Blind, Thick-Headed and Handsome - 55

As soon as CJ arrived home she hastily greeted Max and headed right to the phone. Her fingers just couldn't dial any faster. Her heart beat a mile a minute as she waited for him to pick up. She couldn't wait to hear his voice.

"Hello …" a man finally answered. It probably only rang three times but it felt like a lot more.

But, wait. It didn't sound like her husband.

"Will? It's CJ."

That's all she had to say. In a flash Will was off to summon his heartsick cousin.

"Hey Matt! Phone!" he called out to him with his hand cupped aside of his mouth.

Matt was outside in the corral, happily engaged in explaining how he was breaking in his new mare to his young visitors – a horse he decided would remain nameless until CJ arrived home. He looked up, feeling like he had just heard the best news of his life. He dropped everything and bolted for the house.

"Is it?" he asked breathlessly as arrived on the porch.

Will held up a finger, asking him to wait.

"Thank God you called, CJ. Matt's been beside himself, driving him and everyone around him crazy, wondering when you'd call. So crazy that he was about to fly all the way to New York just because he hadn't heard from you."

"Give me that!" Matt ordered as Will handed him the phone and let out a hearty laugh.

"Hello …"

"Hi! You were really gonna do that? Fly all the way to New York just because I didn't return your calls?" she asked.

"Yeah. So?" he said while making a face at a grinning Will and shoeing him with his hand. "CJ, you know I worry about you living up there all by yourself, and when you didn't return my calls, I …"

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to worry you, it's just that I … I was busy, and … well, I wanted to talk to you after I had brunch today with … well it's a long story."

"Oh?"

"The details aren't important, but what is important is that I feel a lot better about some things that were troubling me. I've also been preoccupied with the extra work I was just assigned and I wanted to get that accomplished before talking to you."

"Sounds like the woman I know and love. Business first, pleasure later. What kind of extra work, by the way?"

"Dean Howard called me early Saturday morning and asked if I'd cover for Greg Gorman this week."

"Oh?"

"Did he say why?

"No. He said the couldn't tell me the details just that he wouldn't be teaching this week."

"After what we witnessed last Friday night, I can only imagine the reasons why."

"Yes, me too."

"Do you want me to put Baby to work on it, see what I can find out?"

"No. Let's not look for trouble, okay?"

"Okay," he agreed, chuckling slightly. "Are you teaching all of his classes?"

"Yes...criminal law."

"Well, that should be right up your alley."

"Oh it is, but I still had a ton of research to do. I was at my office yesterday doing the bulk of the work when you called. By the time I got home it was late and I hadn't had dinner, nor had any food in the house. I made a run to the grocery store and ran into someone who, well, someone who I never expected to meet. Someone who's played a key role in our relationship."

"Who?" he curiously asked.

"Would you believe Susie Raymond."

"Susie Raymond? The talk show psychiatrist?"

"Yes."

"That's incredible!"

"I know. I just started making small talk with this woman at the deli counter, not knowing of course who she was at first, and once I found out who she was, I introduced myself to her. Turns out she wanted to talk to me as much as I wanted to talk to her. So that's where I was this morning when you called again. I was having brunch with her."

"So … were you talking about me?" he dared to ask.

"Well, of course," she said, stammering for a second, wondering how she could be honest without embarrassing him. "But more about you and me than just you."

"Oh. Was she helpful?"

"Yes, actually very helpful."

"Oh?"

"Can I tell you the details over dinner on Friday, perhaps?"

"Yes, of course. Shall I pick you up at your house or at NYU?"

"How about we do the same time, same place as last week. By the way, which show are we seeing?"

"That's a surprise."

"Hmm. No way I can coax it out of you?" she teased in a sultry tone.

"Hmm, might be fun trying... but I much rather see the expression on your face when you see where I'm taking you."

CJ was sure there'd be other surprises as well. It was expected any time they got together. She could only imagine what next Friday would bring.