Blind, Thick-Headed and Handsome – 53
The very next morning CJ took Max for their regular jog with the intention of doing more than just exercise. She wanted to clear her mind so she could think of as many creative ways as she could to handle her colleague on Monday morning. Maybe she could avoid him, play dumb, deny it completely or wear a low-cut blouse. She's handled many a man over the years in all kinds of situations – surely a narcissistic skirt-chaser wouldn't be much for an old pro like her, right?
But clearing her mind would prove to be quite difficult after such a momentous date the previous evening.
Tess' words kept ringing in her head, especially the part about being insecure, paranoid and gorgeous. "Any man would be love to have you on his arm… it's as if you're looking for every excuse to be unhappy … I wish my husband was home waiting for me…"
Those last words made her feel guilty as hell. Had she been wrong in fleeing Texas in the first place? Was she being overly dramatic and petty? Was she moving forward or backward? After weeks of living on her own, moving away from the source of her problems, Tess's observations and her own soul searching, she still didn't have answers. Perhaps her situation needed the help and advice of an experienced professional. Oh, as soon as her mind uttered those thoughts she shuddered, wondering if she was that screwed up in the head that she needed to pay someone to listen to her pathetic tales of woe.
She arrived home, put the key in the door and heard her phone. Still in jog mode, she went directly to the kitchen thinking it was Matt. "Hello…" she answered breathlessly.
"Hello, Ms. Matthews?"
It wasn't Matt.
"Yes…"
"Dean Howard here."
She immediately panicked. Why was the Dean calling her on a Saturday morning?
"I hope I'm not calling too early."
"No, not at all. What can I do for you?" she asked, controlling her nerves.
"Well, it seems there was a little incident last night involving Greg Gorman and I need your help."
Her stomach dropped.
"Incident?"
"Yes. For legal reasons I can't share the details, but Mr. Gorman won't be teaching his classes this week. I was wondering if you could fill in for him."
Her mind raced. Did she and Matt have something to do with the "little incident"?
"Sure, I'd be happy to."
"Great. He has mostly criminal law classes. You have some experience in that area, right?"
"Yes I do," she answered plainly and confidently.
"Great. If you want to get prepared over the weekend, I can leave the key to his office in your mailbox."
"Yes, thank you. That would be great."
Her mind raced, wondering what kind of trouble her colleague was in and if it was somehow connected to their encounter. She knew it would take her most of the weekend to prepare so she immediately showered, got dressed and headed to campus, stopping by a fast food joint for a quick breakfast. As soon as she arrived, she found the key, grabbed books and notes off of his desk to bring them back to her office. Only into the project a few minutes, a flood of memories of her days at Harvard came rushing back. All the weekends she lost burying her nose in books, sitting hour after hour in the campus library, looking up case studies and making notes. There wasn't time for social activities or dating then, and there wouldn't be any time now - which might be a good thing.
After a very long day, she headed home. She still had a few books with her, but not as many if she hadn't done the bulk of the work on campus. When she arrived, Max was overjoyed, relieved his master was home for dinner.
"Eight o'clock!" she noted excitedly. "I'm sorry, Max. I don't know where the time went!"
She immediately fed him while catching a glimpse of the blinking light on her phone. A message. No doubt from Matt. She pressed the play button.
"Hi CJ. It's me. I have a couple of ideas for our date next weekend. Call me back as soon as you get this message."
She sighed, knowing she couldn't keep him waiting long, but duty first. She had work to do and there was no time to waste. The distraction of talking with her estranged husband would be detrimental to her goal. She had a chance to impress a few collegiate heads if she could cover for her colleague and do a great job. As soon as she had some dinner she would return to the books.
Ah, but one would need actual food in the house in order to have dinner. She started opening one door after another exclaiming,"Damn!" over and over again as she feverishly searched her refrigerator, freezer and cabinets, finding nothing to make even one meal. How did I forget to get groceries this week?
Stupid question she soon realized. Could it be that a long week of working intertwined with the anxiety of a date with your estranged husband have something to do with it?
Another obvious casualty of her hectic week: too many dinners on the go. Gotta eat healthier, she scolded. Gotta take better care of myself, exercise more, stay focused.
Thank goodness many of the New York grocery stores were open late on a Saturday. But really how pathetic. A gorgeous, intelligent Harvard-trained lawyer was spending her Saturday evening grocery shopping? How desperate had her life become? Well, it would be more pathetic if she didn't go, she reasoned. At least she could avoid the usual Saturday afternoon crowds and her chances of running onto someone she knew would be small.
Or so she thought.
She couldn't believe there'd be a wait at the deli counter at this hour, especially with only one other person in line. A woman in her mid-forties, CJ surmised, wearing casual designer clothes, her blonde hair in an anchor-bob as they called it. She seemed approachable, although her body language suggested she was growing impatient as Mr. Molasses in January filled her order. CJ figured some harmless small talk would help pass the time.
"Here I thought I'd be the only one in the store at this hour, that this wouldn't take too long," she ventured.
The woman smiled and turned her way.
"I just got off work. I like to hit the stores before the crowds. I get my shopping done much faster that way, well usually, " she said glancing at Mr. Molasses. "How 'bout you?"
"Panic mode. I just realized I didn't have enough food in the house for even one decent meal. Too many distractions this past week."
"Oh?"
"You know, the male kind."
Mr. Molasses interjected, "Something else?"
"Ah, a pound of smoked ham," she said.
"I know what you mean. Relationships can either be wonderful or horrible. I hear about them all the time in my line of work."
"You do? Are you a counselor or a psychiatrist?"
The woman thought a moment. "Yes, I guess you could say that."
Intrigued, CJ thought she should continue conversing with this woman. Maybe she might be able to help her.
"I bet you probably get tired of hearing people go on and on about themselves. Must take a lot of patience."
"It does. But I get great satisfaction from helping people."
"I know the feeling."
"Are you a counselor too?"
"No, but in my line of work, or actually my former line of work, my husband and I used to help a lot of people in some very tough situations. It was very rewarding."
"Oh? Sounds interesting."
"It was. But I have to admit I don't miss the constant danger. It really took its toll, physically and emotionally."
"Danger?"
Something about the way she said that last word rang a bell with CJ. Her voice sounded familiar. Make that very familiar, but she couldn't place it.
Mr. Molasses interrupted again, "Is that all, Dr. Raymond?"
CJ eyes flew open wide as Susie responded.
"Yes. Thank you."
For a second CJ was so stunned she couldn't talk so she stuck out her hand, motioning back and forth until she found her speech. No, wait a minute. Forget it. After all, the coincidence would be beyond uncanny.
"Wait a minute, you're not …" she dared.
The woman took her pound of ham and smiled.
"Who?"
"You sound so much like this woman I've heard on the radio a couple of times."
"Susie Raymond?"
"Yes! You sound just like her."
"That's because I am her."
CJ's eyes flew open wide.
"Oh my gosh!"
Susie, although flattered, took CJ's excitement in stride. Celebrities such as herself were used to this sort of thing and knew she might have to tactfully tell this woman to buzz off to avoid confrontation. She wasn't working now. She just wanted her damn ham so she could get the hell home.
"I really need to talk to you!" CJ exclaimed, trying to take advantage of what fate had given her.
Susie reached in her purse for her card.
"Here. My secretary will be happy to book an appointment for you."
"No! I mean I really need to talk to you now!"
That's what they all say, Susie thought as she tactfully and politely smiled.
"I'm sure I have openings in a couple of weeks."
A couple of weeks? Nooooo! CJ needed to talk to her yesterday! Susie Raymond was the person for the job. It was her advice that put CJ and Matt together on that hot, hot night when all the stars, planets and utility companies aligned. It was her radio program that reunited them. She had to take advantage of this prime opportunity! Coincidences like these didn't just happen without a reason!
"But," she pleaded, "You don't know who I am."
Susie rolled her eyes, wanting so much to end this conversation and be on her way.
"No, I don't. Who are you?"
"I'm CJ … as in Yellow Rose of Texas CJ… as in CJ Parsons-Houston … as in Matt Houston's wife."
CJ watched Susie's face process this news before her eyes flew open wide and her mouth formed into a giant silent gasp.
