Let me know what you think about the developments in this chapter. I should be able to post another one next week before we leave, but after that it will be when I can.

Chapter 74.

Later that afternoon, Jess came by to tell me what she'd found in her search about party planners in the Princeton area.

"There are only four who can handle the bigger parties, and they don't seem to have to compete for business."

"Because there's so much?" I guessed.

She nodded. "There are several parties every weekend, especially in the summer and winter. If Nina gets started now, she could be well-established by this coming December, in time for the holiday bashes. I bet she's better than any of the ones out there."

"How lucrative is the business?"

"It's hard to tell. They all charge big bucks, but they also have lots of expenses. If she can minimize those, my sister will do well." She sat on the edge of my desk. "I'm going to call her now and tell her."

"Weren't you going to wait until she brought it up herself? You can't start by bombarding her with numbers."

Jess smiled sheepishly. "Guess since statistics are my 'thing' I'm more comfortable talking about those than anything else."

"Anything?" I touch the leg closest to me and leered at her.

"Well, maybe not everything." She had that closed mouth smile on her face that I liked so much. "OK, how about this? I tell her you'd mentioned that she was considering staying in Princeton and let her bring up the need for a job. Then we can segue into what skills she has."

"That should work, but you know your sister much better than I do."

"I'll let you know what she says." She slid off the desk and came over for a wet smooch. "See you later big guy."

I watched her sashay out the door. She did a little fanny wiggle just for my benefit, making me smile. The rest of the afternoon wasn't as pleasant, although I had a visit from Wilson, as expected, that provided some comic relief.

"What do you know about Jess' sister?" He looked so serious.

"Nina?"

"She has another one?"

"No." I sat back in my chair and put my hands behind my head. "What did you want to know?" But the question was mostly rhetorical. "Obviously, she's quite lovely. She's single, has lived in Dorsey all her life. I think she went to college but I'm not sure she graduated. No health issues that I'm aware of. She owns a BMW, runs a dress shop that just about breaks even, and jumps when Daddy calls. She cares more about her siblings than she lets on." I shrugged to indicate that was all I knew.

"So far I haven't heard any of your usual detrimental remarks."

"Aside from being tied to Peter Giordano, Sr., she's OK." I smirked at him. "You're interested. In fact, I think you're more than interested."

"I...I may be."

"You don't need my permission to pursue her, or Jess' either."

"I wasn't asking for it, just for some background. I...I don't want to get into a situation where I'm blindsided by something that you can tell me about beforehand."

I nodded. "Fair enough."

"So, you think I should go for it?"

I nodded, knowing it would keep Nina busy and out of Jess and my hair. "Give it your best shot. Who knows? She may be Mrs. Wilson number four."

He did that 'don't be an ass, House' thing with his eyes. "She wants to find a job here in Princeton. I think I'll offer to help her."

I smiled at him. "You do that." It would keep Wilson out of our hair, too.

"Well, I have a patient coming in five minutes. Just wanted to run this past you."

"Will wonders never cease. The panty-peeler asking my advice on pursuing a woman."

"Later, House."

I watched him go, wondering where his pursuit of Nina would lead. I just hoped it wouldn't bring a disaster that Jess and I would have to clean up. And that worry was reinforced by my next visitor.

"House, do you have a minute?" Thirteen stood in my doorway.

"It depends."

"What's the story on Nina Giordano? Is she staying in town?"

"She's hoping to." My eyes narrowed involuntarily. "You're not interested in her, are you?"

She blushed slightly. "She... does interest me."

I wondered if I should tell her she'd have to stand in line behind Wilson. Then again, I didn't really know what Nina's sexual orientation was. I'd have to ask Jess if she knew.

I continued to study Thirteen until she went on. "Look, I don't want to be stepping on any toes, yours, Jess', or anyone else's." I continued to study her. "House, say something, even if it's snarky."

I smiled. "Your romantic relationships are your own."

"You never thought so before."

"Maybe being in my own relationship has changed me."

"It has, but not that much. You can still be the same jerk you always were. But I take your lack of reaction to mean you won't stop me if I pursue this."

"Pursue Nina, you mean."

"Yes."

"Be my guest." I was already looking forward to where this would go. I certainly wasn't going to tell Thirteen that Wilson was about to make his own pitch, and I doubted I'd warn Wilson about Thirteen either. Let the games begin.

She grimaced, then nodded, before walking away. I could see we were in for some interesting times ahead. Would any of the others put in a claim for Jess' sister? Chase was already so involved with Ellie and her son that I doubted he'd give Nina a second look. But what about the short one or the black one?

I smiled and leaned back as my mind conjured up all sorts of interesting scenarios. My reverie was interrupted by the approach of Petey Giordano. Now, what did he want?

"House, do you have a minute?"

"Suddenly everyone thinks I'm the keeper of lost minutes."

"Huh?" As usual my sarcasm went right over his head.

"What did you want?"

"Oh! Well, I was wondering if you knew of anyone who was hiring."

I chuckled. "I should hang a sign on my door saying employment agency." It was true that Ellie hadn't asked me to find a job for her, but I knew she was looking and Nina had asked.

Petey got that one. "I know you're a doctor and all."

"You can try the hospital HR department. They're always looking for orderlies."

"Oh! I hadn't thought of that."

I stopped short of rolling my eyes. "Petey, are you planning on staying here? What about your job in Florida?"

"I guess I can go back to that, but I'd rather stay where my sisters are. They aren't as judgmental as my father."

"In other words, they don't blame you for your mother's death. Tell me, what exactly happened that day?"

He frowned. "I hate to think about it." And sighed. "I'd just gotten my license and Mother said I could drive her and my sisters to the mall in Frederickstown. That's about ten miles away. Anyway, we'd just left the parking lot and suddenly my head was filled with all of this noise. I...I took my hands off the wheel to cover my ears...and the next thing I knew they were loading me into an ambulance. Honestly, I can't tell you what happened other than what I was told afterward."

"So your hyperacusis was a factor in the accident." I scratched the back of my head. It didn't even matter what the sounds were that he heard that caused his reaction. "Had you ever had a problem like that before? Ever felt overwhelmed by sounds?"

He took time to think about that. I would have thought that he'd remember something like that. Finally, he shook his head. "It's pretty quiet in Dorsey." Petey pressed his lips together. "There was this one time..." He shook his head again. "It wasn't the same, but one time when I was at a birthday party...it was for Nina, I think. I didn't really want to be there. My friends were going to a movie. But anyway, it was a big family deal and the house was full of people. And the music, well, it wasn't hard rock or rap or anything, but it was loud! I had to run out of the house to get away from it and Father came after me, yelling at the top of his lungs that I was being rude to his guests."

"And now that you've had treatment?"

"I don't know. I don't think I've done anything or been anywhere noisy." His eyes narrowed. "What does this have to do with my finding a job here?"

"Nothing. But there's something I've been wondering about. That job in Florida...that amusement park was noisy. Didn't that bother you?"

"What? Oh. All of the workers wore earplugs. It wasn't a perfect solution, but it helped. And mostly we worked away from the crowds."

"And now? Do you think you could work in a noisy, crowded place?"

His shoulders rose in a shrug. "I guess so."

"Then my best advice would be to check with HR for a job as an orderly." Was I letting myself in for trouble, suggesting that Petey stay around, and work so close to us? We'd have to wait and see.

He nodded and walked away, deep in thought. I had a lot to talk to Jess about and wondered what she'd think of all of the developments.