Legal Prejuduce 3 - Lessons In Life

Chapter 40

The following day, with Allie managing well on less pain relief, she was moved back down to a regular room. Twenty -four hours later, the physios, Mat Estevez and Jeremy arrived once Daniel had left for the office and announced it was time to see if they could get her upright. Allie was nervous, and Jem ran a hand down her hair and said, "Don't be scared, I'm here, and if you're not ready, we can stop and try again tomorrow." She nodded, and the two physios helped her position herself on the edge of the bed, waiting a couple of minutes as she felt a little dizzy sitting upright. Jeremy gave her some water, and then the physios put the boot on her leg. Lowering the height of the bed Mat said " Right Allie, these guys will slowly help you stand and all you need to do is push with both legs, trying to be as tall as possible while they hold under your arms." Allie nodded, and they began. The pain flashed in her hip, but Allie pushed through it and stood for the first time since a week before Christmas on her own two feet. Although euphoric, as she got there, her vision began to fill with black spots, and she felt nauseous. In the distance she could hear Jeremy saying, "It's okay Allie, they have you." The physios had quickly eased her back on the bed and gently lifted her legs around. Mat was looking extremely pleased, and Jeremy looked at him for confirmation that the signs were good. He leaned over his patient as her eyes opened and said, "Allie, that was fantastic. You were standing on that hip, and it took your weight. I know it hurts, but that's normal. Well done." Allie burst into tears, and Jeremy lifted the top half of her body into his arms, but he was smiling, "You did it Allie. I'm so fucking proud of you." He suddenly remembered he had an audience and pulled a face at the physios, "Sorry, got carried away." Allie laughed and rested her head on his shoulder. Sasha looked sour but the other physio Rachel and Mat both laughed.

When everyone had gone Jeremy kissed her and pulled out his phone. He'd managed to catch a picture as Allie had stood and he showed her, making her smile despite the pain she was now in. He sent it to their group chat with the caption "Allie's standing up for herself!" Down at the police station John heard the notification and proudly showed his colleagues before ringing Susan to see if she'd seen it. In the office Daniel was talking to Liam and gasped when he got the message. He saw Max burst out of his office. Carly, Liam and Amanda looked confused and Daniel blurted out emotionally, "Allie managed to stand. The hip they did the surgery on took the weight." Carly opened her arms and he hugged her as Max showed the others the photo on his phone. Robyn was with Margie and she squealed and said, "Margie look!"

A couple of days later, everyone arrived in Allie's room for Rose's fifth birthday after Daniel had collected the girls from school. Susan had brought her a cake and they sat Rose on the bed next to Allie while they lit the candles and sang Happy Birthday. Daniel had warned Allie the day before that there was a procedural hearing for Jeff and Penny Klein and it would likely be in the media. Rose was upset after someone in school told her she'd seen her Mommy on the news the day before. The teacher had called Daniel to explain, but had also complained about the ferocity of Rose's response. News programmes raked over the back story and noted Allie was still in hospital recovering nearly eight weeks after the crime.

Allie held the little girl to her on the bed when all the adults were chatting and eating cake and said, "I know Ruby in pre-school said she saw stuff on the news about what happened to Mommy and it upset you, made you angry Rose. " Rose burrowed in a little, "Are you mad with me because I shouted in school?" Allie kissed her, "No petal, I understand. It's not great to get angry though. Next time, go and talk to a teacher." Rose nodded sadly, "Ruby told me her Mom said she understood why those people ran you down in the car because you took Emmie from them." Allie held her closer and glanced at Daniel. She stroked Rose's now long silky mid brown hair and said, "That was very wrong of her Mom Rose. Those people will never be allowed to hurt us again, and I know you sometimes remember what you saw, and I know sometimes you have bad dreams about it, but that will happen less and less as time goes on. Mommy will come home you know, and we'll all be back together." Rose had started to cry, "I'm trying to be good at school Mommy, but they spoiled my birthday, and when I have the bad dreams I want you, and you're not there." Allie kissed her and held her tight, "I know baby. It's not at all fair that your birthday was spoiled or that Mommy isn't there to chase the bad dreams away, but I'm working super hard to be back home with you." Daniel kissed his five year old and said softly, "Don't cry Rose, not on your birthday. I know it's not the same as a normal birthday party, but everyone in this room loves you." Emmie came over and kissed her little sister, "Don't listen to people who say mean things Rosie. I heard you screaming for help when those people took me. I told the police officer it was my brave little sister who got the adults so they could see who took me."