Legal Prejuduce 3 - Lessons In Life

Chapter 48

Allie was acutely aware of the nudges and stares they were attracting, but looking over at Rose who was standing in her blue cap and gown with her classmates, she could see the five year old was vibrating with excitement because all of her family had come to watch her graduate. Daniel saw her looking around and put an arm around her protectively, saying, "Ignore them Allie." He kissed her, making her smile, and opposite them, Mia Rosenberg's grandma looked disgusted. Rose waved to Chris and Jess, and to Allie's relief proceedings got underway. The whole family cheered loudly when a glowing Rose walked to Melissa and proudly took her certificate.

As soon as it was finished, all the children ran to their relatives, but Emmie reached Rose first, making Daniel glance emotionally at his wife as she hugged her little sister. Taking Rose's hand, Emmie towed her over to the rest of the family, and Daniel lifted her into his arms, kissing her still baby soft cheek. Allie hadn't dared pick her up since she'd left hospital, but she took her little girl from Daniel and managed to swing her onto her good side whispering, "I love you and I am so incredibly proud of you Rose." Max leaned across and kissed Allie's head before lifting Rose from her, "Come here Rose baby, Maxy loves you."

Rose was passed into everyone's arms, and once Jem had taken his turn, he came over to Allie, smiling but his face etched with concern. Allie took a deep breath to fend off the faintness that was threatening to engulf her, grateful to feel Jeremy put an arm around her to take some of her weight. "Hey, take it easy. Let me get you sitting down." Allie nodded and leaned on him whispering, "I don't want to spoil it for Rose." He sighed, almost carrying her to the chairs and catching Daniel's eye, "Okay sweetheart, you won't. Just take some deep breaths for me. Is it passing?" Daniel had come to sit the other side of her looking worried, and Allie nodded, "Yeah, I'm okay." She leaned on Daniel as Jeremy stroked her hair, "Sorry Dan, I'm fine now. Don't let on to the others, I don't want anything to spoil Rose's day." She laughed and sat up, "She's getting big! But it felt so good to hold her." Daniel kissed her, and Tom glanced over. Jeremy squeezed her hand, winked at Daniel, and looking over to where Robyn and Margie were playing with Aiden he got up.

Tom left Nathan talking to Landon and walked over to meet his friend, "What happened?" Jeremy sighed, "She almost fainted. Anyone else notice?" Tom shook his head, "Nah, it's a doctor thing." Jeremy laughed, "She was carrying Rose." Tom whistled through his teeth, "That'll do it. The kid's pretty big for five, and Allie's tiny. Is she okay though?" Jeremy turned to glance discreetly and saw she was cuddling Emmie, who had taken the seat he'd just vacated. Daniel had an arm enveloping then both and Allie radiated happiness. "Yeah Tom, she's good. Doesn't help the way people stare, gets her stressed."

Tom looked around, "Has she said much about the new documentary?" Jeremy pulled a face, "She cried when she came into work to tell me their attorney had called to warn them about it."  Jeremy's heart hurt remembering the day two weeks earlier when she'd called him on her way to work to see if he was free before he started his clinic. She'd come into his office, and immediately the words came out of her mouth the tears began to stream down her face. He'd pulled her onto his lap and held her close until she subsided and said, "I'm not so much upset for me Jem, it's Daniel, raking all that stuff with his mom up. And Michael, I want to scream and tell the world what a beautiful person he was, how we loved him, and how much he loved us." She added bitterly , "But no-one wants to know that." Tom rubbed his friend's back, seeing the pain cross his face, "At least there wasn't much new content. Brian said our in-house legal guys warned Sasha they'd sue if she gave them anything." Jeremy nodded, "If anything, it was tilted more sympathetically towards Allie, given she was run down in cold blood by people she'd never really met."

Emmie had run off to see Robyn and baby Aiden, and Chris was holding Rose, who was revelling in being the centre of attention. Allie and Dan came over, and Tom held his arms out for her, saying as he held her, "Hey, you okay? It's just the heat, standing, yanking a giant kid up." Allie burst out laughing, making Daniel and Jeremy smile as he kissed Allie. Several groups of parents were watching, and Max came over, conscious despite the messages sent out about privacy, there would likely be photos on social media. "Hey you guys, how about we head back to the house, eat cake? Allie sighed in relief, "Yeah, let's get out of here." Max grinned as John came over and lifted her off her feet, " Never mind cake, I need a beer Allie Ballie."