A few of you wanted to see a certain flashback in Wade and Zoe's life. I have given you two small flashbacks this chapter. They are in italics. I do touch a bit on why Zoe is a school nurse instead of being the doctor she should be. Enjoy.
Walking through the house to answer the door, Wade shook his head seeing his daughter laying on the couch, her legs tossed over the arm, her history book resting on her stomach while she read. her feet swinging to the tune of the music she is listening to.
"Don't worry, I've got the door," Wade laughed, pulling the door open. "Hey, Zo," he greeted, opening it wide enough for her to enter.
The day after she didn't show up for work, she returned, needing a personal day to go over a few legal papers about her house, deciding she no longer wanted to sell it off and find a different place. That after some thinking, it didn't feel so sad to be living in her childhood home with her father gone. Not when she could hear her laughter mixing with her fathers while he chased her around the house when she was a little girl. Wade waited until after she explained where she had been to ask her over for dinner as friends. She happily accepted.
"Hey," she smiled, walking into his place. Raising an eyebrow seeing his daughter on the couch. "Homework?" She questioned.
"Yep. She normally studies in her room, not sure what has her down here to study," he replied. "Let me give you a quick tour," he told her.
"Do I need to take my shoes off?" She asked, seeing the line of shoes by the front door, Wade in his socks and Aria bare footed.
"If you don't mind," he told her.
"Of course not," she smiled, slipping her shoes off, happy she didn't go with any of the buckle shoes she has at home.
He waited for her to be ready, her shoes looking as if they belonged next to his and Aria's and not out of place like most of the company they normally have over. Not that he put thought into how out of place his company's shoes seemed to be.
With Zoe ready he gave her a tour of the downstairs. The living room, kitchen and the bathroom. Upstairs was nothing but their bedrooms, and he saw no point in showing Zoe those, not that she minded; she didn't need to see their personal spaces.
"Mind me asking what happened with Aria's mom?" Zoe asked, sitting at the kitchen counter, a glass of wine sitting before her. "Forget I asked," she quickly covered up seeing Wade tense up at her question.
"It's fine; I normally don't talk about it. She left us five years ago," he told her, turning to look at her. "She's actually in a new marriage to Meatball."
"You can't be serious?" Zoe questioned, remembering the loud obnoxious boy with food for a name. Meatball deserved to be happy, and she was happy he found that, just not happy that he broke his once best friend's marriage and family up to achieve said happiness.
"Very," Wade sighed, turning back to his task at hand. "They have two kids," he told her his emotion breaking her heart. In a sense, she could tell it had very little with her leaving him, but she left their daughter and went and created another family without a care for her first born.
"Oh Wade," she sighed, slipping from her spot and walking to where he stood, rubbing his back in soft slow circles. "She missed out and from what little I have seen of the two of you together, you've done an outstanding job in raising her."
"Thanks Zoe," he smiled softly. "I can't take all the credit, though. My mom has been a lot of help, the same with Jesse and Becky," he shrugged, turning to look at her. Zoe's hand moved from his back to his waist, their eyes locking.
"How are they? Your mom and Jesse?" She questioned, with a small gulp, stepping closer to him.
"They're doing alright for themselves. Jesse has his own family," he whispered, slipping a hand in her hair, not caring if he messed it up or not.
"I think I saw that online," she whispered, feeling his breath on her lips.
Wade went to close the small distance between them, his lips ghosting over hers when they jumped apart hearing Aria approach them.
"Hey dad, when is Mrs. Stevens getting here? I'm starving," she called out, walking around the corner stopping when she saw the deer caught in headlights look on both adults standing in the kitchen. "Nevermind, I'll have a yogurt," she said, grabbing one from the fridge and a spoon, leaving them to it.
"Need any help?" Zoe asked him, stepping back. Going back to that place with Wade, she didn't think it would be a good idea. Her feelings for him growing stronger each time they spent together. Loving him now was just as easy as loving him when she was 16.
"I've got it," he told her. His feelings wouldn't stay hid any longer; he couldn't push them away. He still didn't think it would be a good idea to pursue dating her, though he loved her now as he did when he was a teen. He had a feeling it was a love that wouldn't ever go away.
Zoe nodded taking a seat at the counter once more. She looked down at her hands feeling like she should open up to him. He told her about his failed marriage, repaying the favor wasn't that hard to do.
"I'm a widow," she told him softly. Wade stopped what he was doing turning to look at her.
"You don't have to tell me, if you're not comfortable in doing so," he told her. As curious as he may be, he wouldn't make Zoe go through the trouble of opening up if she wasn't ready to do so.
"I know; I don't have to," she retorted, giving him a reassuring smile. "We were married for a year," she smiled, thinking back to her marriage. "He made me happy. He was an author. Researching gangs for his next book. Wrong place wrong time. He got caught in the middle of a shootout," she told him, finding it easier than she thought to tell him, the urge to cry no longer there. "A year of married bliss gone with one single bullet. I never thought my marriage would end that way. We were trying for a baby, that didn't happen obviously," she rattled off finding it hard to stop talking once she started to talk.
"Shit, Zo, I am sorry you had to go through that. First your husband, then losing your father, you are a strong woman having gone through all of that," he told her. He couldn't fathom the idea of going through that much loss in his life. Losing his father was hard enough on him.
"So you do know about my dad passing," she commented. The day of the funeral she hadn't been up for much social activity, that she remained close to her family and barely noticed the rest that showed up, having yet to look at the log book, Vivian taking charge in sending out the cards.
"I was there. Only felt right to pay my condolences," he shrugged. "I left after the service, didn't know how we would fair. I am sorry, Zoe," he told her softly, taking her hands in both of his.
"I think I could have used you that day," she confessed. Wade had always been great at helping her through horrible situations like that one. "Losing Joel has been over two years now. I tend not to dwell on it as much. He made me a better person, and he would want me to move on and not grieve over him for the rest of my life. Not when he knew the love I have left to give," she told him, that love, mainly for the man comforting her, she wasn't ready to divulge that bit of info yet.
"He must have been an amazing guy, Zoe. You wouldn't speak highly of him if he wasn't," he said, turning back to the food.
"You guys would have liked each other. He played the guitar too. One of the reasons on why I wanted to stay away from him," she said.
Wade said nothing feeling hurt that Zoe wanted nothing to do with anyone playing guitars after him. He was just as devastated after their breakup as she was. On another level, he got it because he stayed away from the woman who reminded him of her.
"What's with the flowers and treats?" Wade asked, stopping at his friend's locker. The very friend he has had a crush on for the past few weeks.
"I've got a secret admirer," she smiled, grabbing her math book out. "Do you have a pencil; I can borrow? I lost my pencil somewhere between science and my locker," she frowned shutting her locker. "All I have is pens, and I don't like doing math with a pen," she finished, turning to look at him.
"It is your lucky day, Zo," he smiled, handing her the pencil in hand. "I don't need it for gym," he shrugged, walking her to her math class. "You don't seem too happy about your secret admirer," he commented.
"It is exciting," she said, pushing some hair behind her ear. "At the same time it's scary, because I don't know who it is," she sighed, stopping at her classroom. "Would it hurt for them to use their name?" She asked, walking into class.
Wade sighed, watching her go, rethinking his plan as he hurried off to the locker room to change for gym before the bell rang. He didn't have much time to think of changing anything with his plan when he needed to be focused on the drills they were running and the game of dodgeball they were split up to play.
Like most days, he made it to his English class mere seconds before the bell rang. It wasn't his fault. After gym, he would need to rush across the school to his locker, talk with a few friends and rush upstairs to where the where the English classrooms were at.
"Cutting it close are we?" Zoe asked, from the desk next to his.
"Never," he winked.
It was during the lesson plan that he thought of the perfect plan. He focused on the poem for Zoe than the short story they were starting. With a few minutes left of class and Zoe off talking to the teacher, he slipped his poem into her notebook.
"Ready?" Wade asked, when they were dismissed for lunch.
"Yep," Zoe answered, grabbing her things and walking out of the classroom. "How's your story coming along?" She asked, walking to her locker.
"It's coming," he answered. "Yours?" He questioned walking behind her as they walked down the stairs, in the mob of students rushing up or down the stairs.
"A work in progress," she simply answered, making it to her locker and placing her notebook on the top shelf in her locker, Wade tossing his belongs in her locker, like he always did, grabbing them after they finished lunch.
They only had English and lunch together, the rest of their day spent in different classes, and he didn't get a chance to see her to know what she thought of the poem he left for her.
"Yes," she said, behind him after school. He smiled turning to look at her. "The poem is very sweet, and yes, I will go out with you," she clarified.
"You busy tonight?" He asked, shutting his locker.
"It's Friday, so nope, tonight is all clear," she smiled. She would spend her Saturday afternoon doing what bit of homework she had.
"I'll be at your place around 6," he confirmed, walking to her locker with her. "And no I am not saying a word on what the plan is either," he smirked. "Just wear something comfortable. Like jeans and not one of your ridiculously short skirts."
"They are not that short. Like my dad would let me wear skirts that flipping short," she retorted.
"Can't say I blame him," he retorted, taking the flowers from her.
"Of course not," she rolled her eyes. "Do I get any sort of hint about this date tonight?" She questioned, stuffing what she could in her bag.
"What fun would that be?" He asked, raising an eyebrow.
"A lot," she replied, shutting her locker, slipping her bag on her back, taking her flowers from him.
"Nah," he dismissed, slipping an arm around her shoulders, leading her out to his car.
He had the night planned out, once he could get home and finalize the plans that is. He would be taking her to Oak Hollow Farm. They would be taking a horseback ride to a little overlook and have a romantic picnic watching the sunset. A good-night kiss would be in the cards as well.
"Oh my sweet little Wade," they heard being called from the living room. Wade looked at Zoe his eyes wide, Zoe trying to hold back her giggles.
"Ma, what are you doing here?" Wade asked, finally finishing his task at hand.
"My car is making that grinding noise again, thought you could take a look," she told him, walking fully into the kitchen, Aria behind her.
"I thought I told you to take it in and not to let Jesse touch it?" He asked with an exasperated sigh, wiping his hands off.
"When does Jesse listen?" She retorted rolling her eyes, turning to Zoe. "Look at you all grown up. I didn't know you were back in town dear. Wade why didn't you tell me that you were in contact with Zoe? A certain mother would have liked to know that bit of information," she accused, looking pointedly at her son, while wrapping Zoe up in a tight overdue hug.
"She hasn't been in town that long, Ma. It's not like she had numbers or knew where we lived," he said coming to Zoe's aid.
"I haven't moved since the day I moved into that house, Wade. My number and address remain the same," she snipped out, finally letting Zoe go. "I am sorry to hear about your father, dear."
"We knew it was coming," she replied. "With the way things ended with Wade, I didn't know if you wanted me to show up at your house," she told the woman that she looked up too as a mother.
"Nonsense, you are always welcome at my house. Now come tell me everything I need to know about you. What are doing these days? Husband? Boyfriend? Kids?" She questioned, pulling Zoe off to the living-room.
"What huge piece of this crazy puzzle am I missing?" Aria asked her father, helping herself to something to drink. "How exactly do you and grandma know Mrs. Stevens?"
"Zoe and I have a long and complicated history," he told his daughter, adding an extra place sitting at the table for his mom. "We grew up together. We're both from Bluebell; I moved here because your grandpa passed away, Zoe moved here a year and a half later, when her father had a fall out with Brick Breeland, the owner of Bluebell's practice. I still don't know the details on what went on there. We dated from the time we were 16 to the time we were 19."
"Something going on?" Wade asked sitting across from Zoe in their normal spot at the cafe. The last time he saw her was back in February when he made a surprise visit for Valentine's weekend. He missed seeing her over Spring break when she stayed at school to keep studying and to keep her volunteer job at a local clinic. So he did Spring break in Florida with his friends.
"Quite a bit actually," she sighed, looking down at her lap, where her hands rested. She thought long and hard about the decision she made, spent weeks thinking about it in her spare time, thought about it on the plane ride home yesterday.
"What is it?" He asked, taking a sip of her drink, not getting one himself as he wanted to check in with his girlfriend before ordering anything.
"I love you, Wade," she started to say, placing her hands on the table.
"I love you, Zoe, wholeheartedly," he said, taking one of her hands in his.
"This is hard for me," she sighed, taking her hand away from him, placing her hands in her lap once more. "I think it's best we break up, Wade. It's hard to be in this relationship with it being long distance. And with my schooling getting harder, I won't have time to come back to see you and that isn't how we should live. I really think it would be best if we went back to being friends."
"It'll be hard going back to being just friends. However, you have a point. We can't make this work if we have no time to try to make it work. Do I want to break up? No, but if you feel like it's the right thing for you, I can't argue with that. New York is your dream since you were a little girl. I can't compete with that. It sucks, but it needs to be done," he said getting up. "You'll be great," he told her, kissing her head.
"You'll make a great teacher, if you decide on that career, Wade," she smiled. "I am so sorry, Wade."
"Shh, Zo. You have nothing to be sorry about. We can't make something work."
"These last few meetings with her have been the first I've seen her in over a decade," he told his daughter.
"That's tough, Dad," she told him. "Maybe if things work out, you can capitalize on your lost love," she smiled, leaving her dad alone in the kitchen.
Maybe he could capitalize on his lost love with Zoe. The more he thought about it the more he questioned whether things could even work out with Zoe. They broke up for more than distance. Just because their lives crossed now, didn't mean things would work out for them. It didn't matter if they are older and wiser. And on second thought maybe they needed to go through everything they did to end up together for good this time.
One thing was for certain, he wouldn't question it, and he would take each day with Zoe as they came, and do whatever felt right for them.
"Why a school nursing job?" Aria asked after learning about her being one of the top doctors back in New York. Wade perked up hearing his daughter ask that question; he would like to know that answer as well.
"A change in a sense," she said, pushing the food around on her plate. "Going back to work after my dad died, it didn't feel right. After the old school nurse quit, to move so she could take care of her mother, the position fell in lap, and I took it wanting to try something different," she explained. Working full-time in a hospital still didn't feel right, not when she got the love and drive to be a doctor from her father. "Change of pace, change of scenery in a sense."
"Oh, I didn't know," Aria said softly. "I'm sorry."
"It's fine, really. And nothing you need to be sorry about," Zoe assured her. "I don't mind talking about why or even talking about my dad. I enjoy reliving those moments."
"Like the time you made me sneak out for that party at your house. Your dad was so ticked off at you," Wade laughed. "Don't get any ideas," he warned looking at his daughter.
"Wade, if I remember correctly you started the party," his mom stated. "And I had to pick you up at the police station that night, for underage drinking. And you didn't sneak out you lied and said you were staying at a friend's place," she corrected.
"Wrong party, Jackie," Zoe corrected, laughing.
"You were trouble, dad," Aria laughed.
"Please don't be like me, sweetie," he begged.
"He wasn't so bad," Jackie commented.
"He was sweet, thoughtful, caring, one of the best people I've ever known," Zoe said. "Being like your dad won't be so bad."
"You have to let her make her own mistakes and choices in life."
"Yeah dad, grandma is right; I get to make my own mistakes and choices," Aria replied sweetly.
"Doesn't mean I have to like it," he grumbled.