Hey guys, sorry for the wait on this chapter. These last few weeks have been crazy with school ending at the end of May, as some of you might know, the last two weeks of school for elementary students can be hectic with field trips and other activities planned. And because of the weather, everything had to move to the last four days of school. So between parks and science centers and even a rocket activity, I haven't had much time to sit down and do a whole lot of writing. And honestly now that summer is so close, I can't say for sure how fast updates will be as it's just too nice to be inside and write especially when you live in the Northern part of the United States and have snow and cold more than you do anything else.

However, do know that I am not going to give up on any of my stories. And I do have a sequel to this one in the works; it wasn't meant to be one, but it just works out so well for it, but no worries as there is plenty more to write for this one.

Furthermore, I am sorry for the way I end this chapter, do know that it does lead into the next chapter perfectly for what I want to happen.

Enough from me and enjoy.

Having her cousins staying with them had been a blast, and plans were made for a later date for her to stay with her cousins, a sleepover she couldn't wait for. As fun as she had with her cousins, mainly Vivian, she was just as happy to have them go back home so could finally have her space, not to mention how amazing it was to have her room back without the added mess of her cousins.

When her mom had returned home from New York, she had clothes and other gifts for Zoe. Her favorite one had to be the frame that her mom had purchased in Mobile for the picture Wade given her. With the picture in the frame, she hung it over her desk, giving her a pretty picture to look at when studying for school.

As far as Wade was concerned, she left him alone and gave him all the space he said he wanted. She came to the conclusion that if and when Wade was ready to talk to her then he would approach her and if that never happened, it was his loss not hers, because she tried. She didn't want to be friends with someone who had no interest in being her friend.

Coming home from school her thoughts were on the book she wanted to start reading, as she had checked out as many as she could, which happened to be a total of three books, the most she has ever been allowed to check out. She made sure they were all chapter books, all in the same series.

"Hey Lavon," Zoe smiled, as the older boy caught up with her.

"Hey big Z," he smiled, tossing an arm over her shoulders. "Real quickly want to come to the park on Saturday for a bit of football?" He asked. He did need to be back at the school for football practice. But with as busy as he was going to be this week, he didn't think he would be seeing Zoe again, so he needed to take the chance he had.

"I think I can manage that," she nodded. She did have fun the last time he had asked her to join, and she didn't have any other plans for the weekend.

"Cool be there around 10," he told her racing off once more, not wanting to be late for practice and made to do extra laps.

Zoe laughed shaking her head. The smile she wore easily slipped from her lips, seeing the man sitting on the porch talking to both her mom and her dad.

"Zoe, hi," Ethan said, giving her a half smile, making no move to approach her.

"Hi," she said curtly, taking the steps two at a time. "I'm going to take my stuff to my room," she told them. She really wanted to put off the inativable for as long as could.

"Sweetie," Harley said, following behind his daughter. "Sorry," he apologized, seeing her jump slightly.

"It's okay," she told him softly, placing her backpack on her bed.

"You don't have to talk to him if you don't want to. I don't want you to be uncomfortable; the choice is yours," Harley informed her. Zoe nodded, thinking it over.

As much as didn't want to hear whatever excuse he had come with since the day he walked out on them, there is a little part of her that does want to hear what he has to say. She does just want to move on from what happened that night as she has settled into her life in Bluebell.

"I think it's something that needs to be done, but I'll be okay," she half smiled, throwing her arms around her father. Harley easily hugged his little girl back.

"Okay," Harley nodded. "Why don't you tell me about school on the way downstairs," he encouraged her.

"We played dodgeball in gym," she shrugged. "I went with Lemon and Annabeth to help out in the library instead of going to recess," she told her dad. "It was actually pretty fun," she smiled.

"Who I am to stop you from doing something you like to be doing," he chuckled.

"And next week we might be able to start reading to a first-grade class. I hope we can do it," she beamed.

"I'm sure they'll let you," he smiled, proud of his daughter for taking her time at recess to help a class of first graders.

The giddiness and how proud she felt at what she had done, diminished stepping out on the porch, in its place her nerves took flight, and she started to fidget standing next to her dad.

"I thought we could take a walk," Ethan suggested.

"Okay," she nodded, hurrying down the steps to wait for him. Having privacy away from her parents felt like the right thing to do here because she didn't want anything she has to say to hurt her parents. Forgetting just how nosey the town can be.

"I'm sorry, Zoe," he apologized, once they were far enough away from her home. "I handled the whole situation wrong and while I was taking it out on your mom, I inadvertently took it out on you by accident and there is nothing I can do to change that," he told her.

"I honestly thought you wanted nothing to do with me, and I couldn't figure out why; I still can't figure out why you wanted nothing to do with me," Zoe shared, chewing on her lip.

"Sweetie, it had nothing to do with you. How could it?" He asked shaking his head, hating himself over how he had made her feel. She may not be his by blood, but he raised her and to him she would forever be a daughter figure to him. "I was mad at your mom for deceiving me, deceiving us. You were innocent in all of it. I was hurt, and I did the only thing I could do; I ran, and if I could have taken you with me; I would have, but I legally couldn't do that."

"Yeah well you hurt me by leaving. It made me feel like I wasn't good enough for you," she quipped out, sucking her tears up because she wasn't going to show any sign of weakness in front of the man who left her.

"I am sorry for that Zoe; I am; I cannot take it back; I do, however, want to mend what I broke with us," he told her, motioning to the bench.

"Why?" Zoe asked, sitting on the bench, leaving space between them. "Why come back and mess with the family I have now?"

"Because, Zoe, I love you like the daughter you have been to me. Because, these last few weeks have been miserable, and I have missed you. And you may have your mother and your father, but I just want to be included in your life, Zoe," he told her.

"That's easy for you to say now," Zoe snapped, taking a deep breath, calming herself down. "I may have missed our outings, but I don't want to be let down by you again. How can you be there for me when you live in New York?" She asked softly, losing the anger at him.

"I can always take time off to come here; we can talk on the phone whenever you need me, and you can come to New York on summer vacation for a few days or longer, if that's something you want, Zoe," he told her, making sure she knew that she held all the power here.

"I don't know, Ethan," she told him, his name sounding weird coming from her mouth. "How can you make time for me in New York when you gotta work?" She asked. She didn't want to go only for him to blow her off for work. That would beat the purpose of going.

"I know it never seemed like it over the years, but I do get time off," he lightly chuckled. "Just think about it, okay?" He asked her.

"I can do that," she nodded, standing up. "Ethan," she softly said, gaining his attention. "I don't know what I am going to do, but what I do know is that I missed you, and that I can't stop loving you," she told him, jumping into his lap to give him a hug.

A hug that was far different from the hugs she got from her dad, but yet the very same all wrapped into one. He had been there for her through her whole life, and you can't change that over a lie.

"As I have missed you and will love you forever," he softly told her, gently kissing her temple. "Nothing will ever change that," he promised her.

Zoe shrugged, moving from his lap. She didn't know if that was the truth or not, she couldn't see into the future, and he had left her once so her trust in what he had to say wasn't the best. And when it came to him so would take it day by day and see what happened.

"I can't promise anything, because you did hurt me, and I can't forgive you for that, not yet," she told him, maybe one day she could; she wasn't sure. Ethan nodded, understanding where she is coming from. "Mind letting my parents know that I'll be home before dinner?" She asked him.

"I don't know if it's a good thing to let you go off by yourself, Zoe," he said, concerned about her walking around town alone.

"Nothing like that happens in Bluebell. Everyone watches out for everyone. And right now you're the talk of the town and being watched to make sure you don't make me cry," she smirked a little, catching a glimpse of Dash Dewitt. "Mom and Dad will be okay with me wandering around, and they know where to find me," she told him, trying her hardest to refrain from rolling her eyes. "Trust me, Ethan, this isn't New York," she stated.

"Okay, I'll take your word for it," he told her, looking around the area to see if it were true, and if they were being watched. He couldn't see anyone who seemed to be eyeing them up, as they were doing their own thing. He shrugged; it wasn't like he was doing anything wrong. "I'll see you before I leave, okay?" He asked her.

"Okay," she told him. "Bye Ethan," she said.

"Bye, Zoe," he told her, watching her walk off.

Zoe sat on the bridge, her feet dangling above the calm water, the complete opposite of how she felt. She did spend the last 9 years believing Ethan was her father. A father she adores, a father she thought hung the stars and the moon, all for it to come raining down on her, with her stupid broken arm.

She couldn't recall the countless times she wished upon a star for it to all go back to normal, long before she ever met her dad, now she wouldn't change it for anything, because she loves her family in Bluebell, the whole crazy, wacky clan that is the Wilkes.

But even with all that in mind, there has been something missing since Ethan walked out, and it did feel nice to spend a small chunk of time with him, even if she had voiced her hurt that he caused. A piece of her love would always belong to him.

The truth was that as much as she didn't want to hurt her dad, she did want to slowly ease Ethan back into her life, a little at a time, until she could fully trust him, that is. She hoped it wouldn't hurt her dad when she told him about her decision with Ethan. She could never set out to hurt her father.

She jumped slightly hearing the loud splash followed by the laughter behind her. Seeing just who showed up, Zoe got up to head home.

"Where do you think you're going?" Thomas smirked, setting his dark eyes upon Zoe's frightened form as she tried to move past him.

"Home," she squeaked out, not wanting to cause problems with the one main bully at school. One of them that Wade kept away from her.

"I don't think so," he laughed. "I mean your little lap dog isn't here to save you," he mocked, making the two guys with him laugh.

"I don't need Wade to save me from the likes of you," she stubbornly said, glaring at Thomas.

"Is that so?" He questioned, stepping closer to Zoe, forcing her to take two steps back. "It sure doesn't seem like it," he smirked.

"Why don't you pick on someone tougher than you?" Wade asked, stepping out of the woods, George and Meatball behind him. Wade walked right up to Thomas, getting into the older kids face.

"What'da say?" George asked, standing next to Wade, coming toe to toe with Ben.

"They're too much of a chicken to do anything," Meatball laughed, squaring up to Gregory.

"Next time, Kinsella," Thomas smirked. "I would hate for anyone to witness the beat down I hand to you," Thomas laughed, walking off, his two cronies following behind him.

"Thanks for that, but I should get home," she told Wade, giving George and Meatball smiles as she started to walk off the bridge.

"Hey Zoe, can we talk?" Wade asked, his eyes pleading with her. She nodded her head, walking back to Wade. George and Meatball making excuses to leave them be.