Matt was about to leave the ranch, C.J. had just left moments before, soo therefore she did not hear the phone ring. Matt was going to let it ring but thought better of it. "Hello, is this Mr. Houston"? a voice on the other end, Matt replied "Yes, it is." "What can I do for you"? The lady on the other end was Elizabeth's doctor. She introduced herself to Matt, she had not yet been made aware of the fact that Elizabeth was no longer living there and that in fact they had not gotten married as planned. So the doctor proceeded to tell Matt what she had wanted. Elizabeth. needed to come into the dr's office immediately for further testing. She had had some tests about 2weeks prior and the initial results came back badly, so they wanted to retest.
Matt assured the dr's office he would get Elizabeth. in there asap. Matt was upset about the latest turn of events but went on to the office, luckily C.J. had not gotten there yet. Matt did reach Elizabeth. and proceeded to tell her what they had said. Matt met her at the dr's office, after all he did care what happened to her, he just wasn't "in love" with her as he had previously thought that he was. The dr's did more tests that came back within hours. They waited in the waiting room together. The doctor called them into her office and it was worse than she thought. Elizabeth. had cancer and it was spreading very quickly.
Elizabeth and Matt both were stunned at what had just been said to them. Elizabeth looked at Matt in disbelief, crying. Matt felt horrible for her, but told her he was by her side and would help her through this. He knew what he had to do and it was killing him. He had to slow things up with C.J., so that he could be there for Elizabeth in her last days.
Matt told Elizabeth. to go to her hotel room and get her things, she was going to stay at the ranch with him, and no "buts" about it. Elizabeth. was very appreciative but wanted to know about C.J.. Matt said he would handle C.J..
And handle C.J., he did …very badly at that. He went back to the office pacing back and forth as he waited for C.J. to arrive. C.J. greeted him with a kiss. The response from Matt however was less than enthusiastic. C.J. knew something was wrong but had no idea what was coming and her world was turned completely upside down. Matt informed her in the most gentle way possible that he wanted to slow things down with them, that something with Elizabeth had come up, that needed his full attention.
C.J. tried not to let on how devastated she was, but Matt knew she was after all they had just spent the most wonderful night of their lives together. C.J. did get the words, "I thought it was over for the two of you". Matt just looked at her and said he was sorry.
C.J. left abruptly, narrowly making it into the elevator before she collapsed on the floor crushed in humiliation, could the night before have meant so much to her yet so little to Matt?
