She had talked to Jesse a few different times within the span of a day in a half, talked to her father as well, went to his house and told him her news; he was more than ecstatic to have his daughter home again. She saw her other friends also, but made no move to tell them about being with Wade or about moving back to town.
Together her and Wade came up with a plan of their own, and they were waiting until the day they would be able to do such a thing. It would be easier since everyone would already to be there, and they would only have to say it once. Not only that but Wade didn't have to put the word out about his canceled wedding. It worked out perfect for the both of them.
"You ready for this?" Wade questioned, hearing that their guests started to arrive.
"Are you?" She asked back, gently smacking his hands away from his tie, so she could tie it for him. "You can't even tie your tie. What is with you?" She asked, pulling it tight making sure it was perfect, smoothing out his shirt.
"It is nothing; I don't even know why I am nervous for," he replied, messing with his charcoal vest, once that was good he rolled up the arms of his white dress shirt, before finally smoothing out any wrinkles that were in his dark-blue jeans.
"It is pretty big considering past events and instead of letting things be we are making a spectacle of us being together," she said, looking into the mirror, turning this way and that making sure that her white bodycon peplum dress was still pristine. The dress has an unusual and flattering square neckline, peplum waist and midi length.
"We don't have to do this, Zo. We can do whatever it is we want to do," he told her, moving behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist. His chin resting upon her shoulder. She leaned back into him, placing her hands on top of his.
"I want to do this, Wade," she told him, smiling at him in the mirror. "I really don't want to repeat myself for days about things. I know what I want and less time dealing with the same thing countless times is a beautiful thing."
"If you're sure," he commented, nuzzling the side of her neck. "And you are very beautiful, Doc," he said, kissing along her bare shoulder.
"Thank you all for coming but there will not be a wedding today," Wade started out, standing in front of most of the town. Everyone of them ready to start asking questions, Wade held his hand up and kept talking. "Everyone knew it wouldn't have worked out, so save it," he chuckled. "There is no wedding, but we do have something to say." That got him confused looks, all but one person who hadn't been told anything.
"Wade, I think you are delusional; you are the only one up there," Lemon stated, from her chair.
Jesse looked around noting the one person that wasn't present. He shared a look with his brother. "Zoe, you can come out now," Jesse called with a smug look on his face.
"How'd you know?" Zoe asked, stepping from where she was hidden at, joining Wade in front of everyone.
"I have eyes and I have been the biggest supporter in this reunion, do you really think I wouldn't know?" He asked, raising an eyebrow.
"More like the biggest pain in the ass," Wade remarked. "We are back together and Zoe want to take it?" He asked, looking at his girlfriend. She smiled, kissing his cheek.
"After coming back here with being gone for ten years, I came to my senses; I missed being home. New York was never meant to be home, and I enjoyed my time there, but Bluebell is home and will remain that way. I thought hard about this decision, and I know it is right for me," she said, looking for her father and Brick. "Brick, dad I will take that office that belongs to me, but know that I will also be finding a job in Mobile or Fairhope part time," she concluded. That had been one thing she didn't mention to her dad.
"Welcome to the practice, sweetie," Harley smiled. He was pleased that his daughter was coming back home to work in what would be her practice one day, but also that she hadn't lost the one person she loved the most. He didn't like that two innocent people had to get hurt in the process; however, it needed to happen.
"Thanks," Zoe smiled. "Whether you are happy or disappointed about there not being a wedding, we do have a little together planned at my house; the one Wade bought for me, Benny's old house." Even though she's stayed there a couple of nights already and had plenty of time to come around to the idea of Wade doing the sweetest thing ever, she was still having trouble wrapping her mind around it.
"Starts around 5," Wade informed them. "Enjoy the rest of your day, because we will," he smiled, pulling Zoe closer to him.
With that they were the ones to leave first, Bluebell now a buzz with the latest happenings. They turned their phones off not wanting the bombard of questions anyone might have for them; they would see them later in the day, and right now they just wanted to enjoy their day.
"Harley, just the man I was looking for," Wade announced, finding said man alone for the first time all night. He had wanted to ask him the question earlier standing up there with the whole town watching; he didn't care if Zoe knew about this or not, he had already made his plans very clear to her, that he wanted to marry her, and that he would fulfill that promise, when the time was right for the both of them, but he had to ask Harkey first, per Zoe's request.
"What can I do for you, Wade?" Harley asked, giving his daughter's boyfriend his full attention.
"I want to marry your daughter, that is my intentions, has been since... That don't matter," he piped up, clearing his throat. "It matters now that I love your daughter very much; I never stopped loving her, and I will love her until my last breath."
"I am happy to hear that, Wade," Harley smiled, clasping his shoulder. "For the record, you have my permission when the time is right," he told him.
"Thank you, Harley," Wade smiled, hugging the older man.
"Thank you," Harley responded with a chuckle. He didn't need to ask why he was being thanked for; he could figure that much out on his own. Not that he needed to be thanked because he played a very small role in bringing Zoe back the most he did was come to his senses about the way he was living his life. "I heard that your dad will be back in town in a few days, have you made amends with him?"
Wade shook his head, his grip tightening on the cup in his hand. "Didn't even know he was coming back. I thought he was living the perfect life in New Orleans. Him drinking himself to death every night is one thing but getting up in the middle of the night to leave his two sons is something else entirely," he bitterly said.
"He needed that help, Wade. Nothing wrong with him going off to clean himself up."
"I'm glad that he is sober again, but it hurt when he left, without a word or concern for his two sons. He hasn't even reached out in the years he has been gone. He could have come back a year after getting himself clean, but he didn't and he didn't even call; he has yet to give me or Jesse an explanation on why he didn't come back. He wasn't the only one that was crushed when my mom died, but unlike him, the rest of us kept moving and refused to give up," Wade spat out, the distaste for his father clear on his tongue.
"Everyone deals with pain in their own way. I don't want you to miss a chance on making amends with your father before it is too late to do so," Harley informed him, walking off.
Wade replaced his cup for a bottle of beer, heading outside in the one direction no one was in, wanting to be alone to get his anger tucked away safely. The last thing he wanted to do was blow up at anyone.
"Wanna talk about it?" Jesse asked joining his brother. Wade shook his head, wanting his brother to leave him alone. "I overheard the tail end of that conversation. Harley is right; we need to make amends with him, no one is saying that you have to talk to him after doing so, but it is something you don't want to regret later. Hear him out," Jesse said.
"Why is it important to you? He is the one that left us."
"Because he will always be our father. Nothing will change that. And if you remember correctly you had Zoe to help keep you afloat with mom's death, and she was there for you when dad took off. However, you know he needed to do it."
"I know, Jesse. Even so, knowing it doesn't make it better. A heads up would've been nice, an explanation on why he didn't want to come back after he was clean would have been great to know. I'm happy that he found a way to move on from mom and get over his addiction to alcohol, what I am not happy about is that in the process of getting over both of those that he felt the need to get over his kids as well," Wade responded.
"Just think about it," Jesse sighed, pushing himself from the steps and heading back to the party.
"Everything okay?" Zoe questioned, sitting on his lap.
"No," he whispered. "Thank you for never giving up on me when I had already done so." She smiled softly at him, running a hand through his hair.
"Someone had to do it, and I was more than happy to be the one you choose, Wade. We've seen each other at our worst; I think it's time we get the chance to see each other at our best, and I know for a fact we haven't had our best days yet."
"They will have to wait; my dad is coming back in a few days. At least, that is the news according to your father. He didn't even feel the need to call and tell me."
"I'm sorry, and I can relate in a way; my mom didn't even want me when I was baby and I was able to make amends with her. I won't make you do anything when it comes to your dad because I saw the pain you were in, but every single step of the way I will be there for you," she assured him.
"I don't want to see him, but I don't know what to do," he sighed, dropping his head to her shoulder. Zoe kissed the top of his head.
"You have to do what feels right for you, Wade. Can't rush into anything and you can't let anyone push you into doing something you are not ready for."
"You are the best, do you know happy I am to have you by my side once more?" He questioned, leaning his forehead against hers.
"I do, Wade," she whispered, softly kissing him.