Della reached over and switched off the alarm clock. It was five AM and she had tossed and turned all night. 'I might as well get up and do something useful' she scowled. 'I hope this isn't an indication as to what my day is going to be like--again!' Things just were not right. Perry had been asked to join a federal class-action lawsuit with Samuel Parsons, a former classmate and noted local attorney. Consequently it has taken him away from his office--and her--for months. Day after day she attempted to keep herself busy, waiting for him to phone or drop by. Della knew how important this case was to Perry, including the fact that it would bring in high six figures. 'Maybe too important' she thought. The years that she had worked for him had been full and exciting, however she didn't quite know how to handle this workload. Even having dinner at night, when he was available, seemed to be a chore for Perry. Since she knew he always gave 100% to any case he was on, she fully understood his preoccupation. Unfortunately Della's help was not needed on this one.

She rose out of bed and prepared herself for the day. Perry had phoned the night before and had promised her lunch. She put on the dress that he most favored and headed to the office, finding that Gertie had already arrived. "Hello Gertie" Della smiled. "Did you have a nice evening?"

"Yes I sure did Miss Street. How about you?"

"Oh, you know, the same" Della tried to smile. "If Perry calls put him through."

"Yes Miss Street."

Della entered her office and prepared herself for a day of 'nothing'. She took the cover off of her typewriter, rearranged the magazines, then entered Perry's office just to make sure he had not come in the night before and disturbed things. She stepped back into her office and called the exchange to check for messages from the night before. After responding and checking the mail, she looked at the time. Only ten AM. "Now just what do I do with myself until lunch' she thought. She sat back in her chair and crossed her arms. She was deep in thought when she heard a knock at her office door. It opened slowly and Paul stuck his head in. "Hi beautiful."

"Hi Paul--come on in." Paul entered and sat at the corner of her desk. "Another busy day?" he questioned.

"Oh Paul this is driving me crazy. No work. No Perry. I've asked him repeatedly if I could be of help but he just tells me 'no' and that it's all being taken care of. Even getting to spend time with him is an ordeal. If I didn't know him so well I would be worried. He did call last night though and say that we could meet for lunch today. So until then I have two more hours to sit and do nothing."

"Della you have to look on the bright side. If he wins this case there is no telling where his career will take him. He will be nationally known."

"I know I know, but I just want the old Perry back besides....fame brings unwanted publicity. It's bad enough that we make the gossip columns just for a night out, but this? Paul am I missing something?"

"No Della you're not, but you know how Perry is when it comes to cases. This shouldn't come as a surprise to you."

"It doesn't Paul. I just miss Perry. I miss him sitting in his office. I miss going over the mail with him while we're having our morning coffee. I miss him dictating letters. When I do get to spend time with him, his head is somewhere else--lost in thought. Paul....do you think I'm being selfish?"

"Not at all Della. But I do think that your idle time is making it more difficult for you. Maybe you should take a day off--or two. Splurge at the spa. Go shopping--go to that new boutique that just opened up. Have lunch with friends. Get out of here. Sitting around waiting for Perry just makes it worse. I know Perry would want it."

"That's another thing Paul. I can hardly get him on the phone. He's never available. I sure hope he has some good news for me today, like maybe they need my services."

"I hope so Della. Let me know how it went. As for now, I have a wandering husband to track down." Paul headed towards the door.

"I'll give Perry your regards."

"You do that. Bye beautiful!" With that Paul was gone. Della looked at the clock. 10:15

'Oh this is ridiculous' she thought. She picked up the phone and called Perry. "Hello. Perry Mason please" she stated. "Oh he is? Sure. Could you tell him Della called? Della. D-e-l-l-a. Yes that's right. Thank you." She hung up the phone disgusted. 'I could do better than that. What kind of people work there?' she thought. A few minutes later Gertie came on over the intercom:

"Miss Street? Mr Mason is on line 1."

"Thank you Gertie." Della picked up the phone and smiled. "Hello Perry, how are you?"

"Fine Della. How about you?" Perry sounded exasperated.

"If you must know I'm anxiously awaiting lunch. I can't wait to see you. By the way, where shall we go?"

"Well Della that is why I called. Something has come up and I need to beg off. I hope you won't be too disappointed" he muttered.

"Disappointed? Perry I was looking forward to it."

"Della I'm sorry. I'll call you tonight. I've got to go now. Bye." Perry sounded agitated. Della heard the phone click. She sat there for a moment just looking at her handpiece. 'What the heck just happened?' she thought. 'Just like that--he'll call me tonight?' She put the phone back in the cradle. 'Well maybe Paul is right. Maybe I need to get as far away from this office as I can.' She covered the typewriter back up, went into Perry's office and turned out the lights, along with the one in her office. She gathered her purse and jacket and proceeded out into Gertie's office.

"Miss Street, where is Mr Mason taking you?"

"Hell if I know" Della scowled as she exited the office. The rage inside her was getting the best of her and she regretted taking it out on Gertie as soon as she said it. 'I'll apologize tomorrow' she told herself. She took the elevator down the to parking garage, found her car and sat in it for a moment, contemplating. 'Hey that new boutique' she thought 'down by the courthouse--the one Paul talked about.' It was all the rave. 'Maybe it'll help me get out of my funk.' With that she headed downtown. Lunch, without Perry, would consist of a quick sandwich at Schuman's Deli, a popular spot with the courtroom crowd, that was across the street from the boutique before she headed home.

She felt lucky to find a parking space right in front, thinking that that was the best thing that had happened to her all day. 'Maybe it's an omen' she laughed. She exited her car and went inside. It was a darling little shop that stocked all the beads, bobbles and accessories that women love--in a multitude of colors. Della finally decided on a scarf that accented beautifully with the dress that she was wearing. As she was paying the cashier something outside caught her eye. It was Perry--and a blonde--arm in arm entering the deli, laughing, with Perry holding the door open as they both entered. It played in her head over and over. She found it hard to breathe, like someone just punched her. 'Something came up?' she questioned, her eyes glued to the window. 'Something is sure something' she thought. She felt nauseous and found it hard to think. She wanted to just disappear--vanish--but figured that she would be seen by Perry as soon as she left the building.

"Are you alright miss?" the cashier questioned.

"Yes, I'm, I'm fine. Thank you." She was frozen where she stood. Her legs wouldn't move. She held onto the counter so that she would not wobble.

"Miss are you sure you don't need help? Do you need a chair?" again the cashier questioned.

"Oh I'm fine. I just need to catch my breath. Just let me stand here for a minute and then I will be on my way."

"OK but if I can be of assistance just let me know."

"Yes thank you." Della eyes were still glued to the window. The door to the deli opened, making Della's heart pound. Two men in business suits left with take-out. 'I've got to get out of here' she told herself. 'Just go out the door and get in your car. Sounds simple.' Della still couldn't move. Again the deli door opened and this time out came Perry and his 'friend', still laughing and carrying drinks. Della watched as the blonde put her arm in Perry's and they headed back towards the courthouse. As soon as they rounded the corner and were out of sight, Della ran out of the store. She jumped in her car and away she roared. A few miles down the road she finally pulled over into a parking lot, tears streaming down her face. Her body shook. Her stomach wanted to explode. She wanted to scream. 'Something came up. Preoccupied. Workload.' All words used to describe Perry. She felt used--violated. 'How could he do this? After everything we have done....and spoken." Her gut ached. How she wished....wished....that he was in her arms. 'Maybe I'm overreacting. Maybe there is a simple explanation after all. Maybe I should give Perry the benefit of the doubt. He loves me. He's proposed to me. Oh why didn't I say yes. Am I losing him? Maybe that blonde wants to be his wife. Maybe....' The tears wouldn't stop. Slowly she put the car back into gear and headed home. Her home. The home were they shared love and tenderness. Was it home anymore?