WHEW! This was a doozey of a chapter and also one of the ones I'd been looking forward to writing the most. If you've lived in the south/Midwest, the below scenario might be familiar. Nothing scares me more than the below scenario, in all honesty. This gal doesn't do tornado outbreaks well.

In other news, your reviews blew me away last chapter. Not only because of the sheer volume (wow!) but because so many of you supported Wade. I was afraid of reactions and pleasantly surprised that nearly all of you were completely open minded. You're all amazing and I thank you so so much for reading!

Song that inspired this chapter? "Storm Warning" by Hunter Hayes.

THINGS I OWN: A new laptop with Windows 8 which is SO confusing. THINGS I DON'T OWN: Hart of Dixie.

Zoe wandered into Lavon's kitchen, looking as tired as she felt.

"Mornin' Big Z," Lavon greeted from his seat at the counter, a bowl of oatmeal and a steaming cup of coffee in front of him.

"Morning," Zoe mumbled back. She poured herself a travel mug of coffee, aware of Lavon's eyes on her.

"Just guessing that you didn't talk to Wade yesterday?"

"Nope." Zoe joined Lavon at the counter, picking at a day old muffin. It wasn't the plate of sausage gravy over biscuits she really wanted but to get that, she'd have to go to the Rammer Jammer and going to the Rammer Jammer meant talking to Wade.

"You should talk to the boy," Lavon advised. "He was wandering around here like a lost puppy yesterday, waiting on you to come in from work until he couldn't wait anymore and had to get to the Rammer Jammer. Which I'm assuming you knew and so you stayed at the practice until you could avoid running into him." Zoe looked guilty, confirming Lavon's suspicions.

"I don't know what to say to him," she said. "He lied to me. Big time. He doesn't get to say 'I'm sorry' and that be that. He lied, Lavon. He lied a lot."

"He did," Lavon agreed. "He should have told you everything a long time ago. I told him to tell you the truth… " Lavon realized his mistake as soon as the words left his mouth.

"You knew too?" Zoe shrieked. "Obviously you knew about Tennessee and why he came back, but you knew he was still married and didn't think to tell me that? Like, before I went and started sleeping with him? You didn't think to say 'Hey Zoe, glad you like Wade and all but you should know he's legally married'?"

"It won't my place to tell," Lavon said. "Besides, I didn't know he was still married myself until not long after you got here. He fessed up one night after too many beers. It was the night of the Founder's Day Parade, come to think of it. He swore me to secrecy and Lavon Hayes is a good friend. He does not tell his friend's secrets."

"Still! This is the kind of thing you tell your other friend! You know, the one who is dating the friend you're keeping the secret for!" Lavon raised his hands.

"I'm out of this," he said. "Lavon Hayes is neutral. He's Switzerland. He's not taking sides and he's not getting yelled at for what he did or didn't tell anyone." He stood to gather his dirty dishes. "Except I'm gonna say one more thing. Then it's a stamped passport to Switzerland from here on out." Zoe waited, raising an eyebrow and challenging him. Lavon was happy to rise to the occasion.

"Wade is a good guy. He's had a hard life. A lot of people have done him wrong. A lot of people have left him. That's why he's still living in my gate house and doing odd jobs around the plantation. Not because he needs the money. He does enough well for himself and could buy a house if he really wanted to. He stays because it's consistent. He knows I'm not planning on going anywhere and he knows the gate house and this plantation are always here for him.

"He's crazy about you, Zoe. You don't have the slightest idea as to how hard it was for Wade to let you into his life. I'm not saying you shouldn't be mad at him. You've got every reason in the world to be mad at him. I'm saying you should talk to him. Don't shut him out. Especially right now."

Zoe sighed. "I miss the days when I was an unfeeling, uncaring surgeon who thought medicine was limited to treating the patient's ailments and that's it," she said, laying her head on the counter. "Feeling things sucks."

"Talk to him," Lavon said again. "He let you have your space yesterday. When he comes around today with his tail tucked between his legs like I'm sure he will, give him a chance to say what he has to say."

"We'll see," Zoe said. She stood to leave. "And you're still not off the hook for not telling me, you know."

"Of course I'm not." Zoe opened her mouth to make a snarky reply but was interrupted by the music used to introduce special reports on their local television station. She and Lavon both turned to the television. The local meteorologist appeared alongside a colorful map of Bluebell and the surrounding area, the words 'Severe Weather Outbreak Expected' stamped along the bottom of the screen.

"I'm Norm Sprouse, chief meteorologist for NBC 13 News. We'll return you to the Today Show shortly, but the latest report from the National Weather Service has placed much of South Alabama in a high risk area for severe weather this evening and into the night. Residents in the warned viewing area, shown here in red, should expect damaging winds, large hail, frequent lightening, heavy rain and, unfortunately, a widespread tornado outbreak is probable.

"Residents in the warned area should be prepared to seek shelter quickly, away from windows. The center or lowest part of the home or structure is the safest place to go in the event of a tornado. It's advised to have an emergency kit on hand that includes flashlights, extra batteries, a battery-operated radio, nonperishable food items, water and any prescription medications. A full list of recommended supplies for your emergency kit can be found on our website. We will be here keeping you updated throughout the day and will likely go on air for the remainder of the evening once serve weather moves in. Keep an eye on the sky and be storm ready…"

Zoe and Lavon looked at each other while Norm Sprouse rattled off all the ways people could keep up with NBC 13's weather report throughout the day. Lavon wore a nervous look. Zoe looked terrified.

"That doesn't sound good," she said. Lavon heard the panic in her voice. He shook his head.

"It's not," he said, appearing much calmer than he felt. "Tornadoes are part of springtime in the south, unfortunately. I've been in meetings with all the emergency personnel for the last few days, making plans. Looks like it's time to put some of them into action."

"Well, what should I do?" Zoe asked. "Should I make one of those kit things? And where do you go in the event of a tornado? Wait! Wade downloaded a weather app for me…" She pulled out her phone and realized it was still on silent from avoiding Wade. The screen was full of weather alerts, mixed in with missed calls and text messages from Wade, Lavon, Gigi, her mother and Rose.

"You tell Brick you're closing the practice down at noon," Lavon directed, gathering his things to head out and prepare the town as best he could for the impending weather. "I'm ordering all schools and public offices shut down then too and recommending everyone else do the same. People need to be at home and off the roads. Then bring yourself on back to the plantation. If and when a storm hits, head to the basement. The supply kit is already down there." Lavon paused in the doorway. "And Zoe? Be ready. You're one of just two doctors in this town. Your services will likely be needed."

"I'll stock my bag with extra supplies," she said. Lavon waved goodbye and headed out. She swallowed down the fear she felt rising. She'd seen plenty of photos and video footage of what tornadoes did in the south and Midwest every spring. She never thought she'd be living in the middle of it.

"How long has he been out there?" Brick asked Addie. The pair of them stood behind the front desk, watching Wade pace the same few steps over and over, moving between his car parked on the curb to a spot on the sidewalk just steps from the practice's stairs and back again.

"About forty-five minutes," Addie commented. She absentmindedly put a label on the chart in front of her. "He made it to the bottom step about ten minutes ago but turned tail and went back to his car."

"What'd he do?"

"Zoe ain't saying. I tried getting it out of her earlier but all she said was 'Wade's an idiot' and kept on through to her office, muttering about tornadoes and where she could hide if one hits while she's here."

"We'll be home before the worst of it moves in," Brick said confidently. It was just after ten in the morning and the sun was shining, the sky a bright, cloudless blue. The only hint that something was amiss was a gentle breeze that wasn't exactly out of place during an Alabama springtime. Flowers had had started blooming and trees were budding with the early season warmth. It was a picturesque southern spring day by all accounts. It was hard to believe he'd readily agreed with Zoe just two hours earlier to close the practice at noon to get home before twisters started falling out of the sky.

"I just wish Bill could be home with me and the boys," Addie said. "I hate when he's out working on nights like this."

"Bill will be just fine," Brick assured her. "He's trained especially for nights like the one we're likely to have tonight." He watched as Wade once again returned to his car, this time perching on the fender and looking up at the building. "Zoe know he's out there?"

"Yep," came Zoe's voice. She appeared on the other side of the desk and passed Addie a chart. "And Zoe doesn't care." She cursed herself internally for picking up Lavon's habit of talking in third person.

"He must really be in the dog house," Addie said, her eyebrow raised.

"Under it, actually," Zoe replied. She barely glanced out the window. If Wade wanted to put on a show for Brick and Addie, who would she be to stop him? It wasn't her fault he lacked the balls to come inside and ask to speak to her. "Brick, I'm going to re-stock both of our medical bags and fix us an extra one apiece, just in case."

"That's not a bad idea," Brick said, turning his attention from Wade. "Make sure you put in lots of bandages and antiseptic as well as suturing kits. That's what we'll likely need the most." Zoe rolled her eyes. As if she didn't know that. Brick let her attitude slide, figuring it was Wade, not him, she was really mad at.

"My 10:15 appointment canceled and I don't have any other patients scheduled this morning. Once I stock the bags, I'm going to head back to the plantation and wait for the sky to fall," Zoe said. She turned and started back to her office.

"If Wade ever works up the nerve to come inside, what do you want me to tell him?" Addie asked.

"Just tell him you found out today that I'm a former women's basketball star who ran off and married her high school boyfriend and oops, I forgot to mention I'm still married to them," Zoe replied.
"Seeing as he's a former football star who's still legally married to his high school sweetheart, he should understand." Both Addie and Brick snapped their heads around to look at Zoe.

"Wade and Tansy are still married?" they said in almost perfect unison. Zoe looked at them.

"So what is this?" she asked. "Everyone in this town knows Wade was married and no one – no one – thought to tell me?"

"Well, I just figured they were divorced," Brick said. "Tansy left here ten, eleven years ago and hasn't been back since."

"She's a hairdresser up in Tuscaloosa, last I heard," Addie added.

"Birmingham," Zoe corrected. "According to her husband, anyway." She left Addie and Brick to gossip about her latest predicament.

"Can you believe that?" Brick asked. "Still married! After all this time! He ought to be ashamed of himself. Obviously, Zoe didn't know a thing about it."

"I never cared for Tansy," Addie said. "I was a few years older than her and Wade. I think I was a senior their freshman year. She just rubbed me the wrong way, all that blond hair and blue eyes and big chest."

"I always thought she was a little wild. I know Wade had his wild streak too – him and George and Lemon were always into something – but she was just bad for him. I said that from the very beginning and look what it got him."

"You two should go sit on the bench outside the Butter Stick with those little old ladies," Zoe called from somewhere in the practice. Addie and Brick looked at one another, caught in the act. "You gossip well enough to be right at home with them." The pair had the good sense to resume their work, Brick signing off on charts while Addie labeled and filed them, both of them peeking through the window at Wade once in a while.

"Look!" Addie hissed. "He's coming inside!"

"He is!" Brick replied. Both of them shuffled to look busy, as though they hadn't been gossiping and keeping an eye on his progress, Addie for nearly hour, Brick for the last fifteen minutes. Moments later, the door opened and a nervous-looking Wade walked in.

"Hey Addie, Brick," he said. "Is, um, Zoe available?"

"She's in her office," Addie said. "Enter at your own risk."

"She said to tell you something about being a basketball star and running off with her high school boyfriend who she's still married to," Brick supplied, giving Wade a pointed look.

"Reckon I'd deserve that," he replied, figuring it no use to try and defend himself. He made his way to her office, drawing on what little courage he had left in reserves to face her. He'd let her be the day before, for the most part, anyway, giving her a day to cool off and think about things. He was determined to talk to her today though, if only to make sure she was okay.

Her office door was ajar, her desk covered in medical supplies that she was methodically packing into four bags. He watched her for a few moments, taking in how beautiful she was. She also looked tired. Worried. Nervous. Part of it was the approaching storms, he knew. But most of it was him. He tapped on her doorframe.

"Okay if I come in?" he asked when she turned to face him. She stared at him for a long moment, debating. She heard Lavon's advice to hear him out echoing in the back of her mind and so she nodded, as much to his surprise as her own.

"I, um, bought you this," he said, holding up a nylon bag he'd been carrying around as his excuse to talk to Zoe. He sat it down on her desk.

"A utility bag?" she asked.

"It's a storm kit," he explained. He opened it and showed her the contents. "It's got a flashlight, some extra batteries, a couple bottles of water, candles, matches… Just the basics, really, but I knew you probably aren't well-versed in the ways of tornado preparedness."

'Damn him,' Zoe cursed in her head. He wasn't trying to be suave or heroic in an effort to make her swoon. He was just being him, the guy who looked after her, took care of her because he knew, despite her protests, that she couldn't always take care of herself. She wanted to throw something at him and kiss him senseless at the same time.

"Thank you," she said, settling on the safest choice to do neither. "It's supposed to get nasty later."

"Yeah, it is. The practice is closing early, right?"

"At noon. What about the Rammer Jammer?"

"Gonna send everyone home around two or so, once lunch is over. Lavon wants to use the place as a command center so we're gonna leave it open. Jake offered to stay so I can get out to Dad's. Meredith was supposed to come and trade off with me, but I told her to stay up in Mobile at least for tonight. She'd be worried about her kids and it's just too dangerous for her to be driving down here." Wade sighed and perched on the arm of one of Zoe's office chairs. "I hate that Jake's stayin' at the Rammer Jammer instead of heading home but I can't leave Dad and Margaret alone neither."

"No offense, but can your dad's place withstand a tornado?" Zoe asked, genuinely concerned. Wade shrugged.

"Doubt it," he said. "Should be able to stand up to high winds but if tornadoes start dropping down in the vicinity, I can't say for sure. 'Course, can't none of us say for sure. Lavon's big 'ol house don't even stand a chance if one comes spinning at it."

"You should bring Earl to the plantation," Zoe said. "It's safer there."

"It's a lot of work, moving him and all his medical stuff."

"Still. As his doctor, I recommend…"

"As his doctor?" Wade interrupted. "Ain't you supposed to handle medical stuff? You're getting into weather forecasting and predicting the future with all this 'move Earl to the plantation because it's safer' business." Zoe sighed.

"I'd feel better if he was there," she said. She looked him square in the eye. "I'd feel better if all of you were there." Wade realized then that it was him Zoe was worried about. He felt a little hope flutter in his chest.

"I reckon if Earl is at the plantation, I'd be able to go on and send Jake home, hunker down at the Rammer Jammer and ride this thing out," he said, contemplating the idea.

"Jake's already offered to stay. And Lavon will be busy being a mayor or whatever. We could use you at the plantation to – do whatever people do when a tornado hits. It's not like I know what's going on and Margaret is older, she's not going to be much help and Earl, well, he's not in any position to direct the troops either." The slightest smile graced Wade's lips.

"I'll bring Dad out to the plantation," he agreed. "But I'm gonna play it by ear as to whether I stay or go to the Rammer Jammer. Lavon's got me pulled into his big emergency response plan at some point so I might be summoned to help out."

"Well that's settled," Zoe said. She resumed packing her medical bags, aware that Wade was watching her. She waited for him to stay something. It took several minutes before he finally opened his mouth.

"Zoe, I'm sorry," he said. "About everything. I should have told you the truth."

"But you didn't," Zoe said. She added the last of the gauze to her bag then turned to face Wade. "You lied to me, Wade. Not a small white lie that's easily forgiven either. A big, bright, flashing neon sign kind of lie. Telling me you're married… That's a lot to take in."

"I know. To be honest, it's a lot to keep in too." He'd lost countless hours of sleep over the situation over the years and hadn't slept a wink in the two nights since he'd confessed all to Zoe.

"I don't know what to do," Zoe confessed. She picked up a roll of medical tape and began playing with it out of nervousness. "I am so mad at you! I want to understand and I want to try and work through this but right now… Right now, I'm just mad. And hurt. Really, really hurt." Her voice broke. Wade hung his head in shame.

"The last thing I ever wanted to do is hurt you," he said quietly. "You're everything to me, Zoe." Zoe looked at him. His voice was gritty, everything he was feeling on the surface for Zoe to see. She knew, without a trace of doubt, that he meant everything he'd just said.

"I don't know what to do," she said again. Wade could hear the distress in her voice. She was torn right down the middle, part of her still furious at him, part of her wanting to forgive him and move on. He decided he'd made enough of headway for the moment. He stood and approached her.

"I need to get goin,'" he said. "If I'm gonna get Dad moved over to the plantation and send the Rammer Jammer staff home after lunch I've got to get a move on." He reached out and put a hand on her elbow. She looked up at him, those big, beautiful brown eyes of hers full of conflict. "You're headin' home soon, right?"

"As soon as I finish packing up these bags for Brick and I," she confirmed.

"Don't waste time gettin' there," he ordered. "I'll see you sometime this afternoon, okay?"

"Okay," she agreed. "Be careful, okay?"

"I will," Wade confirmed. He leaned in and placed a soft kiss on her forehead. "I'm sorry," he said again before leaving. Zoe watched him go. Whatever happened between the pair of them, he had a piece of her heart that she would never get back. And she was pretty sure she had a piece of his too.

Zoe stood on the plantation's porch, one eye on the road, the other on the sky. The wind had picked up drastically over the last couple of hours and clouds were rolling in, growing darker with each passing minute. It was nearly 3:00, well past lunchtime at the Rammer Jammer. Wade had brought Earl and his nurse to the plantation before Zoe had arrived and headed back to the Rammer Jammer. She was waiting anxiously for him to come back.

The screen door opened and closed. Zoe could tell by the soft grunting and uneven steps that it was Earl.

"You should be resting," she said without turning to look at him. She heard the creak of the porch swing as he sat down, grunting again as he slid to the back of the swing.

"Plenty of time for that when I'm dead, Doc," he replied. Zoe rolled her eyes, still not looking at him. That was his excuse these days, every time he did something he wasn't supposed to. "A potted watch can't grow time." Zoe turned then, an eye raised at his left of center comment.

"What?"

"A potted watch can't grow time," Earl said. "Mary Ellen used to say that. "I like 'a watched pot never boils' better myself but Mary Ellen's been on my mind lately, more than usual anyway, so I'll use her sayin' instead."

"What does it mean?"

"It means you're wastin' your time, standin' there and waitin' for Wade to come down the road."

"He said he'd be here."

"And he will," Earl agreed. "But he's gonna make sure everythin' is okay in town first, people are out of harms way best they can be an' all. You standin' there watchin' the road ain't gonna do a thing to make him come any faster." Zoe sighed and joined Earl on the swing.

"We don't have storms like this in New York," she told him. "I'm not sure I like this very much."

"No one likes a twister outbreak, girl," Earl said, rolling his own eyes. "One minute you're standin' on your porch watchin' the wind blow, the next you're hidin' in the basement while it rumbles through and one more minute later, you're standin' where your porch used to be."

"I really like this porch," Zoe commented.

"It's a good porch," Earl agreed. They didn't speak again for several minutes, both watching the sky growing ever darker. Zoe sneaked a look at Earl. His skin was a golden yellow now, a telltale sign that his liver had all but stopped. The whites of his eyes too had yellowed and yet he still had a pale look about him. He was fading before their very eyes. Zoe squeezed her eyes shut for a moment, trying not to think of what was to come.

"You and Wade are fightin." It wasn't a question but a comment. Zoe sighed.

"Sort of," she admitted. "He never told me about Tansy. Or that he's still legally married to her." Earl shook his head.

"I've always blamed myself for that," he said. "If I'd a been a better father, paid attention to what my kids were doin' like I should've, he'd have never ended up in that situation. After their mama died, I left them to raise themselves. Reckon it ain't nothin' short of a miracle they turned out this good. They ain't perfect by no means. Meredith spends more time then she's got tryin' to prove she's above her raisin' and Wade, he got himself into all that mess with Tansy and that messed him up right good." Earl looked at Zoe.

"You know, you're the first girl he's had a relationship with sense. I reckon you'll be the last too." Zoe furrowed her brow.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean he ain't dated nobody since Tansy," Earl said. "He did his share of sleeping around…"

"About being the last," Zoe interrupted. She was familiar with Wade's conquests before her and didn't need further details. "What do you mean?"

"I know my boy, even if I ain't been the best father. He loves you. He's not gonna let you go without a fight. And if he does happen to lose you – and I pray he don't – he ain't never gonna put himself out there again."

Zoe didn't say anything. She'd admitted to herself she loved Wade but hadn't told him and he certainly had told her anything of the sort either.

"I know he messed up with you, Doc. He can be a real asshole when he wants to be, but half the time, it ain't on purpose. He just don't know how to act in certain situations. I won't there for him when he got Tansy pregnant and ran off and got married but I remember seeing him struggle, tryin' to decide what to do. He loved football and he wanted nothin' more than to get out of here. Both my kids did. Can't blame 'em for that. But he got stuck here and until you come along, I reckon he still felt stuck here, like there won't really nothin' worth livin' for. Then you showed up, blowin' the fuse box and yellin' about one thing then the other."

Zoe considered what Earl was saying. She'd always believed Earl was smarter than he appeared, that he seen more and knew more than most people in the town. He had proven her right on more than one occasion. He'd unwittingly – or perhaps knowingly – set herself to thinking about Wade then, the decisions facing him at just 18 after he'd already been through so much. Her anger at him ebbed some.

"He's a good guy," she told Earl. "And yeah, he can be an asshole sometimes. And God forbid he pick his clothes up off the floor or watch anything besides cartoons if he gets to the television first in the mornings. But that's what makes him him. He drives me crazy but…" Zoe looked at Earl. "I'm crazy about him." Earl nodded.

"I know," he said. "I can see it when you look at him with that big, goofy smile and bright eyes." Zoe grinned guiltily. The wind had picked up even more and the sky was now so dark no one would ever know it wasn't even dinnertime yet. Beside her, Earl took a deep breath.

"You'll look after him, won't you?" he asked. "You know, after I'm gone and all?" It was the first time Zoe had seen fear and worry in his eyes since the day he walked into her office the first time. She reached over and covered Earl's hand with her own. She thought briefly of the days when the last thing she'd do would be to comfort a patient, let alone care about them the way she cared about Earl.

"Of course," she promised. "He looks after me all the time. Even when I don't deserve it. I won't – I couldn't – turn my back on him now." Earl smiled sadly and nodded.

"Thank you," he said. The sound of Wade's car turning into the plantation's long drive made its way to Zoe's ears. She breathed a sigh of relief, just as the first rumble of thunder sounded in the far distance. "Looks like she's knockin' on the door," Earl said, nodding towards the western sky where the clouds were rolling in. They both watched as Wade pulled his car into Lavon's garage, taking advantage of Lavon being gone in the Navigator.

"Opportunist," Zoe muttered. Beside her, Earl chuckled.

"Just keepin' his other woman," he said, making Zoe grin. They listened as the garage door closed and a few moments later, Wade appeared in yard. He climbed the stairs, hands shoved in his pockets as he took in the sight of his girlfriend and father seated side by side. Zoe's hand was still covering Earl's.

"Looks like I'm missin' the party," he commented. Earl patted Zoe's hand with his free one before pulling both hands into his own lap.

"Just havin' a chat with the Doc," he said.

"How are things in town?" Zoe asked him. "Everyone off the streets?"

"For the most part," Wade said, leaning on the bannister. He crossed his arms over his chest and glanced west where the clouds were even darker and menacing than the ones overhead. "It's barebones now. Lavon set up shop at the Rammer Jammer – got emergency personnel hangin' out, first responders and the like. And Tom Long – gonna let him ring the sirens, given him somethin' to do to keep him out of the way."

"Reckon they can go down to the cellar if somethin' happens," Earl commented. Wade nodded and glanced at Zoe who averted her eyes in an effort avoid being caught looking at him. Earl caught it though. "I'm gonna head inside, join Margaret in gluin' myself to the TV screen to watch the weather updates. You kids keep an eye on the sky, come on inside when it starts turnin.'" Earl started to struggle to his feet. Wade and Zoe were both quick to reach to help him.

"Here, Dad, let me help you," Wade said. He and Zoe traded a meaningful look. She remained on the porch and waited for Wade to get Earl settled inside. It was several minutes before Wade returned.

"It's so dark," Zoe commented as Wade sat down beside her. "I've never seen a storm like this."

"It's shapin' up to be a super storm," Wade agreed. He leaned forward his elbows on his knees, hands locked together. It was what Zoe had come to know as his nervous stance. "I should really be at the Rammer Jammer. I don't want to leave you and Earl and Margaret out here alone, but that's my bar and it's the command center. Lavon's gonna need my help…" Zoe could see his struggle between wanting to be there with her and Earl and wanting to be in the middle of the town action.

"You have a saving people thing," she commented, piecing things together in her mind for the first time. Wade looked at her.

"A what?"

"A saving people thing. Like right now, you're dying to be at the Rammer Jammer, right in the heart of everything, ready to jump into action at a second's notice. But if you were there, you'd be dying to be here because I'm here and your dad and Margaret and in your mind, we wouldn't be safe if you weren't with us." Wade remained quiet so she continued.

"Like with Judson. The second you found out for sure that he wasn't who he said he was, you went into overdrive to protect me and the night that guy broke into your house thinking it was mine, you spent most of the night trying to find it and the rest of it sitting with me while wanting to be out there looking for him.

"You're always the first person to help Lavon, no matter how big or small his request is. Same with George. And your dad? How many other sons would sing their dad down from a town roof once a month in front of all their neighbors? And now that he's sick, you're there for him, whatever he needs. And me – you're always, always there for me, even when I don't deserve it." Zoe took a deep breath.

"Knowing that about you, and having my theories as to why you're that way, it only makes sense for you to give up everything for Tansy. I wouldn't expect anything less from you." Wade finally looked at Zoe, having taken in every word she'd said.

"Why do you think I'm 'that way?'" he asked, curious to hear her answer.

"Because you couldn't save your mom," Zoe answered easily. "Or your dad, even. Tansy was someone you could save and so you did everything you could, even if that meant giving up your own dreams." Wade considered what she said. He'd never really thought about it, but it made sense.

"I'd be lying if I said I didn't see it as my chance to have a real family again," he admitted. "I had every opportunity to stay at Tennessee and play football, graduate. They have programs, people that could have helped. But she was Tansy and she was having my kid and that was that." He took a chance and reached over to take Zoe's hand. He was relieved when she let him.

"You know, that was what attracted me to you when you first moved to town," he said, gently moving his thumb back and forth across the top of her hand. "You had all these plans and big dreams and suddenly, without warning, they were all derailed. I got that, knew what it was like to feel lost. I almost told you everything a couple times in those early days, the days when you'd come to the Rammer Jammer and drink a whole bottle of wine by yourself. I really wish I would've." Zoe cracked a smile.

"And here I thought you were attracted to me because I'm hot," she quipped, touched by his confession. Wade chuckled as thunder sounded even closer.

"You showing up on my doorstep in a flimsy little shirt, yellin' at me 'bout the power box and church social smiles sure didn't hurt none," he told her.

"Dumb church social smile," Zoe retorted. "Works every time." Wade let go of her hand and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. Another wave of relief washed over him as she nestled into his side.

"I know we're not okay, exactly, but I'm hoping this means you're not leaving me," Wade said. Zoe looked up at him as the first flash of lightening lit up the now dark sky.

"I'm not leaving you," she confirmed. "I'm still hurt. You can't lie to me like that, Wade. You shouldn't lie to anyone like that but when you're dating a girl who's been lied to most of her life by people she trusts, you really, really can't lie like that."

"I'm sorry," Wade said again. "I am, Zoe. Hurting you is the last thing I want to do – ever." Zoe looked up at him.

"I know," she said, meaning it. "I'm working on forgiving you. Just be patient with me, okay?"

"Always am," Wade answered. He kissed her temple softy. She looked at him sternly all of a sudden.

"You are getting a divorce, aren't you?" she demanded.

"I am," he confirmed. "Tucker finally got everything through the courts. I'll be a divorced man by the end of next month."

"Good. I wouldn't want to have to handle Tansy myself."

"Handle her yourself?" Wade asked, feeling the lightness returning between them. "What, exactly, would you do?"

"I'm a trained surgeon. I can cut her open, rearrange some things and sew her back up in less than two hours. Less than one if I don't let the anesthesia set in first and do a sloppy job." Wade chuckled.

"There will be no need for that, Doc." Thunder boomed again, this time making the porch tremble. It brought with it a brilliant streak of lightening which seemed to open up the sky, a sudden deluge of rain appearing out of nowhere. "That'd be our cue to go inside," Wade said. He let Zoe lead the way. She made a beeline for the kitchen while Wade joined Earl and Margaret in front of the TV, perching on the arm of the sofa as they watched Norm Sprouse explain the colorful radar map full of warning boxes.

"Eat this," came Zoe's voice. She was holding a plate with a sandwich and chips out for Wade. "I made sandwiches for everyone earlier and saved you one. You should probably eat it now, in case we lose electricity or have to go down to the basement."

"It's not a matter of if we have to go down to the basement but when," Margaret said, her eyes never leaving the TV screen.

"Thanks, babe," Wade said, accepting the sandwich from her. She settled in the armchair, nervously alternating between tapping her fingers on the armrest and spinning her hair around her fingers. Outside, it rained still harder, thundered even louder. Lightening popped and soon, there was the sound of something pounding at the house.

"Listen to that hail," Earl commented. "How big is it?" Wade stood and wandered over to a nearby window. The hail was falling fast and hard. It looked almost like snow covering the plantation's lawn.

"Baseball-sized, easy," he reported. "Damn wonder it ain't broke out a window yet."

"Twister's comin,'" Earl said. "Big hail is always a sign."

"The map will tell you plenty are heading this way," Margaret said, nodding at the screen. "They're touching down all over the place in the next county now."

"Should we go to the basement?" Zoe asked.

"Not yet," Wade answered. "When the tornado sirens sound and the warnings say 'Bluebell,' then we'll go down. For now, we'll just watch, okay?" In reply, she glanced nervously at Earl who was weak as it was and back at Wade. He knew she was asking him if they should go ahead and get Earl in a safe place, given that he couldn't move quickly. "I'll take care of it," he whispered as he passed her, heading for the kitchen with his now empty plate.

He dug a soda out of the fridge and popped the tab. Standing at the counter where he could still see the TV, he took in the scene. His father, his nurse, and his girlfriend, all gathered around the television, watching as severe weather broke out all around them, rain and hail slamming at the home. A big tree branch flew past the window and the distant sound of glass breaking told him either the plantation's work truck or equipment shed, maybe both, was now without windows.

Earl was frail and instinctively, he knew his father's time was down to days, a couple of weeks at best. These were some of the last good moments, if they could be called good, that Earl would have before he started slipping into unconsciousness and slowly shutting down like that pamphlet the hospice nurse had given him and Meredith described. Zoe was right. He'd have to get him to the basement sooner rather than later.

Margaret was a sweet older lady, a true Godsend for caring for Earl. Wade knew she was widowed and had several kids and grandchildren. She was probably worried sick about them and would rather be anywhere but where she currently was. He felt almost guilty for pulling her away from them and found himself wishing he'd called and told her to stay home. He would have, if he'd thought about it earlier.

And then there was Zoe. She was terrified. He could see it in her body language, the way she was curled into the chair, nervously playing with her hair and tapping out a rhythm on the chair's arm. She didn't know what was happening, had never experienced anything like this before. Her tough New Yorker persona was completely gone at that moment. It was on him to keep all three of them as much out of harm's way as he could. In that moment, he had never felt older.

"Dad? Let's get you and Margaret settled in the basement, just to be safe. Lavon's got all the emergency supplies you could need down there, radio, blankets, pillows, everything." Much to his surprise, Earl nor Margaret argued. He didn't expect any protest from Margaret but he'd been prepared to manhandle his father into the basement if needed. Zoe stood too, looking to help. On the TV, they were talking furiously about funnel cloud sightings, new warnings and urging people to take cover right away.

"Come on," Wade said, pointing Margaret towards the basement door. He reached out to put an arm around Earl's shoulders to help him.

"What do I do?" Zoe asked. She looked even smaller than usual, wearing leggings, her favorite Hunter boots and, Wade realized for the first time, one of his flannel shirts.

"Hang tight for the moment," he told her. "Keep an eye on the weather until we can get the radio on and the weather reports coming in. If you hear sirens though, get downstairs." Zoe nodded. The rain came down still harder, making it hard to hear the TV. Zoe reached for the remote and turned it up, perching tensely on the edge of the couch, taking her role as weather watcher seriously.

It didn't take Wade long to get Earl and Margaret settled in. Lavon had gone above and beyond making his storm shelter as comfortable as possible. Wade suspected the additional supplies and blankets were put there either by him or Zoe after they learned Earl would be riding the storms out there. When he returned upstairs, the color had drained from Zoe's face.

"What's the story, Doc?" he asked.

"They're saying Bluebell," she said. "It's been storming for twenty minutes but they haven't said Bluebell's name yet. Now they're saying it. And that means there are tornadoes on the way. They're coming, Wade. Here." She was panicking.

"It's gonna be okay," Wade said, pulling her into a hug. "We're gonna be just fine." He had just enough time to catch a new warning, this one for Bluebell, pop up on the screen before there was a loud pop followed by the power shutting down.

"Dammit," Zoe said, pulling away and looking around as if she hoped the power would magically pop back on.

"It's fine," Wade said again. "We've got the radio goin' downstairs. They'll tell us everything the news is reporting." Zoe looked up at him.

"I'm scared," she admitted. He nodded.

"I know," he said. "Come here." He pulled her back into his arms. She fisted his shirt in both hands and held him close to her, her head on his chest as she took a couple of deep breaths to calm down. Wade rested his head against hers. "I love you," he whispered just loud enough for her to hear over the rain and thunder. She looked up at him again, still holding on to his shirt. It wasn't a big, romantic scene like she'd allowed herself to picture their first 'I love yous' to be but it was still perfect.

"I love you, too," she replied, looking him square in the eye. He nodded, knowing she meant it as much as he had. He leaned down and kissed her on the lips for the first time in two days. Suddenly, it was deathly quiet.

"It stopped," Zoe said, pulling away and looking out the window.

"Shit," Wade said, feeling panic for the first time as he grabbed her hand and pulled her towards the basement.

"What?" she asked, looking over her shoulder at the hail-covered yard. Even the wind had ceased suddenly. "It stopped. That's good, right?" If it could start as suddenly as it had, surely it could stop as suddenly too.

"No, it's not good at all," Wade said. The basement door was a mere 10 feet away but it felt like he had miles to go. He heard the rumbling he'd been waiting for in the absence of the rain.

"Is that a train?" Zoe asked, looking confused. They were too far from the train tracks to hear a train and surely one wouldn't be running in this weather.

"It's a twister," Wade told her, pushing her through the basement door ahead of him. "Get downstairs."

Outside, the first sirens sounded.

Dun dun dun... I'm super excited to write this next update. It's going to test me a little bit, I think.

Thank you for reading!