Chapter 6

"Jordan's of Princeton"

Hmm … I've never seen this store before … House thought, glancing up to read the sign above the window. Jordan's sold cards, gift wrap and gifts for every occasion, but what House wanted was staring straight at him … with pinkish-red eyes.

A cluster of bells jingled cheerfully as he stepped into the shop. House was approached by an attractive woman that he guessed was in her early sixties.

"Good evening Sir, my name is Anne … how may I help you? she said pleasantly.

"I saw something that I'd like to buy in your front window … it's a white rabbit … there's only one." House said quietly, slightly embarrassed at wanting to buy a bunny.

"Ah … Henry Fancy Daisy." Anne said knowingly.

"Who?"

"Henry Fancy Daisy, Sir … that's the name of the rabbit. I'll get her for you."

Okay … House looked around at the shop; it was packed with customers choosing Easter cards and gifts. I'll have to remember this store, they have some beautiful things here …

"Here we go, Sir …"

"Greg, you can call me Greg."

"Thank you Greg. Here's Henry Fancy Daisy, she's a very special bunny … we only have one." Anne handed the bunny to House.

"Why do you call her that, Anne?"

"Oh, well because that's her name. She's a Steiff rabbit; their toys are hand made in Germany … you see the button in her ear?" House nodded. "Well that's Steiff's trademark. The Steiff family had many pet animals in their household, and their only child, a daughter named Marianne, gave the name to her pet bunny. The little bunny slept under the family's grand piano and it loved to dance whenever it heard music. This bunny is a replica of the bunny that was created to honour Henry Fancy Daisy in the 1920's. She's eleven inches high and a limited edition toy, number 773/1500."

House held the rabbit up to his eyes. Jordan's window was filled with plush Easter bunnies in all shapes and sizes, in every colour imaginable; but this was the most life-like stuffed animal he had ever seen.

Cameron would love this, I know she would … I have to buy it for her …

"I'll take it." House said decisively.

"Wonderful Greg. She's one hundred and eighty dollars." House swallowed hard.

"That's fine Anne." He had to have it.

"Now is this for your daughter, your wife or for a girlfriend, perhaps?"

"It's for my friend … I hope she'll be my girlfriend one day …" House could not believe he'd just said that to a perfect stranger. He doubted that he would have even shared the sentiment with Wilson; but for some strange reason he wanted to tell Anne.

"I'm sure that your lady will love Henry Fancy Daisy, Greg. I have an idea …"

… "Your lady" … I like the sound of that …

Anne returned with a creamy-white wicker basket filled with green Easter grass. Satiny pink and lavender ribbons were woven throughout the basket; they criss-crossed their way up both sides of the arched handle to meet at the top in an elegant bow.

"I thought that we could sit your bunny in this basket and tuck these eggs all around her. Have you seen these?" Anne held out a bright pink plastic egg to House. "You just give them a twist and they open. We could fill them for you with candies … or anything else you'd like …"

House liked that idea. "What else would you put in there besides candy?"

"Oh, there are lots of things you could do. Is your girlfriend, let's call her that, shall we … we might as well be optimistic …" House smiled, "Is your girlfriend about your age?" asked Anne.

"Um no, she's quite a bit younger than me … she's a doctor … we both are … she's in her late twenties, and very pretty."

God, I sound just like Wilson …

"Sorry Anne, I got carried away …" House said quietly.

"Don't apologize Greg … you must love her very much …"

I do …

"Well let's see, you could put candies in here, or make-up, some lipstick or eye shadow perhaps … young women enjoy that … or jewelry … some earrings, a necklace … even a ring …"

Wouldn't that be cool … to hide a ring in one of these eggs for Cameron … nah I can't do that … we've only been on one disastrous date, thanks to me …

House thought for a minute.

"Okay … how many eggs will we need?"

"Well what I'd suggest is that we use about eight and then fill in the gaps with some foil-wrapped chocolate eggs. That will look nice and then I'll tie up the basket with cellophane for you."

"I like that. Let's fill five eggs with candy and I'll tell you what I have in mind for the other three …"

tbc ...