Oh my gosh! I can't believe how many of y'all are still reading! I was so surprised to see so many reviews for the last chapter, especially after so much time since the last update. I wish I could reply to each of you individually but I haven't had the chance. So please accept this as a personal thank you for reading and reviewing!
This chapter is getting into the real meat of the story. I hope you like it! And remember, I started this before we knew Wade had a brother so in my story, he's got a sister instead. Song that inspired this chapter – Carrie Underwood's "Jesus Take The Wheel."
THINGS I OWN: A remarkable collection of glitter. THINGS I DON'T OWN: Hart of Dixie.
Wade sat at Lavon's counter, sipping lukewarm coffee and picking at a soggy bowl of cereal, deep in thought.
Daddies didn't like him. They liked him as the guy who served their beer or helped them out when need arose. They didn't like him as the guy who dated their daughters. He reckoned that was because he didn't really 'date' their daughters – at least not until Zoe.
It hadn't bothered him that daddies didn't like him. It had amused him, even. He'd snuck in and out of more windows than anyone would ever know. One time, he'd even barely made it to his truck and out the driveway before Becky Lynn Fisher's daddy was after him with a shotgun. It had been his thing. He was the guy who didn't settle down or take anything besides his bar seriously.
Zoe had changed everything.
It wasn't just that he was monogamous or that his Facebook status read 'in a relationship.' He had taken to picking up after himself, washing his clothes more than once a month. Just two days earlier, he'd made himself a salad for lunch. He wasn't becoming a different person by any means – he still played his guitar and too many video games and he still used every come on line he could think of on Zoe to get her into bed and teased her just because he could. He was just becoming a better version of himself, more of a grown up. And truth be told, he liked it.
He didn't know for sure that Zoe's dad didn't like him. Their breakfast run in hadn't been awful the day before and when Dr. Hart had shown up looking for Zoe that night, he hadn't given Wade any reason to believe he didn't like him. All Wade had to go on was the fact that daddies never liked him. And that Dr. Hart though he would convince Zoe to stay in Bluebell.
Selfish though it was, he wanted nothing more than for Zoe to stay. She was just a couple months away from her one year mark. It scared him to his core to think of her leaving. He knew he'd never go with her. His life, his family, his business was in South Alabama. If she asked him to… Well, he couldn't think of that. He was so lost in his thoughts that he didn't hear Lavon come downstairs.
"Uh oh," he said. Wade looked up, startled by the noise.
"What?"
"You're just sitting here, drinking coffee, eating frosted flakes so soggy they look more like oatmeal… Lover's quarrel? If so, I don't want to hear about it."
"Nah, no quarrel," Wade said. He stirred at his cereal. "Just thinkin' 'bout stuff." Lavon poured his own mug of coffee and sat down beside Wade.
"I'm might regret asking this but anything you want to talk about?" Wade didn't say anything. Lavon sighed inwardly, irritated at himself that he couldn't let it go. He was becoming worse than a woman and he blamed Zoe for it. "Got anything to do with Dr. Hart? The female not the male?" Wade took a deep breath before facing Lavon.
"Zoe's year is up in like, two months," he said. "And I don't want her to leave. But I also don't want her to stay because of me. I don't want to be what holds her back from getting everything she's ever wanted. I know what it's like to be held back, to end up resenting someone. I don't want to be that person for Zoe."
Lavon nodded.
"Her year mark is coming up," he agreed. "Between me and you, I don't want her to leave neither. I give her a hard time for being a pain my side but she is a good friend. Even if she does treat me like I'm a girlfriend half the time." Lavon looked at Wade seriously. "If she does stay, we've got to find her a female friend – besides Rose." Wade grinned a little and nodded in agreement.
"We talked about it some last night. She says if she stays that it'll be for her, be her decision. She's so strong and independent that a lot of me believes that. But people do stupid stuff for love." Lavon raised an eyebrow.
"Love?" he asked. "I knew it was serious but…" Wade shrugged.
"Ain't it obvious?" he asked Lavon. "I've been in love with her for a while. Just ain't told her yet."
"Any why not?"
"Just ain't never been the right time, I guess. And sayin' that… It's a big deal and well, I ain't said it in a long, long time." Lavon sighed.
"You should tell her," he said. "What if she does decide to leave? You want her to go without knowing you love her?" Slowly, Wade nodded.
"I'd rather her not know how I feel than tell her and she stay here because of it." Lavon scoffed.
"You done said and done a lot of stupid things over the years. This, by far, is the stupidest yet."
"Maybe," Wade agreed. "But it's what I think is right." Lavon shook his head.
"I know where this is coming from," he told Wade. "But that was a long, long time ago. You're thirty years old. She's thirty years old. In theory, you're two functioning, mature adults. You should be able to have a mature conversation. Just tell the girl how you feel. And then let her make her own decisions. Whatever happens will happen but you can't sit there, being in love with the girl and not letting her know."
"Let me handle this my way, Lavon," Wade said. He stood and dumped his cereal down the garbage disposal. A thought struck Lavon.
"Does Zoe know about…"
"No," Wade said, sharply, cutting Lavon off. "She don't and she won't."
"Well ain't this a relationship destined for success?" Lavon asked. "Keepin' all kinds of secrets…"
"And they'll stay that way," Wade warned. He started for the door, figuring it time to get on with the rest of his day.
"Remember that game against Lakeside your junior year?" Wade stopped and turned to Lavon. "Bluebell was down by 5, 30 seconds left on the clock. Lakeside punted the ball and put us deep into our own territory."
"We couldn't run the ball for nothing," Wade added, remembering the game. "Their D-line was nasty." Lavon nodded.
"They snuffed us on first down, coach called the last time out to stop the clock. On second and ten, we lost three yards, clock is ticking, hurry up offense in play, 13 seconds on the clock. Ball snaps, you drop back to pass, hit Marcus Fletcher with a beautiful, textbook pass. He flies into the endzone, Bluebell wins by a point."
"Secured us winning the division," Wade remembered, looking nostalgic. Lavon nodded.
"That was the first time I saw you play in person," he said. "I knew then you were going to be something special." He stopped and made sure he was looking right at Wade before he spoke again. "And I was right."
Wade swallowed hard, taking in Lavon's words. Then he nodded.
"Thanks, Lavon," he said. Then he was out the door.
Zoe sat at her carefully chosen table of the Butter Stick, an eye on the door, the other glancing at all the other tables, wondering if the one by the door would be better or perhaps the one in the opposite corner from where she was now. The morning rush was over and she still had time before the lunch crowd filtered in. Besides Mrs. Bell behind the counter and a couple of older women seated in the window, the place was empty. She reassured herself that this was the best place to have a conversation with her father.
As though on cue, Ethan Hart walked in. He was dressed down, in jeans and a button down, tucked in and belted. Seeing him in casual dress made Zoe relax just a little. She'd rarely seen him in something besides scrubs or suits and the few times she'd spent time with him in jeans had good memories attached to them.
"Zoe," he said cautiously as he approached the table.
"Dad," Zoe replied. She nodded at the empty chair across from her and waited until he'd been served a cup of coffee before speaking any further. "Thanks for meeting me here."
"Thank you for calling," Ethan replied. He took a deep breath. "I owe you an apology."
"More than one," Zoe quipped. "Sorry," she added, knowing she needed to keep her temper under control.
"I deserved that," Ethan replied. "And you're right. I do owe you several. I'll start with yesterday. I was out of line. I know you, Zoe. You're strong. You're stubborn. No one has ever been able to tell you what to do or how to do it. It's one of your best traits. It's also one of your worst." Zoe grinned in spite of herself.
"What I'm saying is that I know whatever you ultimately decide – whether it's to stay here or return to New York – it will be your decision and yours alone. While there's no secret that I want you to be a surgeon, what is more important is to do what makes you happy. I was thinking last night about how I haven't always done what makes me happy. In fact, I've rarely done what makes me happy. I don't want you to make the same mistake."
"I thought surgery is what made you happy," Zoe said. "That's what you always said. Maybe not those exact words but you always talked so passionately about it…"
"Surgery does make me happy. But there were times – a lot of times – when a routine bypass could have and should have gone to another doctor but I did it instead and ended up missing my daughter's dance recital or her fourth grade school play. Despite the evidence to the contrary, I love you very much, Zoe. I regret choosing surgery over you so often."
"I don't understand," Zoe said. "You're talking about how much you love me and yet you wouldn't even return my phone calls." Ethan sighed.
"You have to understand how hard it was for me to learn you weren't mine," he said. "I had this beautiful, perfect little daughter who wanted to be just like me. To learn you weren't mine hurt deeper than you can possibly imagine.
"And I was angry. I was very angry at your mother. I still am, in all honesty. She not only had an affair. She lied to me our entire marriage. All of that anger, all of that hurt… Looking at you just made it bubble to the surface. I know that sounds terrible. You weren't in any way at fault and yet I could hardly look at you for the gut wrenching pain I felt."
Ethan fell silent, letting Zoe take in what he'd said. She played with her half empty coffee mug, spinning it slowly in her hands. Finally, she looked up, her brown eyes full of vulnerability.
"I can understand that," she said quietly. "It's sort of how I felt. Mom lied to me my whole life. For a while, even conjuring up an image of her in my head made me want to throw things. I had all this pent up anger towards you for never being around and then I find out I wasn't even yours to begin with. Truth be told, I'm still angry with her, but I'm working on it." She looked at Ethan. "I'm still mad at you too. But I'm willing to try and work on things. If you are, of course."
Ethan's shoulders sagged with relief. "I am," he told her. "I know being here now doesn't necessarily make up for years and years of my not being there but hopefully it's a start." Zoe nodded.
"A start," she agreed. "But you have to promise to always return my phone calls. And to call me sometimes too. Maybe even visit every once in a while – whether I'm in Alabama or New York."
"I promise," Ethan said. "You have to promise me something in return though, okay?" Zoe waited. "Promise you'll do what makes you happy. Not what you think you're supposed to do. Not what you think will make me happy or your mother happy or even your preschool teacher happy. Just do what will make you, Zoe, happy." Zoe nodded.
"I promise," she said. She reached out a hand. "Shake on it?"
"It's a deal," Ethan said, shaking her hand. Then he chuckled. "I've missed you, Zoe." Zoe smiled.
"I've missed you too."
"Dr. Hart! Dr. Hart!" Their moment was interrupted by the chimes of the Tarleton twins who had just walked through the door with their rather harried looking mother.
"Girls! Is that poison ivy I see?" Zoe asked, standing and walking over to them. She crouched down and carefully took the nearest girl's arm in her hands. It was covered with a red, itchy rash.
"Yep!" the girls answered together. "We got it playing in the creek down by Crazy Earl's," one of them explained. "Mama took him a casserole and we played outside while she was visiting. She's not too happy with us."
"I'll bet," Zoe said seriously, remembering how frustrated Mrs. Tarleton was the last time her twins had gotten into poison ivy.
"I just don't know what to do with them anymore, Dr. Hart," Mrs. Tarleton said, stepping away from the counter where she'd placed her order. "I was going to bring them by the practice this afternoon. I had to go pick them from school. Both of them were so squirmy from itching that they were causing a distraction. They're drawn to that stuff like white on rice."
Zoe studied both of the girls for several moments, thinking. She was aware but not phased that her father was nearby, listening and watching. A thought occurred to her that suddenly connected a few dots. "Say, isn't the Lion King you favorite movie?"
"It's times like this my buddy Timon here says 'you got to put your behind in your past,'" one of the girls said seriously, quoting her favorite line of the movie.
"No, no, no. Amateur. Lie down before you hurt yourself. It's 'You got to put your past behind you,'" the other twin added, finishing the exchange. Zoe grinned.
"So a lot of the Lion King takes place in the jungle, right?" she asked. The girls nodded.
"Only the best parts!" one of them said. "The parts with Timon and Pumbaa. They're our favorites!"
"And do you sometimes like to pretend you're in the Lion King?"
"That's what we were doing at the creek!" one of them said. "Wrestling like Nala and Simba did when Nala found him in the jungle! It was my turn to be Nala." Zoe smiled, having cracked the mystery of why the pair were always covered in poison ivy.
"Girls, it's great that you love to play pretend," she explained. "But you have to be really careful when you do. Not only could you hurt each other on accident while you're wrestling, but I'll bet while you were playing by Earl's creek you saw a vine to swing on, didn't you?"
"I think it mighta been the poison ivy," one of the twins said.
"I think it was," Zoe agreed. "You have to promise me that from now on, when you're playing pretend, you won't swing on any vines, okay? It's not just dangerous because it might be poison ivy. A vine could break and you could fall and get really hurt. Then you'd have to lay around in bed getting better instead of playing pretend and how boring would that be?"
"Real boring," one of the girls answered seriously, as though the idea was the worst thing she'd ever heard.
"Exactly. So you promise me you'll stay away from vines?"
"Promise!" both of them said in unison. Zoe stood and turned to Mrs. Tarleton who was looked both relieved and shocked that Zoe had come to such a conclusion.
"I would have never thought… I know their obsession with that movie is a little over the top. But I had no idea they were pretending to be in the jungle. It explains so much – the poison ivy, some bumps and bruises."
"Hopefully they'll keep their promise to stay away from vines," Zoe said, glancing at the twins. "I'm heading back to the practice now. Bring them by when you're done here and I'll write them a prescription for something a little stronger than calamine. It looks like they've got a pretty nasty case of it this time."
"Absolutely. Thank you, Dr. Hart."
"Anytime," Zoe said with a smile. "And thank you for taking the time to visit Earl. I know it means a lot to Wade, even if he doesn't say it."
"We're neighbors," Mrs. Tarleton replied. "It's what we do. Besides, I've known Earl since he was crazy in love with his wife and pushing his babies around town in a double stroller." She smiled at Zoe. "He was as crazy about his wife as Wade is about you." Zoe smiled again.
"Thank you," she said once more. "I'll see you and the girls in a bit." She gathered her things and she and Ethan left. It wasn't until they were outside on the sidewalk that Ethan spoke.
"That was impressive," he said. "And they say surgeons have no bedside manner."
"They don't," Zoe said pointedly. "GPs though… They have it on lock."
"On lock, huh?" Ethan asked with a grin. Zoe waved at Sheila Whittaker who was exiting the Dixie Stop with a bag full of cat food.
"On lock," she confirmed. She exchanged pleasantries with another Bluebell resident as they walked towards her practice.
Ethan knew he would be on a plane back to New York in a few hours and from there, would be returning to Germany. But he found himself hoping his daughter would never been on a plane to New York again as anything other than a visitor. It wasn't what he'd planned for her but she'd found her home in Bluebell. He just hoped she realized it.
"How's your daddy doing?" Mark McComb asked as Wade handed him a bacon cheeseburger platter.
"He's hangin' in there," Wade answered with a lot more patience than he felt. He knew they meant well, but he hated how people constantly asked him about Earl. "Tell your boy thank you again for mowing the grass the other day. I tried to pay him – my sister did too – but he wouldn't take a dime."
"Earl's our neighbor," Mark said with a wave of his hand. Wade nodded his head once before excusing himself to return to the bar. It wasn't lost on him that people had slowly dropped the 'crazy' before mentioning Earl. He was bringing out another couple of orders when he spied Ethan Hart walk through the door and head for the bar.
"Great," he muttered. He deposited the platters at their designated table then, against his will, returned to the bar. "What can I get for you, Dr. Hart?"
"Oh nothing for me," he said. "I can only stay a minute – got to get to Mobile to catch my flight home. I just told Zoe goodbye." Wade nodded, assuming Dr. Hart and Zoe's conversation had gone well as he hadn't come across an upset Zoe nor heard tales of a face off at the Butter Stick. "I wanted to speak with you if you have a minute."
Truthfully, Wade didn't have a minute. It was the middle of the lunch rush and he was slammed. But he also couldn't tell Dr. Hart no.
"I can spare a minute," he said. "We can step into my office if you'd like." He motioned for Ethan to come around the bar and then led him into his office. "What can I do for you?" he asked, shutting the door behind them.
"I wanted to talk to you about Zoe," Ethan said, cutting right to the chase. Wade waited. "I didn't get the chance to spend much time with you during my visit, but I want you to know that I think you're a good guy." Wade raised an eyebrow but didn't say anything. This was definitely new. "I want to ask you, as her father, to keep an eye on her. She's stubborn and proud and won't ask for help for the world but sometimes, she needs it. At the very least, she needs a shoulder to cry on." Wade grinned.
"Sir, I know firsthand how stubborn your daughter can be," he said. "Just ask her about the gumbo contest or the Founder's Day parade. Heck, ask Rose Hattenbarger about the Miss Cinnamon pageant or even Brick about… Well, havin' to work with her. I know she's stubborn. But like you said, I also know when she needs someone. I promised her a while back that I'd always show up. And I'll promise you the same thing now."
"Thank you," Ethan said. "That makes leaving her a lot easier." Wade made to make a comment about how he'd never had a problem leaving her before but stopped himself. It wouldn't do any good. Ethan seemed to know what he was thinking however. "I know – I haven't always been there for her. But she and I talked and we're in a good place. It's just going to take time and work." Wade nodded.
"Sir, if I can speak candidly, she's worth it. She's probably not gonna make it easy on you. She likes to act a lot tougher than she really is. But she is worth it. Just remember that when she's makin' her sassy comments or givin' you a hard time about one thing or another." Ethan smiled at Wade and clapped him on the shoulder.
"You're a good man," he told Wade. "I've got to be going if I'm going to catch my flight."
"Have a safe trip," Wade said, extending his hand to shake Dr. Hart's. "It was nice meetin' you."
"Likewise," Ethan agreed, shaking Wade's hand. He left shortly after, saying one final goodbye. Wade remained in his office for a few moments, almost stunned at what had just happened. He finally shook his head with a little smirk on his face.
"What a day," he said. With another shake of his head, he returned to the bar.
"Does it always get this hot, this fast, here?" Zoe asked, fanning herself dramatically as she sat on Wade's couch surrounded by almost empty takeout containers and an assortment of DVDs. Wade shrugged.
"Depends," he said. "Some years we go straight from winter to summer, some years we don't."
"Well Bluebell definitely bypassed spring this year," Zoe complained. The corners of Wade's lips twitched upward. It was unseasonably warm for the end of March but Zoe was acting like they were slam in the middle of a late July heat wave. He figured he may as well take advantage of it.
"Well, you do remember the rules about heat waves," he said, reaching over to rest his hand on her bare leg. Zoe fixed him with a stare.
"I'm already sleeping with you. I don't need a free pass."
"Well, you could use it to do that thing I was talkin' 'bout…" Zoe socked him in the shoulder, making Wade laugh.
"In your dreams, cowboy."
"In my dreams indeed," Wade replied. "In Technicolor. High definition…."
"Idiot," Zoe mumbled making Wade laugh. He pulled her to him and despite the heat, she rested against him as they watched some martial arts movie he was fascinated by. It was nice, after the week they'd had, to spend time together, just the pair of them.
Zoe had been the on call doctor since her father had left three days earlier. Usually, she'd receive a call, maybe two on a busy on call stretch. This time around, it seemed like anyone and everyone in Bluebell had either gotten sick or injured. The entire senior citizens group that met at the community center on Wednesdays had gotten case of food poisoning thanks to some undercooked pork. Charlie Mabrey had fallen out of a tree and broke his arm. Sheila Whitaker tripped over one of her cats and twisted her ankle. Julie Wilkes had gone into labor. And on and on it had gone. She had barely slept, let alone had time to see Wade or even eat a proper meal, until tonight.
Wade on the other hand had been balancing his time between the Rammer Jammer and his dad. He and Meredith had fallen into a pattern of one of them staying with Earl, at least at night, as his health slowly deteriorated. Wade had been with him the last two nights before turning care over to Meredith for the weekend. While he was relaxing that night, he'd have to use Saturday and Sunday to catch up on things around the plantation while he wasn't at the bar. It was taxing but while he'd never admit it, he like the chance to spend some one on one time with Earl who was mostly sober these days, too weak to travel into town for his booze under his own power and no one else would bring it to him.
The movie ended and the credits started to roll. "Want another one?" Wade asked, indicating his beer bottle.
"Please," Zoe confirmed, sitting up to let him stand.
"You know, I got some other ideas about how you could use that free pass…"
"Get me drunk enough and you might convince me," Zoe quipped. Laughing, Wade disappeared into his kitchen. He heard Zoe's phone ring and a moment later, heard her talking, but didn't pay attention to what she was saying. He returned to the living room a couple minutes later with two open beers.
"Tell you what. Since I made you sit through…" he was about to offer her the chance to pick their next movie but realized she was off the sofa, the cardigan she'd shed `earlier back on as she pulled on her favorite old rain boots. "What are you…?"
"We've got to go," Zoe cut him off. "That was Meredith. Your dad is having trouble breathing and he's talking off. I told her we were on our way." Panic overtook Wade. He sat the beers down on the nearest surface and went for the boots he'd kicked off earlier.
"What else did she say?" Wade asked. "How long has he been doing this?"
"She didn't say much else," Zoe answered. She was already at the door, holding it open as she waited for Wade. "It's been about an hour or so now."
"And she's just now callin'?" Wade demanded as they headed out the door.
"We have to stop at my place. I need my bag."
"Hurry up," Wade told her as they climbed into his Camaro. "We've got to get out there."
An hour or so later, Zoe emerged from what had once been the dining room but had since been converted into a bedroom of sorts for Earl. She tiptoed past Meredith's two children who were asleep on an air mattress in the living room. She found Wade, Meredith and Meredith's husband Eric sitting on the back porch. They all turned and looked at her expectantly.
"He's stable," she told them, sitting down by Wade on the top porch stair. She angled herself so she could see him as well as Meredith and Eric who were swaying slowly in the porch sing. They all wore matching looks of anxiety, similar she was sure, to the one she wore as well. "I've given him some morphine and put him on oxygen. He's resting comfortably for now."
"What happened?" Wade asked. Zoe sighed. She hated everything about what she was about to say.
"His organs are shutting down," she told them. She didn't need to do any fancy tests at a hospital Earl would never go to to be able to tell them that. What she couldn't tell them was how far gone his organs were. "His liver was most likely functioning at a minimum when he initially came to see me. Organs are like dominoes. When one stops working, slowly, the rest of them follow."
"So what happens now?" Meredith asked. "Should we take him to the hospital?" Wade shook his head.
"He signed an advance directive, remember?" he asked. Zoe remembered then that Wade had been designated Earl's Power of Attorney. She felt physically ill as she thought of what she was about to say. "He doesn't want hospitals or anything of that sort. He wants to be comfortable, at home."
"So we do what?" Meredith pressed. Wade looked at Zoe to answer. She took a deep breath.
"Shoot straight, Doc," Wade told her. Zoe nodded. She summoned all her strength .
"As his doctor, I recommend bringing in hospice care." There was a collective intake of air. Zoe continued. "Given his advanced condition and the onset of organ failure, coupled with his wishes, I believe it's his best option. A decision doesn't need to be made tonight, but in the next few days, especially as his condition continues to deteriorate. He'll need around the clock care and the hospice nurses will be here to provide that. You all are of course welcome to be as hands on with Earl's care as you'd like and I'll still be heavily involved as his treating physician."
Silence fell following Zoe's grim prognosis. She watched Meredith and Wade look at one another, hundreds of silent questions flooding between them. She intuitively knew they needed some time alone to discuss everything. She excused herself to check on Earl. As she approached his room, she heard a small voice.
"Pappy, is you sick?"
Zoe stopped in the doorway to watch as McKenzie, perched on her grandpa's bed in her Cinderella nightgown and bare feet, held a conversation with a groggy Earl.
"Yep," Earl answered her. He sounded weak. "Pappy's real sick."
"You should get Mommy to make you some chicken noodle soup," McKenzie told him. "That's what she do when I's sick. And she lets me watch Disney. As much as I want."
"I don't think chicken noodle soup is gonna make Pappy feel better," Earl told her. Zoe watched, tears threatening her eyes, as Earl reached out with a shaky hand and took McKenzie's small one in his. "Pappy is real sick."
"Is that why Dr. Zoe is here?" McKenzie asked. "To help you feel better?"
"She's doin' her best," Earl answered. "Pappy loves you, you know that?"
"I love you too, Pappy," McKenzie answered with all the innocence of a four year old. "Guess what? I'm gonna be five years old real soon."
"In about a week, right?" McKenzie shrugged.
"I guess," she said. "My birthday is April 8. I don't know how far that is from now." Earl chuckled.
"It's 10 days," he said. Zoe smiled sadly. It was actually eleven, but who would she be to correct him?
"I'm gonna have a princess party. You gonna come, Pappy? All my friendes are. And Jacob too but Daddy says he has to 'cause he's my little brother."
"Pappy might still be sick then," Earl said gently. "But I'll get you a present, okay?"
"I like princesses," McKenzie said seriously. Earl chuckled again. "Pappy, what's the tube in your nose?"
"It's helping Pappy breathe."
"It looks funny."
"Feels funny too." McKenzie giggled, getting a smile out of Earl. Earl coughed several times in a row. "Pappy's gonna go back to sleep," he said. "You should too."
"Okay," McKenzie said. With gentle hands, she pulled Earl's blanket around him and then leaned down to kiss him on his forehead, just like her mom did for her and her brother when they were sick. Zoe wiped at a stray tear that escaped. Just then, McKenzie noticed Zoe.
"Hi Dr. Zoe," McKenzie said brightly. Zoe stepped into the room.
"Hi, Mac," she replied. "I thought you were asleep?"
"I woke up and wanted some water but Pappy's the only adult I can find," she answered. "He's sick. He has to stay in bed to get better." Zoe smiled sadly, wishing she still lived in a world where everything was as black and white as it was to McKenzie.
"Your mom and dad and Uncle Wade are on the back porch," she explained. "Why don't I take you in the kitchen and get you some water?"
"Can I have a cookie too?" McKenzie asked, already hopping off the bed.
"Why not?" Zoe agreed, figuring the kid deserved at least a cookie for being so sweet with her grandpa. "Earl? Do you need anything?"
"No, Doc, I'm good," he said. "Or not good, but you know." Zoe nodded. "I think I'm gonna get some shut eye."
"I'll be back in a little while to check on you," she told him. "Come on, McKenzie."
She led McKenzie into the kitchen and fixed her a glass of milk, suggesting it would go better with cookies. She joined her at the table for a late night snack then tucked her back into bed when her belly was full. She checked on Earl one more time and tweaked his oxygen settings before returning to the kitchen to clean up their milk and cookies. She was washing the last glass when Wade came inside.
"Hey," he said softly.
"Hi," Zoe replied. The clock on the wall showed it was well after midnight. Wade held out his arms and Zoe went to him, pulling him into a hug. He rested his head against hers, hugging her tightly. After several long moments, he pulled away.
"We, um, made a decision," he said. "Or, well, there won't really a decision to make since Earl made it for us. We're gonna go ahead and bring in hospice." Zoe nodded slowly.
"Okay," she agreed, running her hand up and down Wade's arm in a comforting motion. "I'll call in the morning." Wade nodded and ran a hand over his weary face. He looked at Zoe.
"How long does he have?" he asked. "Be honest. Don't sugarcoat it." Zoe sighed.
"Days to weeks," she said. "You can't predict that."
"Closer to days or weeks?" Wade asked. "I know you can't say for sure but…" Zoe took in how sad he looked. How tired and desperate for an answer – any answer – he was.
"Days," she told him, her heart breaking for him. "It's closer to days." Wade closed his eyes and took a deep breath to calm himself. "I'm sorry. I wish I could say differently." Wade opened his eyes and looked at Zoe.
"I know," he said simply. He reached out and put an arm around her shoulders. "Come on," he said, leading her toward the stairs. "Meredith said she put some sheets and blankets on my old bed. It's a twin, but you're tiny. We can squeeze on it and get a few hours of sleep."
Zoe wanted nothing more than to go home and slip in between her Kate Spade sheets. Instead, she followed Wade upstairs and the pair of them climbed into his childhood bed. Zoe fell asleep almost instantly, what little energy she had drained by the night's events. Wade remained awake, listening to her breathe and praying that she'd stay. He couldn't lose her too.