Chapter Ten
Los Angeles, CA Doctor McRae's Office 3pm Friday, 3 June 1983
A little fatigued from a long day at work, Della let out a heavy sigh as she settled into her usual chair in Doctor McRae's office. Doctor McRae brought her a cup of coffee.
"You look tired, Della. How have you been?"
"I'm doing okay. Even though the work week was shorter due to the Memorial Day holiday, I still put in some long hours this week. But it's fine, just fine." The twinkle came back into Della's eyes. "I like to stay busy..."
Doctor McRae settled into her chair with her coffee.
"I'd like to start off our session today with any updates you want to share. What's happened since we last saw each other?"
Della thought it over before answering.
"Nothing really – I mean if you're talking about speaking with him or seeing him..."
Doctor McRae caught the irritable tone of her voice with that statement. "She's still in the anger stage", she thought to herself.
"I see… Is that okay with you – that you haven't had any contact with Perry?" She intentionally mentioned him by name to see her reaction.
Della looked up and away with a furrowed brow.
"I think it's just fine with me. I'm staying busy. I'm adjusting to my independence quite well."
Doctor McRae thought that Della was feeling very uneasy with her reply but didn't let on about her observation.
"I'm glad you're adjusting so well. That's progress… So, last time we met I was asking you about how you think Perry is doing with all of this turmoil in your relationship. Have you thought about that at all?"
"To be honest, I really haven't thought about it. He brought this on. He made his choice… She paused for a moment to carefully give Doctor McRae more information about Perry's past. "This isn't the first time he's been uh, unfaithful..."
Doctor McRae watched closely as Della shifted in her chair.
"Do you want to talk about that?"
Della became a little flustered knowing that her choice of words for Perry's past behavior wasn't exactly truthful.
"Maybe I should rephrase that statement. He wasn't exactly unfaithful, but more or less allowed himself to be taken advantage of by other women… I suppose that maybe he was just leading these women on to get something out of them that would help him solve a case or save a client, but to me his flirtations were a little overboard… Especially when he knew I was watching him..."
Della looked down and clasped her hands together on her lap. Doctor McRae noticed her discomfort and decided to change the subject. She wanted to start off the session on a more positive note.
"We can come back to that topic if you're troubled by talking about this. Why don't we change gears here a bit and go back to your story about Paul Drake and his family?"
Della began to relax right away.
"Oh, right. Paul Drake and family..." Della looked around the room again searching for the right way to continue her story of Paul, his wife Barbara, and their son Paul Drake Junior.
"As I told you before, it was back in 1966 – either the end of May, or middle of June. I don't remember the exact date, but it was a while after Paul and Barbara renewed their wedding vows. Perry had just purchased our house in Malibu..."
Della smiled at the memory of those days before continuing. "A lot of things changed around that time. Perry legally changed my title in the office from not only being his confidential secretary and office manager, but he made me some sort of an associate. And I don't mean an associate that practices law, but sort of a co-owner of the law office. He explained to me that any salary he made, that I would make the same amount. Well since I was still in charge of the checkbook and worked directly with our accounting firm, I made sure that since Perry was the brains in this outfit, that he would be compensated a lot more than me!"
Doctor McRae noticed the attitude change in Della as she reminisced about her work life back in 1966. "She was really happy working with Perry back then," Doctor McRae thought to herself.
Della sipped her coffee and continued the story with a more serious tone.
"Anyways, Perry and I were in the office working on something one day when Paul came into the office looking very forlorn..."
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Los Angeles, CA Office of Perry Mason 1pm Tuesday, 21 June 1966
With just two loud taps on the back door to Perry's office, Paul Drake walked in on Perry and Della as they were finishing dictation on a legal matter. Without saying anything, Paul immediately sat down on his favorite leather arm chair and with shaky hands, he fumbled to light a cigarette. Perry and Della exchanged glances before Perry calmly greeted him.
"Well hello, Paul. What brings you in this afternoon? You look like you've just seen a ghost!"
After finally lighting his cigarette and snapping the lid shut on his lighter, Paul exhaled the cigarette smoke and finally spoke.
"I need some legal advice… A very serious situation has come up and I think you're the only ones that can help me out with this..."
Della lowered her notepad to the desktop and Perry pushed the papers in front of him off to the side. Clasping his hands together and resting them on his desk, Perry asked what Paul needed.
"We'll do anything for you, Paul. You know that… Are you in some sort of trouble?"
Paul tapped an ash from his cigarette into the ash tray on Perry's desk and began telling them what he needed.
"I need to legally make the both of you Godparents for Junior – that is if you're willing to be Godparents..."
Puzzled but concerned about Paul's needs, Perry and Della again looked at each other before Perry replied.
"Of course we'd love to be Godparents to Junior. What brought this on so suddenly – if I may ask?"
Paul gripped his forehead with his hand and had trouble continuing.
"It's about Barbara… She's, uh… She's… She's been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and her doctor says that her prognosis is not good at all!"
As Paul lowered his head to try and hide his sorrow, Della immediately got up and walked around the desk to try and console him.
"Oh my goodness, Paul. That's horrible news! Are you sure about the prognosis?" Della turned back to Perry as she rubbed Paul's shoulders. "Perry? Can't we arrange for another doctor to give a second opinion? Or maybe arrange for her to go to the Mayo Clinic?"
Before Perry could answer, Paul continued.
"She's had three second opinions already… They're more than sure about the cancer. It's just up in the air about how long she has to live. One doc said two months – another was not as generous and gave her three weeks..." He looked up and took another long drag of his cigarette. "This is what I've been dealing with the past week and a half… I couldn't tell you until now because we wanted to be sure. Now we're making plans – plans for me to raise my son solo and probably back off of my work a little more..."
"We'll help out any way that we can Paul." Perry was very concerned. "Where is Barbara right now?"
"She's at home resting. I took Junior to a day camp activity at the recreation center this morning." Paul glanced at his watch. "I've got to run back there and pick him up at four o'clock..."
Perry continued. "The process for guardianship is really quite easy, Paul – if that's what you mean about wanting us to be Godparents. It's simply making an appearance in Court after we fill out the necessary paperwork. If it would make you feel better, we can start on that right away." Perry looked to Della. "Della, would you..."
Della cut him off right away. "I'll start the paperwork right away. I'll arrange for the Court hearing whenever you're ready, Paul..."
"Thanks. That eases my mind a bit. There's just so much to do and so little time… Junior is being enrolled in school for the Fall and he's got to be scheduled for a check up with a doctor for shots and his overall health. Barbara and I have been talking about her medical care as the cancer progresses, and… and..." Paul broke down. "And funeral arrangements!"
At this point Perry got up and walked around the desk to stand near Paul.
"We'll do everything we can to help, Paul." He put his hand on Paul's shoulder. "What have you decided about Barbara's medical care? Will she need to be hospitalized or can we arrange for medical care in your home? I've read somewhere that there's a new concept in medical care for the terminally ill called hospice care. I'll be more than happy to check into that for you. The main thing is to make Barbara comfortable and also take care of you and Junior."
Paul continued to smoke his cigarette but nodded at Perry's ideas.
"I knew I'd come to the right place to talk about this. Those are things we haven't even thought of. We both just thought she'd have to go into the hospital. I thought about the costs of that and I'll pay anything to make sure she's comfortable."
"I'd be more than happy to pay for around the clock medical care for her in your home. As a matter of fact, I insist on arranging for the best care possible."
Della had another idea.
"Perry? We'll be moved in to the house in Malibu by the first of the month. We can easily turn the area that we were considering for an office into a temporary living space with plenty of room for a hospital bed – if needed." She turned to Paul. "There's a private entrance to that area and plenty of room for your whole family if you want. There are no stairs to climb since it's all on one level. I'm only suggesting this if you don't think your apartment is large enough."
Perry chimed in again.
"I think that's a great idea, Della. We'll be glad to offer you the space, Paul. Do you want to look at the area before you make any decisions?"
"I really like the idea of keeping her out of a hospital or nursing home. I better discuss this with Barbara." Paul leaned forward and crushed out his cigarette in the ash tray on Perry's desk. "I better get back home. I need to stop at the pharmacy on my way home."
Della wanted to help out.
"Paul, why don't you let me do that for you? Then I can stop by your place and talk with Barbara also. There's probably a lot more that I can do for all of you."
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Home of Perry and Della, Malibu, CA 1:45pm Tuesday, 16 August 1966
They were all gathered at Barbara's bedside when the medical doctor attending to Barbara Drake removed his stethoscope from her chest and solemnly informed them that Barbara had passed away. Paul sat at Barbara's side holding her hand and leaned over her still body quietly sobbing. Della pulled Junior onto her lap and held him close, her head bent down next to his. As Junior wiped away a few stray tears, Della whispered to him over and over that it was okay. Perry stood behind Della lightly gripping her shoulders as he watched the doctor and attending nurse back out of the room.
It was several minutes before Paul composed himself enough to speak.
"She's gone… She's really gone..." He turned around and reached for Junior and Della released him right away. "Come here, son. It's okay."
Junior walked over to Paul and Paul pulled him up on his lap. Perry and Della stepped back to give them some privacy.
"We have to say goodbye to your Mom now… She loved you very much you know… And now we need to be strong for her and remember what a good person she was..."
Junior nodded and sniffled. "Okay Dad. I can be strong like you..."
Perry released Della from their embrace and walked over to the doctor and nurse standing by in the next room.
"What happens now, Doctor?"
"I'll make my notification to the coroner's office. It might take some time for them to get here but once they do, they'll release her to the funeral home for transport. This shouldn't take long since I was in attendance at the time of death. Just let me know when Mister Drake is ready for me to make the call."
The rest of the week they were all busy getting ready for the funeral of Barbara Drake. Perry had closed the law office after hours on Friday the 12th knowing that Barbara was slowly fading away more each day, so the office would remained closed until after the funeral. The service was planned for Saturday the 20th with a burial immediately afterwards.
Aside from everyone associated with Perry's Law Office, over two hundred other people paid their respects, including many from the District Attorney's Office and the Los Angeles Police Department. Over the years they all had contact with Paul Drake in one way or another and were all proud to consider him a friend and offer their condolences.
As the crowd dispersed from the cemetery burial site, Perry and Della lingered in the area as Paul and Junior privately said their last goodbyes by placing roses on the casket. They turned to leave and walked over to Perry and Della.
After they all embraced each other individually, Junior took a hold of Della's hand.
"My Mom's in heaven now. Will you be my new Mom now, Della?"
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Los Angeles, CA Office of Doctor Connie McRae 3:45pm Friday, 3 June 1983
"You were all so very close. It must have been very difficult for Paul Drake – uh Senior, to adjust to life without his wife and having to raise his son by himself."
Della nodded in agreement with Doctor McRae's statement.
"But he really wasn't alone. Like you said, Perry, Paul, Junior, and I were very close. We worked out schedules to make sure Junior was taken care of."
"How so?"
Della looked towards the ceiling and thought it over before she replied.
"Well Junior started school about a week or two after the funeral. Paul spoke with the school principal and Junior's teacher about what had happened. Naturally Perry and I helped out when we could with Junior – you know picking him up at school when needed, or even keeping Junior with us overnight if Paul was working. Paul hired a sitter for the days when Junior was not in school or if Perry and I were unavailable due to our work."
Della chuckled and continued.
"Those boys really bonded over the years. I always tried to arrange Perry's schedule so that they could all take off for long weekends of fishing or camping. There were even a few times that they insisted that I come along! Junior just loved making me hot dogs or toasting marshmallows over the campfire. He really like making those marshmallow cookies – I forget what they're called."
"S'mores? The graham crackers with chocolate and marshmallows inside?"
"Yes, that's right! They're called s'mores! Junior was really proud of learning how to make them when he became a Cub Scout! When Paul saw how much he enjoyed fishing and camping, he got him into the Cub Scouts. Of course along that line of thinking, Paul and Perry were grooming Junior to someday go along hunting with them. Junior couldn't wait to be old enough to enroll in hunting classes. He'd come back from a fishing trip or camping trip and tell me how many years and days he had left before he could go hunting."
Doctor McRae continued to observe Della's joy as she recalled Junior's younger years.
Suddenly Della seemed sad and looked down at her hands clasped together on her lap.
"I gather that you didn't approve of Junior going out hunting," Doctor McRae inquired.
"No, that's not it at all. It's just that Junior suffered another tragedy before he was old enough to enroll in those hunting classes..."
Doctor McRae was interested in hearing about what was making Della suddenly seem sad.
"Do you want to talk about it?"
Della paused to gather her thoughts and stared straight ahead.
"It started on Valentine's Day 1970..."
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Perry and Della's Home, Malibu, CA 5pm Saturday, 14 February 1970
Della walked in their home office area to speak with Perry who was busy reading notes on a case they were currently working on. She walked up behind him and leaned over him from behind and kissed his cheek. Perry reached back for her arms and pulled them down around his chest.
"Is that a hint that I need to put this case away for the day so we can get ready to go out to dinner?"
Della kissed his cheek again.
"Yes that's a hint. I just spoke to the sitter and she'll be here to watch Junior in an hour. He's still watching a television program. Have you heard anything from Paul?"
"No, not yet. He was going to try and call from Palm Springs over an hour ago. If he doesn't call soon, I'm sure he'll be calling for Junior before he settles in for the night..."
"Wonderful. Well I'm going to go and get dressed for dinner. I already put your suit out for you, so hurry up with what you're doing. I don't want to be late for our Valentine's Day dinner..." She kissed his cheek again and stood up.
The phone rang and as Della tried to grab it to answer it, Perry lightly tapped her hand.
"I'll get this. You go and get ready for dinner."
Perry answered the phone on the second ring while Della stood by to hear who was calling.
"Hello? Yes, this is Perry Mason… Who...? What...?! Say that again?"
Perry was suddenly very concerned about the call and reached out for Della to keep her from leaving the room. He grabbed a pencil and slid a notepad in front of him.
"Where is he...? Are you with him right now...? Can I talk to him...? How serious is this...? Hold on a second..."
Perry covered the phone mouthpiece to speak to Della.
"It's about Paul! He's at Desert Hospital in Palm Springs. They think he's had a stroke!"
Perry got back on the phone.
"I'll tell you what, I'll be there as soon as I can! If there's any change in his condition, call this number right away and ask for Della. That's right, Della. I'm leaving here right away… Thank you! Goodbye."
Perry made it to Paul's hospital room by eight o'clock that night. Paul was sedated and resting peacefully when Perry spoke to the attending physician at Paul's bedside.
"Has he said anything? Has he even been conscious at all?"
"According to the man who was with him at the time of the event, he started slurring his words, grabbed his forehead and collapsed. Thankfully that man called out for help right away and there was a doctor at his side within a minute..."
"What's the prognosis?"
"We suspect a hemorrhagic stroke but we're waiting for a radiologist to view x-rays of his head. This might take some time. I'll be honest, his condition is very serious."
"Do you mind if I ask if caring for a stroke patient is your medical specialty?"
The doctor was not at all offended by Perry's question.
"I'm the hospital's on call neurologist, Mister Mason. I was called in by the emergency room physicians. I will be consulting with a vascular neurologist also. I've treated many stroke patients, but we have a team of physicians who work on each case – especially serious cases like this."
"Thank you, Doctor. I only want the finest help available for my best friend here."
"I understand completely, Mister Mason. We have a vast network of stroke specialists that will be involved in Mister Drake's care."
"Thanks. If you don't mind, Doctor, I'd like to remain with him for now. I want to be here when he comes to."
"That's not a problem at all Mister Mason..." The doctor needed to excuse himself momentarily. "I will be back shortly. I'll be making a call to another member of our care team and keep you advised. If you need to make any notifications or other calls, the phone on the table there is available. For long-distance calls, please use the hospital operator by dialing '9'."
Perry walked back to Paul's bedside and pulled over a chair to sit down beside him. He put his hand on Paul's shoulder. He looked at all the medical equipment hooked up to him and listened to the sounds made by the machines before he spoke.
"We'll get you through this, Paul. You just rest right now and let us take care of you."
Perry got on the phone and contacted the hospital operator to make a call to Della.
Della answered his call on the first ring.
"How is he Perry?"
"It's a serious stroke, Della. He's sedated and resting. He's getting good care right now. They'll know more after a few more tests. How's Junior?"
"He's fine. He's playing a board game with the sitter. I kept her around for a while in case I would need to leave at all. Is there anything I can do on this end?"
"I don't think so. I plan to stay here until further notice. We might have to adjust my work schedule through next week though."
"I'll take care of that. Please keep me posted. Give Paul my love..." Della hung up the phone and bit her lower lip recalling how emotional she was when Paul was in the hospital in Los Angeles due to what they thought was a heart attack. After a moment, she regained her composure and went to check on Junior and the sitter.
By the next morning, Paul started to come around. The stroke had severely affected Paul's speech and movement of the right side of his body. When he fully came to, he saw Perry sitting at his bedside and tried to speak.
He could only mumble and furrowed his brow in frustration. Perry was consoling and placed his hand back on his shoulder.
"Hey – take it easy, Paul. You're in no shape to be moving around."
Paul continued to try and move his right arm and speak but could only make moaning sounds. In frustration he just tightly closed his eyes.
Perry recognized his exasperation immediately.
"Listen to me Paul. You've suffered a stroke. Things are not going to be normal for you for a while, but the medical attention you're getting here will change that. It will just take time..."
After opening his eyes again to look directly at Perry, Paul raised his left hand and gestured. Perry tried to interpret what Paul was trying to say or do. He tried guessing.
"I know you're trying to tell me something..."
Paul moved his arm around and closed his hand like he was holding something.
"Do you want to eat something? Or hold something?"
Then it hit him.
"You want to write something! Is that right?"
Paul began nodding his head. Perry searched the table by the bed and found a pencil and paper handing it to Paul right away.
Paul began trying to write and handed his scribbled note to Perry who tried to decipher Paul's scribbles.
After a moment, Perry thought he had it figured out.
"You want to know if Junior is okay?"
Paul nodded again.
"Junior is fine. He's with Della. We haven't told him that you're in the hospital yet. We can do that later when we know more about when we'll be able to get you out of here. Oh – and Della sends her love."
Paul relaxed a bit and just stared at the ceiling.
Perry wanted to assure Paul that he was getting good care but it would take some time to be able to return to Los Angeles.
"You just need to rest and listen to your doctors. They're planning some therapy for you right away and when you show some improvement after that, we'll bring you home."
In the days that followed, Paul began to respond to treatment in the hospital and was able to communicate better with Perry and his medical team. Perry remained with Paul for the first week, then had to return to Los Angeles when Paul showed enough improvement to be left in the capable hands of the medical staff.
By the last part of February Perry, Della, and Junior all returned to Palm Springs for a visit. Being able to see Junior really gave Paul a boost. Although his speech was still slurred and his right side mostly paralyzed, Paul could still interact with his son and promised that he would work hard to get better soon so he could go back home with him.
Paul was bedridden for his entire treatment and his progress took a major downturn on the first of March when Perry, Della, and Junior were getting ready to return to Los Angeles. While he was still able to communicate clearly, Paul wanted to talk with Perry alone. Della and Junior had already left the room to get something for Junior to eat in the cafeteria when Paul reached out to get Perry's attention.
Paul slowly slurred his words to Perry. "Please take care of Junior for me, Perry. He's all I have left in this world. My estate papers are all in order… Promise me that you'll always take care of my boy!"
Perry reached for Paul's left hand and gave it a strong grip.
"Don't talk like that, Paul. You'll get out of here eventually so that you and Junior can go on living a long, good life back in LA. Della and I will always be here for you and Junior. That I can promise!"
Later that day, Paul developed pneumonia and had to be intubated. Over the next few days his condition weakened. Paul peacefully passed away on the 6th of March with his son and dear friends Perry and Della at his side.
On Friday the 13th of March 1970, Paul Drake was buried with full military honors next to his wife Barbara Drake at a cemetery in Los Angeles. At the burial service, Junior was seated between Perry and Della under a canopy facing the flag-covered casket. Over three hundred other mourners stood nearby as the chaplain finished the service.
As the military honor guard stepped up to the casket, Perry, Della and Junior stood up. The honor guard commander brought his detail to attention with loud, sharp commands.
"Detail! Attention! Present arms!"
The rifle squad was assembled off to the side of the burial site. Under the direction of the rifle squad commander's orders, they immediately readied their rifles for the traditional 21-gun salute.
"Ready! Aim! Fire!" "Ready! Aim! Fire!" "Ready! Aim! Fire!"
With her right hand over her heart and tears flowing freely from her eyes, Della held tight to Junior who along with Perry, had raised his right hand to his brow with a sharp salute. Perry and Junior remained very still as the shots were fired but Della flinched for each volley of shots.
Off in the distance, a bugler began playing "Taps" and at the conclusion of "Taps", the honor guard commander shouted, "Order Arms!" Junior and Perry slowly dropped their salute.
After Perry, Della, and Junior were seated, the honor guard removed the flag from Paul's casket and began sharply folding the flag into the customary triangle shape. When they finished, the commander of the honor guard presented the flag to Junior.
"On behalf of the President of the United States, the United States Navy, and a grateful Nation, please accept this flag as a symbol of our appreciation for your Father's honorable and faithful service."
Junior bowed down, accepted the flag, and immediately held it to his chest. Della and Perry embraced him from both sides as he sobbed.
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Los Angeles, CA Office of Doctor Connie McRae 4:15pm 3 June 1983
Della dabbed at the tears in her eyes as she finished the story of Paul Drake's death. Doctor McRae was very sympathetic.
"This has been a very emotional session for you today, Della." She got up from her chair and went to get Della a glass of water.
"Here, drink some water..."
Della accepted the glass of water and began to regain her composure.
"Well now you know how I became more like a mother to Junior. Perry and I have been the only parents he remembers mostly. That poor kid had a rough childhood losing both of his biological parents by the time he was ten years old..."
Doctor McRae's receptionist suddenly interrupted their conversation.
"Doctor McRae – I'm so sorry to interrupt! We've had an incident in the waiting room! An unscheduled client showed up and passed out! There's help on the way. I think this is a drug overdose situation!"
Doctor McRae immediately excused herself.
"Please wait right here, Della. Let me see what's going on."
With Doctor McRae out of the room, Della took a few moments to wipe the tears from her eyes. She slowly regained her composure before Doctor McRae returned. When Doctor McRae came back into the office, Della suggested that they end the session before Doctor McRae could say anything further.
"I think we need to take a break, Connie. You have a crisis on your hands and I think that I need to go home and relax."
"Are you sure Della? I'm so sorry for this distraction. Things are under control out there in the waiting room. I'm more worried about you right now."
"Yes, I'm sure, Connie. I'm okay."
Doctor McRae went over to her desk and grabbed a business card. She wrote her home phone number on the card and handed it to Della.
"Please take this. It's my home phone number. I really want you to call – anytime – especially if you need to talk anymore tonight. This has been a very heart-rending day for you. I don't like to see you leaving here unless I know you're okay."
Della took the card and placed it in her purse.
"Thank you, but I really am fine… I'm just fine."
TBC
Thank you for reading and thank you for your patience waiting for each chapter to be posted. I appreciate all of your comments.