I finally finished writing the next chapter. Read and enjoy. Leave a comment if you like it.

Chapter 135.

I called Marcello, hoping he was finished talking with his father. He answered right away.

I didn't bother to ask how it went after I left. "Dr. Cuddy would like to meet you," I told him.

"When?"

"Tomorrow afternoon. She has a meeting in the morning. Can you make it then?"

There was silence for a minute. I guess he was checking his calendar. "I'll be there at two."

I smiled. "I'll tell her to expect you."

"House, I can't mess this up." He sounded worried.

"You won't."

"That's good, because my father gave me an ultimatum. If I don't do well on the board, he'll take an even more direct interest in the real estate business. I don't want that to happen."

"I have a feeling you and my boss will hit it off quite well. If you have her approval, it's the first step to making a major contribution to the board."

"What's she like?"

"Short, curvy, some might even say she's attractive. She runs a large hospital, so you can imagine what that takes." I chuckled. "But I'll let you be the judge when you meet her. Welcome to PPTH."

"I only hope I can come to you if I have questions or a problem."

I laughed and ended the call. I didn't think he would ever need my help, but who knew? There was probably little I could ever do for Marcello. I thought he could handle himself in most situations.

I glanced at my watch. There was just enough time to stop in on my erstwhile patient and find out how she was getting along. Wilson and a couple of nurses were in with her, talking quietly.

"So, you cure her yet?" I asked. "When can my little songbird sing again?"

"House, she's my patient now." Wilson glared at me.

"And I expected you to have provided results by now."

"I'm reporting them to the patient."

"What, no doctor courtesy, no report to the referring physician?"

Wilson gave me one of his long-suffering looks and sighs. "Alright. There is a small nodule on her vocal cords, noncancerous." He turned to smile at Marisa. "We were discussing her treatment. It shouldn't take long at all."

Marisa smiled back at him. "You were right, Dr. House. Dr. Wilson is a wonderful doctor."

"He's taken." I turned on my heels and stalked off, feeling eyes on my back. Yes, I had to do something about that woman and fast.

#

That evening Jess arrived home full of news. "We've booked two more functions, and Uncle Johnny has agreed to provide some of the serving containers we hadn't been able to find at the restaurant supply store."

"Sounds good." I smiled, seeing how happy she was with the way the business was going.

"So what have you been up to since I talked to you?"

I told her what we now knew about the truck that had hit Chase, Ellie and the kid because I knew she was even more concerned about them all than some others.

"But they haven't proven that Morgan was driving it?"

I shook my head. "Not yet. I think it's just a matter of time."

She nodded solemnly.

"I also talked to Marcello again," I continued.

"And?"

"And I think we have a new hospital board member."

"Good." She smiled. "Still trying to hook him up with Cuddy?"

I tilted my head back and forth, not ready to commit. We sat down side-by-side on the couch.

"What about your patient?" Jess asked.

"You mean Wilson's." I explained what my friend found, and the way Marisa was flirting with him.

Jess frowned.

"I told her in no uncertain terms that he's taken."

"Good. I think my sister would be devastated if they broke up."

"So that leaves Ricky." I took one of her hands in mine.

"You mean for Marisa?" She rubbed her cheek. "I'd like to meet her before you try to set them up."

"Why, you think I'm wrong about her suitability for him?"

"From what you've said, she sounds like a maneater."

"She's a performer. They always come on strong. She's actually pretty nice."

Jess smirked. "Okay. Why don't you ask Ricky to come to the hospital tomorrow, and then take him to see her."

I shook my head. "I have a better idea. When Marcello comes in to meet Cuddy, I'll ask him to bring his nephew along, then to let Marcello have some one-on-one with my boss, I'll take the kid to meet some patients."

"Can't do anything in a straightforward manner, can you?"

"Not if I can help it. What would be the fun of that?"

She laughed, as I knew she would. Then she put her hands on both sides of my face and kissed my lips soundly. "You're one of a kind, and don't ever let anyone tell you otherwise."

She was, too, of course. But I was reluctant to say so. Instead, I changed the subject. "It sounds like your business is taking off. Will you and Nina be able to handle it all?"

She shrugged. "That remains to be seen. So far the number of parties is at a level, and spaced out enough, that we can handle them. I guess we'll feel we made it when we start turning away business." She snuggled against me. "I wish you could be there for our first jobs, check out the food, and see how people react to everything. We need some feedback so we can start to improve immediately."

"Who says I can't?"

"You want to go to a Sweet Sixteen party?" There was laughter in her voice.

"Maybe. I've never been to one."

Jess laugh. "Our third is an engagement party. I might be able to get you into that without much trouble."

I nodded. At those things, and even weddings, where each side doesn't know the other, it's easy for crashers to get in and enjoy the eats. "What do I get for getting you intel?"

"Oh, I don't know. I'll think of something." There was a calculating look in her eyes. I hoped it meant something good. It usually did with her.

"That leaves us with the decision about where we're having dinner tonight."

"We're going to my uncle's place. Nina and Wilson will meet us there."

"When did this happen?" I didn't remember her mentioning it.

"When he offered us the serving pieces. We haven't eaten there in a while."

"Yeah, at least a week." I rolled my eyes, although I had no objection. The food was great, and anything that reminded Wilson where his heart belonged was okay in my book.

"I like going there." She sat up and looked at me. "For some reason it feels like going home to a home I never had. I'm not sure you can understand what I mean."

"Even when your mother was alive?"

"Maybe. I never knew my grandparents on either side, never had any of those big family meals I read about in books and always longed to attend."

"But since Johnny is family, and the place is always full, it gives that impression."

"I think, in part, it's the atmosphere he's created at the place, the kind of food he serves."

"And the portions. Don't forget the portions."

"I'm sure you don't." She smiled at me, then stood. "I'm going to get ready to go. I told Nina we'd meet them there at seven for drinks before dinner."

"Do I have to change?" I looked down at the t-shirt I had on. It was still clean.

"Why don't you put on that new turtleneck. It's supposed to get chilly tonight." She walked off.

I found the shirt in question in the closet. It was a light blue cashmere sweater Jess insisted I buy. I pulled of my shirt and put it on. It felt soft, almost as comfortable as my oldest worn T's. I had to admit I looked damn good in it.

Jess had changed into a red sweater I didn't remember seeing before. The V-neck showed the curve of her breasts and was outlined with glittery decoration. She brushed her long brown hair and wore it loose. She smiled at me. "Ready?"

In answer, I handed her the coat that was thrown over the chair nearest the front door. She slipped it on and then put her arm through mine.

On the way to the restaurant, I followed up our earlier conversation by asking her, "Where is the engagement party taking place?"

"At that party place over on Route one where it meets the Interstate. The engagement of Jason Schwartz to Marie Mancini."

"Never heard of them."

"They're a couple of recent college grads. Nice kids. The parents on the other hand, especially the mothers, are pretty intense. It's a wonder they finally agreed on a menu."

"How big a party will it be?"

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw her smirk. "It's the largest we've booked so far, over a hundred guests."

I hadn't realized they'd be catering parties that large. "That's a lot of food to prepare and serve."

"We have the staff for it. We even hired two extra waiters."

"Well, I'll be there to check out the food and the crowds reaction."

"Thanks."

I pulled into the parking lot of the restaurant.My mouth was salivating even before I stepped through the door, but then the smells hit and I didn't care whether Wilson and Nina were there yet or not. I was ready to eat.

Johnny greeted us as if he hadn't seen me in months, when it had been a little over a week. "Doctor House, I wish you would eat here every night."

"I'd love to." It would take a month or more to go through his menu, and then I could start all over.

"Especially if he didn't have to pay," Jess teased.

Before I could retaliate, Wilson and Nina arrived, and Johnny led us to a table himself, chuckling. "Enjoy. I'll stop by later." He nodded at one of the waiters. "Please take good care of my nieces and the two doctors."

I was in the mood for something rich, but first I wanted some of Johnny's excellent minestrone. The two sisters were discussing whether to get a salad or soup, but Wilson knew what he wanted. I knew, too. He always got the Italian wedding soup.

Jess and Nina finally decided on house salads, and when the waiter appeared with ice water and a bottle of wine, compliments of Johnny, we were ready to order our first course.