She woke up the next morning to the sound of rain pattering on the window and sunk back on the pillow. Her mouth felt dry but she felt a lot better after sleeping most of the night.
"Good morning…"
The soft drawl came from next to her and she smiled as she rolled enough to see the man lying next to her, bare chested with a sheet wrapped around his waist.
"Hi…"
"How you feel darling?"
She thought about it.
"Better…much better…I think I can go back to work today."
She started to get up but he vetoed that quickly.
"Now hold on…Doc says you need some rest. You got food poisoning from that damn fish and you need to take it easy."
She felt exasperated even though she'd heard the concern in his voice.
"I'm fine Houston…I don't need coddling."
He shifted his position on the bed.
"I know that but you do need some care and loving…and we're taking the day off."
She frowned.
"Really? You were going to start some more projects."
"I can do that a bit from home and then we can lie on the couch and watch movies or we can do other things if you're up to it."
He waggled those brows at her in that way that either made her chuckle, or get turned on depending on his mood.
"Besides its raining and PCH is the usual mess. Best stay here and just take what they call a mental health day…"
She nodded.
"Starting with some breakfast…"
"Doc said to take it easy on eating…mostly fluids but you can have some soup. Chicken noodle with some vegetables. The neighbor brought some early this morning after she found out about your sickness."
"Oh how sweet of her Houston…she makes the best soup…"
Then it hit her.
"Houston how did she find out about it? Did she…no they didn't, please don't tell me my hurling on the cameraman made the news?"
He got that uneasy expression on his face.
"Well honey yes it did but it's no big deal. Could have happened to any woman in your condition…"
She sat up suddenly.
"Where is it?"
"Honey…"
She got up to find the newspapers which were in the breakfast nook area on the table. He followed her and she sorted through one until she picked it up.
"Oh my god…"
He had seen it earlier but hadn't wanted to break the news to her.
"Houston…how could they possibly put a photo of a pregnant woman losing her cookies on the front page of the L.A. Tribute, I mean I can understand the Daily Mirror but a legitimate paper?"
"A very beautiful pregnant woman."
She just looked at the photo of her in disbelief. She hadn't felt beautiful but she didn't look that bad. The camera man looked absolutely mortified.
"I'm going to have to get his clothes steam cleaned. I'll call the station this morning. I think it's the one where Robert Tyler used to work."
"C.J. don't worry…I'll have Chris handle it…let's get some breakfast."
She sighed.
"I'm sorry Houston…I just feel so…I guess sensitive this morning."
He smiled, getting the eggs out of the frig.
"Guess must be all those hormones…"
She shot him a dangerous look.
"Just stop right there. I'm the same capable woman I've always been," she said, picking up the paper, "Don't forget that Cowboy."
He smiled at her.
"I won't…you want some bacon with your omelet."
She nodded and then flipped through the newspaper.
"Oh my god…"
He looked up at her a little alarmed at the emotion in her voice.
"What's wrong C.J.?"
She showed him.
"Oh Houston…those baby fawns are so cute aren't they? But where are their mommies? Oh it's just so sad…"
He looked at the article.
"It's okay, they're at the zoo and being fostered."
She shook her head.
"It's not okay Houston…it's just so…oh look at the penguins at the South Pole exhibit….they're so cute. Aaaahhhh…"
Matt started cracking the eggs and putting them in a bowl to whisk into a nice froth. C.J. put the paper down and went to help him with the ingredients.
So they both prepared their breakfast looking forward to spending a quiet day at home while it rained all around them.
Delilah smiled at Elizabeth.
"I told you…it's even better this way."
Elizabeth blew her reddened nose, her frizzy hair around her face.
"How can it be better? Matlock knocked up that woman with the baby we were supposed to have together."
Delilah patted her on the shoulder pad.
"A small setback. See, maybe it's a forced relationship on its way to being one of convenience. She gets pregnant accidently and our ex-fiancé is just stepping in to do the right thing which is to provide for his child."
"God, he's just so decent that way. But I can't imagine him even doing it with her. I mean she's just his friend…how in the hell did that happen? Do you think he cheated on me?"
Delilah couldn't answer all of her questions. Elizabeth just had to calm down and remain focused on the larger prize.
"He'll stay with her until the baby's born and then he'll remember you and you'll reunite. After all you are the love of his life, you almost got married and he'll remember that."
"I'll try to keep my eye on the prize but this is so unfair. Matt and I were supposed to be the wedding of the year and it just never happened."
"It's not too late," Delilah said, "You just need to be bold, I'll help you and you do have his company."
Elizabeth sighed.
"He doesn't even want it. He got rid of it to kick sand in my face. He doesn't want to marry me. He wants her."
Delilah smiled.
"You're much classier and he just doesn't know what he's missing right now, but he will. We'll see to that…"
"How?"
"I'm working on it…"