2 Days later Wade's phone started buzzing with an unknown number. "Hello?" he answered
"Hi, Mr. Kinsella? This is Kelly Branson from the.."
"Yeah, Hi."
"We have the paternity test results in and I would like to come discuss them with you at your earliest convenience."
"Um, yeah, is about an hour ok?" he asked
"Yes, that is perfect. Shall I come to your house again?"
"Yeah, that's fine."
"I will see you then." she said and hung up
After Wade hung up he went to the door of the office and peeked his head in. "Hey Lemon, I'm taking off for the day. I have a meeting in an hour."
Lemon looked up "Oh, ok. Everything alright? You look a little pale."
"Yeah." he mumbled and left the office. Instead of going straight home he went to the Whipporwill and knocked on a door.
Zoe answered a second later "Hey" she smiled
Wade started rubbing the back of his neck "Hey, um are you busy in an hour?"
"No, what's up? Did she call?" she whispered
"Yeah, she wants to discuss things and I guess that means." he paused and looked in the room. Joel was sitting at the desk writing. Zoe stepped out and closed the door behind her. "She wouldn't come here if he wasn't mine right?"
"I doubt it. So you want me to come?" she asked with a smile
"Could you? I don't think I can hear all this on my own and you are the only one who knows."
"Of course I will. Let me just change. Come on in."
Wade just nodded and followed her inside the room.
"Hi Wade." Joel glanced up at him
"Hey."
"You alright?"
"Yeah, peachy keen."
"Jelly bean" Zoe finished with a smile. She then turned to Joel "I have to help Wade with something, I'll be back later on."
"Alright, have fun. I have to finish the chapter by the end of the day anyway."
"Good luck." She smiled and walked towards the door. "Come on Wade."
"Coming. See ya." He waved to Joel
"Bye" he replied not looking up from his computer. As they climbed into Wade's car he turned to Zoe "Everything alright with you two?" he asked her
"Yeah, why?"
Wade shrugged "I don't know, just seemed off."
"Nope, we're fine." She smiled
Once they got to Wade's house Zoe immediately started cleaning up. "Do you save all these bottles for a reason?"
"No, just don't get around to cleaning them that much."
"Well you're going to have to start."
"I know" he nodded
"Everything will be fine Wade."
"You know how to take care of a one year old?"
Zoe looked at him. "No, but you'll figure it out. At least he's not an infant and will be up all night screaming."
"That's true. I wonder if he walks. Do they walk at one?"
"Depends, all kids walk at different stages."
"Do you think he talks?"
"Maybe a few words." She shrugged "I'm sure you can ask this woman everything. She should know."
He nodded as he heard a knock on the door. He went over and answered it. "Hi Ms. Branson."
"Hello Mr. Kinsella. How are you today?"
"Nervous."
She smiled as she walked past him and into the house. She looked over at Zoe. "Hello, I'm Kelly Branson."
"Zoe Hart." she smiled and shook Kelly's hand
"Are you his lawyer?"
Zoe laughed "No, just a friend."
"Nice to meet you." She turned back to Wade and handed him a file. "He's yours." She smiled
Wade immediately sat down on the couch. "Wow" he mumbled
Zoe took the file from Wade and looked through it. He looked up at her. "Is he?"
"Yep. Not that we couldn't have figured that out from the picture."
"Now Mr. Kinsella, like I said the other day since you had no idea of his existence and you never signed the birth certificate, you technically have no parental rights. But also, as I said Ms. Dylan had it written that you were to get the child if something was to happen to her."
"I want him." Wade spoke up and glanced over at Zoe who had a smile plastered on her face. "How do I get my rights? Do I have to adopt him?"
"No, you won't have to go through the adoption process. Just sign some paper work. Also, your background check cleared."
"That's good." He nodded
"Did you want to act as a foster parent for the first month or so?"
"Uh" he turned to Zoe looking for an answer and she shrugged
"We generally recommend it, just because it will be very new to you and the child."
He looked at Zoe again and she nodded "Yeah, ok."
Kelly smiled "Also, right now his last name is Dylan but when you officially get custody you will be able to change it to Kinsella."
"That was one of my questions. I have a bunch though."
"Ask away." She smiled at him
"I think I get all the legal stuff but I'm more curious about him."
"Ok, what would you like to know?"
"Well, does he walk, talk? That kind of stuff."
"He doesn't walk yet and he says some things. Every time I have gone to visit, he's been pretty quiet though. He's very shy. His current foster family said it took him a good week or so to warm up to them. The first week and a half they said he wouldn't sleep much, cried a lot, but that is expected."
Wade nodded "Does he have any stuff?"
"Yes, we took what Ms. Dylan had and have it all in storage. He has clothes and a blanket he is very attached to. Everything will come with him."
"When does he come?"
"Well, the sooner the better for everyone. I have the paperwork with me now if you want to sign it all. Then we can start the process of getting him here. Have you had your lawyer look everything over?"
"No not yet."
"Well that's fine, you can sign everything now and then have him look over everything or you can wait and contact me when you want to."
"No, I'll sign first. So you can start the process."
"Ok" she took out the paperwork and handed it over to him.
Wade read took the papers and started reading. Zoe sat next to him and read it as well.
"What do you think?" he asked her
"It seems legit to me but you should have George read it all too."
"I know, I will. I want to sign first."
"Then sign." She smiled and handed him the pen that was on the table
He took it and signed everywhere he was supposed to.
"Congratulations Mr. Kinsella."
"Thank you."
"I will contact you when we have a date set to bring him here." She stood up from her chair
"Sounds good" Wade stood up and led her to the door
"It was nice meeting you Ms. Hart."
"You too" Zoe smiled
"Have a good day." She smiled at the two of them and left the house.
Wade closed the door and turned to Zoe. "Wow"
"Are you alright?"
"What did I just do?" he sat down on the couch and flung his head back
Zoe sat down next to him "You just became a father."
"I can't do this." He shook his head
"Yes you can. You are going to be a great dad. You already are." She put her hand on his knee
"How?"
"You're taking him. You know how many Dads up and leave their kids every day and want nothing to do with them. You might not know anything about kids but Wade, you already know how to be a Dad. You've already made the most important decision."
"Zoe, who's going to watch him? I have to work. There is no daycare in Bluebell."
"Well Wade, now is when you start talking to your friends. I know Annabeth will help you. She's wanted a kid for years. I'm sure Lemon and Wanda will love to watch him and Rose. So will I." she smiled "I don't think you are going to run out of help in this town. That's one of the reason's I love it so much."
"Thanks Zoe. I guess I should tell Lavon there is about to be a kid on the plantation."
"Might be a good idea. Can I come?"
"Sure." He smiled "Thanks for being here for this. I never would have asked but you just happened to be here and I needed to tell someone that day and then I just don't think I could have done this today without you here."
"It's no problem, I'm happy to be here. I'll help with whatever you need."
He nodded with a smile and walked towards the door. They walked in silence to Lavon's house. Wade had the papers and file in his hand. He opened the door for Zoe and they both walked in. Lavon and Annabeth were sitting at the counter. They looked up at the two people in front of them with very confused looks on their faces.
"Hey you two." Lavon said
"Hey guys." Zoe smiled
"What's up?" he asked
Zoe looked at Wade and he took a deep breath.
"I have something to tell you guys."
"Are you sick?" Annabeth asked
"What? No, why would I be sick?"
"Well, you walked in with Zoe."
"Oh, no. She's just been helping me out with what I need to tell you."
Lavon and Annabeth exchanged questioning looks and then looked back at Wade.
"Well, what's up?" Lavon asked
"Uh, you remember Mel? She was around for about a week or so about a year and a half ago."
"Yeah" Lavon answered
"Well, apparently she had a kid a year ago and he's mine."
"Woah" Lavon said
"Oh my" Annabeth gave a small smile "How do you know?"
"Paternity test." Wade told her
"Well, what does this mean now?"
"Well that's not all." He started "Mel was in a car accident 2 months ago and was killed."
Lavon and Annabeth gasped "Oh no" Annabeth whispered
"So, I'm getting the kid. I had no idea he existed until this women showed up on my doorstep 2 days ago."
"How did they know he was yours?"
"Melissa had my name on the birth certificate and had it written somewhere that if something happened to her I was to get him."
"Sooo, you're getting him?"
Wade nodded "Yeah."
"Wow" Lavon said and then turned to Zoe "What do you have to do with this?" he asked
"Oh not much, I was just around after he found out the other day and was there today when he found out he was officially his."
"How are you feeling about this?" Annabeth asked Wade
"Alright." He shrugged
"Wade" Zoe looked at him
Wade sighed "Scared, nervous, like I have no idea what I'm doing."
"You'll figure it out and we'll help you." Annabeth smiled "It will be fun. How old is he?"
"One" Wade answered and pulled out the picture of him, handing it to Annabeth
"Oh my gosh he is adorable!" she squealed
"He looks just like you." Lavon smiled
"I know"
"What's his name?" Annabeth asked
"Wyatt." He told them
"Awww, I just wanna hug him."
Lavon flipped through the file and paperwork "You gonna have George look all this over?"
"Yeah, figured I would go there next."
"Probably a good idea. Not that I think this is wrong."
"No, I know."
"I'm guessing you haven't had a lot of time to think about what you will do with him while you work."
"No idea, it's not like Bluebell has a daycare."
"I'll watch him!" Annabeth offered
"Really?" Wade
"I told you." Zoe laughed
"You won't have any trouble finding a baby sitter." Annabeth chuckled "But I call dibs."
"Hey" Zoe said very insulted "I knew about him first."
"Big Z, do you know anything about kids?" Lavon asked
"No, but neither does Wade." She laughed
"Thanks Doc, I appreciate the confidence." He chuckled
"I have all the confidence in the world in you." She smiled
"I know you do." He smiled back
Lavon and Annabeth smiled at each other. "How's Joel?" Lavon then asked and Annabeth kicked him "Ow" he whispered
"Oh crap, Joel. I have to go. I'll see you guys later." Zoe waved and rushed out the door
"Something is going on with those two." Wade said popping a grape in his mouth
"What do you mean?"
"I don't know, they seemed weird when I went there today. She barely said goodbye to him."
"Maybe she didn't want to kiss him in front of you?" Lavon suggested
"Nah, she's done it enough already. He hardly even looked up from his computer."
"Hmm, that's weird." Said Annabeth
"Oh well, I should go see George. I'll see you guys later."
"See ya." Lavon and Annabeth smiled as he left.
"What is going on with those two?" Lavon asked
"I don't know." Annabeth said just as confused as Lavon