Hey everyone, welcome to day 14 of the Hart of Dixie countdown to Christmas!

Enjoy!

The one place she didn't want to be, she had made short work of getting back to her hotel room to pack her things. Her head was in a fog over the brief kiss she shared with Wade. It wasn't her first kiss or the most romantic kiss she has ever had, but there was just something about it that made it seem like it was the best kiss she's ever had. It was a special kiss, no doubt.

When the fog cleared from her head, the first thing she noticed is that her mom sat on the couch, her legs curled up under her. A position she has never seen her mom sit in before. Keeping the frown off her face, she slowly walked to the living room portion of the suite and sat down in a chair, fearing another fight would break out. She was ready to go pack her belongings.

"You were right," Candice nodded, placing her cup of coffee on the small coffee table. "I've been so focused on work this trip, heck every trip we've taken," her mom sighed. "I can take the next few days, and focus them on having fun and making memories that you can look back on and smile about," she told her daughter.

"What does that mean?" Zoe asked, trying to work it over in her head. She didn't want to get her hopes up, but she really hoped that it meant that they were going to be staying.

"It means that work can wait until the New Year," mother told daughter, getting to her feet. "Let's enjoy our vacation," Candice smiled. "I heard they have an amazing spa on the second floor, I'm sure it's not as good as our regular spa, but it's something," Candice shared.

Zoe smiled, jumping up from her spot, and followed her mom out of their room, to spend the day with her. She'll find Wade later tonight or tomorrow and inform him that they get to spend a few more days together. For now, she's going to go and enjoy her time with her mom, as it's been a while. Heading to the spa was the last thing she figured they would be doing right now. She figured they'd have been on their way to the airport.

"We've got time after we're done here to do a bit of shopping," Candice told her daughter, as they sat in massage chairs, getting pedicures. Zoe picked out a light pink color for her toenails, whereas Candice went with a bright red.

"I'd like that," Zoe smiled. It was rare to see her mom relax and not stress over work. And now that Zoe has seen this side of her mom, she wants to spend as much time as she can with her before work took over once again.

"What's his name?" Candice asked her daughter, looking to her left at Zoe.

"I have no idea what you're talking about," Zoe stated, shaking her head. There's no way that she's going to dish about the little feelings that might be held deep within for the boy that is quickly becoming her best friend.

"I might have been wrapped up in work, but don't think for a second that I didn't keep track of your comings and goings," Candice stated, a smirk on her painted red lips.

"Wade," Zoe sighed, telling her mom. "It's nothing more than a friendship until we go back to our lives. I'm not naive enough to think that a few days spent with him is going to end up changing my life forever," she stated.

"Zoe," sighed Candice.

"It's the truth," Zoe pointed out, not wanting to hear whatever lecture her mom thinks is going to help in this case. "And I'm okay with that. We all need a friend, and he's been a good friend while we're here."

"I don't want you to compare…" Candice trailed off with a sigh, shaking her head.

"Compare what?" Zoe asked. Candice shook her head, wanting her daughter to drop it. "I'm not going to compare the guys I date to dad if that's what you're thinking."

"I don't want you to limit yourself because of your father," she shared with her daughter.

"I get that, I do, but I'm not looking for a happily ever after," Zoe quipped out. "My focus is on graduation, and to have the grades for a perfect application for John Hopkins. Wade is my friend because unlike popular opinion girls and boys can be just friends," Zoe told her mom. "The only one that needs to stop comparing people to dad is you," she shared.

"I don't need anyone, I'm just fine with the way things are," Candice waved it off. She's poured so much of herself into her marriage, that when it ended, she jumped into her work, without coming up for air.

"If you say so," Zoe shrugged. "I don't want you to limit yourself because you think that you need to work and not have fun," she shared.

"I am having fun," Candice said. "Are you not having fun?" She asked her daughter, a smile on her face.

"Relax Mom," smiled Zoe, reaching over to squeeze Candice's hand. "I'm having fun."

Despite them not celebrating Christmas the way others do. For the last few years, it's just been the two of them, they'd have breakfast together in whatever resort they'd be staying in over the holiday break. Over the years the presents went from towering over her to just a couple, and that is more than okay with her.

While they were out shopping, Zoe split from her mom, to look for a present for Wade. She wasn't sure what to get him, and frankly, she didn't think it really mattered what she got him. Either way, he would say that he liked it, as to not hurt her feelings, and then once he got home, she's certain that he'd forget all about it. Even though she figured all of that from Wade, she still wanted to get him something, for him to have a reminder of her and their few short days spent together.

She didn't feel comfortable getting him anything clothes related, electronics were out of her price range. She could buy him a CD, but she didn't know what his taste really consisted of, or what CDs he already had. She thought about buying him something football related as he had told her how he plays on his high school team, but she didn't think he was a huge fan of the Denver Broncos. A plain football didn't seem like enough.

She didn't know if he still liked playing with Legos so she skipped right over them. She was ready to give up when she came across kits for model cars. Not knowing which one he would like, she grabbed a random one, that happened to be a 1957 Chevy Bel Air in a pretty powder blue color.

Zoe followed her mom into a restaurant for dinner. She can say, that today has been one of the best days she's had with her mom. They spent a good few hours of shopping, not only in the little shops around the resort but they went into the city of Denver and went on a shopping spree. It's the most fun she had with her mom in recent memory.

"Zoe?" Asked a shocked Wade behind her.

"Hey, Wade," smiled Zoe turning to look at the boy, that she had shared a kiss hours earlier with, bringing a small blush to her cheeks.

"You're still here?" He questioned, a relieved smirk on his face, that he hadn't missed her.

"Zoe, dear, why don't you and your mom join us," Jackie said, walking up behind her son.

"She won't take no for an answer," Earl said, with a small shrug, loving how gracious his wife is.

"Okay," Candice nodded, a smile on her lips. She wanted to know more about the family, more precisely the boy her daughter has been spending time with.