Legal Prejudice 2 - Weather The Storms

Chapter 15

Michael offered to stay at home the following day, but Allie told him she'd call Susan who would probably be able to call ' round in between her viewings. If not she was happy to have a quiet day in the new house. She promised Michael she wouldn't start any housework or unpack any of the boxes they hadn't got around to dealing with. Susan came around for a couple of hours, bringing lunch and lattes with her. Allie told her about what David had implied about Michael, and admitted how much it had hurt, just to even think people might believe that of them. Susan held her tight and reassured her, "I've known Michael longer and better than anyone. He would never cheat on you Allie. He's never loved anyone even close to the way he loves you." Allie clung to Susan, "I know, I totally trust him. It just hurt that people say that stuff about us you know? I shouldn't care, but it just hurt." Susan shushed her, "You're only human Allie. It was a mean and nasty thing to say."

The next day Michael drove her to the office because her car was still parked there. She said she'd be fine, but he walked her up to reception anyway and watched her go through. Daniel had messaged him the previous night to say he'd be waiting on the other side and he was hovering outside Allie's office. She dropped her stuff and Daniel steered her over to the kitchen to get them coffee before they went back to drink it and catch up. Dan looked at her carefully, "Are you sure you're feeling completely okay now Allie?" She smiled, "I am but the way you're looking at me I'm starting to wonder." He laughed, "You look great to me Allie, but you can't blame me for worrying after, whether you want to admit it or not, you collapsed on me twice." Allie reached for his hand, "I'm sorry Dan. I was an idiot to get myself in that state, and I never even said thank you for taking care of me." He got up from the table, "I'd better go, I've got a client coming in." He pulled her to her feet and wrapped her in his arms, "But Allie I told you once I'm always going to be here to catch you when you fall and I meant it." He kissed her cheek " I just didn't expect you to take me literally! " Allie laughed and squeezed him tight. He reluctantly released her, "Max is stuck in court, probably all day, but he said you're to take it easy and he'll kill me if you don't. I'll come back to take you for lunch."

Once he'd gone Allie logged on and checked her mails. Daniel had copied her in when he sent the TSA section draft to Phillips on her behalf. The transition lead had replied late the previous day to say they were very happy with it, had no changes and would arrange a meeting the following week to tackle the less contentious sections. She accepted the meeting request and could see Daniel and Max had also accepted. She answered a couple of other emails then took her coffee 'round to the paralegals. Carly and Robyn both jumped up to say Hi and check how she was. Carly rubbed her arm, "God Allie you looked so sick the other day. We heard what happened. And Max's poor wife. Robyn says you've been at the hospital with her a lot so no wonder you were worn out." Robyn smiled, "I guess now it's out in the open Max won't have to pretend everything is normal. Although hopefully all this is just about behind them now."

Robyn walked back to run through some basic drafting for the next steps, while Allie was going to pull together a brief presentation for the meeting. Sitting in the office Allie said, "I'm so sorry I disrupted your day off Robyn." Robyn shrugged, "It's okay, Jeremy wasn't gone long and I'm afraid where you're concerned he's always going to come running." Allie felt uncomfortable despite the light tone Robyn used and said, "It was Michael and Dan, they were just panicking and actually I'd just got myself into a state, had no sleep, forgot to eat." Robyn laughed softly, "well you must have looked bad because you scared the shit out of Carly and Hane." Allie hid behind her hands, "At least I didn't drop in a heap until I was out of the office."

They both grabbed a drink before splitting up to get on with work. Allie was engrossed when there was a knock at her door and Wendy Armstrong came in hesitantly. "Can I have a word Allie?" Allie nodded and stopped typing, " Sure." Wendy took a seat on the opposite side of the desk and took a deep breath. Allie could tell she'd rehearsed what she was going to say. "I just wanted to say I'm really sorry about what happened the other day. None of us had any idea about Max's wife, and obviously we didn't know that's why you had been missing from the office." Allie sighed and tried not to sound too hard, "You could have asked Wendy. I wouldn't have told you about Max's wife because that's personal, or it was, but at least I could have told you I'd arranged some unpaid leave with Hane." Wendy looked down, "Yeah, I guess one of us could. But you didn't have to make such a fuss after the meeting Allie. Getting Daniel, Hane, Max all fussing around the resident damsel in distress." Allie fought the anger building inside and said as calmly as possible, "I let David's accusations upset me, and because I'd been working all hours I went a bit light headed. As for being a damsel in distress, I think you need to remember a fair few people in this office saw me almost bleed to death just over a year ago, so it's perhaps understandable they panic a little when I'm too ill to stand up." Wendy went red and stood up to leave, "Yeah, well I just wanted to apologise." Allie looked up and said, "Thank you" without much warmth.

Allie couldn't concentrate after Wendy had gone, but within a few minutes Daniel called to get her for lunch anyway. She grabbed her bag and he could see something had happened, but he waited until they were in one of the cafes near by before he asked her, "What's happened Allie?" She said, "I'm annoyed Dan, bloody Wendy has been with an insult wrapped up as an apology." She explained the exchange she'd just had in her office and Daniel shook his head, "She's pissing her panties Allie because Max and Hane have decided there's no way back for David. They're thrashing out a pay off, and it's not just about the other day. Max said David isn't billing a whole lot, but is always stirring shit up. He and Wendy are pretty thick outside of work and Hane spoke to her yesterday. Even though she didn't say anything in the partners' meeting, it was pretty obvious the "we" included her. She doesn't want to follow David through the payoff door, leading to the half apology you got I guess."

Allie stabbed her pasta and Dan laughed a little, "I feel a little sorry for your fusilli." She smiled in spite of herself. Dan said, "What else Allie, I know you, and it's not just Wendy is it?" She put the fork down and looked at him, "Yeah, you do know me Dan." She paused, "It's something Robyn said When I said I was sorry we'd interrupted their day off." She explained and Daniel leaned over the small table and picked up her fork staking a couple of pieces of pasta, "Eat Allie." She opened her mouth and he fed her. "I'm sure she didn't mean anything by it, but you know Robyn can be sharp sometimes." He re-filled the fork, "And you know, because Robyn never saw you in the hospital, I don't think she realises just how hard you worked with Jeremy for all those weeks to get well enough to go home. Allie swallowed, " Yeah, he didn't just look after me medically but mentally too you know? But I think before we all came along deep down he was lonely, and I hate to think of him like that." Daniel waved the fork at her again and she opened her mouth, swallowed and said, "Can I have my cutlery back now please?" He laughed and handed it over, "Try not to over think it Allie okay? It's not like you'd see him much usually, and now Margie's chemo is done you won't be catching up with him during the week. Robyn will have him back to herself. Now eat, or I'll feed you like a baby again."