Chapter 9
"Mmm … that smells so good …" Cameron slipped on the oven mitts and took her apple pie out of the oven, pausing to enjoy the intoxicating scent of the apples, cinnamon and brown sugar wafting through the air.
I hope that Greg likes apple pie … it looks perfect, if I do say so myself, Cameron thought as she admired the golden brown crust and hot, bubbling filling.
She set the pie down on a cooling tray and glanced at the clock; it was nearing one; almost time for the turkey to go in the oven. Cameron tipped the contents of her frying pan, sautéed apple, onion and celery, into the bowl of bread cubes she had prepared in advance. After she seasoned her dressing with crushed sage and added some salt, she was done.
Cameron laughed as she stuffed the bird. She could never make a turkey without thinking of "Merry Christmas Mr. Bean", when Bean ends up wearing a turkey on his head after he goes in search of his lost watch.
Can you imagine if I answered the door like that when House arrived … Cameron smiled as she thought about House. In just four hours he'll be here.
She'd spent the morning preparing all of the food for tonight's dinner; she'd followed a meticulously planned schedule, so that everything would be ready by six o'clock and she could serve dinner by six-thirty. That would leave some quiet time to visit with House before dinner.
Cameron put the turkey into the oven and set the timer for 5 hours.
She glanced around the kitchen, satisfied that the food was under control, when she spotted Chase's flowers. She reached for the vase and looked at the beautiful peonies and roses. They were lovely, but the last thing that she wanted was anything in her apartment to remind her of Chase. Cameron freshened the water in the vase, re-arranged the flowers and then stepped out into her hall and headed for the apartment two doors away.
"Millie … Millie?". The door opened a crack and Cameron saw her elderly neighbour. "Millie, it's me … Allison."
Millie Stewart was eight-six years-old and she'd lived alone ever since her husband passed away twelve years ago from a heart attack. Cameron and Millie got along like a house on fire since the day they first met; they were the best of friends and there was nothing they wouldn't do for each other.
"Hello pumpkin, how are you? … Come in …" Millie said opening the door.
"I can only stay a minute Millie, I have company coming tonight. Here, these are for you …" Cameron put the flowers down on Millie's table and gave her a kiss.
"They're lovely pumpkin … thank you. Are you having a gentleman friend over for dinner?" Cameron blushed; you could never keep any secrets from Millie.
"Well as a matter of fact, yes, yes I am."
"Good for you. Is it that blond doctor you've been seeing?"
"Chase? No, we broke up Millie. I'm not seeing him any more. "
"So is your new boyfriend a doctor too?" Cameron smiled. Millie was a lot like House in many ways; she was curious and direct and not afraid to speak her mind.
"Well, he's not my boyfriend yet, but he is a doctor, a very brilliant doctor in fact. I work for him." Cameron said, wishing House was her boyfriend.
Millie looked at Cameron very closely.
"You must like him a lot … I can tell you know, just by the way your eyes sparkle when you talk about him … I'm glad you've got a new beau …"
"Why do you say that, Millie?"
"I never liked blondie very much … you can't trust a man that looks that good. This new one's not a pretty boy is he?"
Cameron laughed as she thought about how to describe House to Millie.
"Well, I wouldn't call him a pretty boy, but I think that he's very handsome. He's in his late forties, very tall and slim and has the most amazing blue eyes that you've ever seen."
"Sounds sexy …"
"Millie …" Cameron admonished, feigning shock at Millie's comment, "you're right Millie, he's very sexy …" Cameron said dreamily …"I've loved him ever since I met him, three years ago."
"And you're just starting to date him now? What time's he coming?"
"At five …" Cameron said, looking at her watch. "Millie, I have to go and get ready. I haven't decided what to wear yet."
"Okay, you go dear, I know that you have things to do, but don't be surprised if I just happen to be in the hallway about five tonight."
Cameron kissed Millie on the cheek. "Okay, I won't … if you're there, I'll introduce you."
"Bye-bye pumpkin and thank you for the flowers … and make sure to wear some pretty undies ... boys like that, okay?"
"I'll remember Millie." Cameron thought about the contents of her lingerie drawer as she walked back to her apartment.
o0o0o
"C'mon … I know you're in there …" House muttered as he stood naked in his bedroom, rifling through his underwear drawer, "there you are …", he pulled out a brand new pair of sapphire blue silk boxers.
He'd bought them on a dare when he was out clothes shopping with Wilson, but had never had an occasion, or a woman, to wear them for. Not that House was under any illusions about his dinner date with Cameron.
It's at her apartment, Chase and Foreman will be there and I bet there's no way I'll get a moment alone with her, let alone have the opportunity to show off these boxers. Hell, I'll wear 'em anyway … you never know. I want to look nice for Cameron.
He'd showered and spent a considerable amount of time trimming his beard with his new shaver. House dressed quickly and was pleased with the result when he looked in the mirror.
I look way younger … he thought, … I'll need all the help I can get to steal Cameron away from the Wombat.
o0o0o
"Damn these stairs … ", House cursed, as he climbed up the stairs to Cameron's apartment. It was hard enough getting himself up there, but with three bottles of wine in one bag and Cameron's bunny basket in another, he was having quite a struggle. When he reached her floor, he set down his parcels and stopped to re-group and calm his frazzled nerves.
The short drive to her apartment had been a nightmare. Last night's storm continued to assault New Jersey with heavy rain and driving winds and as House drove, he could see flashes of lightning piercing the dusky sky in the distance.
He ran a comb through his hair and was trying to shake the rain off his coat when suddenly his eyes caught sight of an old woman staring at him with great interest.
"You use a cane." Observant, thought House.
"You use a walker." He snarked, staring at the woman.
"Are you the doc that's got a date with Allison?" Millie was now standing walker to toe with House.
"Yes, I'm Dr. House, and you are?"
"I'm Millie ... Allison's neighbour. She told me all about you." House was becoming more interested in Millie by the second.
"Really, what did she say about me?"
"She told me that you had sexy eyes … she was right about that!" House grinned. "Did ya bring her flowers?"
"I sent her flowers…"
"Good. What's in the bag?" Millie asked pointing to House's parcels.
"I have wine and an Easter basket for Allison."
"Good. So does everything else work?" Millie looked House over from head to foot.
"I'm sorry ..."
"You have a bum leg. Does the rest of you work?" Millie let her eyes rest on House's beltline. House knew exactly what she meant and smirked.
"The rest of me works very well indeed, Millie, don't worry."
"Good … cause Allison likes you a lot."
"I like her a lot too …" House said quietly, his demeanor softening.
"You're going to do just fine … I like you a lot better than blondie."
"Blondie? Oh you mean Chase."
"Yea, do you know him?" Millie asked.
"He works for me too."
"Well it doesn't matter anyway. She dumped him, so get her while you've got the chance." Millie began to turn away.
Cameron dumped Chase … when did this happen …
"She dumped him? Are you sure?"
"Yea she told me today … I'm sure. You didn't know?" House smiled and shook his head.
"No, I didn't. Thank you Millie."
"You're welcome, handsome. Take good care of my girl."
House bent down and gave Millie a kiss on her cheek.
"Damn, you're sexy ... if I was only forty years younger, I'd jump you myself ...
Nice to meet you Doc." Millie toddled down the hall back into her apartment.
"Nice to meet you too, Millie." House said quietly.
House picked up his parcels and knocked on Cameron's door.
tbc ...