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Chapter 37

Michael hired a lawyer that was experienced with drunk driving cases. He convinced Michael to plead guilty and avoid a trial since penalties are usually less when you plead guilty. His lawyer was able to get the charges dropped down to misdemeanor DUI.

He could do that because Michael's prior record was clean. And the accident did not involve anyone other than Michael and the only damage was to his own car and his own body, but even those injuries were minor. Also, his blood alcohol level was under .10.

House laughed when he heard that. "I could perform surgery at under .10. Driving a car is a breeze."

Marianne scowled at him. "Michael doesn't drink as much as you, he's not used to the effects of alcohol. And I hope he never gets used to them."

So he ended up with a ninety day suspension of his driver's license and a hefty fine. He still had to face the medical review board, but there were a lot of doctors at the hospital that liked him and hated House. They assumed that working for House had caused the young man to behave as he did and they were willing to speak on his behalf.

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House and Marianne were curled up on the loveseat in her bedroom watching TV when they heard Michael's voice in the living room.

"Mom! Where are you?"

Marianne hurried out of the room, House following slowly behind her.

"What's the matter?" she asked, looking at her son and Cameron. They looked flushed and excited.

Michael glanced at Cameron and smiled. She smiled back, then they both grinned at Marianne.

"We're engaged!" they said together.

"Oh my God!" Marianne screamed, hugged and kissed Michael, then did the same to Allison. "This is wonderful! You're getting married! A wedding! I love weddings!"

House stood back, away from them as they gushed and giggled.

Marianne turned to Michael. "Did you give her a ring?"

Michael looked embarrassed. "It kind of came up unexpectedly. And I was hoping, well, one time you said I could…"

"Oh, of course!" She ran into the bedroom and came out a few moments later and put something in Michael's hand. He smiled at her and kissed her on the cheek. Then he turned to Allison and took her left hand in his.

"Allison, tonight when you said you would marry me, you made me the happiest man in the world. I hope you will accept this ring. My Dad gave it to my Mom when they got engaged and I want to give it to you." He slid a beautiful square cut diamond onto her finger.

Allison stared at it, her eyes growing wide in wonder. "Michael, it's beautiful!" She turned to Marianne. "I can't believe you would give me your beautiful ring!"

"I always told Michael that it would be his some day. Harry would want him to give it to the woman he wanted to marry. I'm glad it's you."

Allison hugged her, tears filling her eyes. Michael smiled at both of them. After talking and laughing some more, the young couple left.

Marianne smiled at House when they left. "Isn't it wonderful? I think they'll be happy. They're really perfect for each other."

He didn't say anything.

She tilted her head as she looked at him. "You've been awfully quiet. Do you not want them to get married or do you just not like weddings?"

"I don't give a shit about weddings and it doesn't matter to me who they marry."

"Then what's wrong?"

"It's all the squealing, all the 'oh, I'm so happy' and 'oh, here's my beautiful ring,' God, you people are sickening."

"What's sickening about being happy? Our son is getting married and she's a lovely girl. Why shouldn't I be happy?"

"You should be. You are. You always are. And why not? Your life is perfect. Always has been."

"My life's not perfect."

"Yeah, you've had a really hard life."

"Greg, I was a pregnant, unwed teenager."

"And your family threw you out when they found out."

"Of course not! My family would never do that."

"Right, because you had a wonderful family who loved you. But then, you went to live with your aunt. And she mistreated you."

"You know she didn't. Aunt Lily is sweet."

"Well, then you had a hard pregnancy."

"No."

"Tough labor? Long hours in pain?"

"No."

"Michael was colicky, sickly? Kept you up all night?"

"He was a wonderful baby. He was sleeping through the night by the time he was three months old."

"Right. Then you married old 'Harry'". He said it with a hint of derision in his voice. "Harry beat you."

"He would never. He was a sweet, sweet man."

Not like me, he thought. "Then he was a heavy drinker, made your life miserable."

"Other than a cocktail or two at a party or a beer during a football game, Harry barely drank."

"But he treated Michael like shit."

"He adored Michael."

"Oh, maybe he liked him too much." He said with a leer.

"That's disgusting, Greg. Harry was a father to him. He was not a sexual deviant. He wouldn't think of being that way."

"Oh, so sex with Harry – kinda boring, huh?"

"Not at all. We had a very good sex life."

House really didn't want to hear that, but he couldn't stop himself from his tirade. "Well, then must have been Michael. Bad kid, always in trouble."

"Michael was a great kid. He got good grades, was well-behaved, well, with the limits of a normal smart, stubborn boy. We've always had a good relationship. We still do."

"Then maybe…"

"That's enough, Greg. What are you trying to prove?"

"I'm trying to find out what about your life isn't or wasn't perfect?'

"Sorry, I haven't suffered. My life has been good. What an intolerable sin. I can't believe it would make you happy if you knew I hadn't been."

"I didn't say it would make me happy."

"That's right, nothing would really make you happy."

"I'm just trying to make you see how different we are."

"So we're different? We always were. That doesn't mean anything."

"It means a lot. You're Miss Sunshine and Happy Times. I'm a rainy day. It wouldn't have worked then and it's not gonna work now."

She looked at him in confusion. "You want us to…break-up?"

"Yeah."

She was speechless for a moment, then said, "So just like that? It's over?"

"Yeah."

"What about Michael?"

"What about him?"

"He's still your son."

"Yeah, and he still hates me. I'll see him at work. Maybe in time, things will change between us. I doubt it, but who knows." He shrugged.

She wanted to cry. She wanted to scream at him. After thirty years, they had found each other again and he was pulling this? But she didn't. She stayed calm and said tightly, "Then I guess that's it. It was good seeing you again. Take care of yourself."

She turned and headed towards the kitchen.

He watched her for a moment, then sighed, picked up his cane and jacket and went home.