Chapter 25

"Tell me about your husband."

She drank some wine. "Oh, Harry! Harry was the sweetest, kindest man you could ever hope to meet. And he adored Michael. He was a terrific father to him."

Better than I would have been, House thought, but he said nothing as she went on.

"When I found out I was pregnant, I went to live with my aunt in New York. My dad was getting transferred again and we thought it would be better if I had a stable place to live."

"And a place where a single, pregnant daughter wouldn't embarrass him."

"He's not like that." She sighed. "But unfortunately other people in the military are. So anyway, I moved in with my aunt. She was thrilled and became a surrogate grandmother to Michael when he was born. Harry was her boss."

"How old was he?"

"About twenty years older than me. He started out as a friend. He was good to my aunt and then to me and Michael. Just a really good friend.

"But as time went on, he became more. At first it was his attention to Michael. He would take him to the park, then to the zoo and the circus and anywhere he could think of. And a lot of the time, I would go along. We had fun together. We sort of became a family.

"He knew about you. He knew … well, what had happened. But as time passed, we got closer and eventually he proposed. At first I refused. But he was so patient, so sweet about it. He promised that he would take care of Michael no matter what. That if we got married and I found …someone else, he would let me go and still provide for Michael. He even helped me look for you before we got married. But it didn't work out, so I said yes.

"He knew I didn't love him the way he loved me, but I tried to be a good wife to him. I did all the business dinner stuff he needed. And he was so wonderful with Michael. Even with his busy schedule, he always took time out to be with him. He tucked him in every night. If he was away on business, he called him before he went to bed. He coached Little League. He did everything a father should do with a son."

House avoided looking at her. "Then you lucked out because he certainly did more than I would have done."

She said, "You would have been great with Michael. I really am sorry that you didn't get the chance."

"Yeah, right. That's why you tried so hard to find me."

"I did. When I contacted John Hopkins, you had left. They wouldn't give me any information on where you'd gone. Harry had someone search, but they couldn't find you."

"He didn't search very hard. My roommate at Hopkins knew I transferred to Michigan. All someone would have had to do is ask some people. Med students have too much studying to do to work, so they're always broke. They would all sell out their mothers for twenty bucks. He didn't search for your old boyfriend."

Marianne stared at him. "You mean Harry lied to me?"

"Everybody lies."

She considered this for a minute. "Wow, I never would have thought that of him."

"Lose respect for your husband now?"

"No, actually, I gained some."

He looked confused.

"I thought Harry was practically perfect. It got a little boring. Now that I know he cheated to get me, I kind of appreciate him more."

"Great." House muttered.