Chapter Thirty- Four
Earl was the only one there when they returned from their date it seemed that Tansy boyfriend had called after Jack had fallen asleep. Earl had given Tansy the go ahead to leave he could handle a sleeping baby all on his own.
At least that's what Earl had mumbled Wade thought. After having to use Zoe's key to unlock the front door and finding Jack sleeping in his crib, no sign of either Tansy or Earl until Wade found his Father asleep in his bed.
Zoe did not say a word she just left Wade to deal with Earl and went downstairs to get ready for bed. Of course once safe inside her room she could not help but laugh at having found Earl fast asleep in Wade's bed it was just to cute.
Knowing that she had to work in the morning Zoe took a fast shower then put on her pj's trying not to take to much time thinking that Wade would need the bathroom as well tonight. So she wasn't surprised when she got out to find Wade waiting at the door so he could get in.
"So don't be surprised in the morning when you see Earl he's going to be bunking with me tonight" Wade stated as he held his night clothes in his hands looking down at them. Earl was not who he wanted to be sleeping next to at night.
"Thanks for the heads up on that" Zoe replied biting her bottom lip so she would not laugh in Wade's face about him having to share his bed with his Father.
"I think Jack just completely wore him out tonight" Wade supplied having never had Earl babysit at night before Wade hadn't realized that it would wear his old man out so bad. It was almost eleven pm though so it might just be his Father's bedtime now that he didn't drink anymore.
"Jack hasn't gotten to spend a lot of time with Earl lately, they probably wore each other out" Zoe thought out loud. "They are so cute together the other day he was telling Jack all about how he couldn't wait to take him fishing"
"Yeah I've heard about that idea too" Wade replied thinking about Earl wanting to take Jack fishing at night not going to happen anytime soon if ever. "He's always wanting to take Jack camping too but that isn't happening without me tagging along"
"Earl is real good with Jack though" Zoe spoke out it was hard to believe the Earl she knew before her coma was the same man who would visit with Jack. He loved his grandson that was plain to see and was so careful with him.
"I know he is but it's just still hard sometimes to think of Earl as a responsible adult" Wade stated remembering all the years he had to sing his old man down from the roof top. "It's been over a year of him being sober but it's still hard you know to believe it"
"Of course it is, but you must be so proud of your Dad for staying sober" Zoe said as she moved farther away from the bathroom door so Wade could enter it.
"I am but" Wade stopped feeling ungrateful for even thinking it much less almost saying it out loud.
"But what?" Zoe asked taking a few steps back towards Wade.
"But" Wade started then looked down at his feet "I wish he could have gotten sober for Jesse and me when we were younger and needed him. I'm very proud of Earl for staying sober that he did it for Jack is amazing"
"He should have done it for you and Jesse" Zoe replied as she wrapped her arms around Wade. "But sometimes people no matter how much they want to quite can't"
"He did try a lot when I was younger, but every time it seemed he had it under control Earl would see something that reminded him of my Momma and he was back to drinking" Wade informed Zoe as tears started to fill his eyes. "It's just when I got that email from your Mother thinking it was you I started drinking and even knowing all that Earl was I could have been the same way. The only thing that stopped me was the hope that you would return one day"
Zoe just held Wade closer hating that he was hurting still from his Mother's death and Earl's non ability to handle that tragedy without drinking. It was such a shame that Earl could not do for his sons what he was finally able to conquer for his grandson.
"You had the hope I would return but Earl did not have that" Zoe said thinking just how unfair life was to some people.
"I know but when I got Jack I never would allow myself more then one beer at any given time I do not want to become what my Father did" Wade told Zoe wanting her to know he would not allow himself to become the same man who had cheated on her before "I will not be the man that drove you away from BlueBell because of my drinking and what that cause me to do"
"Wade" Zoe whispered she had never knew he was afraid of becoming his Father. She should have realized that though with how she never saw Wade with a beer in his hand anymore unless he was serving them at the Rammer Jammer. "I know you will not hurt me again like that"
Wade planted a kiss on Zoe forehead as a tear fell down his face he did not like to think of his childhood after his Momma died. Of how Earl drunk most of there money away and Jesse and him would try to get by on what little they had without asking anyone for help. But help the good People of BlueBell did. Giving them food, giving them free hair cuts, making sure they had school supplies. Making sure they always had clothes and shoes on their feet even if they were not brand new they were clothed.
Earl was never violent though thats the only reason no one had turned him in to the state. Harley was always coming around checking on them making sure Jesse and him would never hurt or sick. Wade knew if Harley had thought for one second Earl had been hurting them he would have had the Sheriff down on Earl.
"I'm glad my Dad is sober I just wish he could have done it a whole lot sooner" Wade said just wanting to forget all about voicing his heart ache at not really having a normal childhood.
Lifting her head up Zoe told Wade "Go get ready for bed you can sleep and I mean just sleep next to me tonight"
Not needing to be told twice Wade detangled from Zoe going into the bathroom liking the idea of getting to hold Zoe tonight as they slept because he was definitely going to be holding her all night long.
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Wade would have loved to stay awake the whole night just to enjoy holding Zoe in his arms. This being the first night since her return he had gotten to sleep in a bed with her alone. Jack was always in the middle of them before. But knowing he had to be up early tomorrow for work and needed to be alert because he had to do the scheduling for the coming week Wade just held Zoe in his arms smiling as he let himself fell into a deep sleep.
Zoe also enjoyed being held by Wade she had missed his arms holding her of a night so she was going to just let herself find pleasure in them while she could. Because come tomorrow night it would just be the three of them again in the Carriage house and she would not let her baby boy sleep upstairs for now all by himself he was just too little. How had Wade ever let him sleep up there by himself?
Zoe was wondering if Wade had a baby monitor as she snuggled into his arms then she knew no more as sleep took her.
Hearing the bath running Zoe opened her eyes and was shocked to see that Wade was still in bed next to her sleeping his arms still wrapped around her. So if Wade was asleep who was in the bathroom? That's when Zoe remember that Earl had slept over last night in Wade's bed.
It was a little weird Zoe thought that Earl had creeped by them in bed sleeping to get to the bathroom. It had never really bother Zoe before the Carriage house having only one bathroom. But knowing that Earl had walked past her as she slept was a bit unnerving. Also it was a bit embarrassing to be caught in bed with your boyfriend by his father.
"Papa" Zoe heard through the bathroom door. Hearing her baby's voice had Zoe out of the bed and out of Wade's arms within a second.
"Earl why are you and Jack in the bathroom?" Zoe asked through the bathroom door.
Earl opened the bathroom door "Hi pretty Doctor, Jack just had a bit of a accident his diaper leaked you see so he needed a bath" Earl explained pointing to the baby who was in the bathtub. Jack soiled clothes on the floor and Zoe realized then by the smell just what had linked out of Jack's diaper.
"Earl you should have woke Me and Wade, does his crib need cleaning out too?" Zoe asked forgetting all about the fact she was standing in front of Earl in her night gown that only went to her knees. She went past Earl and went to the tub to help clean up her baby boy.
"No his crib is fine" Earl replied but was looking down not wanting to say anymore but knew he had to "You see Jack here wake up a few hours ago crying so I put him in bed with me"
Zoe looked up when she heard that "Oh no is Wade's bed a mess?"
"I don't rightly know I suppose some people might call it that" Earl dodged answering Zoe's question with.
"Earl" Zoe sternly said giving him her Doctor's voice you must listen to me tone. "Go wake Wade up and tell him Jack made a mess out of his bed, but make sure Wade knows it wasn't Jack's crib. I will take care of Jack"
"Okay" Earl mumbled Zoe knew he did not want to tell Wade, she would have but her baby needed his Mommy to clean him up.
"Also after you tell Wade grab some clothes for Jack" Zoe stated as she took the wash cloth and run it over her baby's back.
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Wade was having the best dream he was holding the woman he loved in his arms after a night of showing her just how much he loved her. Smiling in his sleep he was rudely awake by having his leg shook, opening his eyes he saw that Zoe was not next to him in the bed any longer instead at the foot of Zoe's bed stood his Father.
"What are you doing in Zoe's bedroom?" Wade asked confused why his Father was standing before him in Zoe's bedroom.
"You see Jack had a messy diaper accident and I was just in the bathroom trying to clean the little guy up when Zoe woke up so she told me to wake you up" Earl answered not looking his son in the eyes.
Wade knew by Earl's actions he was hiding something from him, but what could that be? It wasn't Earl's fault that Jack had a messy diaper so what was his Father trying to hide from him.
"Earl" Wade said wanting to get to the bottom of whatever the older man was hiding.
"You see Jack wake up earlier and I didn't want to wake you and the pretty Doctor up so I brought him into the bed with me" Earl spilled out not wanting his son to be angry at him for having gotten his bed ruined.
"Oh" Wade utter getting a sick feeling in his stomach knowing he was in for a very messy clean up in his bedroom. Getting up out of the bed he first went to the bathroom to check on Jack.
"Zoe is Jack okay?" Wade asked as he walked into the bathroom.
"He seems fine" Zoe said as she lifted the toddler out of the tub in into a towel. "Did Earl get Jack some clothes yet?"
"Not yet I will go get them, then clean up my bed" Wade said the last making a face.
"Thank You" Zoe said feeling bad for Wade having to clean his bed up.
"No need to thank me, I'm just glad that Jack isn't sick again" Wade said as he was turning back towards the door. Earl was still in Zoe's bedroom looking around.
"Earl come help me clean up my bed" Wade said waiting until his Dad started walking towards the door before following after him.
First they stopped into Jack's room and Wade grabbed a shirt and jeans for the toddler along with a diaper in case Zoe didn't have any in her room. Wade ran downstairs giving Zoe the clothes for Jack, stole a quick kiss from her and headed back upstairs. Earl was just standing in the doorway of Wade's room.
Entering his room Wade noticed that his Dad had pushed his bedspread onto the floor already. Picking it up Wade looked at it hoping it did not need washed. Thankfully it looked clean, looking up at his bed now that was a different story completely he could see the brown stain right in the middle of the bedsheets. Earl helped Wade strip the bed of the sheets both men were relieved that the mess did not go through the sheets.
"It's a wonder he didn't get it all over you" Wade said laughing at his Father.
"About that I had to borrow one of your t-shirts" Earl said motioning with his head to a rolled up t-shirt on the floor. "I hope you don't mind, I'll just take my t-shirt home and wash it"
"That's fine" Wade said after getting the sheets all together heading downstairs to the small laundry room that Lavon had installed when he remodeled the downstairs to put in the kitchen.
This was not how Wade had pictured waking up today, he had hoped to be getting a few good morning kisses from Zoe. But instead he gets poopy sheets from Jack.