It had taken a herculean effort on her part to keep this secret. Few were the secrets she kept from her husband now, but this was different. The man needed to remain completely unaware of the conspiracy launched against him. Of course, it was a good conspiracy, meant to do absolutely no harm. Still, Matt had always been humble and the very idea of such a grand birthday party planned in his honor would most likely send him into a tizzy, probably ending with him pleading with her to just have the two of them go off somewhere and celebrate alone.
Not that he didn't like to have fun and party, but he was always more comfortable doing for others rather than for himself. C.J. knew that very well about her husband and had decided that this year, as his wife, she would outdo anything he had ever done for her in the past.
Included in her grand scheme, were Uncle Roy, his son, Will and his soon-to-be wife Holly and son Johnny, Lt. Michael Hoyt and the entire clan of Novellis all the way from Hawaii. These were the key conspirators. Roy's task was to keep Matt occupied and out of the office the week before working on a recent, but small case of recovering a stolen painting. Will's task was to seek Matt for advice on the wedding and what his role should be also that week in Matt's spare time. Hoyt was to keep Matt away from the penthouse this morning by asking him to come in and review a couple of cold cases and the Novellis were supplying the pizza and a few other of Matt's favorites that he had enjoyed when Mama had her restaurant in town.
C.J., Murray and Chris had the monumental task of pulling this all together. C.J. had deftly dodged a couple of well placed questions as Matt would become suspicious of one or another invoices that slipped through and into his paperwork to sign from Murray. She knew her husband well and chuckled a couple of times at how little it took to divert his attention...how little that is in terms of clothing she would need to remove before the two were completely wrapped up in each other and he completely forgot whatever it was he was going to ask. She smiled to herself as she thought about each and every 'diversion' as making love to him each time took her breath away. In fact subconsciously she probably slipped a few of them into the paperwork herself. She closed her eyes for a second as she sat at her desk where she had gone to get the scissors to cut the crepe paper with.
Matt was always the most attractive man she had ever laid eyes on. Most of her life she had watched him from a distance, at times she thought a safe distance, knowing how easy it would be to get lost in him. Her friend grew up into a fine specimen of a male human being and the girls quickly flocked to him in middle and most definitely high school. At times back then she thought her friend might abandon her for the more popular crowd, but Matt always made time for her. She found out only later that he had also watched her from a distance and made a couple of well planted threats to local boys who might have thought of seeking more with her than friendship. Being a guy, he knew what they wanted and decided it was his job to protect her from all that.
Still, watching him grow up and become the man he became, she held out hope that perhaps his feelings would shift at some point in her direction. Irregardless, she wanted him to be happy and had remained at his side after graduating from Harvard and his return from Vietnam. He returned from his service more broken than whole, believing his cousin Will had died without Matt even being able to recover his body for burial back in the US. However, C.J. was aware of his loss, but not his inability to cope at first. She wanted to help him with his recovery and her heart ached when she did see him for that first time in months. She did have to cover why she looked a bit different when he asked as she had her hair done and dressed up to meet him. It became clear within minutes that her revelation and declaration of love to him would have to wait while he tried to heal. So her plans would have to wait.
She did wait and it was worth it. C.J. throughout all those years could feel his love for her, if not romantic, special nonetheless. He loved her and needed her and nothing made her feel more complete than when she helped him through something. All those instances just solidified their relationship with each other. They both stumbled as they made their way to each other, each seeking the same thing, but in the arms of others. It took those years and almost tragedy before they both came together finally. When they made their way to each other, they were unstoppable. After watching him for years take the role of playboy and run with it, she witnessed his complete embrace of her and a life with her only. Despite the number of times they had made love, each time stood out as different from the rest, even her 'diversions'.
Now years later, she sat in her office, decorating the penthouse for his birthday as his wife. She couldn't wait to see his face when he came in with Hoyt later that afternoon to find the Novellis, his family and the many friends she had invited and sent for from all over the US. Some of his old football buddies from Rice would be arriving in a matter of minutes as she got Rick, Houston's backup pilot for his Lear Jet to go retrieve them. Lamar and Bo, his two ranch hands that had gone back to Texas were unable to come as Lamar had taken ill and Bo sent his apologies along with a gift from the two, their own special recipe of Texas chili that they had come up with all their own, or at least that's what they claimed. Melanie Webster had a new husband and they would be arriving from Las Vegas probably just after the party started, but that was fine. A few others included former clients who had become friends of theirs and a couple of cops they knew.
She got back up from her desk deciding that she should stop daydreaming about making love to her husband and start finishing up the decorations for the party. Will had picked up the cake she had ordered with extra frosting and Mama Rosa Novelli had called to tell her that the hotel kitchen C.J. had rented for the day worked out perfectly and her and Vince would be along in a matter of minutes with a whole spread. She walked through to the penthouse and saw Roy on a chair taping up more balloons with crepe paper. Chris was at the bar setting out the glasses for wine and scotch, she had already set out the buckets with ice and Matt's favorite beer on the patio.
So the plan was working perfectly in motion as she handed over the scissors to Roy. "You need anything else?"
Roy shook his head, "No, I've got this. A delivery man just stopped by with more presents..." he motioned toward Chris' desk. "They should probably go outside with the others.
C.J. walked out and grabbed several and carried them out with the others. Matt would have a lot to open as she counted at least 25 brightly wrapped boxes. Her present was in a small envelope she planned to give him alone later that night, maybe, she still hadn't decided exactly when to give it to him.
"Hoyt, I don't understand...if you don't have prints or any other evidence, why are you so sure this is a robbery and not just an attempt by the apparent victim to scam his insurance company?" Matt asked a little irritated. Hoyt had called him in to ask for his help on a couple of cases, but there didn't seem to be anything to go on with any of them and none of them seemed urgent.
Hoyt looked at the clock again and said, "Look, call it intuition...I think there is something to this case, I just can't prove it. That's why I asked for your help, you know...some fresh eyes."
Matt nodded his head and asked, "So, why do you keep looking at your clock? You waiting for something or am I going too slow for you?" Matt was no dummy...something was up here.
Oh boy...Hoyt did not want to be the one thread in that little conspiracy of hers to make the whole thing unravel. He'd never hear the end of it, the supposedly suave lieutenant that could handle any pressure situation was now staring down the supposedly suave detective that knew something was afoot. "Look, Houston, if this is too much for you to figure out...that's ok...I know you're not a police detective. Don't worry about it, I'll have Warren come in with his expertise and I'm sure we can handle this. I just thought..."
Matt bristled at that, "Hoyt I can figure out a couple of cases if I have enough information to go on...but what you have here isn't enough." He dropped the file and then picked up another as he sighed, "Let's see what's in here..."
C.J. looked at the clock and saw that in only 30 minutes her husband should be arriving. All the decorations were in place along with all the places designated for the perfect Italian cuisine on its way and waiting for the guest of honor. About 20 of the 30 RSVPs had arrived and she had mingled a bit making everyone feel welcome. After Will arrived with Holly and Johnny she decided to head downstairs to change into a dress she had just bought for this party. That was another little wrinkle she had to cover when Matt caught a glimpse of it in the closet after working out two days ago. She covered quickly enough saying it was on sale and would probably look nice when they had a function to go to. It wasn't floor length, but was a cliche little black dress she thought he would love to see her in. Perhaps that was why he asked her to model it for him.
It took only 10 minutes to change as she had her hair and nails done that morning and went back out to greet people. Murray and his brother Myron were talking by the bar and Roy seemed occupied with Holly and Will. Chris was showing Johnny around the office. Mama and Vince Novelli arrived at that time with about five guys from the force that had been invited that were excited themselves about seeing Vince again. They were all carrying the most delectable of Italian dishes along with 5 pizzas in the shape of Texas.
"C.J.!" Mama called out clearly happy as she rushed up to her and put her arms around her in a big hug, "I knew, I knew huh, I knew you two would be together...nothing can stop true amore! Yes!" She turned around with the biggest smile on her face and said to her son and the others setting up the food, "I told you, no?"
Vince sat down his tray and walked over to C.J. and gave her a big hug and said, "Yes Mama, yes you told us so..." He smiled at her and said to C.J. in a low voice, "She thinks she's the only one that saw this coming." He winked at her when he said that and it just made C.J. smile.
C.J. asked, "So are the kids coming along? I know Matt's going to be so excited to see little Tony."
Vince gave her a look and said, "Little Tony? Clearly you two haven't considered how long its been or remember how much that kid could eat! He's not so little anymore. He's in middle school and is almost as tall as I am and the food that boy can put away. Why do you think I take them out fishing so often? I can't afford not to."
They both chuckled and Mama walked back over, "Aye, yes, your boys, they should eat more, yes?" Then she turned to C.J. "And you should eat more, no?"
C.J. laughed and said, "Why should I eat more? Do you think I'm wasting away?" Both C.J. and Vince chuckled as Mama consistently complained about that when they lived in LA about C.J.
Mama shook her head, "No, no...she's not wasting away...she needs to eat more for the pregnancy. You and Houston are planning on having kids, yes? You must eat! Eat, eat, eat...lots of protein for strong healthy boys and vegetables for healthy girls...and lots of basil and..."
Vince patted Mama's back and started to guide her away from C.J. as he noticed she blushed for a second there and looked down, "Mama, Mama, why don't we make sure all the trays are hot enough for when Houston gets here. You don't want any of this getting cold now do you?"
Vince winked at C.J. as he walked off with his Mama and said, "The boys will be along in about ten minutes, their mama's gotta get them cleaned up after their little food fight in the hotel room at lunch." C.J. nodded and smiled before walking out onto the patio. She just needed a minute to think to herself and take all this in.
She got out and then turned back to see all of Matt's friends mingling and thought about what he would think and feel seeing them again here. Then she turned to look out over the skyline thinking about how lucky she is to be celebrating his birthday, as his wife. As she was about to turn around again, she caught a glimmer of sunlight bounce off of a building across the street. It caught her attention and she squinted to make out what could possibly have done that given that there were no windows.
Something felt wrong, but she didn't really have time to consider it too much as Chris walked up behind her and told her, "Barney just called up and Houston and Hoyt just pulled in." They both quickly went back inside informing everyone who waited in anticipation to shout surprise as soon as the elevator door opened.
"Hoyt, listen, its not that I'm not flattered that you asked me to consult on those cases, but next time let's limit it to one or two. You had me in that office most of the day. Uncle Roy and I just wrapped up a case and I promised C.J. we'd do something special this weekend. I've been trying to get her to let me take her away for a few days, but between my getting strep throat and her starting some project, we haven't be able to do that yet. She promised me she'd get all her paperwork on it done today and we could leave and I intend to do that this afternoon." Matt said as he talked to Hoyt in the elevator.
Hoyt smiled, "So how do you know she'll be ready to go anywhere? What if she has something planned herself? What is today, anyway..." Hoyt watched to see Matt's reaction before finishing, "Thursday right? You may have to wait til Friday, especially if its a legal case. Judges don't care about the personal plans of the lawyers."
Matt looked at Hoyt with scrutiny. He had not breathed a word of today being his birthday and hoped everyone would just forget all about it, well except C.J. of course. He knew she would never forget and couldn't wait to get her alone. It seemed as though in this past week he really hadn't gotten to spend any real time with her except at night when he came home after talking to Will who seemed a little more concerned about his upcoming wedding than he really needed to be.
Matt looked up and saw that they were finally at the penthouse. He started to walk out but stopped abruptly when he saw what looked like packed house. Everyone shouted out, Surprise!, and his eyes focused on the lovely woman right in front holding a bottle of his favorite beer. C.J. walked right up to him, giving him a nice slow kiss on the lips before handing it to him.
"Surprise Matt. I hope you don't mind, but I decided to call about 50 of your closest friends to celebrate your birthday this year." She told him with the biggest smile on her face, the one he loved seeing on her as the light in her eyes shown bright.
He whispered in her ear as he put his hand on her shoulder, "I don't mind at all, you really are somethin, you know that?" He then covertly nibbled on her earlobe and said, "I'll find a way to thank you later that's a little more private." She closed her eyes for a second and sucked in her breath as he released her ear.
He shot her that mischievous smile of his and then walked up into the penthouse shaking hands with everyone. It took several minutes before he could really get inside. He found the cake, which he took a little swipe of icing from. C.J. came behind him and closed the lid so he wouldn't do that again. Then he discovered the Italian food, with a smell that reminded him of Mama Novelli's restaurant. He looked up at the man standing in front of the table and was blown away.
"Vince? Hey!" He said clearly surprised and very happy to see him. They shook hands and patted each other's back. Matt then took a look at the spread of Italian food and asked, "Don't tell me you brought Mama's cookin all the way from Hawaii?"
Vince smiled and said, "No, of course not, the food would never keep. I just brought Mama and she cooked it here." He said in a matter of fact way.
Matt looked up and around, "You mean, Mama's here? Where is she?"
Vince chuckled and said, "She's back at the hotel that let us use their kitchen. She'll be along with the wife and kids in a few minutes. C.J. arranged everything you know...that woman loves you like no one I've ever seen. She's been working on this for months."
Matt looked back over at her, talking to Murray and Myron in the most amazing little black dress, the one she bought not that long ago and told him she only bought it because it was on sale or something. Clearly she had bought it for his birthday party. "I can't believe she did all this. She surprises me everyday. I can't believe sometimes that it took me so long to see it...how much she means to me and how much I mean to her. Its almost scary..."
Vince patted his back, "That you could have missed out on everything had you married someone else? Like Elizabeth?"
Matt looked down and then nodded his head as he turned back to Vince, "That would have been the biggest mistake of my life, Vince. I'm so glad I figured it out."
Vince leaned over and told him, "Well I will say for being such a good detective you were pretty slow on this one. I mean Mama had it figured out before you did." They smiled and nodded to each other before Vince said he was going to call the hotel and check on his wife, Mama and the kids. Matt then made his way back over to where C.J. was standing. He had barely gotten over to her standing in between the hot tub and the couch before the gunshots rang out.