," Zoe told George, not wanting to hear any excuse on leaving once Wade showed up. As awkward as it may be, it's something they all have to deal with.
"I would like to say it is something that Wade can deal with," Wade spoke standing behind George and Zoe. "Wade knows how much harder this is going to be, and he's in, all the way in," he spoke, once he had the attention of his girlfriend and friend. He can't blame them for feeling like he can't handle the situation, at one point in his life he wouldn't have bothered, but now that he's older, he can see what he once walked away from, and sure Zoe may have only been his best friend and the woman he loved. The one woman he never stopping loving if he's being honest with himself, to let everything else get in the way of making things work. He has nothing against George, and that makes it easier, he believes.
"Wade," Sofia beamed, jumping from her chair to hug Wade, having noticed while looking for a new crayon that he was standing at the table.
"Sofia," Wade smiled, sweeping the girl off her feet for a hug. "Do I get to sit by you?" He asked, moving around the table to place her back in her seat.
"Uh-huh," Sofia nodded, picking her pink crayon up, handing it to Wade. "Saved it for you," she told him, pushing her paper over to him, once he took the crayon.
Whatever concerns any of the adults had over things being awkward quickly flew out of the Jammer. Wade held conversations with Sofia, George, and Zoe as he continued to color on and off with Sofia. All three adults knew they would have to have more in-depth conversations without Sofia around before things with Zoe and Wade could continue to go further and grow into a more serious relationship. Talks they were all holding off on until Zoe and Wade know for sure just how serious things are going to get between them. They're not in a hurry to rush into anything. More cautious with Sofia being a part of the equation.
"I'm not going to warn you of anything when it comes to Zoe, but dude, Sofia is another story, and I won't stand for you to make her promises just to bail on her," George started to say when Zoe took Sofia to the bathroom to clean up from the sticky mess of syrup.
Wade held his hand up, wanting to say his piece before George could assume anything about his intentions towards Sofia. Wade got it, Sofia is his little girl and no father wants to see their kid hurt because of someone you considered your friend. Wade has been ready for this conversation for a while now. And they can't get into it too much with Zoe and Sofia set to return any minute.
"George, I can assure you that all the promises that I make to Sofia, will be kept," he told his friend. "I won't make a promise I can't keep to either mom or daughter. Going into this whole dating thing with Zoe has been a constant on my mind when it comes to Sofia and what that's going to mean for me," he confessed.
"If things go the way we all hope they do, it means that you'll have to step up as a parent to Sofia, and you won't be able to play the fun guy in her life that gives her what she wants. It means that you'll have to tell her no, that when she gives you her sad doe eyes, you will have to stick your ground with her," George stated. "Is that something you're ready for? Because if it's not, it's best to get out now," he told his friend. He won't let his daughter get hurt because Wade decided that he can't parent a kid that isn't his.
"I know you're Sofia's father and have a lot of say in her life, but if or when it gets to that point, I don't have a problem falling into the role of being a step-father to her. I would never treat her any different at any point. Do I feel comfortable disciplining her now? No, but I'm still finding my place when it comes to where I stand in Sofia's life right now," Wade explained to his friend.
"You're going to treat her the same after you have your own kids? You're going to treat her the same even if things don't work out with Zoe?" George asked, curious to see what his friend is going to say.
"Both depending on how things play out. As much as I want to be with Zoe, it's not just up to me in how things work out. It's up to Zoe just as much as it is me, and we have Sofia to add into the mix as well," Wade replied. He's not going to base his whole relationship with Zoe on if it's something Sofia wants. Her feelings on the situation will be put into the equation moving forward. Ease her mind if they have to that just because he's dating her mom, doesn't mean that everything is going to change. "Look, George, I know how important Sofia is, as she should be," Wade said, spotting Zoe and Sofia headed their way through the Jammer. "I am not using Sofia for any personal gain. I like Sofia, how can you not? I have loved Zoe since we were teens, I would be stupid to mess it up by using Sofia for personal gain. Give me a little credit here," he sighed. Not once has the idea of using Sofia to get closer to Zoe crossed his mind. He wouldn't do that, it's wrong on so many different levels.
"To be fair, I never thought you would use my daughter like that," George said, standing up. "It's good to be assured I have been right," he smirked, turning to pick his daughter up.
"Can't you come, Daddy?" Sofia asked a pout on her lips.
"I'm sorry sweetie, I have to do some work, but you're going to spend your day with Mommy and Wade," he told his daughter, Sofia's pout turning into a smile.
"I am?" Sofia asked, looking from her dad to Wade.
Wade nodded, having already assured Zoe that everything with George had been fine while she was gone. "I have the whole day planned out," Wade told her.
"Bye daddy," Sofia said, kissing George's cheek.
"Bye sweetie, love you," George told her, giving her a kiss and putting her on the floor. He laughed, watching his daughter run to Wade and Zoe, grabbing their hands and pulling them out of the Jammer
George has never once worried about his daughter in Wade's hands. He trusts his friend when it comes to the well-being of his daughter. His only concern when it comes to Wade is that he doesn't take back everything he's said when he finds out that being a parent to a kid that isn't yours won't be an easy walk in the park. He wants Zoe to find love and he finds it better that it happens to be with Wade. Despite everything that Wade has done or has been through, George can't find a better guy to share fatherhood with when it comes to Sofia.