Chapter 2 Triangles, why is there always a triangle?
New York: the hustle and bustle, the crowded streets, and bonus...no one knew her business. They didn't care what she had for lunch at the rammer jammer or whether she hugged George in his office nor did they care about the length of her shorts. God she missed this place.
She was settling in her room at her mothers penthouse apartment on the upper east side, a far cry from Bluebell and the carriage house.
She unpacked and then sat at the edge of her bed thinking about last night with Wade.
It was just sex. I told him I just wanted to feel better. He knew it was just sex, It didnt feel like 'just sex'. No no no it was just sex. But the way he touched me and kissed the small insignificant parts of me, my wrist, my shoulders made it feel like something more. The way he looked at me and he said he loved me,twice. When was the last time Wade Kinsella, renowned ladies man , told a woman he loved her.
She was unsure of the answer but she didn't think too many times.
Her thoughts wandered to George. He walked in on them. Why did he always come to my when hours before he was with his fiance or girlfriend. Could he not be alone? Do I have feelings for George? What kind of feelings? I always come to him when I know he is with someone so he can't return the feelings. Zoe Hart, snap out of it. You are going to a wedding tomorrow night and then Come Monday, it will be alright. Starting work at the hospital is just what I need.
Zoe heads down to Barneys to look for the perfect dress. I mean she has to look perfect, she is already sitting at the singles table. She buys a couple of dresses as she knows it will be hard to go shopping once she is working in the ER. She knows herself all too well, she will bury herself in her work so she doesn't have to think. There will be more reasons to get dressed up while she is here this summer so she does some retail therapy.
Her phone starts buzzing as she is checking out.. She looks down and it is text from Wade.
'Just wanted to make sure you got there alright, Doc'
A smile formed on her lips.
She texts him back
Z-'Here, been shopping at Barney's"
W- Bet you are happier than a dead pig in the sunshine
Zoe giggled to herself.
Z- Maybe happier now that I bought a dress for the wedding tonight.
W- What time is the wedding?
Z- 7:30, black tie. I am so excited. It is at the Waldorf Astoria.
W- Wow, you are an uptown girl. Enjoy yourself. Send me a pic of you in your dress.
Radio silence.
Why did I have to text that, thought Wade.
W- Doc, didn't mean anything by that. I know you will look amazing.
Zoe returned home and the doorman, Edward was so excited to see her. He was off duty when she got in last night. They talked for 15 minutes, He had asked her where her boyfriend was. Her mom had told Edward all about him. Zoe explained to him, they had broken up, He could see that she was hurting and offered an ear anytime she wanted to talk about things.
She went up to her home for the summer and started pampering herself with a bubble bath. Yes this was just what she needed. She laughed to herself thinking of the old commercial, Calgon take me away!. Calgon was one of her moms first clients. She soaked awhile longer then shaved her legs, used a body sugar scrub and rinsed.
She looked at herself in the mirror and was happy with the reflection. She loved this dress. It fit her so well for off the rack. She grabbed her clutch and when Edward called up saying her car was ready.
During the ceremony, Zoe's mind wanders to thoughts of Wade. Wishing she could have this moment with him but he has done the unforgivable. Three months ago, he threw their relationship away but for what reason? What did I do to deserve that? I know I wasnt there when I promised I would be but still…
George would never do that! George did call off his wedding for me. That wasn't bad for me but what if I was in Lemons shoes and he told me the night of our wedding just an hour before that he couldn't go through with it. That may be worse than cheating. He had feelings for Zoe and though he didn't cheat on Lemon physically. He was cheating emotionally.
Her friend, Brynn was gorgeous in her sweetheart neckline, Vera Wang bridal gown. She was the epitome of the New York fashion bride. Her gown was satin with an embroidered waist line of pearls. The rest of the dress was simple. Her train was one layer so very sheer so you could see the back of her gown and her hourglass figure. Her husband looked nice as well but Brynn was definitely the shining star. They looked so happy walking down the aisle.
There were hundreds of people at the reception. There were several singles tables. She mingled looking for people she knew. She had been in Bluebell a couple of years but surely she will know several people. Finally, she runs into her old friend Gigi. They hug and air kiss each other's cheeks. "I am so glad you decided to come. Where is that arm candy of yours?" said Gigi. Zoe explained that they were no longer together. From there, Gigi executed her plan.
She went and switched Zoe's seat to one that was by a single friend of hers, Adam.
Gigi sat with Zoe until Adam made his way to the table.
Gigi made introductions and then left them to talk.
"Pinot Noir?" he asked.
Zoe said "or just red", which made her think of Wade.
Adam said "Excuse me? What do you mean?"
Zoe laughs and he says Pinot noir would be great and then she begins telling him about Bluebell and about the simplicity of the town and people and how the bar just carried red or white wine. Adam tells her that he works on Wall Street and is a hedge fund manager. They are enjoying the conversation when all of a sudden she hears someone say, "Zoe are you going to introduce me to your friend or just stare at me?"
"George? What are you doing here?" Zoe asks.
" Brynn's husband, Turner, was a friend of mine at the law firm when I worked here. What are the chances that we were both in Bluebell yesterday and neither of us knew the other was coming to a wedding in New York? But,I remember you being a little busy?" said George,making his words sharper. Adam was starting to get a little uncomfortable, excused himself and asked Zoe if she would like another glass of wine and she accepted.
George asked Zoe to dance. As they moved around the dance floor, he tightened his grip around her waist. "Why do you always run to Wade? You came to me a few nights ago and professed that you had feelings for me. That very night you are having sex with Wade."
I wasn't having sex with Wade, we made love.
"George, I am trying to understand my feelings for both of you. Had he not cheated on me, I am not sure that I would have ever come to you.
I was happy but I guess I was making him unhappy." said Zoe
"Wade is Wade. He is a good guy and a good friend but he has never been the relationship kind of guy." said George
But he was being the relationship guy. He was making me black and white cookies, he was helping me all of the time, capturing snakes, armadillos, he had a candlelit dinner and rose petals all over my house, he went to see my foreign movies and he gave me everything I needed. What did I give him? Zoe thought.
"Zoe, are you listening?" George asked.
"Yes, I don't expect you to understand mine and Wade's relationship, especially when you can't explain your own. How can you love Lemon one minute and do everything you can to make her wedding perfect during a storm and just hours later call it off? Wade was there for me! Then with Tansy, I come and tell you about my feelings and you tell me my feelings are for Wade and blow me off. The very next morning you are in my house where Wade and I, I, I" she stammered, She couldn't find the words that were fitting for her last night in Bluebell.
"Anyway, she continued," you told me you were happy with Tansy like 15 hours before and once again you show up without knocking, acting like you have rights to me! No one has rights to me George!" Zoe is ready to leave the dance floor when George grabs her by the arm and says "Don't go. I am sorry.'
The wedding photographer stops to get a pic of them when George asks if they will take one with his phone too.
Zoe half smiled.
Zoe walked towards Adam and Gigi who had her glass of wine waiting. Brynn and Turner danced a waltz and they glided over the dance floor. Then soon Adam had grabbed her hand and they were waltzing across the floor too, well let's say dancing not waltzing. That was something she had never learned. Maybe she would for her wedding one day.
She saw George talking to Turner and a few other people. She couldn't believe he was here. She and Adam danced a few more songs and then headed over to a couch area under a gorgeous chandelier surrounded by day lilies. Adam was intrigued by Zoe living in BLuebell. He had come from a small town in Ohio and he missed all of the things that she was talking about. He asked if he could call her next week. She sent him her number. Her phone buzzed again.
W- I haven't gotten a pic yet Doc.
Z- No chance
She told Adam that her car was waiting and she looked forward to hearing from him.
She arrived at the penthouse and asked Edward to take a picture of her. He gladly took a pic of the girl he has known since she was 10.
Zoe got up to her room and as she was starting to undress when another text came in with a pic attached.
W- Doc, now I know why there was no chance for us, no time for you to take a pic for me. Now I know I was just a placeholder for Golden Boy. BTW, you look stunning as always. Wish I was Golden Boy. He is everything you want and everything you need. Right?
Zoe was stunned. How did Wade get this picture? Did George send this to him on purpose? How dare he? George and I were fighting. We weren't even canoodling. Why am I even thinking the word canoodling. Bluebell has really rubbed off on me. What should I say to Wade? Why do I care?
W- Doc, you there? I know there is an olympic gymnastics routine going on in your head right now. Take a deep breath. I am waiting for you.
Z- I am here. I am not sure why. Thanks for the compliment on the dress.
W- Not just the dress, you Zoe. You are a vision, Tucker is one lucky guy.
Zoe starts typing and the little dots are going across his screen But then she erases and he wonders what she was going to say.
W- Night, Doc.
Z- Night.
It's after 1am.
The door bell rings and she hears Edward say, " Zoe you have a visitor, a George Tucker." "Send him up", she tells him.
"George, I can't do this tonight. I am tired. You have pissed me off" Zoe says as she walking away from him.
"Zoe please, give us a chance. You were the one wanting me to date others and I did like Tansy but I didn't love her, I love you"
"George, how do you know you love me? YOU dated Lemon for 15 years , you would think you know if you love someone or not before the night you are getting married." Zoe was adamant.
George put her face in his hands. She didn't know whether it was to shut her up or …. That is when he leaned in to kiss her. She let him kiss her and she wasn't sure if she was kissing him back. It was a nice kiss. He told her they wanted the same things out of life and he would move back to the city if she wanted to be with him. George Tucker was nice but is he too nice for her?
Zoe then asked him "why? Why would you do that?"
George just said he loved her and knew they belonged together.
He bent down to kiss her again and whispered how great they would be together.
Zoe said " George it is late and I have plans tomorrow morning so you need to leave. I will see ya soon"
"Okay, see ya Monday" said George.
"No, I will be here all summer" she said reluctantly.
George was in shock, shook his head and headed out the door.