Chapter XXV: Second Time Lucky
Maxine waited patiently in the unit to be collected by a guard. She had managed to get herself in the front of the phone line two weeks ago, and had rung up her lawyer, Samuel Nixon, to discuss a possibility of parole with her. The discussion that the girls had got her thinking. She was going to have a life outside of these walls soon, and she needed to start considering it. Especially since her and Boomer had decided a few weeks ago that they were going to try for a baby.
Again.
However, this meeting had been up at the top of the list. She wanted to make sure that she could secure her freedom before trying to create a new life, but one thing she was sure about, was that she knew that Boomer deserved to be a mother. She was kind, protective and fiercely loyal, and had all of the qualities of a great mum. On the outside, she was a hard rock not to be kicked over by anyone, but inside, she was a big sook who looked out for her friends who she considered her family.
As she sat on the couch with Boomer, the other woman engrossed in a reality TV show, she didn't notice Linda Miles presence until she made it known by coughing loudly in the unit. "Conway, with me" she said, Boomer looking over to her in confusion. "Eh?" she said out loud. Maxine chuckled and just shook her head. "It's nothing worrying. I'll tell you when I come back" Maxine reassured her best friend, rubbing her shoulder. "Eh, alright" Boomer said with caution, looking at Maxine until she had exited the unit before turning back to her television show.
"Maxine Conway for you" Miles said as she opened the door to visitors room number two where her lawyer was waiting for her. Once she got rid of her previously transphobic lawyer, she had got with a new firm, who completely respected who she was as a person. Quite honestly, she was surprised with the amount of professionalism and respect they gave her, but after all, she wasn't used to much of that considering she was residing in a prison.
"Hello Maxine" Samuel boomed as he reached over the table to shake her hand. She smiled back in reply before shaking his hand and sitting down at the crimson red chair and black desk that was in the room. Maxine eyed Nixon's red dossier that presumably had all of her clientele information in, like her prisoner file. "So, you phoned me two weeks ago" he said as he flicked over a couple of pages in the red dossier.
"That's right" she said with an apprehensive smile. She didn't really know what to expect to be quite honest. She knew for a fact that she was going to get out of Wentworth one day, but the question was, when was that going to happen? She knew better than to expect anything in Wentworth, and therefore was expecting a straight-up no, and that she'd have to go and serve her full sentence.
"So, you are looking to apply for parole, correct?" Nixon asked quickly before looking at her and then turning back to the dossier. "Yes, hopefully" she said with a hint of nervousness and anxiety. "Well, I have some good news and bad news, if that makes sense" he reassured her as he picked his eyes up from the dossier and turned to look at Maxine.
"Bad news first I guess?" Maxine chuckled in an optimistic fashion before Nixon linked his hands together on the top of the black desk that they were both sitting on opposite sides of. "Due to the nature of your crime and the sentence you were given, it is not liable for you to be legible for parole any time in the near future, as I am sure you were expecting" Nixon shrugged, Maxine nodding in understanding.
"I mean, your crime has been detailed as aggravated assault, and the fact that it is aggravated complicates things. It suggests to the parole board that a person is dangerous and a harm to society. It is a more detailed crime than your standard assault, and therefore, it needs a more detailed and measured response in terms of parole and sentence" Nixon explained to her with his knowledge of the Australian justice system, especially in Victoria and Melbourne.
"However, there is good news" he said with a wry smile. "Yeah?" the tall brunette asked with a smile and upright posture. "As your lawyer, it's my duty to fight your case. And, if I look at this here, you've had no reported incidents that have been filed against you, apart from the riot that happened about a year or so ago, however it says here that that was dropped, and therefore, technically and legally speaking, you have a complete clean record" he beamed, closing his file. "So, how long do you reckon it will be before I will be allowed to apply for parole?" she questioned, eager to know the answer.
"I give it an estimate of two to four years" he grinned, Maxine nearly wanting to punch the air with excitement. "That's amazing" she smiled, folding her arms. "Well, if you'd like, I can start building your case now, and when the time comes, we'll have a strong case that is so persuasive the parole board will have no option but to release you on account of your good behaviour" Nixon said, standing up. "However, Maxine" he warned just before he went to leave. "You need to keep yourself out of any prison drama and gossip. Don't get anything that can damage your parole, otherwise you'll make my job a lot more harder, and you might have to wait even longer to be set free" he explained, Maxine understanding.
"I see you as a good person, but the parole board only sees a prisoner and their recorded history. You need to remember that. Show them that you are good enough for release" Nixon said as he exited the room. Smiles came into the room and instructed Conway to leave the room and to come with her. Doing as she was told, she was desperate to get back to the unit and tell everyone of the good news.
"Is a ghost pulling your cheeks up or are you meant to be smiling that much?" Allie teased Maxine as her and Bea both came out giggling of Bea's cell. "I'm ecstatic" Maxine said with mock sarcasm, which was ironic in itself. "I got some really good news from my lawyer. Like, really good news" she said, almost dancing with excitement. "How'd it go? You're not in trouble are ya?" Boomer asked as she came round the corner with Doreen and Liz.
"No. My lawyer reckons I can be out of Wentworth in two years!" she shouted, everybody yelling in congratulations, especially Boomer who had wrapped the taller woman in a bear hug and refused to let go. "I'm so happy for ya!" Boomer said as she felt a stray tear come down her cheek. This would mean that they would be able to have a child after all, and that she could be a mother. However, more importantly, it meant that her friend was going to be out of here, and that was more significant to her than anything.
"So, we better plan for this baby then, yeah?" Maxine said in a loud whisper, everybody nodding. "We need a different way to get it in this time though" the tall brunette warned, knowing that last time obviously did not work as it was not at the correct temperature for Boomer to reproduce. They needed to be precise. "Well I, uh, I got the blob now and I uh, I got it real bad" Boomer said, a mixture of laughs and grimaces going around the girls.
"Booms, you don't have to be that detailed" Doreen cackled as she went to go over and sit on the couch. "She's so fucking funny" Allie laughed into Bea's ear as the redhead shook her head in disgust. The young blonde made her way across to go and sit by Doreen on the couch. The other women promptly joined them, taking seats at the table. "You'll need a screw" Bea offered to Maxine who promptly nodded her head. Allie winked at her which went unknown by all the other woman. Allie was rewarded by a deep flush of red that was displayed on Bea's face.
"Smiles" Liz and Doreen both said at the same time. "But how will she get it?" Boomer asked, Maxine deciding to answer on behalf of everyone else. "My friend Gary can get in contact with her and give her the container as well" the brunette said. "You'll need a syringe as well" Bea warned, Maxine taking a mental note as well. "Well I guess that me and Bea will go and ask her tomorrow. She'll do it I reckon, if I give her enough money" Maxine said, everyone nodding.
"Let's hope that it goes well" Liz said, rubbing Maxine's shoulder. "I reckon Booms will be a great mumma" Doreen reassured, Boomer's cheeks going red at the compliment. "Yeah well, I'll protect bubba til' the day I die" the woman said. "You're such a big sook at heart, Booms" Allie laughed, earning a playful punch from her. "So, what rules are you gonna set out for the bubs?" Bea asked, Boomer thinking for a moment, Maxine chuckling at the hard thought that she was entailing.
"So he's not gonna be allowed to drink until he's thirty" Boomer announced, all of the girls laughing. "So, he's gonna be a mumma's boy then?" Liz asked, Boomer nodding with great emphasis and enthusiasm. "How do you know it's a he?" Allie asked inquisitively. "We don't!" Maxine laughed loudly. "You need names" Doreen warned, having gone through the experience of motherhood herself. "I'm thinkin' Jackson after Mr. Jackson cos he's hot!" Boomer exclaimed, everybody laughing hardly now.
"Hey, Ms. Miles!" Maxine shouted down the corridor, getting the attention of the blonde as she turned to the infamous redhead and the tall brunette. "What is it?" Miles asked in a urgent tone. She didn't want to be caught cavorting with prisoners, and she certainly didn't need a trail to the dirty deeds that she did on a regular basis here at the prison on behalf of its residents.
"We need you to do something for us" the redhead said in a hushed tone. Miles quirked her brow at both of the women before turning to Conway. "We need you to smuggle some sperm in with the container and a syringe" Maxine said before Miles scoffed at her. "A syringe? Are you fucking kidding me?" she laughed in a sinister tone before Maxine cut her off, not in the mood for games.
"It's not as if I'm going to put it in my arm, is it?" Maxine said, Miles realising that she was right. Her softened facial expression enticed Maxine to pressure her with more questions. "How much?" she asked bluntly, Miles looking left and right before turning back to the two women. "I want two-fifty" she said before trying to walk away. Bea grabbed her arm and was frowned at greatly by the corrupt prison office before Maxine placed a scrunched up note in her hand.
"My contact Gary, his number is there. He will give you the money and the things that I want" Maxine announced, Linda nodding in understanding. "I'll give it to you after count when I go to collect it" Linda reassured as she walked off. Bea squeezed Maxine on the shoulder before the pair of them walked back to the unit, ready to tell the rest of the girls how well the plan was going so far.
"We've had complaints from the women that they want work duties to be unit organised again" Mr. Jackson said in their weekly meeting that Vera, Bridget and him had. "I think it would be good Vera. It helps the new prisoners integrate with the existing ones much easier" Bridget agreed, Will nodding his head. "Yes, but it also encourages more criminal activity" Vera said, her argument weakening with more and more of her co-workers opinions. "The drugs have gone now, and so have the reports given on prisoner files by guards. I think we should give it a go" Bridget shrugged, Vera putting her pen down. "Okay. I'll go and make the announcement, but you have to do the paperwork!" Vera said, pointing to Will who just chuckled.
"Oh shit, here comes Vinegar Tits!" Boomer exclaimed loudly as all the women darted their eyes to the double doors that the governor now proceeded out of. "Listen up!" she shouted, which was not really necessary considering that she had already gotten the attention of all of the women in the mess hall. "Your work duty now changes. Your unit will be assigned a work detail, and you will do it with the rest of your fellow inmates!" she yelled loud enough for people to hear her on the other side of the walls. All of the women started whooping and cheering at this new announcement, as she made herself scarce when Linda Miles told the women to settle down.
Bea shoved in a forkful of pasta when she looked over to Linda who gave her a knowing smile. She had collected the package that Maxine wanted, and she was going to deliver it that evening. She nudged Maxine gently in the ribs and nodded over to Miles who gave her the same knowing smile. "I guess we'll try tonight then" Maxine offered, Boomer agreeing. "I've just come off, that's when it's the best time for a baby, eh?" Boomer asked, Doreen nodding to her and smiling.
A few hours later...
Miles came in shortly after evening count with a blue box in hand and her keys for the unit. The gate made a beeping sound as she opened it. "I never envisaged I'd be doing this" Miles scoffed as she dropped the box that supposedly had everything that Conway wanted. "You got the money?" Maxine asked as she picked up the box. "Yeah, all safe and sound" Linda smiled as she locked Conway back inside of H1. "Pleasure doing business with you" Maxine smiled warmly as Linda shook her head to continue her rounds.
Maxine gently knocked on Bea's cell, startling both Bea and Allie who had presumably been up to something. Maxine just smiled at their open-ness as Bea opened the door a quarter of the way, topless but with a bra on. "Sorry Maxi, give me a second" she said, red cheeks flaring up the same colour as her hair. Allie just giggled from inside as Bea closed the door for a moment, presumably to put her shirt on. Both of the women made their way out of the cell where Maxine greeted them, box in hand.
"Is that it?" Allie asked as she pointed to the box. The tall brunette just nodded as Boomer came out of the cell, obviously due to their loud conversation. "You ready?" Maxine asked, Boomer nodding and rubbing her hands together. Inside the box was a black insulating material. The temperature inside was the same as core body temperature, and therefore perfect for insemination.
Inside of the box, Maxine picked up the test tube that was full of sperm and got the syringe. Bea collected the syringe from her friend and managed to accumulate all of the sperm from the test tube before placing the syringe back into the box and the top back on. "Remember what we said, Booms" Bea warned as she handed her the box. "Yeah, I remember" Boomer said, Allie creasing her forehead as the girls had had to go into specifics about how to put it in properly. "Legs up!" Bea and Maxine both said as Boomer left the main corridor.
The three of them patiently anticipated outside, asking Boomer how well it was going from outside of the cell. "Oh fucking hell, this syringe is bigger than last time!" Boomer exclaimed from the inside of the cell, making the trio laugh uncontrollably. "I don't know what she was expecting" Maxine cackled as Bea and Allie both joined in. "I'm just glad we aren't in the room" Allie said quietly, not quietly enough for Boomer not to hear.
"I heard that!" she shouted, all of them laughing as they waited and waited for Boomer to confirm that it had gone in with no problem. "Remember Boomer, leave absolutely nothing left! You need to put it all in. Smiles doesn't want to be collecting any extras when she comes tomorrow" Bea said through the door. "Yeah, okay Bea" Boomer said in a strangled voice, obviously in position.
"What if we get a cell toss?" Allie quizzed, Maxine looking worried. "Then we're fucked" she chuckled with a hint of realism. "As long as its in, they can't force her to get an abortion. They'll have to deal with it" Maxine shrugged. "I've got it in Maxi!" Boomer shouted, loud enough for the whole of the prison to hear. "Have you got the sperm in?" Maxine asked in a hushed voice. "Be quiet Boomer, otherwise a screw will come" Bea warned. "No, I've only got the syringe in" Boomer said bluntly, Allie having a hysterical fit of laughter.
"It's taken her THAT long?" Allie giggled, Bea soon joining her. "Oh wait, it's all in Maxi! The spoof is in!" she said, loud enough for the girls to hear but not for anyone else. "Good, now remember" Maxine said before continuing. "You need to keep your legs up practically all night so get comfortable! We need to make sure that this goes to plan, otherwise we've wasted the second to last opportunity that we'll have!" Maxine warned. "It's fine Maxi, I'll be fine. You go to sleep, I'll see you in the morning" Boomer said, all of the girls laughing to themselves. "She's quite a character" Allie said, Maxi and Bea both agreeing.
"Well, here's to me and her maybe having a child" Maxine laughed as she stood by her cell door. "I am worried it won't work" Maxine confided in a whisper. "It will. I can assure you" Allie smiled as she rubbed the tall brunette's shoulder. "Well, I can only hope, right?" Maxine said before Bea stopped her. "You won't need hope" the redhead smiled before they left her to get some sleep.