Mae didn't move when the door opened and closed quietly, she simply kept her focus on her needlework. Della threw her body down on the sofa and grabbed the blanket, wrapping it around her cold shoulders.
"Tea's hot."
Della murmured a thank you as she poured a cup from the pot on the tray on the table and gulped it. "Why did you call my parents?"
"You were upset and while I didn't know what was wrong I did know it was serious. I thought that maybe your mother knew something, but she didn't answer the phone; Roy did. When I spoke with your father he insisted that they would be out as soon as possible. As it turns out that is a good thing. We won't have to wait several more days for them to get here for the ceremony. Time is of the essence after all."
Della slammed the cup down, tea sloshing out into the saucer. "There isn't going to be a wedding! I am not going to force Perry Mason to marry me."
"Be sensible, Della!" When she received no response Mae let her niece fume for a while before she sighed, laid down her handwork and moved to sit beside Della on the sofa. "Talk to me, child. You've always been able to tell me anything."
Della turned her head away. "I was foolish. I have to deal with the results of my own foolishness."
"You didn't accomplish that foolishness alone. Besides I think there is a great deal more to it than that. How long have you and Perry been… involved?"
"We're not involved. It was just once… well, one night."
Della looked at Mae, and seeing no judgment, only sympathy on her aunt's face, finally broke down. The tears flowed as Mae gently pulled Della's head into her lap and stroked her hair. Finally the sobs subsided and she began to talk.
"Perry was invited to give a speech at a lawyer's convention… a very important speech. He asked me to go with him, to help him with last minute preparations and to attend the functions with him. He had broken up with that horrible woman and… I guess I was honored that he asked me to go."
"To share a room?" Mae couldn't help but ask.
"No… we aren't… weren't involved that way. I think that he wanted a little moral support. I'd helped him with his speech… with the research so Perry wanted me to hear him present it. He had a suite, two bedrooms and a sitting room. We didn't intend for anything to happen. He spoke so well and got such a wonderful response… a standing ovation. I was so proud of him. There was a lot of champagne… and we danced beneath the stars. He kissed me, Mae. Oh God… I have never felt like that before…" Della unconsciously lifted her fingers to her lips, her eyes closed as she got caught up in her memory. "And we kept kissing and touching… it was so amazing… he was amazing…"
Mae's heart sank. "So that was the beginning?" She tried to sound positive.
Della shook her head against Mae's knees. "That was the only… night."
"What happened? What did he do? Did he hurt you?"
"When I woke up he was coming out of the bathroom. I didn't know what to say so I sort of panicked… and I pretended like I was still asleep. He sat down on the side of the bed and told me that he was sorry…" Della shrugged her shoulders as she sat back up and wiped away the remnants of her tears. "He regretted it."
"And after you let him know you were awake?"
"I… I didn't get the chance. There was a knock at the door and he went to answer it. It was his former girlfriend, Laura."
"She saw you there?" Mae had heard enough about Mason's former flame from Della over the last year to know that she was vicious and vindictive. If she'd seen Della in Perry's bed…
"No… Perry pulled the door closed… but it didn't quite latch so I could hear them leaving for breakfast. I got dressed and packed my things and flew back to LA. He spent the rest of the weekend with her, I guess. I went in to the office Monday morning and acted as if nothing had happened. I didn't want to lose my job… to lose my friend… Not because he was drunk and lonely…"
"He? You were both drinking, you said. Della?"
"I had a lot of champagne… but I could have stopped him, Mae… only I don't think that I wanted to. I just wasn't thinking…"
"You never considered precautions?"
"I never thought about it. I'd never been in that situation before and I didn't… I just got carried away in the moment... in the way he made me feel. Getting pregnant never occurred to me."
"It usually doesn't… until it happens. I should have had a talk with you months ago when I realized how attracted you were to him…" Mae smiled ruefully. "And now that it has happened, you have to make some clear headed decisions."
"I can't force him to marry me, Mae, I won't. You saw his face. Getting married now wasn't in his plans."
"Plans change, Della. Give the poor man a break. You think he's had time to process this? That massive brain might be brilliant breaking down evidence and clues into neat little patterns but this is a shock for him too. The reality is that there is a little baby on the way, a child who didn't ask for any of this. That child doesn't deserve the stigma of unwed parents."
"Does that child deserve divorced parents? What happens when he leaves me for Laura?"
"Perry Mason has stepped up to the plate, Della. He has accepted his responsibility in this. I don't believe that he would abandon his child for anyone. I don't believe… if he commits to you… truly commits… he won't abandon you either."
"You don't know the hold that woman has on him… She calls and he goes running… She shows up and he's falling all over her… He left me lying alone in his bed to go off and spend the day with her and god knows what else."
Della's indecision was written all over her face so Mae pressed on. "You do have other options… You could always say you were widowed… Being a single mother would still be difficult but the child wouldn't have to deal with the stigma of being labeled a bastard."
"I won't lie."
"I didn't really think you would. So… there are places you can go…"
Hazel eyes widened and her head began to shake. "You mean…"
"You can go away for a few months. There are clinics… homes… and when the baby comes they will find good parents for it. You go back to work and get on with your life."
"Give up our baby? I couldn't!" Della's hand flew to her abdomen, covering it protectively.
"Then it seems like you've made your choice."
PDPDPDPDPD
"What a lovely place!" Mina Mason exclaimed as her son helped her from the car in front of Mae Kirby's beach cottage. "I can understand why someone would retreat here to think."
Perry had called Mae before they departed the city, but didn't know whether to be relieved or scared when she had informed him that she thought Della was finally ready to talk. The direction of his life had changed radically in the last thirty-six hours. He wondered how much more change there would be, but now he was a bit more prepared. Sleep had eluded him for most of the night and he had spent the time considering his options and mapping out his arguments.
"Mother, this is Della's aunt, Mae Kirby." Perry provided introductions when Mae opened the door and invited them in.
"I'm pleased to meet you, Mrs. Mason. Why don't we go in the kitchen and have a cup of coffee? I've got some fresh baked biscuits and homemade jam."
"Thank you, Mrs. Kirby. That sounds lovely."
"Call me Mae." She directed Mina toward the kitchen as she caught Perry's eye and tilted her head toward the beach.
Both women paused in the doorway of the kitchen, each wanting to observe the conversation about to take place but also knowing that the young couple needed their privacy. When the door to the beach closed behind Perry's broad shoulders they looked at each other. Mina reached out and squeezed Mae's hand. "And you must call me Mina. We're family now after all…"
PDPDPDPDPD
With a strange sense of déjà vu, Perry traversed the sand toward Della, only this time the sun was shining and people were scattered all along the beach. When he reached her he turned back toward the house then sat beside her so that he could see her face as he spoke to her.
"Hey…" he held out his hand toward her, somewhat reassured when she took it with her own.
"Hey."
"I really botched things yesterday, didn't I? I'm sorry about that."
Della shrugged, still not looking him fully in the face. "Yesterday is just a drop in the bucket compared to what I've done… Look, I know this isn't what you planned, Chief… and I don't expect you to be forced into something you don't want by our families. I'm so sor…"
"Hush…" Perry raised his free hand to brush a finger over her lips. "Della, yesterday you said something about regret… You are an amazing woman… beautiful, bright, witty… kind. I don't regret making love with you, not for one second. We didn't plan this," his hand drifted from her lips to her waist, "but I want to be a part of it with you. Please let me."
"I would never cut you out of the child's life… but getting married because I got knocked up? That's certainly every little girl's dream." Della sucked in her bottom lip and began to chew on it, just as Perry had known she would. "Of course I'm sure that marrying your secretary because of one drunken night wasn't in your plans either. What about Laura?"
"Laura? She has nothing to do with this."
"But she said… "
"Laura? When did you talk to her, Della? What did she say?"
"I… she came by a couple of weeks ago, when you were meeting with Judge MacDonald. She intim… it isn't important… not anymore."
"Tell me, Della…"
"She said that you and she were both being head hunted by a very prestigious high dollar firm with a great deal of influence… that you would be moving to Denver soon… and she'd have to come back to LA to meet with her favorite designer about her wedding gown…"
Perry was perplexed. Della must have misunderstood the other woman. He hadn't even known that she'd been anywhere near his office lately. "Laura and I are not engaged and I have absolutely NO intention of moving anywhere… except maybe a house… we will need more room." Perry's eyebrows met. "I didn't know she was going to show up that morning, Della. I didn't ask her to come, I swear."
Skepticism was written on her face but Della decided to change the subject. "I want to keep working as long as I can."
"Della… you don't have to do that. As my wife…"
"I WANT to… I enjoy working… And our marriage isn't really anyone else's business, is it? The baby will be protected… have your name. That's the most important thing." She tugged her hand but Perry didn't let go.
"If that's what you want. I'm sure we can figure out something, at least for a few more months."
Della just nodded.
Perry twisted so that he was kneeling beside Della and pulled a small velvet box from his pocket. Judging from the look on her face she was less than pleased but he pressed onward. This time he was determined to actually ask.
"Della, would you please do me the enormous honor of becoming my wife?" He flipped up the box lid and pulled out a modest but beautiful emerald solitaire.
"Yes, Chief. I'll marry you." She responded, her voice so hollow that he knew her tears weren't because she was happy.
He slipped the ring on her finger then stood and pulled her to her feet. Wrapping his arms around her he placed a gentle kiss on her forehead. "I know this isn't exactly conventional but that doesn't mean that we can't find a way to be happy about it…"
Della smiled weakly. "You're right, of course. I guess we should go tell Aunt Mae."
"And my mother. She's dying to meet you."
"She's here?" Panic flared.
"She's in the house getting to know Mae… She knows everything, Della… and she can't wait to meet you."
With one arm still draped over the back of her waist, Perry coaxed a reluctant Della toward the house.
PDPDPDPDPD
Two pairs of prying eyes watched as Perry slid the ring onto Della's finger and two bodies breathed sighs of relief.
"She doesn't look very happy about this," Mina observed the couple moving leisurely toward the house, noting with approval that Della had let Perry's arm remain wrapped around her back. "Of course he doesn't either..."
"Under the circumstances, I'd be surprised if she was." Mae responded. "It's a big decision and she's worn herself out trying to make it. By the way, Mina, Della's head over heels in love with your son, you know… but too stubborn to tell him."
Mina digested this statement with a smile. "Guess what, Mae. My son doesn't fully realize what is happening yet but I believe he's falling head over heels in love with Della too."
PDPDPDPDPD
"Will you please stop pulling at that seam? I'm trying to pin this evenly!" Mae reached up from her position near the hem of Della's white skirt to swat Della's hand away from where she was tugging absent mindedly at the fabric yet again.
Mina Mason smiled from the sofa where she sat while sewing pearl buttons on the skirt's matching jacket. The three women had purchased the suit from a small women's boutique near Mae's home that morning and had undertaken the few small alterations themselves. Mina had stayed the night with the women while her son had returned to LA once again to run a few errands and bring Paul Drake back to act as his best man, and she was so glad that she had. Once Perry had departed Della relaxed somewhat, allowing Mina to get to know her future daughter-in-law. The more they spoke the more Mina became convinced that Mae was right in her supposition that Della was in love with Perry.
Mina had found Della to be everything Perry had been telling her about over the last eighteen months… charming, graceful, kind, polite… everything that Laura was not, at least not beneath the surface. Mina couldn't even begin to express how happy that made her. The thought of 'that woman' being the mother of her grandchild… Mina shuddered involuntarily.
With the wedding scheduled for the afternoon, Mina was reasonably hopeful that even if Laura found out about the impending nuptials she wouldn't be able to stop them. Even now Perry and Paul Drake would be on the road heading back to Bolero Beach. And then a few hours later, her baby boy would be a husband… married to the woman that Mina was becoming more sure with every passing minute was the perfect mate for him… the perfect mother to her grandchildren. Despite the 'anticipation of the vows', she couldn't be happier. If only she could pass some of that happiness on to the bride… But they would find each other in their own time, of that Mina was positive.
"DELLA!" This time Mae's smack echoed through the room, a faint red mark shining as Della yanked her hand away and shook it.
"Mae," Mina soothed, "she can't help it. Every bride is nervous on her wedding day!"
"Wedding day?! What is going on here?"
All three women jerked around at the booming of the angry voice.
Roy and Audrey Street stood in the doorway of Mae's home staring at their daughter, who immediately dropped her head. Audrey's face showed surprise but Roy's was covered with shock and anger.
"Mae, you didn't say anything about a wedding when you called!" Roy turned his anger toward his sister.
Mae stood and drew herself up to full height to face her belligerent brother, muttering to herself the entire time. Calling Della's parents had been a mistake, she realized. This wasn't the way that her overbearing brother needed to find out about his daughter's wedding. She had actually been hoping that Della and Perry would be married and honeymooning before her brother arrived
"Simmer down, Roy." She commanded. It didn't work.
Roy pushed Mae away, so hard that she fell over a nearby chair, and grabbed Della's forearms. "Tell me what's going on here, girl!" He gripped her tightly and shook her. "What kind of man are you marrying that doesn't talk to your daddy first? Why so fast? We didn't even know you were serious about anyone. Why haven't you told us?"
Della cried out as she tried to pull away from her father's iron grip, "Stop it, daddy. You're hurting me!"
Roy released his daughter suddenly, pushing her back slightly, and ran a hand through his thick graying hair. His wife moved forward from where she had been helping Mae up and laid a consoling hand on his shoulder. "Roy…" she pleaded.
"This makes no sense. Unless…"
Shaking his wife's hand away he whirled back to his daughter, his eye traveling critically over her. "I knew letting you come to this God forsaken land was a mistake. How could you do this to your family… to your mother? And you have the nerve to wear white? You little whore!"
The hand that Roy had drawn back failed to find its mark on Della's cheek, landing instead on the solid forearm that Perry Mason had flown across the room to interpose between his fiancé and her threatening father. Perry shouldered his way between Roy and Della, his stance challenging.
"I don't care who you are… Della's father or not… you will NEVER raise a hand to her again!"
Roy huffed and pulled against Paul Drake who had stepped in behind the man and grabbed his arms. "Let go of me!" he railed. "She's my daughter! You have no right…"
"In a few hours she'll be my wife and YOU have no right. NO man has the right to strike a woman for ANY reason."
Roy shook himself free of Paul who, at a nod from Perry, released him but remained close by and on guard. "So you're the man she whor…" He stopped abruptly as he noticed the look on Perry's face and the clenching of the younger man's fist.
"My name is Perry Mason. I'm the man Della is marrying in a few hours. I'm sorry that we have to meet under these circumstances but I will not tolerate any disrespect to my fiancé."
"No more than what you've already shown her you mean? Look Mr. Mason. I don't guess I can't blame you for being a man and all, taking what she was giving away…"
Perry had had enough. If Street didn't shut up soon he knew that he was going to do something he might regret. He turned his back on the older man and gently took Della's arms, lightly stroking them where her father had grabbed them. Her face was pale but she was composed. "What do you want?" He whispered gently.
"I don't want him here."
Perry turned back. "You heard her, Mr. Street. I believe that it is time for you to go. You can pick your wife up this evening at the Main Street Drug Store… if she wants to go with you." He glanced over at his mother who was trying to comfort a weeping Audrey Street.
Roy turned to Mae. "This is YOUR fault! Inviting her out here to this Sodom and Gomorrah! She was raised to be a good girl but you foisted your loose morals on her and look what happened."
Mae closed her eyes and swallowed hard. "Get out, Roy. Leave… and don't come back. You aren't welcome here until you learn to behave civilly."
"Well… Guess I don't have a daughter or a sister anymore. Come on, Audrey!"
Roy stomped toward the exit in a huff while his wife remained rooted to the floor, obviously torn between her husband and her daughter.
"AUDREY!"
Della swallowed hard and nodded at her mother. "Go." She mouthed.
Perry was dumbfounded as the woman turned and followed her husband, abandoning her daughter on her wedding day. He turned back to Della and wrapped her in his arms, relieved when she welcomed his embrace and returned it, burying her head in his chest.
"I uh… I think I'll grab a smoke." Paul quickly retreated out the door, both to light a cigarette and to make sure that Roy had left the premises.
"He's my only brother… I guess it's just me and Della now," Mae said sorrowfully.
Mina wrapped an arm around Mae's shoulder. "Nonsense! You're stuck with me and Perry now too."
"That's right," Perry agreed, earning a smile from Della who was still nestled in his arms. "We're in this together… all of us."
"Now Della, why don't we get you out of that skirt and get it hemmed." Mina coaxed the girl out of her son's embrace, Perry obviously unhappy at having to give her up. Mother glared at son over Della's shoulder, her eyes cutting to Mae. Perry gave an understanding nod as he released his girl, leaning down to kiss her forehead. "I'll see you in a few hours. I'll be the one standing in front of the judge." That brought a hint of a smile to Della's lips as she slipped away to begin to prepare for her wedding.
PDPDPDPDPD
Mae placed a piping hot wedge of pie and a steaming cup of coffee in front of Perry as he lowered himself onto the kitchen chair.
"Mae, you don't have to feed me every time I show up." Perry offered but his fork, already loaded with pie, headed toward his mouth.
"Speak for yourself buddy!" Paul slid into the next chair with an expectant grin.
"I think you deserve it, Mr. Drake, after your help." Plate, fork and coffee quickly appeared for the detective.
Once she'd taken care of the men, Mae joined them at the table. "Thank you for dealing with Roy… for defending Della."
"Della has never talked much about her parents."
Paul made to stand up but Mae waved him back down. "I guess now you can see why. Roy is my brother and I love him… but I'm not blind to his faults. He wasn't always a bully. Growing up he was wonderful, a big brother that I looked up to and adored."
"What happened?" Perry wanted all the information he could get about Roy Street. He was determined to protect Della.
"Life, I guess? When our father died I received a settlement, enough to take care of my needs comfortably if I was careful. Roy inherited the factories and all of the stress and problems that entailed. When the market crashed so did the business. The money was gone, the lifestyle… He struggled to keep a couple of factories open… to keep at least some of the men employed. He tried… but he was ill prepared although he did improve over time. I offered him my inheritance but he refused. He worked hard but for so long there was no improvement, in the business or the economy. Slowly he turned into what you saw today… angry, judgmental. Before the crash Della was his little princess… but as he hardened he got harder on her. If he allowed her to date at all it was only someone he chose. She wanted to go to business school, he wanted her to marry the milksop son of one of his rich associates and start giving him grandchildren. She basically ran away to me. He didn't speak to her… or allow Audrey to speak to her, for two years."
"Mrs. Street… How could she not be here for Della? Why does she put up with him?"
"Oh Perry… ask your mother. Women of our age were raised in a different world, a world where you married, had children, did what your husband told you to do. And in spite of everything Audrey loves him. She remembers the man he used to be… the man we keep hoping will find his way back out again. The business has bounced back somewhat. Maybe Roy will too."
"He's a fool! To have a daughter as wonderful as Della and treat her that way…"
Mae laid her hand over Perry's and squeezed. "He is a fool… and he'll come to regret his actions, I know. But you need to learn from my story too, young man. Can you understand now why Della is so independent? Why she shied away from marriage? Don't break her spirit, Perry. Find a way to help her be a wife without locking her away from the life she already shares with you… a life she loves."
Perry sighed. "I don't know how to do that, Mae… but I'll try to figure it out… We'll figure it out."
PDPDPDPDPD
