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Chapter Twenty-Seven

There was silence on the Carriage house porch as no one was sure what to say after the show Candice Hart had just put on. Ethan Hart had just came upon the last few minutes of the conversation and wasn't sure he wanted to know all he had missed of it. His ex Wife was a vengeful woman something he had learned the hard way. When she felt scorned she would not back down from her demands. And if you did not fulfill them she made your life hell. Stopping you from planned visit with your daughter, that you knew both of you were looking forward too.

Candice Hart was a cruel woman one Ethan had almost wished he never meet so many time if he weren't for Zoe. Because his daughter was worth putting up with Candice for Zoe was a wonderful loving daughter. It was his shame forever that he had signed those papers giving custody to Candice. He had been so hurt at the time not thinking clearly just wanting to run away from the truth. He had thought in error that Candice would during the year he was gone get Zoe acquainted with her biological Father. He did not want to hinder that growing relationship, only upon returning to discover Candice had never told Zoe anything about Harley. And one of Candice many rules for being allowed to see Zoe was he wasn't allowed to tell her.

Ethan knew he had been a coward in the fact he kept Zoe's paternity a secret from her. But she had been his little girl he truly did not want to share being her Father with another man. It was wrong he owed his daughter a apology over it. If he had stood up to Candice years ago perhaps Zoe would not be having to do it right now.

"Zoe" Ethan broken the silence with as he hugged his daughter pulling her as close as he could "I've missed you so much"

"Daddy" was the only word Zoe could get out as tears were running down her face. Everything her Mother had just done now being in her Father's arms had released the water works she could not get them under control.

"I'm here baby, I'm here" Ethan replied as tears of his own began to fall, he watched Wade slowly leave them alone entering the Carriage house. "Daddy is here, and I will not be letting your Mother dictate our relationship anymore"

Pulling away from him Zoe asked "Why did you?"

"I was a fool, I was just so hurt when I learned you were not my biological daughter" Ethan saw the flash of hurt in Zoe's eyes when he spoke that "I've always loved you Zoe that never changed"

"I made some awful mistakes then, my whole life fell apart. My marriage was over I could never trust your Mother again after that" Ethan shared as he thought back on those days. "We were so close and I just could not handle you being someone else daughter. I was a coward and ran away. So I did not have to face it, the only way Candice would give me a divorce was if I signed all custody over to her"

Ethan had stopped talking there because he was so ashamed of himself, he would never deserve Zoe to forgive him for signing her away. He could not ever asks that of her. Ethan was sure that Harley would have been a better Father to Zoe then he had been. But then again the older Man had never told Zoe he was her Father had he? Perhaps he too had listen to Candice Hart and been deceived.

"I thought at the time Candice was going to inform your biological Father and he was going to be a part of your life." Ethan said then a in a lower voice "I didn't think you would need me anymore if you had Harley"

"Dad" Zoe felt her heart break a little for her Father he was another of her Mother's victims. She sure knew had to get her own way by bulldozing others to her will. But that wasn't going to happen this time, and it hadn't happened with Wade either. "I never got to know Harley but he wouldn't have taken your place. The one time I did see him all I talked about was you and wanting to follow in your foot steps"

"Zoe honey I'm so sorry" Ethan said knowing how much that must of hurt Zoe knowing the only time she seen her biological Father she had being talking about her other Father. "Candice Hart has left a lot of broke hearts behind hasn't she?"

"Yes" Zoe agree wiping a tear from her eyes "we can not let her win though can we Dad? Me and You both of us want a relationship right?"

"A thousand times yes" Ethan replied wiping his own tears away "I want you and Jack in my life, and of course Wade I believe he comes as a package deal with the both of you"

"Yes he does" Zoe laughed as she took a few steps back from her Father "You've been around him over a year now, how would you rate Wade as a father?"

"Wade" Ethan said thinking back over last almost seventeen months he had known the other man, all the interaction he had seen of the younger man and his grandson. Of the times Wade and he had talked on the phone almost every week. "I would say I've never seen a better Father, I wish I could be half the Father he is"

Zoe's lips curled up on their own she knew by her Father words of praise for Wade that she was going to have at least one parent she could include in her life. One that would not tear down Wade but would like him. One that did not turn their back on her son.

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George had taken Jack up to his room not wanting the baby to hear the loud voices coming from the porch. After a few games of Jack's basketball set George was startled but Wade being in the door frame. George was dying to know what had happened with Candice outside but knew Wade would not share anything with him if Zoe didn't want him too.

It still shocked George that Wade had not told him that Zoe had returned right away. After everything they had been through together George did not learn about Zoe's return until a few days later when everyone found out. Wade had apologized telling him that Zoe did not want anyone to know of her return, then all of a sudden she had decided to tell Sheriff Bill because of her Mother threaten her friend with the police looking for Zoe.

It was then that George had to remember that Wade Kinsella would do anything for Zoe Hart, the Man was madly in love with her. He couldn't blame his friend for doing what the woman he had waited two years for asked of him. So George would wait and see if Wade wanted to share what Candice Hart had said all on his own. If it had anything to do with the missing money as Zoe's lawyer he was sure to learn about it from Zoe anyway.

"Candice left and Ethan has arrived" Wade announced entering Jack's room "thought I would visit with you two while Zoe is talking with her Dad"

George was pleased to hear Dr Hart was in town the older man had stepped up and was involved in Jack's life as a grandparent should be. He hoped that Ethan now got the chance he had been hoping for to be a better Father to Zoe. While it was true that Harley Wilkes was Zoe's biological father Ethan Hart was the man she thought of as her Father. He was the one that raised her for the first ten years of her life then just disappeared on her. George and the older Dr. Hart had talked about the time in the older man's life after learning of Candice betrayal. She had wanted everything to just go on as if nothing had changed, could not understand when Ethan could not do that.

George thought Ethan the year he was gone was not just running from the truth but also from Candice Hart. That woman could make any man what to run away screaming. How Wade had kept his cool George knew it was all for Zoe and Jack.

"It's nice that Ethan could come visit" George said as Jack ran to his Daddy with his arms up wanting picked up.

"Yes Zoe needs at least one sane Parent" Wade replied picking up his son who was trying to touch his Father's hair.

"One question always comes to mind when I think about Candice Hart" George said as he watched Jack pulling Wade's hair as the other man tried to get the little boy's fingers out of his hair. "How on earth did she ever get two smart doctors to fall for her? And them not notice she's all out crazy?"

Wade who finally got Jack's finger out of his hair and set the little boy back down on his own two feet laughed at Tucker's question.

"All I can think is she must have been a knock out like Zoe is, so they over looked the crazy" Wade supplied knowing he himself had overlooked some of the weirder things Zoe did because of it.

George had to laugh at Wade's respond, Wade was so head over heels in love with Zoe, George thought if a young Cindy Crawford where to walk in the door Wade would think Zoe was better looking. That was love for ya. Also on the plus side of things George was glad that it was Wade who had to deal with crazy mother- in- law or soon to be one. Because while George had at one time thought he been in love with Zoe it was a blessing not to have to have Candice Hart as a potential mother- in - law.

"So how long is Ethan staying for?" George ask as Jack came back to his toy basketball set ready to start another game up.

"I think just the weekend" Wade replied as Jack threw the little basketball and got it in the net. Jack then high five both men laughing as he did.

"Ger" Jack yelled holding the mini basket ball out for George to take, taking the ball he threw it but missed getting it into the net Jack laughed then went and got the ball giving it to his Father. Wade threw it making a "Nothing but net" comment as the ball went threw the tiny net.

"You think we're being doing this seventeen years from now?" George asked as Jack took his turn laughing when he overthrew it.

"I hope not" was Wade's reply "we should by then be moved outdoors on a normal size ball and net"

"Ha Ha" George responded "I just meant do you think in years to come the three of us will still be playing basketball together"

"Sure as long as Jack wants to play with his old man and Uncle Ger" Wade answered finding it hard to think that far ahead in the future trying to picture a adult Jack.

"Ger" Jack gave the mini basketball back to George wanting to continue their game. Taking the ball George took another shot and once again missed. It just wasn't fair he was so much better at real basketball but something about the smaller height threw George off his game.

Wade was standing there trying not to laugh at him "Go ahead laugh, I'm awful at this I know" George said.

"How are you so bad at this?" Wade asked after making another basket and getting a high five from Jack as a reward.

"It's the height it throws my game off" George defended himself with knowing that a having a toddler beat you fairly at a mini BasketBall game wasn't something to be proud of.

"Yeah sure, will you be saying that when we play normal basketball later too?" Wade asked laughing. It had been a long time since Wade had gotten to play a regular basketball game. He never seemed to find time for games if they weren't the kind he could play with Jack. But now with Zoe around maybe he could find a spare hour to play a game of basketball with George.

"I have 50 that says I beat you next time we play?" George declared hoping they got to play a game together soon.

"You're on Man, I can already see me 50 richer" Wade said rubbing his hands together. Jack just watched the two men then threw his ball again this time it went into the net again. "My son has more game then you, Tucker"

"Yeah the little man does" George agreed laughing as he high five Jack.