Legal Prejuduce 3 - Lessons In Life

Chapter 19

By Monday afternoon Daniel and Allie had received a message from Chris to say he'd arrived at his parents' place safely and was doing okay. A few days later another message landed from the office phone. It said "Hi, they haven't taken my phone, but they are reading all my messages and I'm banned from voice calls and SM. I'm okay and the doctor they've sent me to here is really nice. I've told him I want to get back to LA and my job but my family don't agree. He said they actually can't stop me as long as I'm well and taking my medication. Tell everyone I really miss them." Allie called Daniel and they both went straight over to Max's office to show him. He nodded and said, "We'll keep sending bland hope you're okay messages to his phone, but one of you get me the number for the burner phone you've given him and I'll send him a proper message. Allie brought up the number and added the contact to Max's cell phone.

When Max had a quiet moment he messaged Chris, "Hi it's Max. Hang on in there. Your doc sounds like a good guy. If you want to come home but you feel like your family might try and stop you, I'll book a flight and come get you out. Keep in touch because if I no-one has heard from you for more than a couple of days I'll be on a plane to check you're okay for myself."

Over the next two weeks they received regular updates saying he was coping and seeing his doctor twice a week. Max was at his desk answering some E mails when he received a video call. He clicked to accept and an unfamiliar face introduced himself as Dr Lawrence from Yale New Haven hospital. He explained Chris was currently under his care and had given him permission to talk about his case. He asked if Max could spare some time to chat a few things through saying, "If now's not a good time we can schedule something for later in the week?" Max shook his head, "No, now's good for me."

The doctor smiled and said, "Chris is very keen to return to LA and his life there. He tells me you are his employer but also personally close to him, and have offered to have him stay with you when he arrives back. I just wanted to check how you felt about him coming home, since I believe you were one of the people who got him admitted when he was in crisis." Max nodded, "Yeah, Chris is a junior partner in my firm, but we're a family practice." He paused and chuckled, "None of us are related but we're still family. He won't be the first employee my wife and I have had living with us while they navigate a rough spot." Max sighed, "I met his folks when they came to take him back, and I was worried about him going back with them. They pretty much ignored him and talked about him like he wasn't in the room." The doctor hummed, "Yes, I've told Chris I don't believe the relationships he has with either his Dad or his sister are healthy for him." Max exhaled, "He's got a lot of support in LA, it's not just me and my wife." Mike Lawrence looked at the file in front of him, "Yeah so he's mentioned his co-workers, in particular Daniel and Allie, but confidentially his family are very hostile about Allie because they said there's information in the media about her past. They believe she's inappropriately close to Chris and he's become emotionally dependant on her. Do you think anything about that rings true?" Max snorted, "I'm sure you'll have done your research but none of what's been reported, often inaccurately by the way, about Daniel and Allie is relevant to Chris. It all happened long before we knew him. Like I said, we're a family who don't happen to be related. We all love Dan and Allie and there's nothing remotely inappropriate between her and Chris. Dan's out in court, but my girl Allie is here if you want to speak to her?"

Mike Lawrence said, "If she can spare a few minutes I think that would really help me picture what Chris' support network looks like." Max leaned towards the desk phone and called through to reception speaking to Everley and asking her to get Allie to come through. While he was waiting for her Max explained to the doctor, "When he comes back I'd planned on having Chris work with me, rather than run his own caseload, just while he got back into the swing of things. It'll be less stressful and I can keep that going as long as he needs. You know he's actually a real good lawyer."