Legal Prejuduce 3 - Lessons In Life

Chapter 6

Chris had resisted the urge to try and see Shannon all week since she'd been very firm about being busy until Wednesday evening, and he wanted to show her he could give her space. He was fizzing with excitement waiting for her to call at his apartment. He'd offered to pick her up from her own apartment, but she said she'd rather meet him at his place. Chris was hoping this meant she was planning a relaxed evening followed by some bedroom action, since thoughts of having her skin touching his were filling his every waking moment.

When she arrived he opened the door enthusiastically and took in her pretty face and slim figure with appreciation. Grabbing her hand he pulled her inside and wrapped an arm around to hold her body against his and kiss her. Shannon allowed him a kiss but then drew back feeling his rising excitement and looking down pointedly said, "Jesus Christ, I've hardly got in the door." Chris grinned and looked a little sheepish, "Sorry Shan, I'm just pleased to see you." Realising she looked a little irritated he said, "I have two surprises for you. Close your eyes darling." A smile crept onto her face and she closed her eyes as he towed her to the couch and said, "No peeking now." He grabbed the gift bag he'd taken thirty minutes choosing from the back of the couch and said, "Okay, now you can look." She opened her eyes and took the bag smiling broadly. Tearing the tissue paper back she squealed seeing the purse and yanked it out, "You got it for me!" Chris thought he'd never been so happy watching her face and she leaned in to kiss him with more feeling than she would normally indulge him with. Chris breathlessly said, "I'm glad you like it. How about I put a pizza on for us here and then we can cuddle on the couch, have some quality time?" Still looking at the bag Shannon generously agreed, "Sure, sounds nice." While Chris sorted getting the food in the oven and grabbed a bottle of wine from the fridge Shannon snapped a picture of her new purse with her phone and sent it to Candice with the caption, "Told you he'd get it for me."

Coming back over Chris sat down handing her a glass, "Won't be long darling." Shannon nodded, "So what's my other surprise?" He jumped up, "God yeah, I almost forgot. Let me just grab it. He rummaged in his laptop bag and returned with a piece of headed paper. "I spoke to Max earlier. He doesn't have an opening in our employment area and he said 'cause it's not his area of expertise he can't really recommend you to anyone." Her face had dropped but an oblivious Chris hadn't noticed and continued, "But, he gave me the contact details of the head-hunter firm HRM use." He handed over the piece of paper and finally noticed the darkness that had fallen on her face as she said, "Well thanks for nothing to your boss." Chris looked confused so she continued, "Don't you think I couldn't have gotten that from LinkedIn you idiot?" Chris was crestfallen, "I guess you could but at least you know this outfit is reputable and fills vacancies for firms like HRM." Shannon was struggling to contain her annoyance, "I thought you were tight with these guys, but that's just what they want you to think." He reached out and she slapped his hand away as he said, "Hey, I'm sorry. We'll keep looking for an opening for you. Let's just eat yeah."

After eating in near silence Chris looked across in concern and shuffled along the couch. He sighed, "Hey, sorry about the job, and I'm glad you like the purse." Shannon's anger had dissipated slightly and she let him kiss her. Glancing at the discarded gift bag she smiled and moved her hand down to unfasten his belt. Chris felt waves of pleasure and moaned as she slipped her hand inside his pants.

On Friday Allie walked around to the paralegal area to catch Robyn after she'd finished her first client meeting of the day. Carly turned around smiling, "Hi Allie, you after Robyn?" Allied nodded, "Yeah. Just wanted to see if she was free for a run through of what we've got on ahead of next week. I know you've both been covering Liam's stuff too." Carly shook her head, "Be glad when he's back Allie honey. Robyn's in the bathroom." They chatted about Liam's messages advising them of some of his antics in Cancun and Robyn appeared. She picked up a notebook and followed Allie to her room. Sitting down Allie looked at her friend carefully and said, "Hey, you okay?" Robyn shook her head, "You know Jack had that bug going around the day care last week? I think I've got it." Allie looked sympathetically, "Oh Robyn, nothing worse than a stomach bug. I can cope with anything better than throwing up. Why don't you go home? They're usually a twenty-four hour thing but at least you'd be in your own bathroom." Robyn couldn't help but laugh, "I'm okay now, seems to be going, and I've got nothing left inside me to throw up. I'm just catching everything from day care lately. Last month I had to get and get antibiotics for that throat infection, now this. Perils of having a small kiddie I guess."

Breakfast on Sunday was quieter than usual since Jeremy was working and Chris was busy shopping with Shannon. Robyn had messaged the group chat to say she was still suffering. She sent a message just to Allie, "So much for the twenty-four hour theory!" Allie dropped Rose at pre-school on Monday and met Daniel on his way back from school drop off in the parking garage. Locking the car she smiled as he came to take her hand and said, "Hope Robyn's okay, not least because I need to crack on with drafting those UK contracts." Daniel kissed her, "Let's go get some coffee on board and see if she shows." By the time they'd made coffee Robyn was at her desk and Allie smiled in relief, "You better?" The look Robyn gave her caused her concern but she just muttered, "Yeah, fine." Chris and Liam arrived and were soon joined by Max. Chris was babbling on about shopping with Shannon at the weekend and Liam provided a distraction, but as soon as she'd embraced her tanned colleague and listened to some outrageous holiday stories, Allie quietly indicated she needed Robyn to come to her room.

As soon as the door closed Robyn flopped down miserably. Allie looked at her friend in concern, "What's wrong Robyn?" She put her head in her hands, "I don't think it's a bug Allie, I think I'm pregnant and before you start telling me this is great news, it's not. I don't want to be." Allie was slightly stunned both by the news and the fervent rejection of the idea of another baby." Thinking carefully before she spoke she said softly, "Have you done a test?" Robyn shook her head replying dryly, "Only occurred to me this morning as I threw up. Realised it's only really happening in the mornings, I'm a couple of weeks late now I think about it." Allie's brain turned and she remembered the antibiotics. She didn't think it was helpful to mention they may have interfered with her oral contraceptive but said, "Want me to whizz out and get a test? You may be worrying about nothing but there's only one way to find out." Robyn shook her head, "Beat you to it, stopped off at the pharmacy on the way back from dropping Jack at day care. I guess I'll go do it."

Ten minutes later they were standing in the thankfully empty bathroom staring at the test. Robyn's eyes were full of tears and Allie couldn't help get deja vu from when Robyn discovered she was pregnant with Jack. Robyn bitterly tossed the test in her bag, "Before you start telling me I just need to get used to the idea you need to know I can't go through with it. I can't and won't go through with another pregnancy." Allie was shocked at the finality of her tone, but kept her face as neutral as possible and pulled Robyn into a hug. Robyn allowed herself to momentarily accept the comfort, but pulled back quickly and said, "Let's get back to work. I'll start drafting those contracts and get them over to you later. I'll make a doctor's appointment at lunchtime." Allie nodded. She almost didn't dare ask but she felt she had to, "Robyn, you will tell Jeremy though won't you?" Robyn turned and looked furious, "That's not your business Allie and if you interfere I'll never forgive you." Allie put her hand up looking hurt, "I won't and I won't tell Dan either."

Going back to her room Allie pulled up some work on the laptop but struggled to concentrate. Dan came in to check something on a deal they were both working on and asked, "Is Robyn okay?" Allie nodded but Daniel perched on the edge of her desk and persisted, "What is it Allie?" His wife sighed, "I can't talk to you about it because she asked me not to." Dan lifted her face with his hands and bent to kiss her, "Okay sweet girl. I understand. But whatever it is will sort itself out okay." Allie nodded gratefully as he got up to leave. Allie had a late client meeting until six, so Daniel collected the girls from Holly. Robyn had left by the time she'd finished. Checking her E mails she saw her friend had sent her the drafts she'd been working on, and added a note to say she'd booked a doctor's appointment for Friday morning. Allie sighed thinking at least that would give Robyn time to tell Jeremy and talk it through.