He tried to remember that he loved Della. There was never a doubt how much he loved her. Sometimes he felt he had always loved her but knew that wasn't true. It wasn't love at first sight. It had taken him awhile to see her more than an employee, then more than a friend and confidant. It changed about 2 years after she had been working for him and he had come from Las Vegas and she was at her desk, still there, waiting for him. He sat down and for the first time, he felt her hands on him. He could feel her hands through his coat, past his jacket and shirt. His skin tingled has she massaged his shoulders. As they talked, all he wanted to do was pull her to his lap and kiss her all over. He almost did, but a client was waiting.
Things moved quickly after that and here they were 40 years later, and he was trying to remember the good times, the love, but it was impossible. He exploded.
"Della!" he yelled. "Why is there toothpaste all over the place? For the love of god, even if you can't put the cap back on, can't you at least rinse out the sink when you're done? It looks like a crime scene in here!"
Perry cleaned up the sink and went to find the woman who he loved but honestly could not believe what a mess she could make with toothpaste. No one would ever believe his beautiful, graceful and classy partner could create such a mess.
Della leaned against their bedroom doorway with her feet crossed with a small smile on her face. She loved to rile him up and the surest way to accomplish that was to make a mess in the bathroom sink. For all his pet peeves this is the one that drove him the craziest. She was not spiteful, but they needed some together time and after one of his rants, he was always especially randy.
Perry saw her standing there, still in her robe, smiling at him. All the sudden, his anger disappeared only to be replaced with another, stronger emotion. "You minx." He said as he pulled her to him. "You don't need to get my goat just for us to make love."
"I know, Perry but at least this way my breath is fresh." Della said laughing into Perry's minty fresh tasting mouth.