The Best Part of Me
Chapter 11
The four of them finished off their meal in relative silence that evening.
Paul and Ken were tired from pulling reports, researching public records and comparing notes to Perry's old client list. Della and Perry were each lost in their own thoughts.
"I feel like my eyes have been burned through to the back of my head," Ken said, rubbing his hand across face. "And that doesn't include the headache that I have right here," he said, indicating his forehead.
"Yea, and not a single match. Nada," Paul retorted. "But on the bright side we eliminated quite a few names. Most of them are deceased or have retired to a life relatively free of crime."
Della said, "By narrowing it down, that's progress, isn't it? Besides it's been fairly quiet over the last week. I'd like to hope whomever it was has moved on or gotten whatever grudge they had out of their system and it's all over."
Perry looked up at her. His expression was indecipherable.
Paul reached over and touched her hand, "I hope you're right, but I think we'd all rest better having them caught." He looked over at the big attorney, who appeared to be studying his meal more than necessary.
"Uh, Perry, the police aren't going to keep a presence here indefinitely," Paul ventured forth.
"Don't you think I don't know that?" The attorney barked at him and slammed his fist on the table. His sudden show of temper caught them all by surprise.
"I am also well aware that you two have managed to turn up absolutely nothing so far." The last statement was practically a growl.
Shoving his chair back from the table, he mumbled, "Excuse me," and walked out the door and into the backyard.
Paul turned to Della, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to set him off."
Della had turned her head to watch Perry make his way to one of the old fashioned double wooden gliding chairs and ease himself down. She released a long held sigh.
She knew why his reaction had been so strong, but she didn't make excuses for Perry Mason. She didn't need to or have to. He was who he was.
"He must have been an ass to you all day, Della. Honestly, I don't know how you put up with his moods and temper," Paul added, as he raised his fork to eat a bite of pie.
The sound of her slap reverberated throughout the room followed by the sound of silverware hitting the floor.
Shocked, Ken looked at Della.
Paul's cheek held an imprint of her hand.
Never had she ever struck him in his life. He didn't know whether he was angrier, shocked, or hurt.
Della rose to her feet. "Don't you ever, ever say anything like that again! That man, that ass, out there has been the only father you have had since you were ten years old. That ass out there is one of the finest minds in criminal law."
By now angry tears welled up in her eyes, and her voice deepened as she said, "That ass out there is the most loving man I have ever known. He would give his life for me, as I would for him-as he would for you."
She leaned down closer to Paul, "I love you, but if you ever disrespect Perry in my presence like that again-"
Placing her hand over her mouth, Della stopped before saying something that she would forever regret.
Reaching for Perry's glass and grabbing her own, she followed him outside.
**********************P&D************************* ***************************
Della's big bear was leaned back in his seat, watching the evening sky, while lightening bugs flitted and glittered like tiny fairy torches all over the grass and through the foliage.
He watched her leave the house; it was too dark to see her expression clearly, but he knew that angry walk. She stopped on the patio and turned on the radio to an oldies' station. The dulcet sounds of Sam Cooke's These Foolish Things swept across the lawn.
"May I join you, Counselor? I come bearing libation."
He patted the seat beside him on the double glider.
She handed him an icy glass. Taking a sip from hers, she exhaled heavily..
"It's nice out here tonight," she said.
"Mmm. It is," his deep voice answered.
"We chose well, didn't we? The house?"
"We did. We chose very well," he said softly, placing his arm around her shoulders. "I chose well."
Della leaned her head against his massive shoulder. There was companionable silence as they listened to the baritone of Ben E. King and Stand By Me.
"I know what you're going to say," he muttered.
"What am I going to say," she whispered.
"I was too hard on the boys—excuse me, Paul and Kenneth."
"Nope."
"Nope?"
"Nope."
"Mmm," Perry muttered, surprised. "Why do I get a pass?"
"I didn't say that 'you got a pass,' I just said I wasn't going to say what you thought I was going to say." There was a gotcha smile in her voice.
For the first time all day, he felt his shoulders relax.
Otis Redding sang That's How Strong My Love Is.
"Perry," Della said softly, placing her hand on his thigh and leaning back to look at the stars. "I know that you are cantankerous when you are worried, and where I am concerned, well, you tend to let your emotions get the best of you these days."
"I didn't used to." Perry said, knowing it was a lie, but he appreciated the 'out' she had offered in her comment.. He sucked in a deep breath and admitted what she already knew.
"It never really sunk in that we would reach this age. Our lives back then seemed so timeless and golden; we were invincible. I didn't imagine Paul would be gone so young. When Yvette showed up today, I relieved Hamilton's death, and then when you came inside, teary eyed and upset-."
Perry pulled his arm from around her and leaned forward, getting to the crux of his anger.
"I can't even protect you—can't walk worth a damn. I'm so big I can hardly move. I certainly didn't anticipate I'd be so physically worthless!"
Perry waited for comforting words from Della, but there was only silence. He glanced at her and was surprised to see that she was smiling at him.
"Woman, I bear my soul to you and you smile?" Perry tried to use the arm of the glider to rise indignantly, but it moved, and he fell back into the seat in a much undignified manner.
Della laughed loudly and threw her arms around him, holding him there.
"I can't believe that the same man who has slept in my bed since the Rat Pack ruled Hollywood would call himself 'physically worthless.' I damn sure wouldn't," she added the last part in a low sensual tone. "Now, Counselor, if you would allow me to change venue, say to our room, I could properly present a defense to this terribly untrue charge."
Perry leaned forward and kissed her tenderly then passionately. "How do you always know the right things to say?"
"I don't. I only know what to say to you."
"I love you, Miss Street."
Perry replaced his arm, and Della leaned back against him.
They glided to Ella Fitzgerald singing Make Love to Me.
