Legal Prejudice 2 - Weather The Storms

Chapter 23

Allie called Hane to explain she was working through lunch so she could have a meeting with the social worker, just in case anyone queried her absence. She deliberately avoided Max and she knew from his diary he was out at court from two which made life easier. She threw herself into routine tasks to keep herself focused and also so she didn't raise Robyn's suspicions, ploughing through and firing off stuff to Carly and Robyn as she went. At just after two she messaged Daniel to say she was leaving. He caught her just as she was closing her office door to say, "Hey, one of you call me later yeah, tell me all about it." He grinned, "I spoke to Michael earlier. He said he keeps pulling open his drawer to look at the photograph." Daniel couldn't help notice how Allie's face instantly softened with love for her husband, but she just slipped an arm around his back to hug him and said "Definitely call you later. Better run in case the traffic's bad."

Michael got home just before her and Patricia arrived minutes later. They sat down and she got straight to the point. "So now you've slept on it how are you guys feeling about the news?" The body language made words pretty redundant, but she smiled as Allie said, "We're so excited." Michael added "I don't know about Allie, but I've really struggled to concentrate on work." Patricia nodded, "I'll bet! Anyway, I have some information for you here but I can run through the basics and then you can read it in detail when I've gone. Basically Rose was born to a twenty-three year old known heroin addict with a very troubled family background, Teagan. Father is unknown. Rose was born addicted, so spent some time in NICU, but was otherwise full term and healthy. Teagan was around for the first few days, but then failed to visit and couldn't be contacted. Once she was healthy enough to leave hospital, Rose was placed in the care of the state and placed with her foster carer, a lady called Tracy, where she's been ever since. Teagan was found deceased, OD'ed when Rose was about six weeks old, and consequently the state have been to court to release her for adoption and that's led us to today." Michael and Allie felt a little stunned and Allie looked tearful looking at Michael and saying, "That's so sad, the poor girl." Michael unconsciously slipped an arm around her waist. Patricia had a warm feeling despite the sad situation, knowing this response was precisely why Michael and Allie were right for this baby.

Patricia sighed, "Yes, it is sad, I don't think Teagan ever had the support she needed, and her own mother had a similar background, but by taking Rose out of that environment we can break the cycle. Rose's medical report is here, but apart from her withdrawal at birth there are currently no other concerns with her, although if there was any evidence of developmental delay it probably wouldn't appear until she was older. I have to ask, are you guys happy to go ahead from what you now know?" Michael looked at Allie smiling, "I'm sure Allie feels the same, but I can't think of a more perfect child for us. We both know loss, but we were lucky enough to have people in our childhoods who saved us from becoming a Teagan, and we want to give Rose everything her birth mom didn't have." Allie nodded eyes glistening with tears, "Michael has said it so perfectly Patricia. This little baby deserves the best chance, and she'll be surrounded by as much love as she could ever be given, we promise." Patricia nodded satisfied and smiled broadly, "In that case thing's will move pretty fast. Would you like to meet your new daughter next week?"

When Patricia had left Michael held Allie and said as they sat down, "Can you believe this is actually happening?" Allie laughed and shook her head, running her hand along his forearms where he'd rolled his sleeves back, "No, I actually can't." He kissed her lips and said, "We've got some serious planning to do beautiful. Let me get a pen so we can start to write a list." They spent the next thirty minutes listing down the basics and then Michael said, "Can you imagine what they'll say when we tell everyone?" Allie put an arm around his back and her palm flat on his shirt, "They are going to be so excited. The handover days and that first week will be hard though, not letting anyone really come over, but I get why she'll need that time just to settle with us." Michael had wrapped his arm around her and kissed her hair, "Yeah, but at least Dan and Emmie get to meet her in that time. It might be a bit tricky with Emmie you know. She'd used to having you all to herself and she might act up a little." Allie looked up, "Yeah I've been thinking about that. I thought it might be nice if Rose brought Emmie some presents you know." He smiled and kissed her, "Hey, want to see if they want to come over for dinner and we can all tell Emmie, show her the picture now Patricia has given us the green light?" Allie sat up and squeaked, "Yes, let's call him now."

Daniel didn't need to be asked twice. He left work early and collected Emmie from Holly to go over to Michael and Allie's. Michael let them in while Allie was getting changed. He swung a squealing Emmie up in the air asking what type of pizza she wanted to order. Allie appeared and hugged Daniel who said, "Okay let's order so you can fill me in. I've been dying to know how it went all afternoon." She sat down on the couch and Emmie hopped onto her knee. As she kissed the little girl she said, "And how was school my little chicken, fun?" Emmie nodded "We planted seeds today!" Allie kissed her little hand and held it looking at the nails laughing "I can see Emmie, look at the dirt under those nails!" She looked over at her Dad who was pouring over the pizza menu with Michael, "Dan, do you want me to give her a bath here? I've got some PJs in her room." Emmie jumped up, "Ooooo Daddy can I use mommy's big tub?" Daniel laughed "Fine with me Emmie, thanks Allie." Allie nodded "So why don't I bath Emmie while you guys order pizza and then we can tell her our news."

The pizza arrived before Emmie was quite finished, but they'd left the boxes closed so it was still hot when Allie came into the kitchen with a clean, pyjama clad Emmie in her arms. She sat her between her Dad and Michael and Daniel grabbed her a slice of cheese pizza while Michael passed her a glass of milk.

Michael winked at Allie and said, "So squeaky clean Emmie, we have something to tell you." The little girl looked up expectantly and Allie said, "You remember that lady Patricia came over to talk to you and Daddy about getting a little brother or sister?" the five year old nodded, "Well, she came to see Uncle Michael and I earlier to tell us they've found the perfect little baby sister for you. Her name is Rose and you're going to meet her very soon." Emmie's little mouth was an 'o' shape, "Tomorrow?" Michael laughed and ruffled her hair, "No, in a couple of weeks though. And do you know the really special thing? You and your Daddy are the very first people to know, and the first people apart from Mommy and I who get to meet her." Emmie looked at Allie a little uncertainly, "Will I have to give her my bedroom?" Allie smiled reassuringly "No Emmie, that will always be your bedroom sweetie. Rose is only a little baby and she'll have her own room. Would you like to see a photograph of your new baby sister?" The excitement had been building on her face and she scrambled down to follow Allie to where the photo was lying face down on the coffee table. Allie grabbed it and scooped Emmie up onto her knee back at the table and handed it to her to see. Michael turned to Daniel as they both smiled watching Emmie's wonder looking at the photo. "She looks like my baby dolly. Will she have diapers and a bottle of milk?" Allie cuddled her, "Yes. Do you think you could help me change her and give her bottles Emmie?"

Once the adults had finished their pizza and Emmie had gone into her room to practice with her baby doll, they moved to the couch and filled Daniel in on what Patricia had told them. He shook his head sadly at Teagan's story and then said, "I didn't realise it would all happen so fast. When are you guys going to tell Max and Landon? Allie looked at Michael, "I guess it'll be tomorrow. And we'll have to tell everyone else." Daniel leaned forward from where he was sitting next to Michael, "I'll have to get Emmie home soon, why don't you guys call or drop 'round to John and Susan tonight to tell them because everyone else will find out in work tomorrow, and those guys are going to be so excited." Allie looked at Michael, "Is John on a late shift?" He shook his head, "No, he should be home. Shall we do it?" Allie nodded excitedly and went to put Emmie's stuff in a bag while Daniel clapped Michael on the back and moved to the bedroom to tell her it was time to head home.