Thank You to everyone who has been leaving reviews I enjoy them. More Candice in this chapter hope everyone enjoys it.
Sw,
Chapter Twenty-Six
Wade woke up after ten a.m. he hadn't gotten in until after 2 a.m. he wanted to be up showered and dressed before Ethan Hart showed up for his visit. Plus he didn't want to be sleeping in case Mrs. Hart showed up as well. When he had gotten home last night he was surprised to find that Jack was not sleeping in Zoe's bedroom downstairs neither was Zoe. Wade just thought perhaps Zoe had falling asleep rocking Jack in his rocking chair. But going to Jack's room neither was there just when he was started to panic thinking somehow Candice Hart had kidnapped them Wade entered his own room to discover Mother and Son sleeping under his bedsheets. He laughed lightly to himself seeing that Zoe was using one of his plaid shirts as a nightgown.
That sight right there was one Wade would love to see every night except of course for Jack being there every night, but on nights when he was working Wade thought his Son watching over his Momma was a touching scene. His boy was turning into a Momma's boy and Wade couldn't be prouder of that fact. That meant that Zoe was around something that has changed his whole world this last week and made it so much happier.
Wade could now picture the future he wanted one day not to soon in the future to scare Zoe away but not to far that it seem impossible to come true. Wade could see Zoe and him getting married living together as Man and Wife, maybe even if possible have another kid, if not Jack was more then enough. He wanted that life so bad, Wade knew he was on his way there. Zoe and he were living together just not together, together yet. But they had decided to date so that was a step in the right direction.
Getting out of the bed Wade went to his closet grabbing some jeans and a button down shirt he wanted to look professional when Dr. Hart showed up. The Man had always been nice when he came down for visits with his grandson, but this was different this time Ethan was coming down to see his daughter not jut his grandson. And said daughter was who Wade happened to be dating so he wanted to show Dr. Hart he could clean up nice that he could wear something other then a plaid shirt.
Walking down the stairs Wade heard Zoe and Jack playing together in the living room, peaking inside he saw the pair rolling a ball back and forth setting on the floor. They were both dressed Jack seemed to be having lots of fun playing with this Momma. Smiling Wade headed to the bathroom to get his shower so he could join his family in the living room as soon as he was dressed.
Zoe has seen Wade from the corner of her eye she just concentrated on Jack letting Wade have his moment of watching them undetected. Beside he had looked so good just standing there in his sleeping shorts without a shirt on, he was being her eye candy.
Jack rolled the ball back to her then got up pulling himself up the couch, it seemed he was done with that game Zoe thought following Jack to the couch. He looked up at her saying "Mama" then pointed to the tv screen which was off.
"Oh so you want to watch tv little man?" Zoe asked as she grabbed the remote from the side table next to the couch. Jack hasn't gotten to watch any cartoons today. They had awaken late so they just barely made it to Lavon's in time for breakfast before Lavon had to run to another meeting. Zoe thought Lavon seemed to be having meetings everyday, but then again being Mayor he likely did. Because of this reason Zoe had to shower at Lavon's and put her nightgown aka Wade's shirt and short shorts back on. She had returned to the Carriage house to bath Jack. Once the little guy was all nice and clean she had put him in his crib for a few minutes so she could change her clothes.
The whole time Zoe was worried that Jack would cry and wake up Wade who was still sleeping from having to close the Rammer Jammer last night. She had made a mental note to buy Lavon and Lemon a box of chocolates as a Thank You for all the times they had watched Jack for Wade and now her to get a shower without having to worry about what Jack was getting into. Lemon had even stayed longer today so Zoe could get that shower at Lavon's.
Zoe wanted to look nice for her Father's arriver she had not seen him in over two years time, but from what she learned he had seen her when she was in her coma. So Zoe wanted her Dad to know she was better, that she was recovered and happy to be a Mother to her son. She did not want or need another control freak parent. Zoe had purposely not allowed thoughts of her Mother to come into her mind every time it did she would think about Jack instead or how her Father was coming. She would not allow herself to think of her Mother or the money.
George had called back last night wanting to talk about the banks he had found but Zoe wasn't up to it she felt so betrayed but what her Mother had stolen from her again. It was the trust she had in her Mother that been broken again and again. It wasn't about money it was about the secrets of not telling her about the money. It was the biggest secret of Mrs. Hart not telling Zoe about Jack that Zoe found she could not move past. How could her own Mother keep her son from her? Zoe just could not understand that, it was something she was sure she would never understand to her dying day.
Jack was the best thing that ever happened to Zoe he did not deserve to be treated like a dirty little secret hidden away from his very own Mother. That was just something that always brought tears to Zoe's eyes. He was her baby and she loved him more then anything. How could her own Mother not understand that? Didn't Candice Hart love her daughter like that? And if she did how then could she hurt her so badly with all of her lies?
"Mama" Jack said patting Zoe face as the tv still had not come on yet.
"Sorry baby" Zoe said then turned the tv on with the remote in her hand she would not let her mind wander to that woman she use to call Mother. "So you want to watch cartoons?"
"Yes" Jack said jumping up and down on the couch laughing "Mama ove"
"Yes Mommy loves you" Zoe replied kissing Jack on his little cheek, this is what she needed to focus on her son "Let's watch some tv little man"
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Wade just finished running a comb through his hair wanting it to look neat, he so wanted to impress Dr. Hart. Show the man he was good enough to date his daughter. Never mind that Wade knew Ethan Hart they got along well and he was the man's grandson father. This was important Wade wanted to show he was a responsible business owner not just a bartender who had gotten the man's daughter pregnant.
Looking in the mirror Wade thought he looked nice he just wanted to make Zoe proud and hopefully help her reconnect with her Dad. He knew Zoe longed to reconnect with the Father she always loved, Wade was hoping they could do that for Zoe's sake. Also because Jack really enjoyed spending time with this grandfather Ethan.
Walking into the living room Wade could hear the tv on now, seemed they had moved on from their earlier game of rolling the ball.
Jack was setting in his Mother's lap snuggling into her. Zoe seemed to be delighted by the closeness she was sharing with Jack. It was nice to see them building a relationship watching as it grew before his very eyes. It hurt Wade just a little too knowing that Jack now had another parent to give his love too. He hated feeling that way at all but it was he supposed normal after being the only parent Jack had for so long. Beside he loved Zoe so much that he just wanted her to be happy and their son made her very happy.
There was a knock at the door Zoe looked away from the tv Wade stepped forward heading to the door hoping it was Ethan and not Candice. "I'll get it Doc"
Opening the door Wade let a breathe out when it was neither "Hey George you here for a social call or business one?"
"I just thought I would stop by see if Zoe gave anymore thought to what we talked about last night?" George answered. Wade moved back and let Tucker inside the Carriage house.
"Come on in Zoe and Jack are in the living room watching cartoons" Wade said as he walked back to said room.
"Hi George" Zoe greeted, Jack yelled happily "Ger"
"Hey there is my main man" George replied greeting Jack back. The toddler jumped down from the couch running to one of his favorite people lifting his arms up.
"Ger" Jack said as he was being lifted up in George's arm then pointed to the ball that he and Zoe had quit playing earlier.
"Jack, come to Daddy" Wade interrupted Jack from getting his way "let Uncle George and Momma talk. Let's take that ball and play outside with it" George half heartedly gave the baby over to his Father after Wade had picked up the ball they needed to play outside with.
"He's a really good Father" George said feeling some jealousy over Wade getting to be called father before he had. He would love to have a son or daughter of his very own. But he and AnnaBeth were not in a place in their relationship just yet to talk about having children they were not even married yet. Being married was something he wanted before he had kids.
"Yes he is" Zoe agreed "So what brings you by George?"
"I just wanted to see if you had given any thought to moving your bank account to a closer bank or not?" George ask wanting to get all of Zoe's money away from Candice Hart are for her to have any idea where it was being held at.
"Not really" Zoe replied not wanting to think about the money because it lead to thinking about the missing money her Mother had taken. "I know it needs to be done, I just don't want to think about it right now"
George set down on the couch next to Zoe he pulled her into a hug, he needed to slow down Zoe was going through a lot right now. Her Mother had betrayed her over and over so the money was a token of that fact. Zoe did not want to think about that right now. George could understand Zoe had been through so much she just could not handle this at the moment.
"I will look into more local banks and we can talk about what you would like to do on Monday" George voiced not wanting to pressure Zoe about this if she couldn't handle it right now. But she needed to get her money completely under her control. That money was for all the pain and suffering Zoe had been through and she had been through a lot of that. No money was worth all she had lost, Zoe had lost the first 16 months of her son's life, almost her whole pregnancy, then had to spend months being able to walk again. She deserved every penny she had been rewarded.
"Okay Monday" Zoe replied "but know that I would have Jack with me"
"He's my main man" George joked "wouldn't dream of him not being here"
"Good because" Zoe never got to finish her thought because just then from outside a woman shouting could be heard.
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Jack was throwing his ball and laughing when it hit his Dad in the leg not being high enough to reach his hands. He thought it was the funniest thing ever. "Higher Jack throw it higher" Wade rubbed his leg acting like it hurt from the ball hitting him.
Jack just laughed at his Dad and threw the ball again this time it did make it higher up on Wade's leg just not high enough to reach his hands again. The ball hit the ground then Jack ran to pick it up then he took a few steps back preparing to throw it again. When a voice Jack didn't recognize spoke "He should be learning the piano, not playing this close to a swamp"
"Come to Daddy, Jack" Wade told his son walking the few feet they were apart he would not be happy until Jack was safe in his arms and away from Mrs. Hart. Once he had Jack in his arms Wade turned his back to the Woman he wanted to yell at her so bad but would not do that in front of his son.
"Yes take Jack and run away with him it's what you're good at" Candice Hart attacked with "not letting me raise him so he will never be anything but a bartender like you"
"Raise him" Wade turned back around not being able to stop himself "you would not even come see him. You are a real piece of work Lady"
"See him, I should have had custody of him" Candice shouted out "You are a nobody, I could have gotten him into the best schools"
Before Wade could respond to her, Zoe had jerked opened the Carriage house front door running out followed closely by George Tucker.
Zoe was seeing red all the anger at her Mother coming to the front of her mind making her even madder was she heard that latter part of what her Mother had shouted at Wade.
"Do not yell at my boyfriend" Zoe spoke calmly to her Mother she then turned to Wade and said "Take Jack inside, my Mother and me need to talk"
"I'm not leaving you Doc, George take Jack inside" George nodded Wade gave him Jack. Wade just stood next to Zoe knowing he would just stand here if she needed him he would be here for her.
"So you are just going to let him rule you?" Candice Hart ask as she walked up to her daughter "Let him not allow me to see my grandchild?"
"He's not doing any of those things Mother" Zoe defended Wade "He's just trying to support me. Because my Mother who I trusted my whole life has done nothing but lie to me"
"Zoe I already told you, I just did not know how to tell you about Jack without having him there" Mrs. Hart explained again sure if she could just get Zoe to understand she hadn't meant to keep Jack a secret it just unfolded that way. Now though since it was all out in the open Candice just did not understand why Zoe wouldn't just sue for custody and take Jack back with them to New York City.
"You were never going to tell me" Zoe responded back "Jack is my baby and you were never going to tell me about him" tears filling Zoe's eyes Wade wrapped a arm around her. "How could you not tell me?"
"Zoe I've explained, I'm sorry that I hurt you" Candice said taking a deep breathe "I just did not know how to tell you that Wade had taken Jack from us"
"Taken" Wade blurted out before getting a hold of himself and biting his tongue to stop himself for saying another word. He did not what to be the reason Zoe and her Mother did not talk in the future. This woman who was a witch in actions was Zoe mother and Wade did not want to be the reason Zoe did not allow her Mother in her life.
Zoe mouth had dropped open how dare she say such a thing about Wade, all Wade had done was be a good Father and taken his son. Wade had changed just about everything in his life only keeping the Rammer Jammer the same. He had moved houses, got a new vehicle, getting rid of his much loved car. His social life was Jack everything Wade did was to be there for his son or working to provide for him.
"You can not take what's yours" Zoe shot back looking her Mother right in the eyes daring her to contradict her on that.
"Zoe why did you have to pick a Bartender? Why couldn't Jack have been the Lawyer's?" Candice snarky ask "He would have understood that New York City would be a better place for Jack to be raised"
"New York City isn't the be all and end all of the whole world Mother" Zoe cried out "I could not have picked a better Father for my son or a better place for him to grow up"
"This little nowhere town you have to be joking" Candice truly appalled said "I know Jack was a accident because you would not have picked that man to Father your child. It's a shame you didn't get the chance to do what I did and pick a better one for your child"
"You are never going to change or you?" Zoe questioned not being able to believe the Woman before her was related to her "What did you do with my missing money Mother?"
Candice looked taken aback by Zoe question "What money?"
"Don't pay dumb Mother it doesn't suit you. You know the over two hundred thousand is missing from the lawsuit you settled for me"
Zoe looked Mrs. Hart right in the eyes and asked.
"Oh that money" Candice laughed like it was no big deal whatsoever "I put it in a trust fund for Jack"
"What?" Zoe and Wade ask at the same time. Not understanding the Woman before them at all.
"I set up a trust fund for Jack, I took the same amount from your account as I did from one of my own. That way Jack would not have to worry about college when he got older" Candice described as if it was a every day occurrence that you stole money from your daughter to put into a trust fund for your grandson. If she was even telling the truth about that.
"I want my money back" Zoe said not wanting one penny from her Mother "Just my money"
"I can't it takes two people to break the trust" Candice stated looking at her daughter.
"Who?" Zoe asks wanting to pace so bad she could scream but not being able to because she would not show any weakness in front of her Mother.
"Jack's legal guardian and Me" Candice replied with then she smiled adding "but you have to do it in person"
"Was this your grand plan Mother tell me about the trust and have me return to New York City with you. Well that isn't going to happen. Keep the money in trust for Jack, I'm not going anywhere with you" Zoe yelled having lost her cool.
"Doc, it will be okay. Like you said we don't need the money" Wade said pulling Zoe into his arms trying to calm her down "Tucker will handle all of this don't worry"
"You need to leave now" Wade looked up from Zoe and told Mrs. Hart.
"I will not allow you to keep my daughter from me" Candice told Wade looking him straight in the eyes "like you have my grandson"
Zoe broke out of Wade's arms losing all control then ready to tear into her Mother for all of the awful things she had done to Wade, Jack, and herself. But before she could a voice behind them all said "That's the funniest thing I've heard in years, almost tops your lie of she's just premature"
Turning Candice Hart was face to face with her ex-husband Ethan Hart. The man had aged well she would give him that. But he had no say in this, Zoe was not even his daughter he had signed all rights away to her years ago.
"You kept yourself away from our grandson, not Wade" Ethan informed Candice letting her know he wasn't going to believe she was the victim here "Wade has never stopped me from seeing Jack"
"Because you followed his rules" Candice coldly stated to Ethan "I would not so I wasn't allowed"
"His rules?" Ethan laughed "Wade had no rules other then Jack live with him. He sent you pictures every month of Jack just asking where Zoe was. No if anyone had rules it was you. If you couldn't raise Jack you wanted nothing to do with him. It's all on you. The same way if I didn't take you back I couldn't see Zoe" Ethan regretted saying the last as soon as the words left his mouth.
"You wouldn't let Dad see me because he wouldn't take you back?" Zoe asked feeling like her whole world turned on it's self once again. The hurt in her voice caused Mrs. Hart to take a step closer to her little girl wanting to pull her into her arms.
"Honey I just wanted all of us to be a family again" Candice said "I was being selfish I'm sorry"
"Please Mom just go back to New York, I need time away from you" Zoe was defeated in her relationship with her Mother she just needed Candice Hart to leave her alone let time give them distance and hopefully peace and forgiveness would come. But right now distance was what was needed.
"Zoe I love you, and if that's what you want" Candice had tears running down her eyes "Just know I will be waiting for your call"
after saying that she turned away and the three occupies on the porch watch as she drove away in her rental car.