Candy Canes and Mistletoe
Chapter 35
Thirty minutes after lunch Wilson pulled his Volvo into the long, sweeping stone drive of the Corley Hill Farm Bed and Breakfast. House sat in the passenger seat taking in the sweeping view before his eyes. He had to give it to the little gay man. The pretty, preposterous little guy did have taste. This place was a large 19th century stone farmhouse set back from the quiet road on rolling hills of lush green property outlined with the familiar stone stacked walls remaining from Colonial New Jersey.
"I'm so going to be in trouble for this," Wilson murmured as he came to a stop in the circular drive near the front of the house. "I promised her no wedding talk for six hours. And here we are at an actual place."
"She'll get over it once she sees the house," House told him.
"Yeah probably," his friend nodded, his eyes widening in amazement. "This place is fantastic."
House exited the car and ambled over toward the front porch careful not to trip on the soft ground beneath his feet. There wasn't much resistance met by his cane so he felt a little like a toddler on his first couple of sojourns around the yard. They were greeted excitedly by J. Terrance as he practically came bouncing down the short steps to the gravel drive. Ever the fashionista, the decadent little man was dressed in a pale grey suit today with a sage green shirt and rust colored tie.
"Goody gumdrops, Fabulous Fred, you are finally here!" the wedding planner gushed in his dulcet tones as he drew near.
"I only spoke to you a half an hour ago," House grumbled. "It's not around the corner, you know."
J. Terrance waved a dismissive hand at him when, suddenly, the wedding planner's attention was caught by the approach of Wilson. His big brown eyes widened behind his horn-rimmed glasses with a leer and a Cheshire cat smirk appeared on his pert red lips. "Oh you darling man, you brought me a present?"
"No," House snorted. "He's a friend."
"Friend, friend? Or friend, friend…" He gave House an exaggerated wink and then burst into a series of bubbly giggles.
"Friend, friend," House replied and then paused, perplexed for a second, wondering if he picked the right inflection.
"Ooo, you sly devil," J. Terrance gushed placing a finger on the lapel of House's jacket. House rolled his eyes. Evidently he chose was the wrong one.
"Just friends," Wilson interjected, with an extra-manly clearing of his throat and stuck out his hand in greeting. "James Wilson."
"J. Terrance Fleming. So fabulous to meet you." J. Terrance accepted the handshake and almost melted when he made skin-to-skin contact with Wilson. "Are you sure it's not friend, friend? You have such soft hands."
"He used to be a woman," House deadpanned. "Can we get on with this?"
"Oh you're so snarky today!" J. Terrance shushed him with a huff and linked his arms though House's earning him a fierce glare. But the silly man was nonplussed. "Come, darlings. Let's meet Dotty and Eileen."
Trying unsuccessfully to shake off his little appendage, House found himself being guided to a stone walkway where J. Terrance led them around the side of the house. They came to a large brick patio that was flanked on two sides by the back of the main house and a wing that extend off of the side. The other two sides of the rectangular area were trimmed with neatly manicured hedges and lush colorful rose bushes. They had to walk under a trellis with creeping white roses to enter the patio. There indeed was her canopy of roses, House thought as the little man took him through the threshold. Looking around House was impressed. It was everything she had asked for. She would be so pleased when she saw this place.
As they entered the patio, House saw two women patiently waiting for them. One was in her twenties, trim, youthful in a vintage style floral dress. She had huge crystal blue eyes and long brown hair and an impish smile that made House wonder if she didn't just walk out of the forest from the mythical wee-folk. The other was an older woman, maybe early forties, lean and strong build with blonde highlighted wavy hair that framed her regal face. She was dressed in a pair of linen slacks and a sleeveless tank tunic with clusters of exotic beads hanging from her neck and wrists, much more earthy but nonetheless as beautiful as the first. Both looked like they had stepped off the pages of a fashion magazine instead of the guide to B&B's in New Jersey. There was a closeness and intimacy to the way they looked at each other and House assumed that they were a couple. Apparently the whole Gay and Lesbian Coalition was going to have a hand in planning this wedding.
The young one approached first with a bubbly personality that rivaled the little man still clinging to House's arm. "Hello, I'm Dotty and this Eileen. We own Corley Hill Farm Bed and Breakfast. We are so glad to meet you."
House went to shake her outstretched hand but the little man wouldn't relinquish his hold on his free arm. He tried to shake him off twice but then finally had to push the little clinger forcibly from off his elbow. House growled at him and J. Terrance merely stepped over an inch and brushed his imaginary bangs from his forehead, pretending to be miffed at the slight.
"Greg House," he said finally, shuffling away from his not so secret admirer.
"James Wilson," Wilson also extended his hand in greeting
"Hi, Eileen Gallagher, pleasure to meet you both," the older woman stepped forward. "We are so glad that you are considering having your civil union ceremony here at our farm."
"Oh no, no," Wilson chuckled. "You've got it wrong…"
House grinned, seizing an opportunity to make Wilson squirm. He turned a beaming smile at his friend, "Now, Jimmy, sweetheart, don't be shy. Obviously here in this lovely garden we can safely bask in the glow of our love."
Wilson scoffed for a moment and then regained his footing quickly, a skill honed over many years of putting up with House's antics. "Oh but Sweet Cheeks, I wouldn't marry you if you paid me. You're rude, inconsiderate and you leave the toilet seat up." He turned to the women. "He's a hot mess."
Dotty chuckled effervescently. "You must be the best man then?" she guessed.
"Yes," Wilson nodded. "His fiancé is running errands and couldn't make it."
"Oh dear me, won't Remy's heart just go pitter patter when she sees this place, Greg?" J Terrance's excitement almost bubbled over. "It has all of the trimmings she's been looking for, the garden for the ceremony, the trellis of roses, the nice country feel with a distinct air of simple elegance. And since they're friends of mine, you my Grumpy Gus will just love it because it's cheap, cheap, cheap."
"Now, we normally don't do wedding events," Eileen explained. "But, we've been considering exploring that option for ourselves. J. Terrance says that you have a small wedding party?"
"Maybe twenty people," House answered her, taking in his surroundings. It was true that his only friend was standing right here and that most of the guests would probably be Remy's. "Maybe twenty five at the most."
"That's a perfect size to get started with don't you think 'Leen?" Dotty said eagerly.
"Yes, that would be a good place to start," Eileen agreed. Clearly Eileen was the business end of their partnership with Dotty being the creative, dreamer type.
"Why don't we show you around?" Dotty suggested. "You can take a look at the grounds, and then we'll show you the suite where you and you're bride can spend your wedding night."
The group toured the area around the garden and took the path that led to a gazebo in a nice shaded area with trees and a small stream. Dotty turned to House with her wide clear eyes. "You could do pictures here or…Ooo, even better… have the ceremony inside! Oh, I think that would be just so beautiful!" House nodded and let her dream. "We could do flower garlands along the railings and have all of the guests in white chairs over here… with a guy playing guitar music over there…."
Her words struck a chord with House. He was suddenly struck with an idea that made perfect sense and made a mental note to discuss it with J. Terrance later.
She then took them through another path lined with some summer wild flowers that were just beginning to bloom. "Then you guys can do pictures here…" There were some white ducks waddling around quacking merrily as they passed. Chuckling, House leaned in and whispered to Wilson. "You'll have to be on house arrest, so they don't find you in the middle of town pantless with a stolen duck."
Wilson rolled his eyes and nodded ruefully. "True."
"Ah good times…" House mused with a laugh.
Dotty then directed them into the house through the French doors that led them into the addition off the back of the house that encompassed a huge ten-foot ceilinged room. There was a fireplace on the end and exposed wooden beams and slate tiling on the floor.
"This room used to be the carriage house," Eileen explained coming into the room from the rear. "You see these huge windows with the sliding doors, they were the entrances for the carriages."
"This is still the same 1800's construction," House observed as he ran his hand down the length of the door.
"If it rains, we could hold everything in here," J. Terrance told them. "We could do the ceremony in front of the fireplace and have a table set up for food and eating."
"What kind of catering are we talking about here?" Wilson interjected catching the fever.
"Well, we have a friend who caters our Christmas and New Years celebrations here," Dotty suggested. "She is phenomenal. She does this amazing roast pork with cranberry glaze. It's to die for."
"I will give you her number if you'd like to speak with her personally," Eileen told them. "J. Terrance said that you were looking to do this very soon. When were you thinking?"
House looked around and nodded appreciatively. He liked this place. Remy would love it. He didn't even have to see the rest of it. "Whenever you can fit us in."
"How is the last weekend in June?"
"Sold," House stated.
Later that evening, House showed Remy the tons of pictures Wilson had taken on his iPhone and subsequently emailed to them for her to see.
"This place is amazing!" she cooed as she stared intently at the laptop screen on her lap. They were in bed and winding down from the day. "I still can't believe J. Terrance pulled it off and found us a place so quickly."
"He knows what he's doing."
Remy gaped at him. "Was that respect I heard come out of your mouth?"
House shrugged. "Nah… you're delusional."
"I think he's growing on you," she teased and nudged him with her shoulder as she looked through the images for the third time. "This gazebo is the most perfect place. I cannot wait to get married in there."
House took the laptop from her and closed the lid. He placed the computer on the floor near the bed and grabbed Remy eliciting a squeal of surprise as he flattened her against the bed. "I cannot wait until the honeymoon when I strip you naked and have my way with you in the Jacuzzi tub upstairs."
She giggled against his neck as he dipped his head to kiss her bare shoulder. "You can strip me naked on any given day."
"But then you'll be my wife and only lawyers and lots of money will set you free from me," he murmured against her neck.
"Your wife…" she mused running her hands over his back. "That just sounds so perfect."
"It does," House agreed and planted a kiss on her lips. "So are you still mad at Wilson for letting me go?"
Remy smiled and ran her finger along the length of his jaw. "Nope, only because I know how much he wants to see you happy."
"I'm doing all of this for you, not me," he said.
"Mhmm," she smiled. "Of course you are."
"I am," he insisted, "I could care less."
"I know," she placated him.
"Seriously," he persisted.
"Yes, dear," she grinned and placed a kiss on his lips. "You want to get hitched in Vegas and have jell-o shots off a stripper's tits. I know. None of this is even remotely within your wheelhouse and you are doing it all for me. And I love you, seriously love, love, love you for it."
Feeling vindicated, even though she was mocking him, he placed a lingering kiss on her lips. The image of her in her wedding dress under the gazebo came to mind and his heart swelled with pride. Yes, the things this woman made him feel were quite powerful and made him want things he never would have considered before.
"I love you," he said.
Her hand touched his face and he pressed his cheek into her palm. "I know."