Aunt Virginia and Cameron came home loaded with bags. They'd not only done shopping but Cameron swore she'd met the entire town. Everyone was sweet to her and every home or shop they left she was given a gift. They walked in with everything from jars of homemade jelly to summertime dresses.
"I had a wonderful day with you my dear! Now if you'll excuse me I've gotta go home and chase the boys out so Corrado and I can get ready for this afternoon's picnic." She gave Cameron a kiss on the cheek and was gone in a flash.
House came through the door fifteen minutes later.
"Did you kids have fun in town? Did she tell you all about the diaper rash I had on my winkie when I was two? Or how about the time she caught me and Becky Larson playing find the canole when I was sixteen?"
"There were a few of those but mostly stories about winning a race against Ben Jacoby on your horse Samson and how you saved Lisa Thurow's nephew when he ate poisoned mushrooms in the woods. She's so proud of you."
"She's biased. But she's the best."
"I need to ask you something?"
"Oh here we go. The inquisition starts again. What do you want to know? How many times I've gotten laid in Vampire Jane?"
"Why me?"
"Why you what?"
"You showed up at my door drunk out of your mind. You invite me here and you tell the entire town we're getting married. Why me?"
"Correction I told Aunt Virginia, she told the whole town."
"Stop avoiding my question. You could've gone to Stacy's, she's separated from Mark now or one of your old girlfriends' houses. Why mine?"
"Stacy's in Detroit and beside she can't fake love over her wanting to ride the pony express."
She glared at him.
"What are you looking for? Oh I know. Cameron I am so in love with you and I want you to know that I was just a bitter shell of a man until you came into my life. Now I want to wear bright colors and sing I love the Flower Girl from the top of Mount Everest."
"Stop patronizing me. I don't think you have a right after all I'm doing you a favor."
"Then isn't a little redundant for you to ask me? After all I remember a night when we sat in fancy restaurant. I had to comb my hair down and buy you a corsage and after that things looked bleak so do you really want to go back there? You're here draw your own conclusions."
He walked away leaving her standing in the kitchen scribbling conclusions rather than drawing them. She was reminded of what Virginia had said.
"He's got a heart the size of Texas but he won't show you that."
Since House decided to bring Lusha to the picnic, they drove Vampire Jane down to the lake. Cameron instantly smiled when she saw the makings of a small town picnic. There were people everywhere. Men gathered around grills, women chatting about pies and recipes and the local gossip, children throwing Frisbees and footballs, dogs running rampant, balloons, face painting, and a band under a giant tarp, all of these things brought back memories for Cameron.
She had gone to stay with her grandparents during a summer vacation at age twelve. They'd taken her to a small county fair where she'd won a blue ribbon for most adorable smile.
"Allison!" Uncle Cappy called from one of the grills.
She rushed over to plant a kiss on his cheek. He wrapped her in a monstrous hug and lifted her off the ground.
"I was disappointed not to see ya with Greg this morning. He said you's girls were goin shoppin. Can't blame da boy for goin fishin. The only shopping us men should do is for hardware and things. But ya know, not for nothin' uh but Greg's a good boy."
"Agreed. So can I help flip some burgers or something?"
"No beautiful you go and talk to da ladies. Give dem all something new to buzz about. I'll be over there in a few minutes."
He gave her another quick kiss and Cameron joined House.
"Allison Cameron I'd like to meet Jim and Rebecca Nelson. Rebecca was formally known as Becky Larson." With the mention of her name Becky turned an awesome shade of red and Cameron recalled House's story from that morning.
"It's nice to meet you." She said sweetly before ushering Jim toward the food table.
"Apparently you're a memory she hasn't forgotten about."
"Well Aunt Virginia caught her trying to find the canole. Out behind the tackle shed of her uncle's house, she not only found it she used it. I was her first."
"That explains a lot."
"If I can make her blush like that after almost 30 years, imagine what a day would be like." He walked over to talk to Pete and few of the other men she'd met. Cameron went the opposite way afraid that he'd see her blush too.
"Hey there sweet girl." Vivian said with arms outstretched.
"Hi Vivian. You look a little flushed. Have you been in the sun all day?"
"No she's been hanging around the stage watching Dan Brady play all day. Haven't you Viv?"
"Now Margie you know I've been working on my banana cream pies all morning."
"Oh honey we know. Hey where's Bruce?"
"He's setting up the volleyball nets. Margie if I weren't Godmother to your grandbabies I'd have to pick someone else from my Pinochle partner."
Margie laughed and she and Vivian took Cameron over to listen to Dan Brady play.
Cameron had a wonderful time and loved meeting all of the other people in town she hadn't met that morning. It was the first time in the entire time she'd known House that he'd smiled genuinely. Even if they went back to the hospital and assumed the same roles they'd left with, it would be a day full of memories she'd always remember.
When he wasn't talking to his boys, he'd be close to her. A few times he'd walked by and winked at her or stroked her face. It felt good that he was paying attention to her, but her gut burned raw with guilt. They weren't just misleading his relatives; they were misleading a town. She suddenly had visions of the town turning against them and attacking with pitchforks and torches. She had to shake the image off.
"Allison, come over here please?" Aunt Virginia said taking her by the hand.
Uncle Cappy was in front of the microphone and the entire town had gathered around.
"Hey how you's all doin? I am pleased that Mayor Harris asked me to MC this years Margaretville Fourth of July Picnic. Before we begin the dances and the fireworks, I have an announcement. As most of you's know danks to my lovely wife Vaginia, our nephew Gregory House is getting' married to dis beautiful young lady Dr. Allison Cameron. They gonna get married this comin' Saturday and all of you's except you Henry, are invited. I've asked Dan to play a little somethin' for these two kids in honor of their engagement. Let them dance and then you's guys can dance. Fireworks will start as soon as it gets dark and our local firefighters get enough wata to put Bruce and Henry out if they light themselves on fire again. Dan it's all yours."
Cameron couldn't see House for the crowd of people, but when the music began, she felt his hand on the side of her stomach. He pushed her forward gently.
"I don't know how to dance." She whispered.
"Left together right together, left foot back, right foot back, repeat. Just follow me."
Strangers in the night
Exchanging glances
Wondering in the night
What were the chances
We'd be sharing love
Before the night was throughCameron felt so nervous but House made her look only at him and soon she was lost in the song.
Something in your eyes was so inviting
Something in my smile was so exciting
Something in my heart
Told me I must have you
Strangers in the night
Two lonely people
We were strangers in the night
Up to the moment
When we said our first hello
Little did we know
Love was just a glance away
A warm embracing dance away
"I picked you because in three years you haven't always agreed with my choices but you never lost faith in me even when I chased you away."
Ever since that night
We've been together
Lovers at first site
In love forever
It turned out so right
For strangers in the night
"So what about it? Heart stopping kiss that's gonna make Vivian and Margie faint?" He whispered.
"I hope there's a doctor in the house. No pun intended."
The kiss was even better than in his office or in the lake. That was until her cell phone began to vibrate.
"Good vibrations." He said releasing her to look.
"It's Cuddy."
"You better go over there and answer it. She'll want to know all the inane details about the conference."
She walked to a quiet bench away from the crowd.
"Hey Cuddy."
"A conference huh? Did you cook that up or did House?"
"What's going on?"
"Listen Cameron I know he's with you and frankly that's no one's business but yours. I also know that you missed a lot of drama while you were gone. Tell House that I got the heat off of him for now since he's on administrative leave but if he doesn't call me when you get back, he might be facing jail time."
"I wish someone would tell me what happened."
"He didn't tell you?"
"Tell me what?"
"That Greg's a drug addicted psycho with a mean right hook? That son of a bitch had it coming and you can tell Wilson to stay the hell out of my way. You're the hospital drama queen if you can't see what's right in front of you than how do you expect keep your job?" House yelled taking away Cameron's phone.
"House, Sam Stevens is not-"
He didn't wait for her to finish the sentence. He clicked the phone shut. The name still haunted him.
"Why won't you tell me? And who is Sam Stevens? I heard her yell it at you."
She knew that he was going to turn on her as he'd done before but she was in for a surprise.
"Do you remember that time when I was outside of Mark's room in the hospital? You said that you thought I was too screwed up to love anyone but that it was really you who I couldn't love. Well it turns out I'm more screwed up than you think. I just choose the wrong ones. Give me the rest of this week to not give a damn about what's in Jersey and then I'll spell it all out for you, ok?"
"Ok, but if one more thing from Jersey finds its way here, all bets are off."
"Good. Come here I have a surprise for you."
They walked down to the dock where he had his boat waiting. They boarded and walked to the front. She laughed when she saw he had a small sofa and an ice chest. Only House would take the modern conveniences of his living room and put them on the front of a boat.
"Best seat in the lake for fireworks." He said as he sat next to her. He opened up the ice chest and took out a couple of ice-cold beers. A few minutes later the fireworks began.
"Is it really so bad being here with me? Do you think women like Stacy would've stayed with me if it had been?"
"No I just can't see how you can be Greg here and House there? None of the last few days have been the same guy that I've worked with for three years. How did you turn into him?"
"It happens when you leave this town. People here are good and they care about each other. No one cares that Vivian blushes around Dan Brady and they don't pay attention to Eddie Fino when he drinks too much and spends the night in Ralph Eddison's pig pen. But then you get to the city and you walk into a hospital one day and you've got a pain greater than tennis elbow and people don't stop their busy, pathetic, self-centered lives to see their way around anyone else. The only good left in this world is in this town and in a cemetery in Jersey and you wonder why I see things that way."
"Well I love this town and the people in it, but they also see you as a hero and if they knew House it might let all the evil in this world, invade this town."
He pulled her into his lap against her better judgment. She turned her head and looked up leaning against him. His arms wrapped around her waist. The fireworks were electrifying but the feel of his lips on hers made her forget all about the explosions overhead. There weren't many things that confused Cameron but all she knew was not only confusion but big trouble to her heart if she didn't figure it out soon. At the moment all she could think of was—explosive.