Guys, I am sorry about the delay with this chapter hence the very rare Saturday update. I wanted to add in more for this chapter but I have left that to the next one, leaving this one as fluff. I have started to write the chapter and it will pick up from where this one ends. Someone asked about ages and they are as follows. Aria is 13, Wade and Zoe are 35. Wade had Aria when he was 22. And if my math isn't off they should be the right age. This chapter picks up with them dating for two weeks. Candice does come into play this chapter to an extant. Anyway enjoy.
"Hey dad, when is mom going to be here?" Aria asked, joining her father in his bedroom, as he pulled a black sock onto his left foot, moving to place the second sock on his right foot. Not once since has been forced to spend weekends with her mother has she been late to pick her up. And no one told her any different for tonight.
"You're not going to Mom's tonight. Before you get mad at your mom, this isn't her doing, but mine," he told his daughter. "I wanted you with me tonight as Zoe invited us both over for dinner. I will take you to your moms after if you want otherwise you will be going in the morning," he finished filling her in.
"How big of a fit did mom throw?" She questioned, walking out of her father's room, going to grab a pair of shoes she kept up in her room. To her, it didn't make much of a difference of it was tonight or in the morning, she went to her mom's house. If her dad could pull off her not going tonight maybe he could pull off her not going a few other nights as well. She really wanted to go on a date with Mitchell, but he had to deal with her father first, and there was no way she could do that if she had to go to her mom's every weekend, and having a date in the middle of the week wouldn't fly with her dad, maybe she could get Zoe to help her out in that department.
"A big one," he chuckled, once she rejoined him in the living room, after putting his own shoes on. Once or twice he had to move the phone from his ear while she yelled about it not being fair, and that would send them around in circles about the whole thing as it wasn't fair of her to abandon Aria to begin with, and it would be up to Aria, whether or not she wanted to spend any of her weekends with her mother, as he didn't have to let her go every weekend, that was him being nice, for his daughter's sake on getting a chance to spend time with her mother.
"Think you can get me out of going to her house next weekend too?" She asked with a pout. "Are you sure you want me to be going on your date with Zoe?" She asked, pulling the house door open.
"If I show up without you, Zoe will not let me in her house," he said with a chuckled, knowing Zoe would keep him locked out until he showed up with Aria. He knew exactly how stubborn Zoe truly is. "What's so special about next weekend?" He questioned, following his daughter to the car, once he double-checked the house door was locked.
"Meatball's parents are visiting that weekend; it's all I've heard for the past month, and I don't see why I have to visit with them," she explained, slipping into the car.
"Because they are your family, sweetie. I know you don't like it, and I will talk with your mom about it. I don't want you feeling uncomfortable," he assured his daughter. Back when he called Meatball a friend, he enjoyed spending time with the guys' parents, they were loving people in their own unique way. Even so, he wouldn't force his daughter to sit through meeting them if she didn't want to do it. That is up to Aria.
"I wasn't given a choice in the whole mess," she muttered.
"I do hate to be the bearer of bad news sweetie, but you didn't get a choice in being my daughter either," he pointed out with a hint of a chuckle.
"I know but you've been the best dad in the world; I couldn't have picked a better dad if I tried, but why would I?" She asked, looking over to her dad. "You being my dad compared to mom's new family it's different. You wanted me; she thought she did until she realized she didn't want either one of us until she had a new family. She chose to leave us, and I choose when I am ready to accept not only her but everyone who comes along with this new family, I don't even want, into my life. And I am not ready," she stated.
At times, he wanted to think he understood where his daughter is coming from, but when it came right down to it, he had no idea for the simple fact that his dad didn't leave them by choice; his dad didn't run off and start another family coming back years later when he was a teen. He didn't know what that felt like, and he couldn't imagine how hard or easy it could possibly be for his daughter. He wanted to understand for her.
"I try to be the best father for you, but at times I have felt like I have failed, and I know things are going to get harder for us because you're growing up, and I am not ready for that no matter what day it is or if I think I am. You will always be my little girl, Aria."
"You couldn't possibly fail dad," she assured him. "Grandma always says life is a challenge, but a challenge we need to enjoy in the moment, because we never know what is coming next," she said, smiling thinking over just how many times she heard her grandma say those words.
"Grandma knows what she is talking about," Wade smiled, pulling into Zoe's place. "I will tell your mom that I don't think it's a good idea next weekend, and that you have plans with Grandma and Aunt Becky. I will make her understand because this is up to you, if you want to go or not."
"Do you really think I can actually do something with them instead of just telling mom I have plans?" She inquired.
"I am certain that they both will come up with ideas for you to do something outside of Mobile that weekend. I think they will like it more than you know. We can stop by either tonight or tomorrow morning before you go to your mom's place and talk to them about it, okay?" He asked her.
"Okay," she smiled, popping her door open. "Let's get inside before Zoe starts freaking out on why we are just sitting in the car and not in her house," she stated, getting out of the car.
Wade chuckled, following his daughter to the door. Upon getting to the front door, he knocked, stuffing his hands in his pockets waiting for Zoe to answer the door.
Zoe spent many nights with her father in the kitchen. It took her longer than she would like to admit to learn how to make the simplest things in the kitchen. Eager as ever when she was younger, much like she is now she perfected each dish she did. Not that she would call herself a master as of now, but she could make enough of various things that she wouldn't be eating the same thing multiple days a week or even multiple times a month.
She decided early in the week that she wanted to have Wade and Aria over to her house for dinner. Dating Wade would never be the same as it was when they were teenagers as now they both came with extra baggage from their years apart growing into the people they are now. And she couldn't be with Wade if she couldn't accept Aria, and she could because she adored the girl. Admired the relationship and bond Wade shared with his daughter. It reminded her of her close relationship with her father as her mother wasn't in the picture while she grew up.
Candice Hart did what she thought would be the best for everyone by giving Zoe to Harley when she was only a few months old, needing to save her marriage to Ethan Hart when she had a torrid affair for a week while having trouble in her marriage. With Ethan being the top surgeon in New York, he was not stupid by any means and quickly did the math knowing Zoe was not his. And he had been selfish, not being able to take on the role of being a father to baby that had a father out there.
It wasn't until Zoe found herself living in New York that she looked her mother up. Her father never kept anything from her when it came to her mom, something Zoe was thankful for then. Her father always told her he would support her if she wanted to find her mom, that he would be right there with her. Her father loved her more than enough. And maybe when she went in search of her mom, she should have felt guilty for doing so behind her dad's back, but she didn't. Because, deep down, she knew he would understand why she did it. She had to do it herself; she had his support. When it came time to face her mother in person that was something she needed to do alone.
Her relationship with her mother is rocky at best. It didn't start out with overjoyed hugs and hours of catching up like you see in the movies. It was weird, awkward at best and rushed at times. Things gradually became easier for them, Zoe knowing how to approach any topic without sending her mother over the edge. She got the answers she wanted, thanked her mom for making the choice she did, because Zoe couldn't imagine a different childhood than the one, she lived.
When Zoe called New York home, she saw her mother a grand total of five times a month, with how hectic their schedules could be. Since moving back home, Zoe found she rarely talked to her mom. Once if she recalled correctly.
The phone call she received while in the process of finishing dinner took her a bit by surprise. Getting her mother off the phone was never an easy feat, no matter how many times you started an argument, how many times you told her you really needed to be going, no matter the multiple times you say bye, or the countless I am going to hang up now you say, Candice Hart will not let you go until she gets everything she needs to say out.
"I get it, but you need to understand that Mobile is my home, it always has been. I want to be here and not in New York. I don't want to date any lawyers, doctors or politicians. I want to keep seeing my boyfriend, the music teacher, because he makes me happy, mother," Zoe sighed into the phone, setting the table.
"Your ex-boyfriend? The one that comes with a built in child?" Candice questioned sounding outraged.
"The one and same," she replied. "Just because Ethan wasn't up to the task of playing stepfather, doesn't mean I have to do that with Aria. I am up for the challenge that she brings to me dating her father. I will not break up with him because he has a daughter. That is not the kind of person my father raised me to be. If you love a person, you love them for who they are, what they bring to the relationship, baggage and all, you love them for the kind of person they make you. Wade comes with Aria, they're a package deal, and I wouldn't change it, mother. I want them both to be a part of my life."
"You've told me plenty of times how happy it made you that Ethan didn't want to raise you, because you got to live the life you had. You don't have to keep rubbing that fact into my face," Candice snapped. "I am just saying I think you are making the biggest mistake of your life by living there and dating someone below you," she stated with a huff.
"I am not dating below me, and I am not making a mistake with my life. I am doing what makes me happy. You wouldn't know the first thing about what makes me happy because you weren't there while I grew up, while my father taught me about life, how to respect people, taught me morals. When I needed a mom, I had my father and my best friend who is now my boyfriend's mom."
"You think I liked what I did?" Candice asked in an uproar.
"I don't know what to think. All I know is you didn't try to contact me by any form; you didn't show up on any day throughout the week or holidays. You didn't try, mom. Now I have to go because my boyfriend and his daughter are here, and I am simply tired of fighting with you. Good-bye mom," Zoe said, hanging up the phone not giving Candice a chance to say a word.
Zoe took a deep breath to calm herself down, before pulling the front door open to let her company into the house, plastering a fake smile on her face. A smile Wade could read right through.
"You doing okay?" Wade asked, pressing a kiss to her cheek. Zoe nodded, pushing the door shut, hearing it latch.
"A fight with my mother about how I am making a mistake by moving here," she sighed. "We'll talk about it later," she told him, turning her attention to Aria. "Explore, find something on TV if you want, make yourself at home. The bathroom is down the hall, and bedrooms are upstairs, otherwise there isn't much," she told the young girl.
"I noticed your book collection. Do you have more?" Aria asked.
"I do; they're in my old room upstairs. If you find any you want to read you can borrow them," Zoe told her, hearing the timer go off.
"I'll show her to the room," Wade said, letting Zoe go to the kitchen. "I still remember my way around this house," he assured Zoe before she had the chance to make a joke.
Zoe laughed softly and walked into the kitchen to turn her oven off, pulling out her meatloaf. She busied herself getting the last of dinner on the table. She was going over what she had on the table making sure she had everything when she heard her dinner guests coming back down the stairs.
"Meatloaf?" Aria questioned, not pleased at all with the selection of dinner food.
"Do you not like it?" Zoe questioned looking from daughter to father and back again. "I'm sure I can find something else for you. I didn't know," Zoe rambled out, trying to think of what else she could quickly make for Aria.
"I made it for her once, and she won't eat it. My mom can't even convince her to eat it. I chalked it up to being a lost cause. I won't force her to eat it," Wade shrugged. "I should have told you," he stated.
"It can't be that bad can it?" Aria asked sitting at the table, putting the smallest piece on her plate.
"I don't want you thinking you have to eat it Aria. Not if you don't like it. It really wouldn't be a problem to make you something else," Zoe assured her.
"It's okay. It can't be that bad, can it?" Aria asked again, using her fork to poke the meat.
"It is a lot better than the one your dad makes. I wouldn't eat the food again after eating his," Zoe half joked. She had his meatloaf once, and that was enough. "This was my dad's secret meatloaf. A recipe I didn't get to until after I moved out," she shared, putting food on her plate.
"My meatloaf isn't that bad," Wade defended with a cringe. It had been some time since he last made it, and the last time he made the food it was burnt and hard; nothing like it should be. "I haven't had this in forever," Wade said, putting extra on his plate. "What? I've never had meatloaf better than this," he said, looking far less guilty than one should with a pile of food on his plate.
"Even better than grandmas?" Aria asked, raising an eyebrow. Wade nodded his head.
"I love your grandma's cooking, but no one could beat Harley Wilkes when it came to meatloaf," he praised.
"Now I really understand why you stayed for dinner the nights we had meatloaf. Was it the only reason you came here? Even after we started to date?" Zoe asked, taking a bite of her food, watching as Aria took bites of her food, except for the meat.
"It was a huge plus," he smirked, sending her a wink. "It almost tastes the same as I remember it," he commented.
"It's not so bad. Far better than the rock dad tried to pass off as edible food," she said, taking a bigger bite.
"Nice to know what you really think of my food, sweetie," Wade chuckled. "But this once you're right," he agreed.
The rest of their dinner chat was filled with everyone talking about things that happened to them that day and telling a funny story. The atmosphere around them was light, a nice feeling to have while eating.
It was after dinner that Zoe found herself standing in front her kitchen sink with Aria, the girls having sent Wade out for ice cream and toppings, as they settled on a movie to watch to finish their night.
"When was your real first date?" Aria questioned, rinsing a plate off.
"I was 14 at the time. He was my first serious boyfriend, as the others were more silly little crushes," Zoe recalled. "We went to this lakefront restaurant. It was a disaster," she laughed. "But not the worst date I had ever been on. Why do you ask?" Zoe questioned, as they kept up their pace with the dishes.
"Mitchell asked me out, but dad," she sighed.
"I know how important this is to you, so I will help you out where your father comes into play, okay?" Zoe asked, wanting to make sure she was okay with that plan.
"Thank you, Zoe," Aria said, flinging her arms around Zoe, leaving water marks from her hands. "He can be a bit to handle at times especially when I bring up anything about boys."
"I felt the same way with my dad. Talking to him about boys was awkward at best, but he was my best friend. I couldn't keep anything from him," Zoe smiled hugging the girl back.
"Who did you talk to when you needed a mom and not a dad?" Aria asked, as they got back to the dishes.
"Your grandma. She was a mom to me," Zoe smiled.
"What was the worst date you had ever been on and did you go out with him again?" Aria asked curiously.
"Believe it or not, I went out with him again. I dated him for three years," she smiled thinking back to her relationship with Wade. "And that guy is your father."
"What date was this?" Wade questioned, making himself known, having been standing in the back listening to what two of the most important people in his life, were talking about. He had to know they could get along without him being close by. He couldn't move forward with Zoe if Aria wasn't comfortable enough with Zoe around.
"You don't remember?" Zoe asked, looking over her shoulder at him. He shook his head, not being able to recall it. "It was our fifth date; we went to this stupid action-packed movie, that you had to see; I went because I wanted to be with you," she smiled sweetly. "And half way through the movie, not only does the tub of popcorn, we're sharing spill all over my lap, but your cola right with it. And mind you that I am wearing these light-blue jeans that could pass for white and an actual white blouse," Zoe says earning laughs from the father-daughter duo.
"And all I had in my truck at the time was a pair of shorts and a white tee, mind you, they were clean," he clarified for his daughter. "And I didn't want the date to end, so instead of the restaurant I picked out; we went through a drive thru got burgers and shakes."
"We went and sat beneath the stars and ate our dinner. Saw a shooting star too," Zoe smiled. "The date may have started off as the worst date ever, but it ended on a high note. It really sold the next date," she laughed, turning back to the dishes. "I'll get these finished, while you two start making your sundaes," she urged them.
"I'll make yours, Zo," Wade told her. Amazed how everything in the house was still in the same spot as when they were kids. "Didn't like change huh?" He questioned, shutting the cupboard door after grabbing three bowls.
"The system worked, why change that?" She questioned, with a shrug. "Do I need to tell you what I want on my sundae?"
"I don't think so, I will give you a bit of everything," he winked. She shot him a look, making him laugh. "I've got it covered, unless your topping preferences have changed."
"They haven't," she assured him.
"Then I am good," he told her, quickly planting a soft kiss to her lips.
With the dishes from dinner done, the sundaes made and the ice cream safely in the freezer so it won't melt, they sat on the couch, Wade in the middle, both his girls on either side of him as they settled in to watch a Rom-Com, one Wade didn't vote for, but got out voted to watch. He didn't mind, not when he has his girlfriend curled up to him, her head resting peacefully against his shoulder, his daughter sound asleep next to him with half the movie left to watch.
"I should wake her and go," Wade said once Zoe turned the TV off.
"Or if it wouldn't be weird or even awkward, she can sleep in my old room, and you guys can spend the night. If it's something you or Aria aren't comfortable with you don't have to, but I wouldn't like you guys out there this late driving home," she rambled on.
"Babe, you could have just asked if we wanted to spend the night," he chuckled, kissing her nose. "Give me a minute to talk it over with Aria?" He asked.
"Of course," she smiled, getting up to take the dirty bowls to the kitchen to quickly wash them up, giving father and daughter the chance to talk without her on top of them.
She jumped slightly, before relaxing into Wade's strong and warm embrace, his lips kissing along her neck.
"It might be awkward come morning, but Aria is fine with staying the night," he informed her, pulling her closer to him. "Though you will have to come with us tomorrow and have breakfast at my ma's house, after we will drop Aria off with her mom, and we can spend the day together," he told her, his chin resting on her shoulder. "And you can tell me all about this upsetting conversation you had with your mom."
"Good thing I have nothing planned," she smiled, turning to share a kiss with him. "Just know that we are only going to be sleeping tonight," she warned, moving from his embrace, to turn lights off and make sure the doors were locked.
"I think I will be okay with that plan," he smiled, following Zoe up to bed.