Legal Prejudice 2 - Weather The Storms

Chapter 31

When Daniel left, Allie got ready to drop the girls and driving back she had an epiphany. Keeping herself busy cleaning the house the previous day had led to a good night's sleep, and had also given her some sense of positive achievement. When she got home, she made coffee, called Susan for a quick chat to reassure her and then she sat and thought. Before she could overthink it she rang Max. He picked up and said anxiously, "Hey Allie, you okay?" She spoke quickly to reassure him, "Yeah, I am, honestly Max. I was just wondering if you were free for lunch? I know it's a bit short notice and you're probably busy." Max didn't hestitate, "Yeah, I'm free. I'd like that. I'll come and pick you up in an hour yeah?" As soon as he ended the call he called Carly to come through. "Hey, can you do me a favour. I have the Jackson Mouldings meeting at one today. Could you work with Sara to call and re-organise it and make my apologies. I need to meet Allie for lunch, she just rang." Carly looked worried, "Yeah sure, we'll handle it. How is she Max? She texts here and there but I worry about her." Max reassured her "I think she'll get there Carly, but it's been really, really rough this week and I need to make sure she's okay you know."

Max drove over to Allie's and they walked in the sunshine to a local café rather than have her come into the city where she may encounter people she or Michael knew. They ordered and Max waited to see what she wanted to talk about. Allie didn't hesitate, "l know Dan's told you I totally lost it this week Max, but I promise I'm in a better place." He took a drink of water and just nodded as she continued, "l think I kind of needed to get to a really bad place before I could find my way back up if that makes any sense." He took her hand across the small table, "It does Allie, actually it does." She smiled, grateful for his understanding and their food arrived. She pushed some pasta down and continued, "I realised something this morning. I haven't been able to sleep much, not since it happened, but yesterday I got a grip and really sorted the house, made dinner for Dan and the girls. Last night I actually slept solidly for ten hours and it felt so good Max."

He grinned and she laughed softly looking directly into his eyes, "l need to be busy Max. I want to come back to work a week on Monday. I can spend the next week getting myself sorted at home and meeting Landon to tie up Michael's estate so I'm ready to come back." She paused searching his face nervously. His heart hurt seeing her look so worried that he would say no, and he smiled to reassure her, "Of course you can Allie. We all miss you so much. I have only one condition." Allie nodded as he carried on, "You need to keep talking to me and tell me if you need a break or more time." A smile broke out across her whole face, and she nodded. Max chuckled, pointed at her plate and said, "Actually there's another one, you eat that damn food, we need to fatten you up!" She laughed and swallowed a forkful. Max ate some of his and said, "I totally understand what you're saying Allie and I'd be the same. Stewing at home wouldn't help me either, but Dan may take some convincing, so let me talk to him this afternoon. He's just worried about you." Allie took another forkful then said, "That's why I wanted to talk it through with you first. I'm so ashamed of what I put him through earlier this week you know." Her eyes swam with tears and Max took her forkless hand again, "You couldn't help it Allie and he knows that. Like I say, let me talk to him when I get back and I'll call 'round on my way home."

When Max got back, he called Daniel 'round to tell him he'd had lunch with Allie. Seeing a look of apprehension cross his face he quickly reassured him she was fine. He explained she wanted to come back and why, but as he expected Dan looked uneasy, "l'm just nervous because of how upset she was earlier in the week. What if she can't cope?" Max motioned for Dan to move to his meeting table, "That's why I said my condition was that she comes and talks to me regularly, and takes a break if she's not ready or can't cope. And you know think about it Dan, while she's here with us in work we can support her, help her, she'll have company." Daniel nodded his face relaxing, "Yeah, I guess that's true. I'd rather she was close." He hesitated and then said, "She's told me to go home tonight." Max didn't let his face show it, but he knew this was coming even if Daniel didn't, and he leaned forward choosing his words carefully, "Give it time Dan yeah. I'd be amazed if she doesn't get there, but she needs time." Daniel looked shocked "I wasn't saying I expect...l mean I hadn't gone there, I just know I want to be there for her, with her." Max got up and said, "Come here Daniel." Dan got up and let his boss hold him, "All I'm saying is everything will work out for you and Allie. You're both hurting, you need to be patient and you'll work through this. Just be careful you let her be the one to say when she's ready." Dan nodded and whispered, "l will Max."

Landon had instructed his receptionist to show Allie through to his office to wait for him, rather than have her sitting on view in the reception area. His meeting had overrun, so she was waiting on his small sofa checking her phone when Nathan came in with a document. He jumped when he saw Allie and she smiled, "Gosh sorry Nathan, did I make you jump? They told me to wait in here." He shook his head, "No, don't worry, I just wasn't expecting anyone else to be in here." He paused looking nervous, then said, "How are you Allie?" She tried to put him at ease by smiling back "I'm okay Nathan, going back to work on Monday so I'm just here to tie up some loose ends." To Allie's surprise he came and sat next to her, "I'm really sorry, I was at the funeral, but I didn't get to speak to you. Solomon was there too, did you know?" Allie looked pleasantly surprised, "No, I didn't. That was so nice of him. To be honest Nathan the whole thing was a blur, there were so many people, I didn't even register who was there. But I do appreciate you coming." He looked down, "Solomon found out it was you who paid his fees Allie. His friend hacked the finance systems at the college, and they saw the money came from your UK Bank account." Allie looked away momentarily, "It was the only thing I could do by the time I realised I'd been used. Couldn't fix it for anyone else, but I could at least make sure he got to go. I lost my parents young, and they left me a couple of properties. I sold one to put the money to better use." Nathan looked her straight in the eye, "l'm sorry Allie. I know I haven't been nice to you. I think what I've learned from you and Michael is that not everything is black and white if you'll excuse the phrase, you've taught me there's shades of grey." Allie reached for his hand feeling emotional, "Thanks Nathan. That means a lot." Landon came in and looked at them guardedly. Nathan got up and handed over the document to his boss and left. Landon came to sit next to Allie kissing her warmly, "He's leaving, did he tell you?" Allie looked surprised, "He never said at all!" Landon cocked an eyebrow, "l think he wants a fresh start. He's a clever guy, but he'll never make a great lawyer because he lacks empathy. That's why Michael found him so difficult to deal with."