We're Done 3

Paul pokes a sleeping giant

PDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPD

Perry Mason was startled from his thoughts by the private enterance door of his office banging shut. He had not even heard it open. Paul Drake stood there stony faced.

'If you've come to impart some more marriage guidance,' Perry growled, 'Then you may as well get out now. I'm not in the mood.'

'I think I said all that I needed to say Friday afternoon.' Paul Drake was unmoved. 'But,' he shifted towards the clients chair, 'I understand that you didn't go home at all this weekend.'

'That's no concern of yours!'

'You stay with her?' Paul moved towards the clients chair and dropped himself into it. He saw his best friend was unusually pale, drawn and he clearly had not slept. The dark circles under his eyes accentuated the tired countenance. For a fleeting moment Paul felt sorry for Perry, he knew his world had imploded around him Friday but he had to remind himself, Perry had brought it on himself. The saga of Laura Robertson had been going on for twenty five years and Paul had covered for his friend several times during that period out of loyalty. He always told himself it was for the greater good in the long run, but that didn't stop the guilt he felt about making the tales he told Della a definite grey area.

'I stayed at the hotel all weekend, the room was booked anyway. Best place for me considering what went on.' Perry offered. He raised his hand to stop Pauls question before it left his mouth. 'Alone! I tried calling Della, but Mae kept answering and said she didn't want to talk to me because there was nothing to discuss.' Perry paused and rubbed his tired eyes.' I think it's over Paul. After all these years I've messed up once too often. She doesn't seem to want me anymore.'

'Nonsense!' Paul almost laughed. 'Della's just mad at you right now, quite rightly so I might add. For a really smart guy, you can be a real dumb ass when it comes to you sneaking around with Mrs Laura Robertson.'

'What do you mean by that? I don't sneak around with her! Nothing happened, it was a wine accident. I'm not the easiest guy in the world to live with but I do think Della's being a little unreasonable about this. Irrational, it's not like her.' This time Paul did laugh out loud.

'That's just like you! Getting mad about something you caused and then blaming Della…because you know you were wrong and you don't know how to deal with it.. …By the way did you really tell Della she would be nothing without you?' Perry glared at him across the desk. He was trying to work out if Paul had something useful to say or was being provocative so he would lunge over the desk and smash his face in.

'I didn't mean it how it came out,' Perry dropped his chin onto his chest as he slumped down into his chair.

'No, what you meant to say was, darling I love you very much and I'm sorry you caught me with my pants down, half naked in a hotel room with my ex-girlfriend when I wasn't expecting you. Instead you said, hey babe what you getting so mad about? I was just having my cake and eating it so suck it up if you want to continue being my wife.' Now Paul WAS being deliberately obtuse. Perry slammed his palms against the desk and half rose from his chair. Paul remained unmoved and met his stare evenly, silently daring him to make his move because truthfully after Friday, he wouldn't mind being given the opportunity of knocking some sense into his best friend, which is what he would have done in the hotel corridor had Jo not dragged him away into their room after he had imparted a few choice expletives towards the great Perry Mason.

'I didn't have sex with Laura.' Perry sat back in his chair. 'I want you to understand, I have NEVER cheated on Della since we have been a couple…EVER.'

'But you've been pretty damn close to it with Laura I bet. It would be odds on that she made herself available if you were willing…..were you?'

Perry's face flushed. Paul shifted in his seat a little. Now he had Perry right where he wanted him, striking a nerve, he'd never seen Perry blush before, he felt a pang of self satisfaction. 'So, were you tempted?'

'Yes,' Perry was so quiet he almost thought he'd not heard him correctly. 'I was tempted on more than one occasion…'

'Why the hell would you?'

'But,' Perry was desperate to clarify his statement. 'I didn't. To my great shame, I have kissed Laura over the years. Some of those kisses couldn't be described as platonic and if I'm honest I'm really not sure what would have happened had you not all turned up early last Friday.' Perry closed his eyes. It was as if the admission exhausted what little reserves of energy he had left. Paul took out a cigarette and lit up, silently urging him to continue.

'You do actually realise that less than chaste kissing a woman you shouldn't be kissing like that in the first place, is classed as cheating right?' Paul sounded skeptical, not quite sure Perry understood the advice he was trying to impart.

Perry almost gave an eye roll. 'I'm an ass not an idiot, of course I know that!' But if he was honest with himself, he'd never thought of the situation from that angle before.

'Are you really that unhappy with Della?' Perrys eyes flew open. How could Paul even ask such a question.

'God no! Della means more to me than anything.'

'You have a strange way of showing it…..By the way what did happen with the old witch when you went back into the room?'

Perry sighed and recalled going back into the hotel room. Laura perched on the edge of the bed, skirt provocatively riding up her thighs, the shirt still unbuttoned but now gaping open so he could see exactly what she was offering for the taking if he wanted. Her eyes had darkened with desire, her face displaying smug satisfaction.

'Laura please get dressed.' It was a statement not open to debate. Perry had looked blankly at her. 'Make yourself presentable and leave me alone. Heading towards the bathroom, Laura grabbed for his arm.

'Perry darling, I'm sorry but it's not my fault Della misread the situation.'

The blank look morphed into a cold, hard glare. 'I asked you to straighten yourself up and leave.'

'I have an appointment,' Laura continued as she went about smoothing and buttoning her clothing back into place. 'Perhaps we can meet for dinner this evening? After you have straightened matters out with Della of course. I leave for Denver on Tuesday.'

'Am I hearing you correctly?' Perry was incredulous. 'My wife of twenty years, the mother of my children has just literally told me we are done because of my ongoing association with you, and you want to have dinner with me? We would be top of the gossip rags by tomorrow morning. How would that look to Della, Paul and any other of my friends who've always had an opinion about you that perhaps I should have listened to much sooner?'

Laura reading his mood correctly for once in her life, did as he demanded as Perry went into the bathroom and slammed the door shut without another word. As Laura left, head held high, the smirk of self satisfaction back on her face and a further plan formulating in her mind about making her relationship with Perry much closer now the secretary was shuffling out of the picture, she had not heard the titan of the courtroom, the immovable object that was Perry Mason sobbing quietly as he sat on the edge of the bathtub, completely deflated and thoroughly rejected by not just his best friend but the woman, the one person, he loved most in his life.

'She left.' Was all he offered Paul. 'I have no plans to see her ever again. I spent the weekend alone, fairly drunk and miserable if that makes you feel happy.'

'And what about Della?'

'What about Della?' The husky familiar voice came up on both of them. Neither had heard the door from the outer office open. Paul had his back to it and Perry had his head down, lost in thought. Paul jumped to his feet. Della retained her poise and dignity with head held high, hair and make up perfect as always, but none of this could disguise the obvious exhaustion she was also suffering. Perry also shot up from his chair, he started at her, his blue eyes softening.

'Well,' Paul smoothed down his jacket and straightened his tie. 'I think you two have a lot to talk about, so I'll be down in the office getting those reports Perry.' With a cursory nod to both he left quickly by the private door.

Silence descended on the office as Perry and Della stood looking at each other across the office. The space, though only a few feet, might as well have been the Pacific Ocean at that moment. Neither moved for a few moments and neither spoke. Andy unfortunately chose that moment to enter. 'Perry you need to…' She stopped in her tracks and looked from one to the other. Sensing a rare heavy tension between the two, she hesitated a moment. Now it was obvious to her the cause of her employers black mood all that morning. 'It can wait,' she tactfully withdrew back into her office closing the door quietly.

'Della,' 'Perry' They both started speaking at the same time.

Perry opened his palm and indicated for Della to take the clients chair. She ignored that invitation and walked over and sat herself at the conference table instead. Somehow it felt more comfortable and natural to her. Perry joined her and chose the chair at the other side of the table.

'Please,' he invited, 'You first.'

Della drew in a sharp intake of breath. 'I'm sorry for not taking your calls over the weekend. It was childish of me I guess.' How like Della that was. Even under the worst circumstances possible, she was concerned she had been rude.

'You were understandably upset,' Perry offered. 'I don't blame you for not wanting to talk to me. I would have ripped the damn phone out and thrown it against a wall.' He made an involuntary, nervous chuckle. Della remained emotionless.

'You missed the game on Saturday.' She offered randomly to start the conversation.

'I know I'm sorry, I didn't think you'd want to see me, let alone in the state I was….. I erm…had rather a lot to drink. How did they do?'

'They won. Junior threw four touchdown passes, Paul junior took in three of them. They make good team mates.' Perry nodded in appreciation as the information sunk in.

'I'm sorry I missed that. I shouldn't have missed that. The others ok?'

'Yes. They missed you this weekend, especially George. You'd promised to help him fix his bike chain on Sunday.'

'Oh hell. Yes I did. He's not too mad at me is he?' Perry rubbed his forehead willing the throbbing pain that had appeared suddenly to leave.

'Yes and no. He was a little down about it until Tom helped him. I just told them that a serious case had come up and you had to work all weekend. They're used to that happening.'

'Thank you. That's something they shouldn't be used to. When they came along I promised I wouldn't be in the office as many weekends as I had been.'

'You promised a lot, you shouldn't have done that. Justice at all costs.'

They went silent again for a moment before Della drew a deep breath. 'Perry, I think I should resign from my position here.'

'What?' Perry suddenly became instantly alert leaning onto the table.

Della went on calmly,' If we're going our separate ways, it wouldn't be right I stay.'

'Wait a minute,' acid in Perrys throat rose from his stomach, 'What do you mean resign?' Panic edged his voice. 'What do you mean our separate ways?'

'I told you Friday…'

'I know what you said, but I thought you just said it because you were mad….we both…I said some really stupid things. I didn't mean any of them. You can't make a momentous decision like that in less than three days.'

'I've done nothing but think about it and us the last couple of days. I meant it on Friday. Perry, I won't be your second choice and I most certainly will not be continuing with this charade of being your loyal wife, waiting in the wings for you to come home whilst you continue your affair with Laura any longer.' Della rose from her seat and made towards the door. Perry scooted from his chair and with his long legs made it around her to the door first blocking her exit path.

'Wait!' Begging wasn't his strong suit but he was going to give it all he had. 'Please! You have never been second choice and I am not having an affair with Laura or anyone.' He swallowed hard as he looked into her face. He could read in her expression this was just as hard for her and it was for him. 'Please can we at least talk, go somewhere quiet, neutral?' Perry reached out to touch her face but thought better of it when Della flinched slightly. That small movement hit harder than any punch in the stomach ever could. 'Look Della, you're the most reasonable person I've ever known. How about I come and pick you up at the house around two? We can drive up the coast and have a bite at Gorgio's seafood restaurant, then maybe talk a walk on the coast path. We've had some of our most productive conversations walking up there, and it's neutral territory. I won't be an ass I promise.'

Della looked at him, her face softening at the edge of desperation coming into his voice. 'Alright,' she answered reluctantly. 'Two o'clock.' Della reached around him and was gone before he knew it.

TBC