Legal Prejudice 2 - Weather The Storms

Chapter 59

On the eve of the wedding Daniel and Allie had decided not to have a big rehearsal dinner, but instead Allie, Emmie and Rose went to stay with Max and Margie so she wouldn't see her fiancé at all on the day of the wedding. Daniel stayed in their own house and Max arranged to go over after breakfast to get ready with him. Allie and the girls had a quiet evening and she rang Dan to say goodnight, before telling Max and Margie she was going to head to bed. The wedding was deliberately small and intimate with really only those closest to them invited.

The next morning they all had breakfast, but Allie was too nervous to eat much. Max asked Allie if he could have a private word before he left to join Daniel. Margie smiled and kissed him as he followed Allie through to the guest room and sat with her on the bed. He took a deep breath and said, "I just wanted to talk to you because the next time I see you you'll be walking down the aisle and I have something, a gift from me to you that I thought you could wear as your something new." He pulled a box from his pocket and handed it to Allie. She took it, opened it and gasped as she saw a beautiful diamond bracelet. She looked up, eyes full of tears and threw her arms around Max's neck. "It's absolutely beautiful Max, I love it."

Max fought back his own emotion as he said, "Listen Allie honey, you know you tell the kids how you couldn't love any child you birthed yourself more than you love them?" Allie nodded and he held her face with his hands "Well that's how Margie and I feel about you and Dan. I think maybe we weren't meant to have our own kids because you guys were out there waiting to come into our lives." He bent and kissed her forehead and Allie threw her arms around him again and squeezed him tightly before she told him, "I love you and Margie more than you can imagine. When I came here I had no-one Max, I was all alone. I'm so incredibly lucky." Max laughed softly, "Jesus Allie, you've nearly died twice. Not many people would call you lucky." Allie nudged his shoulder playfully then said more seriously, "I am lucky Max. I've been blessed enough to have two husbands I loved with everything I have and who loved me back. I have two amazing little girls to raise, and I have a boss who became my Dad when I was missing having that in my life so much. Not to mention Margie who became a mother to me the first day she ever met me. She held me, when I was broken in a hospital bed, just an employee of her husband who she'd never met, and she helped me believe I'd be okay. And then there's all the other wonderful people around us." Max pulled her close and kissed her cheek tenderly and said, "You're the glue Allie, you're what holds us all together. I know how much you loved Michael Allie, I don't know how you survived it, but I'm glad you and Daniel were brave enough to be together because you are so perfect."

Allie swallowed a sob as she looked him in the eye and said, "I did love him so much Max." She paused, "I saw him you know, when I was having surgery." Max looked confused and she explained, "I've only ever told Jeremy. He didn't have a medical explanation, but said maybe it was my subconscious. I don't know, it felt so real. I could feel him holding me. He told me he didn't feel a thing when he died, and he said he was happy Dan and I were together for us, and for the girls." Max couldn't prevent a tear leaking out and he took Allie's hands, "Allie honey, that's exactly what he would say." Allie nodded, "We talk about him now, Dan and I. It doesn't hurt so much." She gently brushed the tear from Max's face and said smiling, "I promise I will do everything in my power every day to make Daniel happy. I told you a long time ago just how deep my feelings for him ran and that never has and never will change." Max held her close for a few minutes whispering, "I know Allie, I know." then said, "Hey, you'd better let me go. Your soon to be husband will be wondering where I am." Allie kissed him one last time and laughed, "Yeah, go take care of him, don't want him getting cold feet!" Max pulled a face, "Don't think there's a chance in hell of that." He gave the hand he was still holding a squeeze and got up. As he opened the door Allie said, "Thanks Max, love you, tell Dan I can't wait to see him." Max smiled, nodded and left.