It was Zoe's day off, she'd managed to kick Max out of bed in time for him to start work. Her phone started ringing, she looked at the caller ID, Linda.
"Linda?" She answered.
"Hey stranger! Didn't disturb you and lover boy did I?!" Linda asked with her dirty laugh.
"Very funny!" Zoe replied, "no, he's working."
"So you've got the day off?" Linda asked.
"Yeah, why?" Zoe answered.
"Well, I'm visiting Holby so thought it'd be nice to have a catch up?" Linda replied.
"Defintely!" Zoe said, "how about lunch at the new wine bar in town, Kennedys I think it's called?"
"Sounds good to me, meet you at one?" Linda said.
"Ok I'll see you there!" Zoe confirmed.
Zoe was looking forward to seeing Linda, she'd missed her, they had caused chaos back in the day. She remembered Linda's reaction when she'd found out she'd been with Nick, she couldn't wait to see what she'd make of Max!
Zoe got ready and headed into town, she decided to walk knowing there was likely to be wine involved with Linda around.
"Hey, look at you!" Linda saw Zoe and came over to give her a hug, "you look fab, being in love clearly works for you!"
"Well, you know.." Zoe smiled.
"God, you've got it bad!" Linda laughed as they walked inside the bar and found a table.
"Bottle of wine?" Linda asked her friend.
"Good to see things don't change!" Zoe smiled at her.
They browsed the food menu whilst they were waiting for their drinks.
"So, this Max then." Linda asked, "is he the one?!"
"Linda! You don't hold back do you?" Zoe laughed at her.
"Answer the question Zo!"
"Well, I love him a lot, we've had our ups and downs but we made it through. It started as just fun but it's got more and more serious! I've never had anyone make me feel like he does, not even Nick, I can just be me with him and there's no pretence."
"Wow, that's pretty deep for you Zo! Have you got a picture? I need to see this guy, he sounds pretty special!" Linda asked her.
Zoe pulled her phone out of her bag and showed Linda the picture on her screensaver, it was Max laid in bed grinning.
"He's fit! Look at those gorgeous eyes, good work mate!" Linda gave Zoe a cheeky wink.
The waiter brought the wine over and poured them a glass each.
"What does Max do?" Linda asked.
Zoe looked at her before picking up her glass and taking a gulp.
"Zoe?"
"He's a porter, at the hospital!" Zoe told Linda, instantly laughing as she saw her eyes widen in shock.
"A porter?!" Linda had spat her drink out, "I thought they were all middle aged men?!"
"Not this one," Zoe told her, "a very gorgeous 30 year old!" She knew Linda would be even more surprised so she'd keep going!
"30?! Bloody hell Zoe, you don't do things by half do you? Well, almost half your age!" Linda was winding her up.
Zoe glared at her, what was she expecting her reaction to be, she of all people knew how unconventional the relationship was. Linda saw the look in her eyes.
"Hey, I was kidding Zo!" She tried to reassure her.
"I know, it's hard trying to explain our relationship when there's so many people ready to just laugh, it's not funny to me, I love Max and I don't care what anyone thinks!" Zoe explained.
Linda looked at her and smiled, she'd never seen her friend this happy.
They ordered lunch, by the time it arrived they'd drained the first bottle of wine, Zoe picked it up, "another one?" she asked Linda.
"You know me too well!"
"So, what's going on with you?" Zoe enquired, "boyfriend?"
"Me, God no! Working far too much to have a life! Britney and Joe also stay over quite a bit when Denise is working." Linda told her, referring to her sister and kids, the reason she'd moved back to Liverpool.
"No more wild child then?!" Zoe asked.
"Nah, I don't miss it though, I enjoy being around my family and helping out. Will you and Max think about kids?" Linda knew of Zoe's infertility.
"We've had the discussion, I told him I want one, it's just how with me not being able to." Zoe explained. "There's surrogacy or adoption, just need to work out the best option, it'd have to be someone I trusted for a surrogate though."
Linda nodded in agreement and then laughed "this is great though! Who would have thought you'd settle down? Let alone be talking about kids!"
"I know! It's all a bit surreal really but it's definitely what I want." Zoe couldn't believe it was her saying these things, she smiled, thinking about Max.
"Earth to Zoe!" Linda nudged her, "so when do I get to meet the lovely Max?"
"Why don't you come back to ours? We've got plenty of room, you can stay the night? We've got so much more to catch up, besides I've got a fridge full of wine!" Zoe told her.
Linda agreed, they'd got the bill and left the bar.
"I already feel a bit tipsy!" Zoe said.
"Me too, maybe we're getting on a bit?!" Linda joked.
"Or the four bottles of wine!" Zoe said.
It was a fifteen minute walk to Zoe's house, they talked and laughed all the way, reminiscing their antics when they worked together.
As they approached the house, Zoe spotted Max outside.
"Max!" she shouted, "what are you doing here, shouldn't you be at work?"
"It's gone seven Zoe! Are you drunk?!" Max laughed.
"Drunk, no! We only had...erm, I forgot how many it was!" Zoe stuttered.
Max looked at the blonde woman next to Zoe "You must be Linda?" he asked her.
She nodded "and you must be Max, even more handsome in real life!"
Max laughed, "come on ladies, let's go inside, I think you two need some coffee!"
Max led them inside, the two women were laughing, he looked at Zoe and smiled, it'd been a while since he'd seen her this happy after what had happened with the young girl dying.
Max ordered a takeaway, he figured Zoe and Linda would need food at some point to soak up the alcohol. He sat with them for a couple of hours before announcing he was going to bed, "early morning for me! Nice to meet you Linda, don't do anything I wouldn't do!"
"We won't be long Max, all this wine has made us tired I think!" Zoe kissed him.
"Get a room you too!" Linda said.
"We can if you insist!" Max replied, "I can't get enough of this woman!"
"Max!" Zoe exclaimed. He laughed as he went upstairs.
Zoe and Linda chatted for a while before heading to bed.
"Night Linda, I've had a great day, thank you, I've missed you." Zoe hugged her.
"You too mate, oh, and Max is fab, you're perfect together." Linda told her.
They went into their rooms, Zoe got into bed and looked at Max, sound asleep. "He is perfect," she thought "I'm the luckiest woman alive."
The three of them had got up early the next day, Max was making breakfast whilst Zoe made the coffee.
"Sleep ok Linda?" Max asked.
"I tried," Linda replied, "but I had something on my mind."
"What's up?" Zoe asked.
"I've been thinking, you too are so happy together and you're so right for one another, I know you haven't discussed it properly but.." Linda started.
"What are you getting at Linda?" Zoe didn't know where this was heading.
"Let me do it Zo, let me be your surrogate..."