Chapter 2
Try as she might, Allison was not a morning person. The alarm would go off at precisely six AM, rain or shine, because she needed an extra thirty minutes to pry her eyes open and adjust her thinking and get rid of the cobwebs still clinging to her brain cells.
But with all of that, she was still grouchy until she had her first hit of strong black coffee.
Before that, she practically had to roll out of bed and sit on the edge to get her bearings. She often told herself that it was a good thing she lived alone. She was certainly not good company.
Pushing herself up and forward, she stumbled towards the bathroom to take a shower. The piping hot water usually did the task of reviving her awake.
Stepping out of the large blue-green tiled shower stall, she wrapped the towel around her and went to stare at herself in the mirror made foggy by the intense heat.
Her eyes were puffy, and the thick dark brown coils of her sister locks that tumbled almost to her waist had escaped the ponytail she had fashioned before dropping off.
Lifting a hand, she rubbed at her left temple and wondered if that was a wrinkle she was seeing. She was not vain, not overly so, but wrinkles were not allowed, not at this stage in her life.
She should go to a club or out to dinner. Her best friend Jessica had been trying to persuade her to have a night out. Perhaps she would, this coming weekend. If it wasn't so blasted cold, she would be more inclined to party.
Stepping back from the mirror, she strode into the cream and green bedroom. Yanking a robe off the hook, she shrugged it on and made her way downstairs.
Stepping into the large gold and white kitchen, she pressed the button on the coffee pot and got her first hit of caffeine as it trickled into the pot.
Satisfied that she was now fully awake, she got out a large mug with the words 'Kick ass lawyer' stenciled in ruby red that seemed to glow against the white.
The cup had been a present from a grateful client and was her favorite.
Standing in front of the percolating coffee, she tapped one barefoot impatiently as she waited for it to finish dripping. When it finally did, she snatched the pot and poured coffee to the rim. Inhaling the enticing aroma, she closed her eyes and took her first sip.
"Finally," she muttered, relishing the caffeine pouring through her throat.
Taking the cup with her, she went to sit at the counter. It was going to take at least three hits to make her feel like a human being. But her eyes were wide open, and her brain was clicking. Reaching for the file she had left on the counter last night, she started leafing through it.
A frown touched her brow as she studied the brief.
She had gone over the draft several times yesterday while she was still at the law firm, and it was as perfect as it was going to get.
Judge Harmon was a hard ass and had a reputation for passing down harsh sentences.
The woman was heard to say on numerous occasions that the law was what separated a person from being a little lower than an animal.
Draining the cup, she went to top up before coming back to examine her work.
She was nothing if not thorough, and she was desperate to win.
Jaime Anderson was a misunderstood sixteen-year-old who just needed another chance to get things right.
Allison winced as she glanced at the list of felonies attached to his name.
B&E, felony assault, malicious destruction of property, auto theft and a drug bust. She had hauled him out of the halfway house and lit into him with enough punch to set him straight and had seen the scared look on his battered face.
A child in a teenager's body. He was lanky and as lean as a wolf and just as hungry.
His mother was a single parent and had long since given up on him in despair.
"Believe me, ma'am, I done tried everything and nothing works. Jaime is just born bad. A bad seed just like his worthless pa. And nothing but trouble. I have two other mouths to feed."
But Allison was determined to get him that second chance.
If she could sway the judge and convince her that giving the boy a suspended sentence and parole where he could do some honest to goodness hard work to take his mind off his bad habits, she would be grateful.
And she knew just the place to take him.
Please God, I need the win. Finishing the coffee, she went for her third cup and felt revived and ready to roll.
*****
"Aren't you hungry?" Allison watched as the boy picked at his fries.
"I'm going to a shit farm where they have pigs. I hate pigs and porkers. And dirt."
Tamping down her impatience at his ungrateful attitude, Allison picked up her hot chocolate and took a measured sip. It had taken most of her talent and a lot of tap dancing to get the judge to sign off on her decision. "You could have done worse. JD. Juvenile detention had your name on it."
He felt shame coursing through his thin body.
And knew she was right. She was so pretty, he thought wistfully, trying not to stare at the smooth caramel complexion and admire the large exotically shaped golden-brown eyes.
The four piercings in her left lobes fascinated him.
As well as the two piercings in the right.
Her hair was a mass of twisted coils he recognized as sister locks and suited her to perfection.
People called her a rebel and dynamite in the courtrooms, and she genuinely cared for the children she represented.
"Sorry," he muttered into his chocolate milkshake and hoped that she could not read his thoughts.
If she could, she would realize that he had hoped she would have him live with her.
His crush on her was major and embarrassing as hell, but he could not help it.
Aside from being the prettiest woman he had ever seen, she also smelled so good, like a garden in full bloom.
And when she smiled, she had dimples peeking out in both cheeks.
He found himself wishing he was at least twenty-six instead of sixteen. Then he could take her out to fancy restaurants and sleep in her bed. The thought flooded him with lust and had him shifting uncomfortably.
"No problem," Allison inclined her head slightly, ignoring the desire she saw on his thin face.
She had been around teenage boys long enough to realize what he was thinking.
And that he would get over it soon enough.
It was hard for her to be offended that a sixteen-year-old found her attractive. It amused and flattered her.
"The people who own the farm are very good friends of mine.
It's a massive place and they're always looking for workers.
" She eyed him over the rim of her cup. "Like I said before, it's up to you to make a change in your life.
I got you off with the condition that you will turn your life around.
" She shrugged and paused, not wanting to sound too preachy.
She also knew that boys like Jaime did not appreciate that kind of talk.
Scooting forward, she caught his eyes. "Here's the deal.
You've had a rough life. Shit happens," she acknowledged his smirk at the word she used.
"Deal with it. Life does not come with guarantees.
Your parents were lousy, big deal. Make something of your life for you.
Prove the system wrong. Go to that farm and work your ass off and earn some money.
You'll be getting room and board. If you feel like you want to go back to school, then go back to school.
You have a choice, make the right ones."
He picked up a limp fry and slathered it with ketchup before popping it into his mouth. "Will you come and see me?"
"Yeah. I will." Hiding the relief that she was getting through to him, she picked up her burger and took a huge bite. "Now finish eating, I promised the McKenzies I would be along shortly."
*****
He tried not to show his awe as they swept through the double wrought iron gates that bore the sign 'Welcome to Willow Farm.
' Allison had told him the place was huge, but he never dreamed it was this massive.
Snow dripped from palm fronds, dotting both sides of the two-mile-long driveway.
A huge fountain stood to one corner, pouring water into a bowl shaped like a swan.
To the left there was what Allison explained was a pergola, a beautiful wooden structure with padded seats inside it and a table.
A lake. Holy crap! He inched forward, his eyes wide as he stared at the lake with ducks swimming lazily on the almost calm surface.
And there was a paddock with horses. Somewhere he could hear cows or cattle lowing.
The house itself was a mansion. A single-story building with weathered and faded pink blocks stood on a hill overlooking the vast grounds.
There were other smaller buildings dotting the grounds.
Smoke was coming from the chimney, and for the first time in his life, Jaime felt a longing to belong.
Making her way towards the front of the house, Allison glanced at the boy and had to smile. Gone was the arrogance that had been stamped on his thin face. It was replaced by a yearning she recognized. She had brought other boys here, and that was exactly the expression she had seen.
Bringing the vehicle to a stop in front of the wraparound porch, she switched off the engine and turned to face him.
"Well? What do you think?"
Struggling to appear nonchalant, he angled his head and jutted his chin. "It's okay, I guess."