Chapter 12

Someone knocked hard on Lemon's apartment door from outside.

"Lemon, come on!"

It was Wade. Lemon got up. Outside, Wade was still banging on the door incessantly. And there was really only one good reason Lemon could think of for Wade's appearance.

"Damn it, I'm going to kill George," Lemon cursed quietly to herself as she walked through the apartment to the front door.

Once she was at the door, she yanked it open and stepped outside. Wade beamed broadly at her, dispelling any last doubts Lemon had had. He held a small gift in his hand, which he pressed into Lemon's hand before she had a chance to defend herself.

"Congratulations." He said solemnly.

Lemon opened the package, which was wrapped in pink paper. Inside was a tiny little dress. In light pink.

Lemon shook her head in disbelief and groaned. "I'm going to kill him," she repeated.

Wade knew immediately who she was talking about and just laughed. "Too bad for the child." Lemon averted her eyes from the dress in her hands to glare angrily at Wade.

"He knew to keep it to himself, dammit! It's our baby, after all. Ours. We just went to the doctor this morning!"

"Oh come on, don't be too hard on him," Wade retorted. "I tried really hard to get it out of him. And you know George is a terrible liar. That's why you love him."

Lemon rolled her eyes, but then had to smile against her will. Wade pulled her into his arms without further ado. Lemon couldn't manage to stay angry any longer. She was far too happy for that.

Wade let go of her again to look her up and down. Lemon's baby bump was now clearly visible under her dress. With a smile on her lips, she folded her hands over it.

Wade ran his hand over his face. "Unbelievable," he murmured. "A little girl, just unbelievable."

"I know." Lemon agreed with him.

"I still can't really imagine it," Wade confessed. "I mean, you really are pregnant. There's going to be a little creature in your life soon. Doesn't that scare you?" he asked with honest curiosity.

"Of course it scares me," Lemon explained. "But above all, it makes me incredibly happy"

Wade nodded slowly. "I understand. Or maybe I just think I understand." He shrugged his shoulders.

For a while, they both silently dwelled on their own thoughts, then a small smile appeared on Wade's face as he turned back to Lemon.

"So, she's going to be the next Breeland girl," he stated. "If me and Zoe ever have a son, I'll have to warn him." Wade grinned cheekily.

"As if my daughter would get involved with a Kinsella," Lemon returned glibly.

"Hey!" Wade responded with a little shove in her side and a laugh.


"Bloody car!" George groaned angrily as he looked at the engine compartment, desperately trying to work out why it had stopped. He ran his hand over his face. George had to admit to himself that even if he recognized the fault, he didn't have the slightest idea how to fix it.

"Hey stranger!"

George turned around. Thank goodness! It was Zoe with a moving car and a smile on her face.

"Looks like you could use a ride." she stated. George felt twistedly reminded of their first meeting, while joking with Zoe about it, he took his bag from the broken down truck and got into the car with Zoe.

"Where are we going?" Zoe asked him when he was finally in the car.

"Um..." George grinned sheepishly, "Believe it or not, I was on my way to New Orleans."

"Oh really?" Zoe raised an eyebrow with a laugh. "What are you doing there?"

"Well, Meatball invited me. His cousin is a singer and organized for him to perform a few songs during her gig. And because I was once on tour with Lily-Anne, I helped him a bit with the preparations and that's why he wanted me to accompany him to the gig," George summarized.

"Wow, not bad!" said Zoe, impressed. "I didn't really have any big plans anyway, so I guessed we'd go to New Orleans."

She started the engine and the two of them drove off. Zoe chewed on her lower lip. George could ask her what she was thinking about, but he was sure she'd say it of her own accord at any moment. He was right.

"Maybe it's none of my business, but why are you going to this gig? Yes, I know Meatball invited you, that's not what I mean. You could have canceled. I mean because of... So, well... What about Lemon?"

"Actually, I was also planning to cancel. Lemon convinced me to go after all."

"Why?" Zoe furrowed her brow in confusion. "If I was pregnant, I'd be glad of all the help I could get."

"Lemon said she wants me to also do things just for me. And that she could survive an evening alone." George smiled as he thought about how Lemon had sternly explained to him why he should accompany Meatball while she ate the sugar cream from his cupcake.

Then George noticed Zoe watching him through the rear-view mirror, grinning. "I'm starting to understand Wade. You guys are kind of cute."

George didn't know what Zoe meant, but left it at that. Instead, something else came to his mind. "How come you're traveling without Wade?"

"Oh," Zoe made a dismissive gesture with her hand. "Wade and Lavon were going to watch some movie today. I can't remember the name; it's about cars and fighting and stuff." She grimaced. "Wade suggested I go to town to do some shopping. I think it was a selfish suggestion so I wouldn't get on their nerves with my interjections. Not that I have anything against that. And now I'm going to a Meatball concert," she concluded with a laugh. "I'm really looking forward to it."

"Quite rightly," agreed George, also grinning broadly.


A few hours later, they were sitting in the bar waiting for Meatball's performance. George placed the drinks he had brought on the table in front of Zoe and himself. Zoe didn't react, her gaze gliding around the room.

"Would you have thought, the last time you were here, that your life would look like this in a few years' time?" she asked George thoughtfully, and stopped looking around to face George.

"Probably not, no." George replied. The last time he had been here with Zoe was years ago. He had just found out about Lemon's affair. He had left her. And then he'd taken Zoe to this bar and they'd spent the evening together. George certainly hadn't expected to be back with Lemon today or that she was expecting his baby.

Zoe nodded in agreement. "Me neither." She took a sip from her glass.

"But I'm happy with the way my life is now," George stated firmly.

Putting her glass back down in front of her, Zoe asked quietly, "Do you regret it?" George wanted to ask what she meant, but Zoe continued. "That you left Lemon?"

George sighed. His eyes turned to the stage, where Meatball's cousin was just starting her next song. He was silent for a moment, just watching the singer while he thought about Zoe's question.

"Kind of, but kind of not", he murmured hesitantly. "Well, I don't think getting married would have been right back then. Just carrying on as if everything was the same as before would have been a mistake. At some point, the accusations would have come up again and it would probably have ruined the relationship more and more from the inside. I think we needed the time to find ourselves. And we each had to do that for ourselves. On the other hand..." George faltered briefly and bowed his head as he continued. "I hurt Lemon. It may have been right to break up, but it was definitely wrong to dump Lemon at the wedding, only hours before the ceremony."

Zoe put a hand on George's arm sympathetically. "I'm sorry for asking."

"It's okay." George replied, taking a large sip from his drink to shake off the thoughts. As he did so, he remembered something he had wanted to talk about with Zoe for a while. After they had watched the performance in silence for a while, George decided to ask now.

"Zoe? There's something I'd like your advice on."

"Yes?" Zoe looked at George. He nervously turned away. "It's about Lemon, I presume?" Zoe guessed directly.

"Right." George nodded. "I..." he paused. Maybe he shouldn't ask after all. However, now Zoe wouldn't give up until she knew anyway.

"I was thinking about proposing to Lemon."

Zoe gasped loudly. George finally turned towards her. "So you think it's a bad idea?" It wasn't as if George hadn't expected this reaction. That was exactly why he had wanted a second opinion. Still, he couldn't deny being a little disappointed.

"No, I mean... I don't know..." stammered Zoe, visibly shocked. She shook her head, as if to get rid of the confusion. "Are you really sure?"

"'Why not?" George asked aloud, although he knew the answer himself.

"It's just..." Zoe looked at him almost pityingly. "Quite a lot happened last time. Maybe it's a bit early." She saw George's unhappy expression and added hastily, "I didn't say you could never marry her. Just not now."

"We have been together for fifteen years!"

"Exactly have been." Zoe replied emphatically. "Just now you were separated for over two years."

"What am I supposed to do then?" George asked helplessly. "How long should I wait? I feel like we've wasted a lot of time already."

Zoe looked pensive. "When you put it like that... you really want to ask her?"

"Of course I do. I love her!" George replied. "But: you reacted exactly as I thought you would. How everyone else will react. Maybe Lemon too." He sighed. "What if she says, 'No way'?"

"Nonsense!" Zoe said, shaking her head. "You said you love her. I'm sure Lemon does too. Why would she say no?"

George raised an eyebrow. A few minutes ago, Zoe had already answered that question herself.

"Okay, I have to admit that her reaction isn't exactly predictable. But you should ask her anyway." Zoe determined.

"Really?" George couldn't keep the hope out of his voice.

"Yes. But you'd best propose when she's sitting. And I wouldn't plan anything big. Above all, I wouldn't advise you to propose in front of anyone else."

The suggestions confused George a little, which Zoe obviously noticed.

"Well, anything could happen between fainting and running away." She shrugged her shoulders.

"And yet you still want me to ask her?" George asked, not knowing whether to be amused or alarmed by these possibilities.

"Lemon could also just be happy, of course." Zoe said, stifling a laugh.

George shook his head with a grin before becoming serious again. "Thanks for your advice. I had to ask someone."

"You're welcome." Zoe slumped back in her chair with a smile. "Hey, you almost made us miss Meatball's gig!"

George turned to the stage. Indeed he did. Meatball was positioning himself and already had the microphone in his hand.

Then he started to sing, and George was surprised at how good he was. Until now, Meatball's taste and performance had usually been rather, well, unusual. Not necessarily something that many people liked. Apparently, he had really taken George's tips to heart.

"He's not that bad."

George and Zoe turned abruptly at the voice behind them. There stood the woman who had just been singing on stage.

"Pamela Bailey." She held out her hand to George. "But you can call me Pamela." She winked.

George grabbed her hand and shook it. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Zoe narrow her eyes in irritation. "George Tucker" he introduced himself.

The woman tilted her head back, laughing. "I know that! My cousin..." she nodded towards the stage, "...told me about you."

Then she turned to Zoe. "Zoe Hart. I'm a friend from Bluebell." She shook Mrs. Bailey's hand as well. Meatball's cousin had already turned her attention back to George.

"Meatball speaks very highly of you. And I see you've actually done a good job."

"Oh no," George countered, "I haven't done that much. We've only met a couple of times."

"Well, your modesty is very honorable." George opened his mouth, but Pamela didn't let him get a word in edgewise. "You know I'm looking for a manager, someone to help me with my gigs. Would you be interested?"

"I... what..." George was completely caught off guard. "I'm not a manager. You don't even know me for five minutes!"

Pamela shrugged her shoulders. "So what. I like you. You've turned my cousin into a respectable singer. You're good at what you do. What do you say?"

George stared at her, speechless. "What exactly do you expect me to do?" he finally stammered.

"You would organize my gigs for me, schedule appointments and guide me through my day. Of course, that means you'd have to live near me in Nashville." She looked at him, smiling and expectant. The conversation was clearly going too fast for George.

"Wait, you want me to move?"

"Exactly."

"You do realize I have a life in Bluebell, right? A job. A girlfriend."

"I'd pay you well, of course. And Nashville is a very nice area to live in."

By now the shock of the unexpected offer had subsided a little. George shook his head. "I'm sorry, but I can't do that, apart from the fact that there are plenty of much better qualified people for it, I can't just give up my life in Bluebell."

Pamela tilted her head. "What if you only work for me for a while? A year maybe, or two?"

George shook his head resolutely. "As I said, my answer is and remains no."

"That's too bad," sighed Meatball's cousin. "If you change your mind..." she handed George her card "... contact me at any time." With that, she turned and rushed off backstage. George stared after her in shock.

"Wow, that was an interesting conversation." Zoe remarked. George turned back to her.

"That idea was crazy. I mean I've never done anything like that before and then she wants me to move straight away, that's mad. Right?" George couldn't quite deny that the suggestion had a certain appeal.

Zoe seemed to notice it. "You would have liked to do it. You said no because of Lemon", she said.

George didn't disagree. "She would never want to leave Bluebell."

"Didn't you say earlier that she wants you to do things for yourself? And this music stuff, you enjoy it. She'd probably tell you to do it."

George bit his lips. Zoe was right. "She'd tell me to take the job, yes. But she wouldn't really want it. And I can't ask her to move away from Bluebell, especially not now."

"This Pamela offered you to go for just one year. Lemon could stay in Bluebell. And no one says you have to accept the offer now. Not when Lemon is pregnant, that's for sure. But maybe in a few years. You shouldn't give up on a dream so easily."

"It's not my dream," George replied with conviction. "I like doing something with music, I do enjoy it, but this isn't a big dream. And helping Meatball a bit is enough for me. I can do that in Bluebell. At home." He was silent for a moment, then added in a much quieter and calmer voice: "The last time I took a job in another city, it ruined everything. Really everything."

Zoe understood immediately. "New York," she nodded.

"I can't let that happen again. I can't do it to Lemon or myself. There's no way I'm making the same mistake. No."

Surprisingly, Zoe smiled now. "I think it's the right decision then. Lemon can count herself lucky."

As soon as she had finished her sentence, George's cell phone rang. It was Lemon. George answered the call anxiously.

"George," came Lemon's whispered voice through the phone. Nothing more.

"Lemon? Is everything okay?"

"No." She sounded like she'd been crying. "You have to come. Please."

George's hand clutched the cell phone tighter. "What's going on?" he asked urgently while signaling Zoe to get up and get on the way back.

"I've seen her, she's here in Bluebell..." Lemon's voice broke.

"Who?"

"My mom."