Legal Prejuduce 3 - Lessons In Life

Chapter 45

John and Max stood outside the door, and John put a hand on his friend's shoulder, "Are you sure you want to do this?" Max took a deep breath and nodded, "Yeah, let's just get it over with." They entered, and Max took the seat opposite Jeff Klein while John took the chair at the back of the room. Jeff had his lawyer sitting behind him, looking warily as the two men entered. He looked up and said hesitantly, "Thanks for agreeing to see me."

Max didn't respond, so he said, "How's the girl?" Max leaned forward onto the table between them and looked steely, "The girl's name is Allie, and she's only been out of the hospital a couple of weeks. We take her back every day for physical therapy to try and get her walking again." Jeff bent his head, "I wanted to tell her, tell you I'm sorry. I panicked, Penny was screaming at me to get out of there, and she just didn't move." Max felt rage building, and he glanced behind at John. Turning back, he said, "You ran her down like she was an animal. You made that choice, it's on you Jeff." The man opposite nodded sadly, "I know, you're right, and I live with that every day of whatever life I have left Max. You don't have kids so you wouldn't understand, but Penny and I lost our daughter, our only child the day they locked her up, and the chance to see our granddaughter was all we had left." Max clenched his teeth, and his voice dripped ice, "Allie is my daughter Jeff. Do you know she was orphaned as a fucking teenager? So don't tell me I don't understand, because I had to sit in ITU holding her hand while she begged her Dad, yes me, to take the pain away because it was unbearable. Jeff clutched his head, John leaned forward in concern and the lawyer opposite them shifted uncomfortably in his seat.

Jeff sighed and said, "Is Emmie okay? Carrie's been asking me and her mother." Max looked him in the eye, "Dan and Allie are the best parents that little girl could ever have. She's traumatised by being abducted and by thinking her Mommy was dead, but they're helping her get over it now Allie's out of the hospital." Jeff nodded and said quietly, "Thanks, I'm grateful for that." Max sat back and spat out, "You seem to have forgotten there was another child who saw everything that happened. She was only four years old, she had to spend her fifth birthday visiting her Mommy in hospital. She has nightmares and wets the bed because of what you did." Jeff looked anguished and said desperately, "I'm sorry, I just panicked. If only that woman had never come into Daniel's life, taken Carrie's place." Max channelled all his hurt and rage, "You're frickin' deluded Jeff, you and your wife. Your daughter had an affair at work, kicked Daniel out and tried to stop him seeing his child. Allie had nothing to do with any of that. She wasn't even in the fucking country and she'd never met Daniel. Their marriage was over before Dan met Allie, but yeah, when they did meet they hit it off, but do you know what, they made a choice not to so much as have a date because they knew your crazy daughter would cause trouble. They did that to protect your granddaughter. I was there, nothing happened and she married another man she loved with all her heart. And just as much as Allie is my daughter, Daniel is my son, and I had to watch him see the girl he loved marry someone else because he was trying to be the best father he could be."

John gripped the chair unsure whether to try and end this, and Jeff's lawyer looked at his client uncomfortably, but Max hadn't finished. "Do you know what though Jeff, Dan and Allie, they're happy, despite everything your family has tried to do to break them. They have two beautiful kids and a big old family who wrap 'em in love. He pointed at John, "See this guy? He's her other Dad, he walked her down the aisle when she married Daniel. He had to call 9-1-1 when you left her for dead like a broken rag doll at the side of the road." Jeff didn't look up but muttered, "Just tell her I'm sorry." Max got up, "She doesn't need your apologies Jeff. All she needs is for your entire family never to go near her ever again." He glanced at the lawyer and turned to John who gave him a nod and they left.

Outside Max leaned against the wall and John put a hand on his shoulder, "You okay?" Max nodded, "Yeah, it felt good to get that out John." John grinned, "I know, come on, let's get out of here and get a drink, I fucking need one after that and I'm sure you do too."