Chapter 71

I hesitate a minute before going in the door. Devin bumps into me and I almost stumble forward. Houston grabs me and pushes Devin back.

They both start to get loud and I grab both their hands.

"Please not right now, it was my fault Houston I stopped and didn't give Devin enough time to not bump into me. I need to calm down right now. My heart is about to burst out of my chest and I'm feeling dizzy."

They both look down at me and ask if I want some water. I shake my head. Worrying that I might just throw up if I have anything else in my stomach I take a step back. What if they tell us that they don't want us to help Jake? I looked over to Devin, he said he would do as I asked him and could make it happen, but what then? Jake was still in NICU. He would need extra care and how could I give him that? It was a stupid request but I was desperate I wanted to be able to get my baby boy back.

"CJ, come on we need to go in. Will came out and asked why haven't we come in. They are waiting for us. Whatever the outcome we will face it together okay?"

Houston whispered in my ear. I looked at him and wanted to cry. I hadn't said what I had asked Devin to do and he would not be happy once he found out.

"What's wrong CJ?"

I blurt out, "What if they say no? I don't think I could go on knowing he thinks we don't love him and we abandoned him, it's not right they have to let us take care of him he has no one else and what Emma says don't you think that is killing me? Who lets a baby cry till they are so exhausted they fall asleep. No Houston they had better let us help or…"

I look at Devin and he nods.

Houston catches us, "Or what CJ Plan B? What did he promise you? CJ this is insane, I will not let you ruin your life and be on the run." He turned to Devin, "And you I can't believe you are okay with this! Ruin your own life, don't drag her down with you. I will put you down Popeye if you even try to hurt her or Jake. I'm tired of these secrets and games you two are playing. It stops now!"

"I am only doing what she asks. One thing you should know about me, I keep my promises and I made her a promise that's between me and her. Either you're in or not doesn't matter to me."

They were now facing each other with me in between and just listening to them made me realize that Houston was right, as much as it pained me he was only telling the truth this could get ugly and I had asked Devin to sacrifice himself for me. I couldn't do that and I knew what I had to do.

I pushed them apart

"Houston, you're right I was wrong to put Devin in that position, I lost my head and used guilt to get him to do what I wanted him to do. I'm sorry Devin but this knucklehead next to me is right and now that I've admitted it I will not hear the end of it. I'm usually the voice of reason but lately that's all gone out the window. So please forget about Plan B."

"Thank god! He would have gone through with it and I would have had to help and then I'd lose my opportunity with Doc and I would never forgive him or you. So why are we still out here? Those guys are getting restless and your friends Ms. Bloom and Dr. Randall are trying badly to hide their smiles.

I gasp, "What! Really? Could this mean good news? Okay let's go in."

I slipped by them and went in. I looked at Maureen and Carol. They motioned for me to sit between them. I was about to sit when Houston grabbed my hand and took me to the end of the table. I sit and he pulls the chair closer to him.

"Remember what I said, "Whatever happens we face this together. No more crazy ideals okay? Trust me CJ I want to do what you want but it's not the right thing to do and if I know this about you is that you do the right thing even though at times it's not the popular thing to do. We just have to have faith."

I snorted, "If you were to ask me a year ago that Matt Houston would be my voice of reason I'd probably laugh myself off this chair. Where have you been? I kinda like this responsible Houston. Is this what you meant by changing, if so I like it."

The smile that he gave me made my heart flutter. Maybe he was ready to settle down. "Houston, thank you for making me listen."

"So can we get this meeting started? The board and the representatives for Children Service have reviewed your records and the circumstances that have all of us here today. Everyone's priority is the wellbeing of the child and you proposing to assist the child seems acceptable. But, if the child does not react to you two caring for him and does not improve you will remove yourself from any further contact with the hospital and the child if we can have that in writing then we see no reason why you two cannot assist in Jake's care. There is also the stipulation that you will continue to search for his birth parents and that you will hold a press conference as the police requested, asking for information regarding the child so are we all in agreement?"

The jerk who was against us earlier was now giving me what I wanted. I looked at Houston and he smiled, "You got yourself a deal but it will be me going in front of the camera's not Ms. Parson's I think she's had enough of the media. Set up the press conference, contact Lt. Hoyt he is already getting information together and would be the lead person on this he can also update you on any new leads."

I looked over to Maureen, Carol, Will, Luca and Devin. They were beyond ecstatic. I stood up, "Can we go now? Can we go try and feed Jake or help with his care right now?"

Houston came behind me, his arm around my waist. Ms. Bloom' supervisor said, "We have some paperwork that we need to fill out but it will take me some time to get it together." She looked over to her bosses, "also we need information on everyone that will be in contact with the child they will be life scanned and a background check will be administered, this is non-negotiable."

I looked at Maureen, "I will be in charge of this me and Will. Give us the paperwork and where the life scans will be administered…"

Luca stood up, "I have a security company that does background checks and is licensed to do Life Scans and I am willing to waive the fees and I know the county has a backlog to have those done. We can have everyone life scan by the end of the day." He handed him his card. "You can look in your system. We do some pro-bono work for those that can't afford to have a scan done. I am in your system as is all of my crew. Devin here also is cleared but we will take another one if need be. We are here to support Jake and we are also a part of the team looking for Jake's birth parents."

I run over to Luca and hug him tight and whisper thank you in his ear. Carol stands up and cups his cheeks and kisses him. "You are definitely a keeper. Thanks babe."

Houston shakes his hand, "Thanks buddy."

"The other side of the table doesn't look happy. Especially the weasel" Devin whispers to me and l look over and he's right. They thought that was going to be a barrier to us not being able to care for Jake. The weasel clears his throat.

"Well I'm sure the county needs to verify your credentials but then the background checks will take time. So no contact till that is cleared."

I gasped, "wait you just said we can help with his care and now we can't you're not making sense where is the wellbeing of the child in this mess."

I collapsed back into Houston. He holds me as I see our good news turn bad.

Ms. Bloom stood up and handed an envelope to her boss. "That is the background check on Ms. Parson and Mr. Houston. We had staff volunteer to have these completed on their own time. The case managers that assisted speak very highly of Ms. Parson's and her pro-bono work with their clients. They were more than happy to expedite their background checks; they are both in the registry and have been certified. They are awaiting the rest of the extended family that will be assisting with Jake's care."

I covered my mouth and turned into Houston tears threatening to fall and He holds me and thanked Ms. Bloom for me since I'm close to become a blubbering mess.

I hear the Jerk asking to review the paperwork. Why is he so insistent on stopping us from seeing Jake?

Houston speaks, "So is that good enough for you? We did everything by the book and it still seems like it isn't enough for you. Does he speak for all of you because if he does shame on all of you. A baby's life is in the balance and all you are worried about is a bunch of red tape and who's going to look good on camera. Wait, who is your source in the Media Mr…."

I turned around and looked at the weasel.

"Mr. Carver and I'm only ensuring the Hospital is being represented in a good light, my friend in the Media is a highly respected reporter you might have heard of her. Ms. Ashley Jacobs."

Carol started to laugh and as hard as she tried she couldn't stop every time she looked up at Mr. Carver. Luca was confused and he tried to get her to stop.

"You gotta be kidding me, that bimbo." Will blurted out and Maureen covered his mouth.

I looked at Houston and he had covered his face with his hand.

It all started to make sense. She was still trying to wreck havoc in my life.

"I'm not sure if you are all aware but Ms. Jacobs was fired. The reason she was fired was she had used her 'charms' to get what she wanted and that was to interview me instead of the reporter I had requested. The reporter was Charlie Reynolds, I'm sure you've heard of him he is a well respected reporter who've I have dealt with in the past. It was part of the deal we had made with the news director to get the footage from the Farmer's market they had filmed that Friday. You are asking why we needed the tapes its to review them. They might have a clue as to who Jake's parents are. But we almost didn't get them. She was holding them as leverage to get what she wanted and that was Houston. They dated years ago and she thought I was the reason they broke up. So you see she was on a mission to ambush me with questions that had nothing to do with Jake and how I had found him she was more interested why I was at Mr. Houston's house late at night why I was alone on the pier and to ask about my abduction. I'm sure you are all aware of what happened to me and will answer questions if necessary. Mr. Carver if you believe that Ms. Jacobs is a highly respected reporter. I beg to differ. She is only after gossip, not the truth."

I looked directly at him and waited, he had no leg to stand on. I could see that Ashley hadn't said anything about what I had just informed them about and Mr. Carver had succumbed to her charms.

Ms. Bloom's boss stood up, "Thank you for clearing that up for us. Mr. Carver didn't have all his facts and I do believe you Ms. Parson. I am assigning Ms. Bloom to you and Mr. Houston. Jake is a ward of the state. His parent's have a day to present themselves, they will be arrested for child abandonment but while this is being sorted out you can petition to become his guardians if and when he is able to leave the hospital if you comply he will be able to leave with you as his foster parents."

I reached over the table and took her hand. "Thank you and we will do everything you ask. Jake is our only priority, he's a part of me. I breathe life back into his little body. He will always have a place in my heart. Can we go now, you don't know how much I've missed him and I made him a promise that I would never leave him alone. He has no one and I've designated myself his person. So can we go now?"

She motioned to the door.

Mr. Carver stood up, "our deal still stands if Jake doesn't respond to you then you are to not have anymore contact with him we are all in agreement correct."

I stared at him and Houston pulled me back. "Yeah we are aware but he will respond. You'll see they have a connection and he and I have our cowboy code so if you'll excuse us we have a date with our little man."