Chapter 15
Stop the World I Want to Get Off
House turned on the light and looked at the clock, it said 7:12 am. He figured it must be the hospital calling this early on a Saturday morning. He reached over, grabbed the phone turning to see if it had awaken Cameron. She opened one eye and gave him a look of frustration.
"Hello?" He answered, wiping his face with his hand.He heard her crying, her voice sending him into a tailspin. It had been five months since he had seen her drive off after giving him the verbal finger. He listened without saying anything. Finally, when she was done all he said was, "I'll be down tomorrow." He hung up.
Cameron turned over and sighed, "Who was that?"
"Philly."
Cameron's voice couldn't hide her concern, "What did she want?"
House sat up and looked back over his shoulder, "I have to go to a funeral tomorrow in Peapatch. Do you want to go with me?"
"Were you close?"
House nodded, "Yeah, we were good friends."
She put a hand up on his shoulder, "Sure, I'll go. Besides, I want to meet Philly, find out what my competition is like."
He shook his head, "Don't worry, it's over between us. You have nothing to worry about."
Cameron gave him a weak smile and laid back down.
They flew into West Virginia and rented an SUV with four wheel drive to travel the rest of the way up the snow covered mountain. House felt strange, as if he had been at college and was going home after graduation. It was familiar to him, but it was no longer where he lived.
"It's beautiful. But I still can't believe you lived here for six months. Did you like it?"
"Most of the time. It could get boring, but then Princeton gets boring too."
They turned up the last hill leading to Philly's and then pulled into the gravel drive. He saw her out by the side of the house apparently chopping wood. He shook his head. She was one of the richest women in the world and she was chopping wood. The house had changed, there was an upstairs addition that had been built and the entire place had been refurbished. The roof was new, the porch had been reinforced and painted. The steps were now made of Trex. The house still retained some of the old flavor, but anything would have been an improvement after all the years of deferred maintenance.
Philly stopped chopping and watched House get out of the car. She felt her heart squeeze when she saw the woman he was with. She almost burst into tears, but she was all cried out for the time being. She waited as he walked up to her; the woman stood next to the car, not coming any closer.
He knew she wouldn't be happy to see him with another woman. But he wanted her to know, right from the start, that this trip wasn't an attempt for him to get back together with her. He was here for the funeral and that was it. She was standing with several logs in her arms looking glum, her eyes bright red from crying. When he realized how upset she already was, he felt guilty that he had added to it by bringing Cameron.
He held out his free arm to take the wood, "Let me take some of that."
She handed him a few logs. It was only then that he could see all of her. He winced in pain and frustration and looked away, then back to her. "You're pregnant?"
She said nothing, but walked inside, putting the logs next to the fire. House motioned for Cameron to follow him. Philly gave them both a frown as they walked inside. She walked wordlessly into the kitchen.
House motion to the sofa, "Stay in here, let me talk to her."
Cameron whispered, "She's pregnant, is it yours?"
House shrugged his shoulders and followed Philly into the kitchen. He took his hat and gloves off, then took a seat at the table. "You silly cow. You told me over and over that you weren't pregnant!"
"Don't call me a silly cow. I didn't think I was pregnant until my fourth month. I kept dieting and couldn't get the weight off. Then I felt something move and I ran another pregnancy test."
"You're a doctor and you didn't know you were pregnant?" he yelled.
She screamed back, "Hey! All my symptoms went away except for the weight gain and light periods. I thought that because I had done away with my stress, I had solved my problem. Don't stress me out anymore than I already am."
"But the test?"
"All I can figure out is that after I took it, I left it on the counter, puked and then went to get something to clean it up. I was upset and well, Alma let me have a good cry. We didn't get back up to the bathroom for a good thirty-forty minutes. Apparently, my urine evaporated, the little plus sign goes away when it dries out."
He didn't lower his voice, "When were you going to tell me?"
Her voice went up in volume, "I wasn't! Why should I? How many times did you pick up the receiver and call me in the last five months?"
"You told me to go fuck myself!"
"Since when did that stop you from doing anything?"
"Great! Just great! So you were just going to have the baby and not tell me? You're such a bitch!"
The loaf of bread hit him upside the head. The shock quickly wore off as he saw the jar of sugar come flying at him, followed by a mug of cold tea. Glass was shattering everywhere. Liquid hit the wall and slid down to the floor. Cameron jumped up from the couch and ran to the kitchen door, stopping about four feet from House. She had to duck as another glass hit the door jamb.
"You mother fucking son of a bitch. I'm pregnant with your baby, stressed out over everything I'm going through and you traipse back to Peapatch bringing some trophy girlfriend with you? Is she supposed to make me look like the old cow?"
"I started using Vicodin again. Cameron helped me get off of it. At least she cares about me."
"Screw you! You knew the hell I was going through. But you never once picked up a phone or sent an email. And I'm supposed to care about your sorry ass? Get the hell out of my house." She looked at Cameron, "Come on Barbie, get this lame-ass senior citizen out of my house! I hope the two of you will be happy."
Cameron said nothing, but her face said it all. Her eyes were wide and nostrils flared. House stood up, grabbed Cameron's elbow and they stormed out of the house.
Philly ran to the bedroom and threw her weary and bulging body on the bed. She thought to herself that she must look like a beached whale next to the svelte and lovely young woman he had just left with. She didn't think there was a tear left in her, but she was wrong. She cried until she fell asleep.
House drove down to Jed's where he and Cameron took a booth. Mitzy came over to give them their menus and take their drink orders.
"Hi Doc, ya here for the funeral?" Mitzy asked as she gave Cameron a cold look.
House nodded. "What time is it?"
"2:00 pm at the church. Can I get ya somethin to drink?"
Cameron cleared her throat to get Mitzy's attention, but Mitzy didn't look at Cameron. House looked up at Cameron, "What do you want?"
"Coke."
House leaned back and told Mitzy, "Coke and a draft."
Mitzy looked House in the eye, "It's about time you got back. You do know that Philly's pregnant with your child."
He bugged his eyes out at her, "Yes! Now get our drinks Mitzy."
Mitzy put the drink order in and then went on her break. Gus came over with the drinks.
"Hi Doc. Good to see you. About time you came back and made Philly an honest woman. I guess you know she's pregnant with your baby?"
House looked sheepishly at Cameron. "Yes Gus, now could you bring me a Ruben and...what do you want?"
Cameron looked up at Gus, "Tuna salad please."
Gus nodded and left.
House sat back in the booth. He rested his head back on the wall and closed his eyes. He shook his head slightly, "I shouldn't have brought you here."
She patted his hand, "It's okay; I can see why you dumped Philly. She's pretty volatile."
House opened his eyes and looked at Cameron, "She has every right to be. I did what I do best. I made a demand of her when she was going through the worst thing in her life and when she didn't do it my way, I refused to give in and call her. And you can see, she's just as stubborn."
Cameron held his hand, "Well, she obviously doesn't want you in the baby's life. She has enough money, I doubt she'll ask for child support. What are you going to do?'
He was about to answer when Mitzy, staring at Cameron holding House's hand, dropped the coke on the table, where it sloshed over onto her pants. Cameron looked up, fairly sure Mitzy had done it on purpose, but wasn't certain.
"Oh my! Sorry, ma'am. There's a wash room over there." Mitzy pointed towards the restrooms.
Cameron gave Mitzy a dirty look and then ran to the bathroom to sop up the coke.
Mitzy sat down at the table. "What the hell are you doing? You're gonna be a daddy in a month. You better get your ass back up that mountain and get her to marry you or you're gonna be sorry. You need to be with Philly, not this plastic, plucked eyebrowed, boobless teenager."
House shook his head, "Mitzy, I wish you wouldn't mince words."
They saw Cameron coming back to the booth.
Mitzy narrowed her eyes and stuck her head out, "You heed my words. You need to be with Philly and your baby!" Mitzy smiled and got out of the booth so Cameron could take her place.
Cameron watched Mitzy go back to the kitchen, "What was that about?"
"She just wanted to catch up on how I've been."
They were signing the guest book at the funeral when Carl walked in behind House and Cameron. "Hey Doc, how ya doin'?"
"Carl." House stood up. "How did it happen Carl? How did they die?"
"Propane leak in the house. They done suffykated."
"Jesus Christ. Of all the things to die of on the mountain, I never expected that."
Carl leaned in and whispered, "They want you to play with Philly. They need someone who plays the banjo. That's you doc."
House blinked a few times, "Play with Phlly?"
Carl nodded, "Yeah, talk to the pastor."
House and Cameron went to a pew and sat down. House got back up to go talk to the pastor. A few minutes later he came back, "I'm going to play one of the songs during the funeral. I guess it was a request from the family."
Philly walked in and took a pew on the opposite side of the little church which filled up quickly. House was sad when he realized that Mildred wasn't there to comfort Philly. She was obviously devastated by the loss. He knew that the only person besides himself that would be able to give Philly real comfort was the one person who wasn't present.
Their were two caskets which had been closed. The pastor began the service and then asked for Philly, House and Calvin to come to the front. House stood up and glanced back at Cameron. Just as he was about to turn around, he saw Mildred enter in the back and give him a wink. He nodded and then went to the front.
House didn't smile, he simply said, "It was Jody who taught me this song. I hope I do it justice for him. I'll miss him."
House began to play with Philly and Calvin following. Philly and Calvin sang most of the song, Your Long Journey.
God's given us years of happiness here Oh my darling
Now we must part
And as the angels come and call for you
The pains of grief tug at my heart
My darling
My heart breaks as you take your long journey
Philly looked at him, tears running down her cheeks. House wanted so much to hold her. He knew the tears weren't just for Jody and his brother; they were for her father and for the pain he had caused her.
Oh the days will be empty Oh my darling
The nights so long without you my love
And when God calls for you I'm left alone
But we will meet in heaven above
My darling
My heart breaks as you take your long journey
House looked out in the church and realized he knew just about everyone in the pews and had treated lots of them. They knew him by name, nodded to him as they drove by. He had shared laughs and debates with many, played songs with several, drank beer with the rest. He felt something tugging at him. He felt like he was home and yet he didn't feel at home.
Fond memories I'll keep of happy ways Oh my darling
That on earth we trod
And when I come we will walk hand in hand
As one in heaven in the family of god
My darling
My heart breaks as you take your long journey
House ended the song and put the guitar down. He grabbed his cane and then turned to help Philly to her feet. He chuckled when he realized how much effort it took to get her up. They both looked at their hands clasped in one another's, but said nothing. House went to his pew, Philly to hers.
The reception after the burial was at Jed's, about the only meeting place in miles. Most of the people came up to Philly to thank her. Word had gotten around that she had paid for the caskets, funeral, plots and reception. She knew that Jody and his brother would have been buried in unmarked graves if she hadn't.
Cameron and House sat in their booth. When House got up to go to the restroom, Mildred came over and sat down. She looked at Cameron, "Hi, I'm Mildred and I'm here to tell you that you're waging a losing battle."
Cameron furred her brow and scrunched her nose, "Huh? What?"
"Sorry honey, but if you think Doc House is walking out of here with you tonight, you're sorely mistaken."
Cameron turned defensive, "I beg your pardon? My God! Is everyone in this town so rude?"
"No, but we're realistic. We've watched those two dance for the last year. And honey, I can tell you they fit together like Lincoln Logs. And I'm afraid you're a Tinker Toy."
"Would you please leave?"
Mildred smiled, "Sure, but I just wanted you to know that I'll make sure you get home." Mildred slid out of the booth as House came back.
House looked surprised to see Mildred getting up from the booth, "Mildred? You want a beer?"
"No doc, I got somethin' to do." She turned to Cameron, "Nice meetin' ya sweetie. I'll see you later."
House leaned forward, "What was that about?"
Cameron sighed and shook her head, "Just more of the same. Everyone thinks you should be with her." Cameron nodded to the barstool where the very pregnant Philly sat talking to Gus."
House glanced down at his hands, "Sorry."
The drinks were flowing and Mitzy had been told by Mildred to make sure that Doc House's kept coming. They'd all be there for a few hours when Mildred stepped up to the juke box.
"Hey folks, this is probably the last we'll see of Doc House and so I thought it would be nice if he and Doc Mac had one last dance. What d'ya say?" She started encouraging clapping.
House's eyes grew big and he looked around at everyone. Philly was clenching her teeth and shaking her head at Mildred. Mildred grabbed House's arm and pulled him so hard, he had to stand up. Philly got the same from Mitzy. Carl pushed the buttons on the juke box.
They stood facing each other on the dance floor like warriors. Both were sober faced and filled with anger. Mildred pushed House towards Philly when the music started.
The only two things in life that make it worth livin'
Is guitars that tune good and farm feelin' women
I don't need my name in the marquis lights
I got my song and I got you with me tonight
Maybe it's time we got back to the basics of love
A full stanza of singing passed before House relented, reaching lightly around her with his arms. They left a huge gap between them, a space so large that Philly's belly wasn't even touching House. Neither of them looked at each other.
Let's go to Luckenbach Texas with Waylon and Willie and the Boys
This succesful life we're livin' got us feudin' like the Hatfields and McCoys
Between Hank Williams pain songs and Newbury's train songs
And Blue Eyes Crying In The RainOut in Luckenbach Texas ain't nobody feelin' no pain
Mildred went over to Carl, "Good choice. If this next lyric don't do it, we're in trouble."
Carl and Mitzy nodded in agreement.
So baby let's sell your diamond ring buy some boots and faded jeans and go away
This coat and tie is chokin' me, in your high society-- you cry all day
We've been so busy keepin' up with the Jones'
Four car garage and we're still buildin' on
House looked down on her, pulling her slightly closer until her belly pushed into him."You were miserable in Philadelphia weren't you?"
The music continued to play.
Philly said nothing but nodded. She felt herself relax into his arms as they tightened around her. She felt safe again.
"Well, we're going to have to travel back and forth, you know that don't you?"
Philly said, "I'll do whatever it takes." She looked up and stared him in the eye, "Do you love me?"
The music stopped, they stopped dancing, he smiled and said, "I'm here aren't I?" He reached down and kissed her softly on her lips.
Mildred walked over to the booth as Cameron grabbed her things. She put an arm around Cameron and said soothingly, "Now honey, let's see about you getting back to Princeton."
THE END.
DEAR READERS - I HOPE YOU ENJOYED MY STORY. IF YOU HAVE TIME, PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT. TAKE CARE - SEE YOU ALL IN PRINCETON FOR THE HOUSE CONVENTION!