Chapter 4

This chapter starts about half way through Zoe's shift, the day after the previous chapter and follows on into the evening. Will Zoe finally tell Max?

As Zoe stands at the side of the reception desk, flicking through a patient's CT images on her tablet, Max makes his way up behind her and looks over her shoulder with his hands clasped behind his back. Gently leaning towards her ear he softly whispers, "So…how do you feel about a little date night tonight? You pick the restaurant."

Zoe's eyes lift from the screen and she smiles without turning to face Max who has started to walk away casually in the direction of her office. She quickly folds the pink cover of the case over the tablet and secures it with the elastic before following Max. As Zoe reaches the open door of the staffroom, Max stands by his locker fiddling with a carrier bag of small presents.

"Max," Zoe starts beckoning him out of the room with her finger and taking him around the corner, out of everyone's sight. After double checking there is no one there to see them she continues, "I thought we could maybe stay in tonight? I mean, Sophia's stopping with one of her friends so I just thought –"

"Candle lit dinner looking over the bay? Sounds good to me." He smiles at Zoe before adding, "As long as you're not cooking." He gives her a mischievous wink and heads back towards the staffroom.

"Shut up." Zoe smiles letting out a little giggle as her eyes follow him in there; she smiles through the window before making her way to her office.

Later on, Max leaves the hospital with his hands inside of the front pockets of his jeans with the same carrier bag wrapped around his wrist; he can't contain his smile as he knows Zoe will already be home preparing for their night alone.

"Max!" shouts Lofty, running to catch up with him, "You coming to the pub?"

"Sorry, mate," replies Max, "I've got something on tonight – a friend from school, its his birthday."

"Alright, well I'll see you tomorrow yeah?"

"Yeah." Max walks ahead of Lofty with his hands still in his pocket and the same grin still cemented in place.

Back at the apartment, Zoe has everything prepared: a small round table in the centre of the room just big enough for two with a red cloth draped over it, meticulously placed silver cutlery either side of the best plates she could find, each with rolled up napkins fastened in a silver band placed across the centre and multiple candles dotted around the room creating a warm and comforting glow. As she blows out the last of the matches, she hears a knock at the door – she takes a breath, gives one last inspection of the room and brushes down her pale pink dress before heading to the door.

"For you," Max bows and hands her a bunch of roses. Zoe's face lights up and she takes the flowers delicately towards the kitchen counter; Max follows closing the door behind him.

"Tah-dah!" Zoe smiles with her arms open as Max just stares at the set up.

"Zoe this is – "

"Too much?" she asks slightly disappointed.

"Perfect." Max smiles shaking his head and taking Zoe's hand.

After an evening of laughing, joking and enjoying each other's company, Max and Zoe are cuddled up on the sofa as if nothing had changed between them. Max begins to stand up forcing Zoe to lift her head from where it has been resting on his chest, and heads to the kitchen to grab the bottle of wine that had not yet been opened. As he fills the wine glasses half full and brings one back to hand to Zoe, she shakes her head and places it on the coffee table in front of them.

"What's wrong? Not like you to turn your nose up at a glass of wine," Max jokes.

"Come here." Zoe taps the space on the sofa and Max, now quite worried, slowly sits down placing his glass on the coffee table too.

"Zoe?" he asks as he notices her sitting more upright.

"There's something I've been meaning to tell you – "

"Okay?"

"Do you remember a few days before our wedding? When we…you know?"

"Zoe, you're scaring me right now."

"There's nothing to be scared about. Well there might be – I don't know. Look I've been meaning to tell you for a while I just put it off because I didn't know how you'd react or if it was even going to work out or if anyone found out like your mum, oh god." Zoe rambles in almost one breath terrified of actually telling Max. She covers her nose and mouth with her hands and closes her eyes as Max places his hands on her shoulders.

"Just tell me what's going on and we can get through it together. Whatever it is."

Zoe opens her eyes and looks into Max's as they glaze over with pure delight. She pulls her hands slowly from her face and makes the announcement.

"I'm pregnant Max."

His face drops and he almost turns pale, "What? But I thought?"

"I know," nods Zoe as she takes his hands that have slipped from her shoulders in shock, "I know, but I've been trying out these new drugs and… oh that doesn't even matter. Max, you're going to be a father. We're going to have our own little family."

The tears form in Max's eyes and he begins to cry delighted and never more in love with Zoe. They both, in tears, hold each other before Max kisses her and says "Our own little family." Zoe nods unable to speak.

"You, me, the baby-"

"And Sophia," Max interrupts, "it'll be the four of us."

Zoe, clearly touched by Max's inclusion of Sophia, wraps her arms tightly around Max's neck as she notices the carrier bag by the side of the sofa. "What's in there?" she asks.

"Close your eyes," replies Max as he reaches into the bag, pulling out a handful of Curly-Wurly's and small packets of Love Hearts, "Open."

Zoe opens her eyes, sees the sweets in front of her and without questioning it says, "I love you."

Sorry I haven't updated in a while, it was difficult to come up with an idea as to how Zoe should tell Max. I hope you've enjoyed and I promise I'll get back on track with it. :D G x