Chapter 29

We got to the underground garage and moved towards his car when Star went over to his Excalibur.

"Boss Man, is this yours?"

He smiled at her, "Yeah it's mine, hey want a ride we can take it and CJ can go with Uncle Roy."

She looked at CJ and Uncle Roy, "Go on he loves showing off that car and he hasn't gotten to drive it lately. We'll meet you at my house. Have fun and Houston, make sure she has her seatbelt on."

They got into the car and drove off with Houston woo hooing and Star joining him with both of her arms in the air.

"CJ, remind me again who is the adult and who is the child in that car?" I laughed as I got into Uncle Roy's car, "sometimes I can't tell the difference either. But she needs to feel like a kid again. She's had to be an adult for too long and she should step back and be able to enjoy things like that. She's lucky she has Houston to find her inner child since he's such a kid at heart."

He took my hand. "He is but that's a good thing but sometimes he needs to understand that he needs to be an adult. He can be a little stubborn".

I snorted "A little?"

"Now my favorite niece, you can be just as stubborn. And on occasion worse than him sometimes, but you both mean well. I need to ask you. How are you doing? I don't want to hear I'm fine or great, I want the truth CJ. I am here for you and only you if you want to get something off your chest or if you want me to ask him to back off and give you space let me know. This thing that has been brewing between you too for as long as I've known you is coming to head. I've seen the change in you and Houston. CJ, have your feelings changed, am I wrong?"

Well I wasn't expecting this to have a heart to heart about my love life with Houston's Uncle Roy who's also treated me as his honorary niece.

I took a deep breath, "Thanks Uncle Roy, we are…. Working it out there's a lot we need to talk about. And what happened at the office with her didn't help. I'm not sure if he's ready. He's Matt Houston. He can have any woman he sets his mind to and I'm not sure I am the woman he really wants to settle for. I think he still has feelings for Elizabeth and don't ask me why I think that it's just a feeling I got when I brought her name up recently. There are others that are more his type and I always feel that I am the opposite of what he is attracted to. You're right my feelings have changed but I'm just not sure where I fit in. So much going on and Houston always wanting to be my knight in shining armor, I feel like I've dropped this Jake and Star problem on his lap and wonder if I didn't push him into helping me out. I don't know all this is swirling in my head and I don't know where I stand. I just don't want to be his second choice." The last was said in a whisper.

We were at a stop light and I was looking out at the people milling around wondering if I'd ever have a normal day of just going out getting errands done and going home to someone that loved me.

He took my hand. "What happened in the office was his way of getting that footage. He was so torn over what Steve had done and wanted to protect you when Ms. Jacobs came in he knew she was there to do you harm and he wasn't having it. You should have seen him trying to get away from her but she was on a mission. He wanted that footage he put on the charm and I assisted him in trying to butter her up and well you saw what happened outside. I'm sorry about that. I'm not sure what was said but I hope you believe him he was trying to be your knight in shining armor. Please believe that. And I don't think he's thought of Elizabeth since they broke off their engagement when he realized that she wasn't the woman of his dreams. Mattlock is a romantic at heart; he wears his heart on his sleeve that's why he gets himself in all types of situations. If you have any doubts about his intentions, tell him. You two need to be honest with each other. It won't work any other way. He's practically said he's ready to take that next step to me. CJ, you could never be his second choice. In his heart you've always been the one. You two should just realize the reason you two haven't found true happiness is because you haven't come together. I'm sure he's expressed it to you and you two kissing has not escaped me either."

I felt the heat on my cheeks.

"Yeah I'm sure everyone got an eyeful. I just want us to talk first. I've told him my priority is Jake and Star. He understood and agreed we'd wait. I know it's gonna be a couple of rocky upcoming days. But once we get them taken care of I wouldn't be opposed to us taking that step. I'm just scared Uncle Roy. I am afraid if we do take that step and if either one of us decide it's not what we want, what's gonna happen to my family."

I didn't say our family because Will Uncle Roy and Houston's dad were his family that had taken me under their wing. Would I lose them if we didn't work out? That was one of my fears I'd lose him and them as well.

"We will continue to be your family that will not change. You are and will always be my niece, never fear that and I speak for Will and Bill they would not abandon you, heck we might get rid of Mattlock. Whatever decision you make and I've told Mattlock that if he breaks your heart I'd box his ears in."

I laughed. "Thanks Uncle Roy, it's good to know."

"You should have never doubted that. You're stuck with us and I'm sure Mattlock would agree."

I didn't want to think about that right now, I nodded and decided to steer things away from my love life to the situation with Star and what Maureen and Carol had found out. Once I was done he was not happy. Gripping the steering wheel and I could see him trying to keep his control.

"We will deal with this when we get back and I think it was a good idea not telling Mattlock he would have gone in with Too Mean and his people and we would bailing them all out."

"Please Uncle Roy I want to go and speak to the one that defended her, he must have some affection for her and from what my sisters said he took care of the creep."

"We will go you wait for me and we will deal with this, I know Mattlock will be upset but we are only trying to get the facts before we bring the brimstone down. We might be pleasantly surprised. They will be delivering some TV's and VCRs to Mattlock's home so we can do some investigating while we are there."

I told him about dinner and if he could transport the food over to Houston's house so they could start heating things up and there was plenty for everyone. He laughed saying Mama was beside herself while I was missing and wanted to help. So she did what she did best and cooked. Houston was grateful to have her out of the office. He was feeling guilty and she would be crying off and on and when she wasn't she would make him eat. He was more than happy to let her stay at my place and fill my freezer and the extra she had made Houston get with all my favorite foods. She had also filled everyone's freezer with goodies.

"You should have seen her cooking from sunup to sundown and having it delivered fresh to the office. So if you are willing to give up some of your goodies I will be happy to transport it to Matlock's on one condition. If you have the 3 cheese ravioli I would request that to be in the mix."

I said I'm sure that it was in one of the freezers and I told him what Maureen and Carol wanted.

We arrived at my house and Star was in the driver's seat of Houston's car. We walked over to them.

"Please tell me you didn't let her drive here Houston."

Star laughed, "calm down Boss Lady he was only letting me sit in the driver's seat but he said he'd teach me and what better car to learn than in this one?"

I shook my head no.

"Come on CJ we were driving at a young age. What's the big deal?"

I put my hands on my hips and said, "What's the big deal? First we live in Los Angeles, the capital of traffic Jams and smog where no one walks here. Second, this isn't Texas where we learn on the back roads and if you saw a car or truck it was few and far between. So no, it's not going to happen."

He looked at Star and winked at her, "Well you heard the Boss Lady there will be no driving for you till you're 20."

"Houston, if I find out you let her drive and remember I have spies everywhere, we will not be having that 'Talk' any time soon."

I started to walk to my mailbox. Star whispered you promised and he started to whine.

"CJ come on I won't let her drive I was just kidding. Jeez you don't fight fair. I promise okay? We still going to have our talk right?"

Too Mean came out and I walked up to him still not answering Houston. He needed to understand that I was serious, he just couldn't let her drive. If she was his daughter he'd have given her that car all she would have to do was ask.

"Hi Too Mean, so show me my state of the art alarm system and how much closet space I'll be losing."

Houston grabbed my hand. "I'm sorry it's just she got so excited and said she'd love to learn to drive and I said okay but you're right we don't even know how old she is and…"

I smiled, "I know but there has to be limitations and structure. She will understand but you got to stop promising her the world. Okay."

"Okay but we are still going to talk right?"

"It all depends on you and like I said if I hear any rumblings about Star driving…."

He turned around, "Sorry kid can't have you drive yet. But I will drive you anywhere you want."

Star huffed and crossed her arms over her chest. "Thanks boss lady, I thought I would be driving by the end of the week."

Uncle Roy said enough we had only so much time and we needed to check out what Too Mean has done and then we had to get the hospital.

Too Mean started to point out what had been done. He had set up cameras to the front of the house and the back. He had replaced a broken window pane that Houston had broken last time he had lost my house key by the laundry room and showed us all the windows were now wired so if any of them where open an alarm would sound and a call sent to his monitoring company Sentential Securities who would call the police if a call was not sent to cancel the alarm. He then showed me the closet in the spare room that was next to my master bedroom and how much space I'd be losing which wasn't much to my closet but half of the spare bedrooms. but I would have a safe room and that did make me feel a little better when I would be home alone.

"Are you still on board with this CJ? I'd really like it if you didn't change your mind. We aren't neighbors anymore and every minute counts. I'm having Too Mean link my number also so if anything triggers the alarms I will also be notified. If it's too much I understand. But, I just want to keep those I care about safe. Especially you."

He looked down to the floor.

I reached out to him and cupped his face and raised it with my hands.

"Houston it's not too much and thank you. I really appreciate this and I'll pay for the safe room. It's only fair."

I brush my lips to his and he smiles.

"Nope not gonna happen I said I was getting one for each of you so that has already been settled."

I said okay. This would be one less thing he would have to worry about and I was all for it.

"I know our safety is your main concern but who's watching out for you Houston? You're just as important to me and I don't want anything to happen to you either. I couldn't bear it. So make sure you get one installed at your house, never know when you or any of us might need it. Our lives are crazy and this is a little bit of security is what we need to keep the monsters at bay so be it."

Keeping everyone safe is my priority but you are my number 1 priority. I almost lost you CJ. That can never happen again and if I take all these measures to ensure you are safe then I'd spend every last dime I have to do it. So can I talk you into being my roommate or bed mate?"

He waggled his eyebrows and I smacked his arm. "You're incorrigible".

"Yes that's been a word that describes me but you still love me right CJ."

I kissed his cheek, "Always."