Legal Prejuduce 3 - Lessons In Life

Chapter 10

Robyn finished feeding Jack his breakfast and sighed, handing him over to her mom and knowing she couldn't put off calling Max any longer. She walked into her bedroom and dialled. Sara answered and her voice warmed realising it was Robyn as she said, "He's free as far as I can tell, I'll put you through now." She waited a few seconds and Max came on, "Hey Robyn. Problem?" She took a deep breath realising she hadn't really decided what to say having tossed a few options around in her head. "Hey, I guess you heard yesterday that I'm in Atlanta." Max heard the flat tone in her voice and said, "Is everything okay with your mom?" Robyn was quick to reply, "Yeah, they're all fine. I needed to get away Max, I don't want to talk about it, I just need some time, space to think." Max didn't immediately answer but then said, "Okay, I'm talking to you now as family not as your boss. I'll square it away with HR, take the time you need, but Robyn come home soon and whatever it is we can sort it out." In Atlanta Robyn suddenly felt homesick and tearful, but hearing him add, "If you don't want to talk to me you can lean on Allie, Dan any of us" she spat back, "Like I said, that's exactly what I don't need, I need to be away." Max frowned and sighed audibly down the phone as Robyn said, "I'll be in touch, but I don't want anyone to call me."

Putting the phone down Max walked to the kitchen area to grab coffee. Carly was there and she wordlessly grabbed a mug and filled it for him. Max took it and squeezed her shoulder, "Thanks." She looked at her boss carefully, "You okay?" He shook his head, "I don't know Carly, problems everywhere I look at the moment. Ever had that feeling in your gut that bad stuff is brewing?" Carly titled her head at him, "Sounds like you had bad chicken!" Max chuckled but she came closer and rubbed his arms, "Can't all be sunshine and unicorns Max. Worrying won't help, but if there's anything you need help with I'm right here." He muttered thanks and went into Dan's office. As he entered Daniel smiled and Max said, "I hope you're having a better morning than me." Dan raised his eyebrows, "Want to tell me about it? I'm waiting for Chris to come through, I said we could catch up on that clause for his contract." Max gave a wry smile, "I spoke to Robyn just now." Daniel nodded and looked away before saying, "What did she tell you?" Max sighed, "Pretty much nothing, but I'm guessing you and or Allie know more." Daniel looked pained, "I can't tell you Max and neither can Allie. I can tell you this, I love Robyn, but she's so damn pig headed. As usual her way of dealing with her own problems is to push the people who love her most away. She needs to be careful though Max because it leaves scars." Outwardly he just clapped Daniel on the shoulder but inwardly he had the same swirling sense of unease.

As he left Dan's office Max saw a dishevelled Chris trudging miserably into his office. Glancing at his watch he saw it was close to nine thirty and even though there was no-one to see it he rolled his eyes. He doubled back into Dan's office and said, "Hey, Chris has only just arrived looking like he slept in his clothes. When do you think he's going to snap out of this?" Daniel shook his head, "I'll have a word with him. He'll be okay, can we just cut him some slack? It hasn't even been a week yet, still raw."

Two weeks later Robyn was at the mall with her mom. Jack was asleep in his stroller and they stopped for morning coffee before they started shopping. Once they'd ordered Gina looked at her daughter and braced herself, "Robyn honey, you know you can stay with me as long as you like, but Jeremy must be missing Jack. Has he been in touch? Robyn looked down stirring her coffee and nodded, "Yeah, he's messaged. He wants us to go back." Gina chewed the inside of her cheek, "What you gonna do?" Her daughter shrugged, "I don't know." Her mother drank some coffee, "You can't bury your head in the sand and hide here forever, you're smart, you know that right? You're mad I get it, but are you mad with Jeremy or yourself for getting in that situation in the first place? What you have to ask yourself is whether you should throw everything you have away over this." Robyn looked up scowling and Gina put up a hand, "Don't go looking at me all mad Robyn. I'm the only one who's going to tell you as it is right now, and you can be as mad with me as you like. You owe it to Jack to face up to this and decide what you're going to do. This is his life you're deciding, it's not just you and Jeremy. And what about your job? Your boss isn't going to hold it open forever."