TITLE: EVEN I HAVE SECRETS 14
AUTHOR: Shari Mooney
RATING: PG-13
DISCLAIMER: The Characters in this Story are used strictly for the purpose of entertainment only. With the exception of Frank Smith, Stanley Cody, Matthew (Hart) Mason, Marlesa Carlton, (The Captain) Evan Michaels, and the Bus Boy at the Hotel, all other Characters belong to the Estate of Erle Stanley Gardner and His Wife Agnes Jean Bethel Gardner. No profit or Copy write Infringements are intended at any time during the writing or reading of this story.
SUMMARY: An old Rivalry causes Perry and his Friends trouble almost Beyond Repair. Involves Perry's dearest friends.
(As we left off in Chpt. 13, Perry and Della had spent the night with each other in her room and made love. The next morning Della was feeling a little guilty about what had happened the night before. She had a secret that she just could not tell Perry.)
At breakfast Perry could tell that something was bothering Della because she picked at her food. She had hardly touched her breakfast. He put his hand over hers gently squeezed it, and smiled at her, but with a worried look in his eyes. She looked over at him and managed a smile for him. Stephan and Marie could sense that something was going on between the two, but did not intrude.
After breakfast Perry and Della left for the hospital to check on Hart and his mother. Perry opened the car door for Della to slide into the seat, walked around to the driver's side and slid in behind the wheel. He began to turn the ignition switch, but hesitated. He looked over at Della with a face of worry.
"Alright, can I help?" He took her hand into his.
"Help; what do you mean?"
"I have been watching you all morning and you have something on your mind and you have hardly said two words all morning."
She bit her bottom lip, lowered her eyes and began to play with her purse strap. She hesitated before she spoke.
"Perry, right now is not the time to put any more on you. You should concentrate on Hart and his mother. I will be fine."
He lifted her chin up to see her eyes better. "Darling, whatever it is, we will work it out together. When you are ready to talk about it, I'll be here."
"Della Street, you are my heart and I love you so much." He leaned in to her and gently and passionately pressed his lips to hers. When he released her he smiled and winked at her. She managed a smile back for him.
"By any chance would whatever it is, have something to do with last night?"
"Perry, I wouldn't change anything at all about last night. I wanted you as much as you wanted me! You made me happy last night. I have waited so long for us to be together. You were so sweet, caring, loving and gentle last night. You were perfect." She smiled at him and caressed his cheek.
"Miss Street, you weren't all that bad either. You were… Honey, you were fantastic all around. Most of all, you were loving, soft, and tasted absolutely divine."
He kissed the inside of her palm, smiled at her and turned to start the car.
Within 20 minutes they were at the hospital walking into Hart's room. He was awake sitting up on his bed.
"Well son, you must be feeling a little better."
"Yes sir, I am still sore but I am better. Good morning Miss Della!" He smiled at her.
"Good morning Hart." She walked over and hugged him.
"Did you sleep well last night?"
"Oh yes mam."
"Dad, how is Mom?"
"In a few minutes I will go to check on her."
"Since you feel better, I bet the Doctor let's you out of this place today!"
"I hope so I'd like to spend time with you, and Miss Della."
"Hart, we'd love nothing more than to spend lots of time with you. It will give you and me a chance to get to know each other better."
"Son, you will just absolutely fall in love with Della when you get to know her better. She'll be good for you."
"Is that what happened to you dad? Did you fall in love with Miss Della?"
Perry looked over at Della and smiled. "Yes son, I did fall in love with her years ago." He took Della's hand into his, brought it up to his lips and gently kissed it, then smiled at her.
"Dad, I am glad that you have Miss Della. Now I can rest knowing that you are not all alone up there in California. I know that Miss Della will do a wonderful job looking after you."
"She already does son. By the way, what made you come to the conclusion that I had fallen for Della?"
"Dad, it's obvious by the way you look at her."
"Young man, you are very bright for your age."
"What can I say? I take after my dad!" he teased and smiled.
Perry ran his hand through Hart's hair mussing it up.
"Alright, I am afraid that I have to leave you two for a few minutes to go and check on your Mother. I'll be back soon."
"We will keep each other company and get to know each other while you are gone." She said.
Perry smiled and winked at the two of them and exited the door.
Perry walked to ICU to Marlesa's room. He stood for a moment and looked at all of the wires and tubes clinging to her body. His heart was breaking to see her in this position. He walked over closer to her bed and gently took her hand into his and just watched her for several moments. He began to gently speak to her.
"Hello Marlesa. I am sorry this whole mess has happened, but one thing you would be grateful and thankful for is that Hart was not injured very much in the accident. He is just fine. Don't you worry I'll take care of him and you too. I don't understand how the accident happened, you are an excellent driver. I am sure of one thing though, I am certainly going to find out what did happen even if I have to get Paul Drake in on this. He's a private detective that works with me and helps me investigate the cases I work on. Oh, Della came down with me to help take care of you and Hart."
A moment later he heard someone clear their throat and turned to see a Doctor standing in the door way.
"Mr. Mason?"
"Yes I am Perry Mason."
"I am Miss Carlton's Doctor, Dr. Richard McGuire."
Perry shook his hand.
"It's a pleasure Doctor. What is the prognosis of Marlesa?"
"Well, she sustained multiple contusions and abrasives; she has also sustained a severe concussion. It may have damaged a small part of the brain, but we cannot be sure just yet. We have her sedated to keep her from moving around with that head injury. She also has a couple of fractured ribs, however no internal hemorrhaging. We are going to do an MRI on her to double check and make sure that we didn't miss anything. After that, if everything shows up alright, we'll bring her out of this induced coma to see how she does. I can tell you Mr. Mason, she is a very lucky young lady. I hear the way that the car she was driving looks it's a miracle she or your son did not die in that crash."
"Who is my son's Doctor, I haven't seen them yet?"
"I am also your son's Doctor and I am headed to see him right now. Care to join me?"
Perry followed the Doctor out of ICU and into Hart's room.
"Good morning Hart. I am here to see how you are coming along. How do you feel today?"
"I'm a little sore, other than that, I feel great."
"Well let's check you out here."
The Doctor listened to his chest, checked his eyes, checked his bruises and contusions, and checked all of his reflexes.
"Young man, you are about the healthiest young one that I have ever Doctored on. If you feel up to it, we'll let you check out of here today."
"Yes sir, I very much feel up to it!"
"Alright. I'll have the nurse draw up the paperwork and then you may go. You can go ahead and get dressed if you would like."
"Thank you doctor." Perry shook his hand.
After the doctor left the room, Perry thought it best to tell him his mother's condition.
"Son before you get dressed, let's talk about your mother for a minute."
Hart gave him all of his attention.
"Your mother is in the Intensive Care Unit. They have put her in an induced coma to keep her from moving around. They are going to run more tests on her to make sure that they did not miss anything in her initial examination. She has an excellent chance of healing and being just fine, but she will have to stay here just a little longer. In the meantime, you will be staying with me and Miss Della at uncle Stephan and aunt Marie's home. Is that alright with you?"
"Yes sir."
"Well, if you two will excuse me, I am going to step out in the hallway to let you get dressed Hart."
A few minutes later Perry opened the door and called Della back into the room.
"Hart I am so glad that you're getting out of here today. I am looking forward to taking you to do something special when you feel up to it." Della said.
"That's great Miss Della! Thank you."
Perry, Della and Hart made their way back to Stephan and Marie's estate and then got Hart settled. Not very long afterwards, Stephan came through the front door. He instantly saw Hart and welcomed him with a hug.
"It's good to see you are out of the hospital Hart. I am glad that you are here."
"Thanks Uncle Stephan."
Stephan looked over to Perry.
"Perry can I see you in the study for a few minutes?"
"Sure. Darling, why don't you show Hart where his room is and help him get settled. I'll be up shortly to help the two of you."
Perry followed Stephan into the study.
"Perry, please sit down a moment."
Perry sat in the leather chair that was seated in front of Stephan's desk.
"What is it Stephan?"
"It's about the accident… it was no accident. The brake line had been cut."
"TRY TO LIVE YOUR LIFE
THE WAY YOU WISH OTHER
PEOPLE WOULD LIVE THEIRS!"
Raymond Burr
In Loving Memory of my best friend Angel and our friend Kirby, and a wonderful friend, Denise.