Legal Prejuduce 3 - Lessons In Life

Chapter 53

Allie wheeled her chair closer to Daniel around his meeting table, took his hand and said gently, "So what do you want to do Dan?" He exhaled and looked at his wife, "I don't know if I can go Allie, I don't know if I can forgive her." Allie bit her lip with understanding, "I know Dan, but I think if you don't do this you may regret it, and there's no second chance." She stood and crouched down next to him, ignoring the twinge from her hip, "I can come with you. The others will look after the girls. The fact that she's asked to see you, maybe she wants to talk, try and put things right between you?" Daniel sighed, "I don't think things can ever be right between us." He kissed Allie, "But you're right. She's my mom and I can't ignore the fact she's asked for me now." Allie stood up, "Okay, when are you thinking? What did the hospice say?"

"Days, possibly a week, but no guarantee she'll last until we get there." Allie's stomach twisted and she bent down to caress his face. "Then we need to go tomorrow. Why don't you go talk to Max while I look for flights." She turned to leave and as she reached the door Daniel said, "Hey, I love you Allie." She turned back and smiled, "I love you too." As she left Daniel looked through the window, trying to process the call he'd received. Breaking his thoughts he checked if Max was available on the system and crossed the office to the kitchen area to grab a couple of coffees. Robyn was getting up to head over to Allie's office and she noticed he looked sombre, preoccupied. Not sure if she should approach she took her own mug to the sink and nudged him. "Hey, how's it going?" Daniel hadn't seen her coming and he gave her a small smile, "Hey Robyn. I just need to talk to Max while he's free. Something's come up. Allie'll fill you in." Robyn's own smile faded and she touched his shoulder, "Okay, go to Max. I'm just on my way to Allie anyway."

Max looked up as Daniel walked in and seeing his face got up to meet him at the table. "What's wrong?" Dan slumped down, "I just had a call from Florida. My mom is in hospice care. She was diagnosed with liver cancer two months ago and now she's asking to see me. They said it's probably days." Max's heart lurched to hear the pain in Daniel's voice, but he simply nodded and said, "Have you talked to Allie yet?" Dan nodded, "Just. She thinks I should go. She said she'll come with me. Can you guys watch the kids?" Max's mouth turned up slightly on one side, "You don't even need to ask. Allie's right son, you need to do this, not just for your mom but for yourself. Don't have any regrets." Daniel didn't answer but just inhaled, and Max let the silence settle between them. After a few minutes Daniel looked up, "I know you and Allie are right, but I don't really want to go. What kind of person does that make me Max?" Max shook his head, "The fact you're willing to consider going at all, after what she did, makes you damn near a frickin' saint Dan." Looking at the anguish on Daniel's face his own features softened, "Listen, you doing this is one more way you can show your Mom you aren't anything like your Dad, that you're a good guy with a strong and healthy marriage. Maybe that'll give her some peace, maybe not, but you can look in the mirror and know you came when she needed you."

Daniel stood rubbing his face wearily. Max also stood and said opening his arms, "Come here." Daniel accepted the embrace and Max said quietly, "I'll call Margie, let her know and we'll both call 'round tonight after the kids are in bed. I know it's not the same, but you have us Dan." Daniel released him and walked to the door. Turning back to face Max he said in a voice breaking with emotion, "You're right, it's not the same. It's so much fucking better."

Max picked up the phone and dialled his wife. She picked up quickly and said, "Hi Max." He smiled inadvertently, the sound of her voice instantly soothing him, "Hey honey, listen, the kids need us. You free the next couple of days to help deal with Emmie and Rose?" When he'd filled her in there was a silence and Max sat back, "Talk to me honey. What are you thinking?" Margie got back into her car outside the grocery store, "I'm thinking she doesn't deserve him Max. What does Allie say?" Max sighed, "I haven't seen her yet but Dan said she'd encouraged him to go, just like I did." He frowned and said carefully, "Honey, you're right, she doesn't deserve him, and I hate what she did to them as much as you. But Daniel needs to do this for himself, not for her, and then he'll come back and we'll pick up the pieces, because he's ours." Margie couldn't stop the tears, "I know, I just don't want him to hurt. He's been through so much and Allie, god I can't help worrying Max." Max stood up, "I'll go see Allie now. You know honey she might not be physically strong, but she's got more inner strength than the rest of us put together. Can you meet me for lunch at Dixons in an hour?"