CHAPTER 2

After three more hours Cheryl completed lifting the prints and had narrowed them down somewhat. CJ's prints and those of her father had been eliminated, thanks to the fact that his prints had been taken when he was in the Army. Although she hadn't had a hit on the unidentified prints when they left, Cheryl promised to keep running them.

After lunch, the Houstons settled down on the loveseat to go through the items that had been sent by the unidentified informant. "Where do you want to start?" Matt looked at his wife.

"The journal." She watched as her husband pulled it out of the box and then settled back with his arm wrapped around her once more.

"CJ…before we start, I want to say something." He turned her face up to his. "I know what a big shock this was to you and I understand that you want to find out the truth. I do, too; but I also want you to remember that you need to take care of yourself and those little buns in the oven. Don't wear yourself out, okay?"

"I won't, baby. Promise." She looked at the cover on the book. "You know, I really do understand some of what you felt this past Thanksgiving when you received the package from Mexico. At least I was able to know my mom and dad. I can't imagine how hard that must have been for you."

"I had a lot of help, remember?" The pair kissed. "You were there for me when I learned about my parents and now I'm going to be here for you with this. We're a team."

"Here we go." CJ opened the journal. The first entry was dated Dec. 25, 1977.

Dear Baby,

Your mom just told me that you will arrive in late September. I don't know if you will be a boy or girl but it doesn't matter. This has been the best Christmas ever.

Love,

Dad

"He sounds like a good guy." Matt pulled her a little closer and the pair continued reading. Some of the entries were directed to CJ and some were about how tough it was to get started in business. Eddie Parsons had been in the top of his class in law school and had been recruited by several prestigious law firms in the state of Texas, but what he wanted was to help the little people of the world – the ones who couldn't afford the high-dollar attorneys.

The entry for October 3, 1978 was one of the happiest.

My dear, sweet baby girl,

Today you made your debut at 11:17 AM. You weighed
an even 7 pounds and I told your mom you were destined
to be lucky.

My little angel, I want so many things for you. I want you to be happy, healthy, and smart. You're already beautiful so I don't have to worry about that. But most of all I want you to know and to feel what your mom and I have: a real, true love that can endure anything. One day when you're all grown up I want to walk you down the aisle and know that you have found the perfect man – one who will love you no matter what may happen, just like I do.

Happy Birthday, CJ Parsons.

Love,

Daddy

CJ closed the journal and turned to rest her head on Matt's chest as he pulled her even closer and kissed the top of her head. Smiling through tears she looked up and into her husband's eyes. "He didn't get to give me away but I found the right man." Reaching up she pulled him down and the pair shared a kiss, unaware that Chris was standing in the doorway watching them.

When CJ broke the kiss, the secretary spoke up. "I'm going to head home if you two don't need anything else."

"No, you go on ahead." Matt stood up and replaced the journal in the box. "We're going home, too. I'm going to grill this lady a steak and let her relax. It's been a long day." Holding out his hand to his wife, Matt shifted the box to his left arm.

"That sounds like a great idea." CJ stood and picked up her purse and the three rode downstairs together. "'Night, Chris."

"Good night. Y'all try to stay out of trouble."

That evening at the ranch, Matt made good on his promise of dinner and the pair, along with Catey Rose and Sheila, enjoyed some time together. Afterward he took Catey on her nightly ride with Cricket and gave her a bath. When the pair emerged from the nursery and went into the den, they found Sheila and CJ deep in conversation over a cup of tea.

As he got down in the floor with Catey for a little playtime, Matt interrupted the two women. "Hey – are y'all seeing this?" When they turned to look, Catey was holding on to the couch and walking toward her dad. He moved a couple of feet away from the couch and got on his knees. "Come on, Catey. You can do it." After looking between the couch and her dad, Catey gave him a big smile and covered the distance between them in a few steps. "YES!" Matt tossed her into the air and blew raspberries on her belly.

"And I managed to record it on my phone!" CJ smiled proudly as she got down in the floor. After a little more coaxing, the baby walked to her mom and then to Sheila.

"You realize your job just got tougher, don't you?" Matt grinned at the nanny.

"Bring it on," Sheila laughed.

"Bwing on! Bwing on!" Catey started chanting as she made her way over to her dad. Halfway to him she fell. After getting a surprised look on her face, the baby giggled as she crawled to the couch and pulled herself up, before finishing her trip into Matt's arms.

"That's my girl right there!" He gave her another big raspberry on her belly. "Think we should tell her now?" He looked at CJ who nodded. Picking the baby up, he walked on his knees to his wife's side.

"Catey Rose – how would you like to have two little babies around here?" CJ brushed back one of her daughter's curls from her face.

"Baby?"

Holding up two fingers CJ counted them off. "One baby, two babies. You're going to be a big sister."

The baby held up two fingers. "Two?"

"Yep." CJ laughed. "The babies are in Mama's belly right now."

"Two babies." Catey patted her mom's belly.

"Are you going to help us take care of them?" Matt laid down with his head in CJ's lap as his daughter nodded, a serious look on her face.

Later on as they were putting a sleepy Catey to bed she was jabbering. "Two babies." After yawning she smiled up at her parents. "Love you." It was the first time Catey had ever said it.

"Love you, too, Lady Bug." Matt leaned over and kissed her cheek. "This has been a day of firsts."

"Mama loves you, too." CJ kissed her forehead.

"'Night, Tilly." Matt looked under the crib where the dog had taken up her usual post. As they stepped into the hall, he swept CJ up in his arms and carried her into the bedroom, closing the door behind them.