Chapter 47

Houston led me to the table and sat me down.

"Hey are you okay? That was a lot to take in".

He took my hands in his and squeezed them.

I looked up at him tried to smile but I wasn't feeling it.

"I don't know how to feel. It's been a rough day. My emotions have been all over the place and I am letting them take the lead. She's been through so much, how much more can she take Houston? We will all be there for her. These seem like good people they could have sent her away or worse they could have condone what that animal tried to do to her but no they stepped up. We are in this together and we will help her."

"We will I'm going to tell you I will do everything in my power to help. But, we have to do this the right way CJ as much as we want to do the right thing there is a ton of red tape and obstacles in front of us and we will navigate this together. Do I have your word? I don't want a replay of what happened at the hospital I was wrong I shouldn't have promised what I couldn't deliver as much as I wanted to do what I promised, I heard your voice of reason yelling at me in my head that it was wrong and to do the right thing."

I snorted. "Yeah that's usually my role in this partnership. I'm sorry. Houston I promised her that we would find a way to keep her with us but now I don't know if I can fulfill that promise. I failed Jake, what's gonna stop me from failing her."

I let go of his hands and covered my face. I would not cry, I just needed a minute. I needed to put my fear away and put on my mask and my smile. I needed to show her no fear. I needed to fake how confident I am and to reassure her that everything was going to work out. But deep down I knew there might be a chance that I would lose her too. If she feels I am lying to her she might run again and I'd lose her forever.

He stooped down in front of me. I could hear him breathing and came close to my ear. "CJ stop thinking so much. I know you are trying to get your mind around this but you beating yourself up will not solve anything. Let's get some food in us listen to the rest of her story and figure out our next step. We won't lose her we have too much at stake and I know I am not the only one feeling this. I got you darling never forget that."

He removed my hands and I rewarded him with a smile, "Thanks I needed to hear that and yes, we will figure it out. Come sit with me, these sandwiches smell delicious."

He sat down in the chair next to me.

"Yeah they do. I'm only telling you this but they kind of remind me of Texas Style Bar B Que, the sauce and the hickory smell. Someone has been there and definitely knows how to Bar B Que and if they bring out coleslaw and baked beans I'm going to be one happy camper."

My stomach decided to agree with him and he shook his head. "You haven't eaten anything have you? Dig in, I can't have you withering away to nothing. We have unfinished business to attend to." He waggled his eyebrows and smiled.

I laughed. "Yes we do. I have somethings I need to make clear and I'm sure you have a long list of things to get off your chest. We will talk, we will listen and we will move forward together."

His eyes narrowed and he frowned. I turned to look at what or who had stolen his smile.

Devin was looking at us and he waved at me.

"Do I need to go over there and tell him to back off? That guy is asking for it. I still don't trust him but we have Star in common I'll keep my eye on him and when I get a chance I'm going to get a complete background check on him. He's been too friendly with you and it's gonna stop."

I cupped his cheek. "I've never seen you this riled up Houston, why now?"

He turned my chair towards him. "You have to ask CJ? Okay cards on the table right? It's because I finally figured out what I want and it's been staring me in the face for over 20 years. And what he said about if he was your best friend he would have married you and you'd have 6 kids didn't sit well with me. But he's right, I should have crossed that line years ago. All the close calls all the times we've almost lost each other. We have a long history some good some bad but the one thing that has been constant in my life has been you. It's always been you."

I didn't know what to say. Everything I wanted was here in front of me. I leaned in close. I was going to give him a kiss that would drown out those doubts in his mind new guy or not he had my heart and I was going to show him that.

He saw what I was doing I had my hand on his cheek and slipped it behind his neck, he moved closer and whispered my name when a slobbering kiss caught the both of us. We jumped back and Beast tried to jump in my lap with Will trying to pull him off.

Houston groaned, "You're a dead man Will. You too mongrel."

Pulling on his leash was futile Beast didn't want to move until I petted him.

"He's been pulling me towards CJ all this time he misses her. Sorry but can you give him one of your talks? He is being a pain and I want to settle him down before we start to eat. I'm having visions of him jumping on the table and gorging on all the food and that big guy that's been flirting with you might do something to him."

Houston shook his head as I started to whisper in Beast's ear and scratch the back of his head.

"What part of not butting in when we decided to have our talk did you not understand? I swear, Will I'd punch you out right now if I didn't need you to back me up if these new guys want to start trouble."

I tilted my head. "Why do you say that Houston? They have been nothing but honest. That guy Luca has a great relationship with Star and the big guy named Tiny loves Beast and the feelings mutual. He is very picky on who he lets hold his leash you know that."

Will smiled, "I think my Cuz is just jealous with all the attention the one named Popeye has been giving you. I told you Cuz, you should have locked this down years ago and if she would have had given me a chance all those years ago we'd be married and have a dozen kids."

My eyes went wide, remembering the time Will had tried to kiss me and him getting dumped into the pond for his attempt. I looked down did Houston know, this just got very embarrassing and it had happened over 15 years ago. Why bring this up now?

Houston got up and started to go after Will. Beast looked at both of them and whimpered to me. "Don't worry baby, they are just being idiots momma won't let them hurt you I promise."

Will yelped and took off to stand behind his dad, Star and Momma G.

"What's going on between the cousins CJ?"

Carol sat next to me as did Maureen. "Just picking on each other you know typical Houston men banter. So how are you two? My heart is barely getting back to a decent rhythm. Star's confession was hard to take and I'm going to kill her stepfather and this Boyd guy. You two saw him, what did he look like?"

"Nope I am not telling you anything. If I am going to give a description of someone it will be to Cowboy and Will. You are out of the loop. You will be put on a timeout as soon as we get back to the beach house."

Maureen stood up, "CJ let's get off that subject, I already spoke to Will and he talked to his dad. We will fill in Cowboy and Too Mean once this little Pow Wow is over. I need to go to by my office tomorrow I am officially off for the next 2 weeks and I will be helping you guys out we need to get a head of this and start the leg work on how we can make you Star's guardian. Oh did Houston tell you we all have a meeting with Ms. Bloom tomorrow at his office regarding your request to continue to assist Jake in his care?"

I gasped, "Really do you think I still have a chance I need to apologize to her for what I did and how I acted. It was all due to me being too emotional and not keeping my head in the game. I'm sorry for leaving you holding the bag Maureen. Please fill me in on what happened when you left."

Maureen filled me in and I listened. It sounded promising but I wasn't going worry about it till tomorrow. I would be missing his evening feeding and he would be alone. Would someone sing to him? Would someone bathe him? What about his musical horse would someone turn it on to help him sleep? Would he forget me? I bit my lip as it started to quiver. I tried to keep the tears from falling but it was becoming a losing battle.

"Hey Beautiful are you okay? Please don't cry you're going to break my heart and then I'm going to have to break someone's face."

Houston came back and sat next to me. "What's going on did this jerk here say something to make you cry?"

He looked at Devin, "Do you want to step outside? Why are you making my girl cry?"

"Listen, Houston that's your name right? I just sat down and saw her trying to not cry right after you left her to go talk to your friend over there these ladies started to fill her in on what happened at the hospital and she bit her lip and was holding back tears. Did I get that right beautiful? Tell him the truth don't deny anything. I am very observant and I know I wouldn't want to see you cry for any reason."

I looked at Devin he was right on target with everything he said.

"He's right I was talking to my sisters and I was thinking about Jake. Houston we are going to miss his evening feeding and who's going bathe him, sing to him, and hold him. We're all he's got. Houston will he ever forgive us for abandoning him?"

Houston calmed down and apologized to Devin. He took my hand.

"You know Roxy or Emma are not going to leave him alone. Everyone else in that unit knows how important he is to us and he's grown on each and every one of them. They wouldn't have stood up and defended us if they didn't believe we are what's good for Jake. Roxy and Emma will explain to him why we are not there. We have a meeting with Ms. Bloom tomorrow and we will do everything in our power to get our little guy back."

I squeezed his hand and nodded and closed my eyes. I didn't want to see anyone I just wanted to get up and go but I knew that wasn't happening. I couldn't run away from my problems and I had the support I needed to ensure we would get Jake back.

"Can you guys fill us in on this whole Jake thing? Maybe we can help. I know some people as does Luca we can be upstanding citizens when it benefits us. Oh and no more crying from you okay? I don't like to see any female crying it's not something that sits well with me. So let's eat and get to know one another.

Luca came behind Carol and asked if he could sit next to her and she nodded. Maureen whispered to me, "This will be interesting." She looked over to Will and she smiled. Hmmm.

"Hey Will, Maureen said she will be happy to sit with you to keep an eye on Beast right Maureen?"

She turned red. Will smiled, "Thanks Maureen I think we can keep the hound from Hell from disturbing everyone from eating."

She looked at me and at him and just nodded. I grabbed her hand, "Hey just breathe, it's just a sandwich you will be sharing not a life time commitment."

"Am I that obvious? Oh god I think I'm going home."

Will walked up to her and said there was a couple of seats at the end of the table with Too Mean and Tiny. He took her hand and pulled out her chair and sat next to her as Beast tried to beg for some leftovers.

"Are you trying to be a matchmaker beautiful?"

I looked at Devin right across from me. "Just nudging things along and before you say anything no I won't be matchmaking for you."

"Couldn't stand another woman touching what's yours?"

I snorted and shook my head.

"Okay enough you want to step outside…"

Houston started to stand up out of his chair. I pulled him down and kissed him. I had to get his mind off of wanting to punch Devin's lights out. He started to kiss me back and pulled back. "I don't mind how you are trying to keep my mind off of wanting to punch him in the face, CJ maybe we should show him what you really mean to me."

"Not the time or place, behave before I start to reciprocate the man's advances." I whispered in his ear.

He pulled me in for another kiss, "not gonna happen."

"Mattlock show some manners, your daddy raised you better than this." Uncle Roy yelled from where he was sitting.

"Popeye I swear you are being very rude, don't you see they are together? What's got into you?"

Momma pulled his ear and he yelped. "Momma, it's all fun and games. Beautiful is spoken for and he's lucky I didn't get a chance to take her away from him."

Luca stood up and, on that note, "Popeye can we offer our new friends more drinks or I'm going to have to tell them the story about that lost weekend in Mexico when you almost got hitched to the chief of police's daughter. Oh and did I mention she was the 60-year-old."

I looked at him and tried not to laugh he groaned.

I smiled at him, "So I am way too young for you then huh. You like them older and with more experience? Well you win some you lose some."

Houston squeezed my hand. "So, Popeye almost had your own cougar huh, Luca that is a story I would love to hear so get on with the telling of the tale."

Devin spoke up, "Luca if you want to continue to breathe you will stop while you're ahead. Mr. Houston bite me. So why don't we get back on track we still have a story to hear and I think it would be a good ideal if we each said a little about each other, so we have a better feel of one another. So, what does everyone say?"

I smiled at him, "That's a good ideal. Let's eat and share this delicious food and a little about ourselves since it looks like we will be spending some time together and I'm sure we are all a little curious about one another I for a fact love to know about the new members of our family."

Everyone raised a glass and toasted, "To Family."