Chapter 38

The Unvarnished Truth

Wilson heaved a sigh of relief when he saw her. Watching Kate walk towards him with an air of confidence and beauty, Wilson wondered why House was screwing this up. He'd give his left nut if a woman like her walked into his life. A short wave and she headed in his direction. Dressed in black slacks, short boots with a pointed heel, a red v-neck sweater (revealing a pleasant cleavage) and a lamb skin leather motorcycle jacket, Wilson was pleased when she gave him a quick hug and a kiss on the cheek. She was hot. Even her sassy new hair cut gave her an edge she didn't have the first time he saw her.

"You're looking great."

"Thank you. "

"I'm parked out in the lower forty. Is this all you have?"

"Yes, I don't plan on staying long."

Once in the car Wilson asked, "Don't get me wrong, I'm very pleased that you're here, but…why did you decide to come?"

"I know that confronting him while he's seeing someone will force him to make a decision. Either he'll choose her or he'll choose me, it's that simple."

"Nothing is simple with House."

"Well, it will be with me."

"You seem calm, resigned."

"I think I am. I've been so anxious not knowing what he wants, if he's willing to commit completely, wishing he'd make a decision one way or the other, but now I know he'll have to make a decision. Knowing that I'm going to know where this relationship is going is calming. Does that make sense?"

"Yes, it does."

"So, what's the plan?"

"He's having dinner with her tonight at Mezzaluna."

"Wherever that is."

"It's a very nice bar and restaurant downtown Princeton." Wilson said with some hesitation.

"What aren't you telling me?"

"I think he's going to ask her to move in with him."

"Oh." Kate said softly, unable to look at Wilson, she concentrated on looking out the window.

"He told me this morning. It was too late to call you; you were already on your way. Does that change anything?"

"Of course it changes things; he's more serious about her than he is me. But, I might as well go through with it."

"I don't think he's more serious, it's just that she's willing to come here."

"Is that how he measures love?"

Wilson cringed. "I have no idea how he measures love."

Kate used Wilson's guest room to change. She pulled out the jersey dress, black on the bottom with a rouged cummerbund around the waist and a deep red v-neck plunge. She went braless noting that the outline of her nipples could be clearly seen. The dress fit like a glove, emphasizing every curve of her body. The hem came several inches above her knee. The black silk thigh highs highlighted her perfect calves and thin ankles. After putting on her makeup, the dangling black earrings and deep red lipstick, she smoothed her skirt and grabbed her purse. Walking out the door, she turned and made her way into the living room finding Wilson having a cup of coffee at the kitchen island.

His eyebrows went up as he shook his head. "This is terribly unfair to Lydia."

"What do you mean?"

"In that outfit, House has no choice. You're about as…"

"Sexy? I was going for sexy."

"You're past sexy." Wilson blushed when he realized that he was practically drooling over the woman that he was trying to pawn off on House.

"Thank you. Shall we go?"

Wilson looked at his watch. House's reservation was for seven-thirty. It was seven-thirty now. Wilson drove Kate to the restaurant and dropped her off. "I'll park the car and wait for you next door at the coffee shop."

She nodded. Getting out of the car, Kate felt calm, assured. All the indecision and pain of not knowing would soon be over. It was possible a new pain would begin; the pain of rejection; but she could live with that, get over that, it was the not knowing that was tearing her apart.

Kate went to the bar and ordered a drink to give her time to check things out. She sat angled so that she could look out into the restaurant. It took a few seconds, but she found them at a table next to the window. House was in a sports coat and starched white shirt. Lydia was dressed in a green silk wrap dress that was flattering to her figure and also highlighted the green in her eyes. She was pretty and she was smiling at something House had said. He was smiling too. She had her hand on the table and House had his hand over hers. They looked happy together. Kate hadn't expected that. It took the wind out of her sails. Leave him alone...he's happy. You can only make him miserable by forcing him to hurt your feelings, to let you down. If you do love him, let him be happy. Don't hurt him. You have your answer; get on with your life.

Lydia smiled at House. "I can't believe you'd do that to your best friend."

"He's a sucker for practical jokes."

"I have to go to the restroom."

"Through the bar." House said pointing in the direction of the bathroom.

"I'll be back and then we can talk about where we're going to live; we're going to need a bigger place." Lydia stood up and leaned in, giving House a gentle kiss on his lips.

He watched as she made her way into the bar and down the hall. Then he spotted the woman. Her head was turned away, but her neck and shoulders seemed familiar. She was trying to pay the bartender, but the bartender was watching the basketball game on the flatscreen and didn't see her waving her hand. She finally put money on the counter and stood up, turning and glancing quickly at him.

The entire world stopped in its tracks and House could feel his body react like a train hitting a wall. His heart started beating hard and fast. Lydia was walking towards him as Kate was exiting out of the restaurant. As House passed Lydia he pointed haphazardly towards the door.

"I think I recognized someone. I'll be back, order some more wine."

Lydia could tell he was stressed and so she tried to grab his hand, but he was hobbling too fast towards the door. Sitting down at the table, Lydia looked outside and saw a beautiful woman in a drop-dead gorgeous dress walking swiftly towards the coffee shop in the square. On her four inch heels, she couldn't move very fast allowing House to catch up to her. He snatched her wrist, swinging her around and causing her to tumble into his arms. Lydia gasped. What the hell was going on?

"Damn it! Why didn't you stop when I called out?" House growled.

"I didn't want you to see me, let alone talk to me." Kate could feel his warm hands on her cool arms.

He was shaking his head, still holding her upper arms. "What are you doing here?"

She suddenly realized how mean-spirited it was to ambush him, but she couldn't lie. "I just wanted to talk to you, but I was wrong; I shouldn't have come." Kate looked at the window and could see Lydia's wide eyes and the worry in the clench of her jaw. "Greg, your date is watching."

House turned and saw Lydia through the large plate windows. The shock and worry in her eyes brought him back to reality. He let go of Kate's arms and backed off a few feet. It was only then that he got a good look at Kate. Swallowing hard, he realized that Lydia was going to be going nuts, wondering who this hot chick was that he was grabbing in the middle of the square. "Crap." He muttered to himself. "I can't talk here, but maybe later."

"No, you can't. If you make any excuses tonight, she's going to know that you're sneaking out to meet me."

"I'll say I have a patient."

"That's exactly what she'll expect. Greg, you're obviously happy with her. Go back, give her some excuse about all this and enjoy your life."

"I don't fucking believe this. You always show up at the worst time."

"I know. I also know that you're moving in together."

Narrowing his eyes, he growled, "Wilson."

She knew she had to lie. "It's not his fault. I called him after the Skype to find out how you were doing and he said you were doing well, that you had someone in your life; that you were going to move in together. I was jealous; I had to see for myself."

"Judging from the makeup and what you're wearing, you were trying to do more than see for yourself."

She shrugged. "Guilty. But, I'm truly sorry. I saw how happy you were sitting in that restaurant with her and I knew I couldn't ruin it for you. Please, let me go."

"Is Michael here?"

She shook her head. "No, this was all spur of the moment. Ann and Lonnie are watching him."

"How did you know I was here at this restaurant?"

"Your calendar on your desk."

"I don't have a calendar on my desk. I have it on my computer and my dinner date isn't…" He snickered. "Wilson again."

"Yes, I held a gun to his head and he…"

House started looking around in the windows and spotted Wilson in the coffee shop. "That little…"

Wilson saw that he was made. He put a tip on the table and walked out to meet his punishment.

"I'm sorry, James. It didn't go as we expected. I chickened out; but he spotted me." Kate confessed.

Wilson had a hard time looking at House so he looked at Kate who's eyes were filling up. She explained, "He's happy. I have my answer. Can we go?"

"Wait! Don't I have a say in this?" House barked.

"Greg? Is there a problem?" Lydia walked into the drama like a lamb to the slaughter.

"These two were trying to entice me to leave you for her." House motioned to Kate.

Kate turned as red as her dress. "I'm sorry. It was wrong of me. I was just leaving. I swear you'll never see me again."

"Who are you?" Lydia asked.

House pursed his lips and then took a deep breath through his nose. "This is Kate."

Lydia's head snapped back, taking in Kate. "You said she was plain, unattractive."

"She cleans up well."

Kate rolled her eyes.

"So you're Michael's mother?" Lydia asked, her whole body tense with emotion, angry that Kate had shown up out of the blue.

"Yes."

"I see. Has he asked you yet?" Lydia asked.

"Asked me what?"

"For partial custody?" Lydia wanted Kate as off kilter as she felt, and this would do it.

"Custody?" She looked at House. "You want custody? But you never ask about our son. You've never spent a dime on him…except for some lame-ass present at Christmas. And now you want custody?"

House was on the defensive. "I just thought…when Lydia's kids arrive we could…oh, hell, I'm just mulling it over."

Kate held up her hands and shook her head vigorously. "I don't believe this. James, can we go?"

"Sure." Wilson took the car keys out of his pocket.

"Goodbye, Greg." She turned to Lydia. "Goodbye and good luck. I'm sorry to have ruined your evening."

Lydia grabbed House's upper arm to mark her possession and nodded. "Have a safe trip back to Oregon."

House felt like a magnet being pulled in Kate's direction as she walked away. His eyes followed her pert little ass swinging as she leaned on Wilson's arm for support. He hated her. Once again, just when he was starting to feel good about his life, she showed up and demonstrated quite effectively how much he wanted her.

Back in the restaurant, Lydia was on pins and needles. House's mood had changed and he was spiraling down.

"Greg, what does all this mean? Are we still together?"

"I'm here, aren't I? I'd be with her if I wanted to be with her."

"We're still moving in together?"

House nodded.

"Why do I feel like everything is different?"

He took in a deep breath and barked, "It isn't!"

She was taken aback by his outburst and grateful when the waiter came over for the order. Once the waiter left with the order House reached over and grabbed her hand.

"I'm sorry. It was just a shock to see her." House mumbled.

"Why did you tell me she was plain?"

"I didn't want you to think you were in competition with her."

"Am I?"

"No. No, you aren't."

She gave a barely discernable shake of her head. "Warum kann ich nicht glauben?" She said to herself so softly that House almost didn't hear it.

"You can believe it." House assured her.

"I want to Greg, but I saw how fast you ran after her, how nervous she made you."

"Let's talk about where we're going to live. You have a job in Trenton, mine is here. Let's find something in between."

She swallowed hard and nodded.

Lydia suggested that they go back to her condo, but House begged off, telling her he needed several stiff drinks and time to himself.

"You're going to go see her."

"No, I'm going to drink myself into a stupor."

"If you don't care about her why do you have to do that?"

"I may not have feelings for her, but I have them for my son and I know that what I did tonight is going to make my chances of seeing him that much harder. I just need time to think."

Not completely convinced, Lydia knew there was really nothing she could do. If House had feelings for this woman, it was better she found out now. "Call me."

"Sure."

House dropped Lydia off at her condo and stayed for a drink before giving her a long kiss goodbye and taking off. Lydia watched as he drove off, her stomach turning with apprehension.