We're Done 4

Della discusses the situation with Aunt Mae and Perry tries to have a heart to heart talk with Della

Thank you for the comments. They are very much appreciated. I do love Perry & Della dearly but over many years reading the books, he wasn't always the man we like him to be with Della, treating her at times almost like a child. (I know this was a product of the times in which they were written) Fine lines and all that.

Again a shout out to CaptainChaos for proof reading and giving me some ideas on the minor changes from a previous version of this story. All mistakes are mine. And also a thank you to Milissak for originally giving me much to think about in adding to this story and helping in its direction.

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The drive along the coast road had been reasonably quiet. Della said very little as Perry Mason piloted the car along the well travelled highway and arrived at Gorgios in good time. He didn't push the conversation, but stole several glances across at her and made attempts to complement her on her outfit several times. Della had always been beautiful even if she didn't see it in herself. Damn he was a complacent fool he thought.

Perry had arrived to collect Della at 2pm promptly, freshly showered and shaved. Opening the door with his key, he had stood in the large hallway a few minutes hesitating but decided to carry on without knocking in what was still his own home, well it was at least for time being. On seeing Aunt Mae standing in the kitchen doorway with a rather large carving knife in her hand and a sour look on her face, he'd swallowed hard fearing for certain parts of his anatomy he was fond of and excused himself quickly, explaining he wished to change into something more relaxing for the dinner, and bound up the stairs two at a time.

Della had been in their bedroom putting the finishing touches to her outfit and was mildly surprised when he came through the bedroom doorway revisiting the events of the previous Friday afternoon and evening and what she was certain was going to be a difficult afternoon.

Previous Friday Evening

Mae Kirby brought the cup to her lips and drinking slowly, contemplated her niece who at this moment looked thoroughly defeated.

Della Mason had curled her legs underneath her, perched on the end of the sofa and was staring off into a distant place, hugging a now tepid cup of tea.

'So now what?' Mae asked

'I have no idea Aunt Mae.' Della said quietly. 'I really thought I could rise above it, be the better person, not come across as some jealous shrew and nagging wife, but it seems I can't.'

'Della I'd have thrown the bag at him, but I'd have hung back on the chocolates you took with you!' Della smiled in spite of herself as Mae continued. 'After everything you've done over the years, trying to be understanding and making his life run smoothly and he goes off meeting that….that…Jezebel!' Mae felt herself getting angrier at her nephew in law. She was about to continue her tirade when Della burst out laughing for no apparent reason. The laugh however held no amusement. 'What is it honey?'

'I was just thinking about trying to seduce my own husband and how it backfired on me spectacularly. I'm getting old Aunt Mae.' Della was in danger of feeling sorry for herself.

'Well if you're old dear, I must be positively ancient! He's a fool.'

'I can't compete with her. I was the fool to think I could. She's still good looking, wealthy, successful and ambitious.'

'Rubbish,' Mae snapped. 'She's also manipulative, mendacious and false. And, she has never known how hard it is to bring children into this world and raise them. Never lifted a finger outside work to keep a home, cook a meal for her family. You've given that man the best part of your adult life. You run his home, his office and raised his four beautiful, clever and grounded children besides. All this without complaint. He couldn't be who he is and do what he does without you, and don't you let him ever forget that…and if you do, I'll remind him. And you my girl are still a pretty great looking woman yourself!' Mae placed her cup on the fire hearth a little harder than she intended.

Della nodded quietly remembering the afternoon that hadn't quite gone as planned. At that moment she didn't know what to do for the first time in a long time.

'Was I too harsh on him? Did I read it wrong? You're right, with men Laura has got a manipulative streak.' she said to no-one in particular.

'Not at all. A man half undressed in a room with a woman not his wife or girlfriend is only there for one thing Della. Even IF it was like he said, he's a grown man. He can change his clothes without help.'

Della nodded and sighed. 'You're right. He's met her before you know.'

Mae sat back with an impassive look on her face. 'Really when?'

'He thinks I don't know they've been together, whatever TOGETHER actually means.' Della stopped but Mae remained silent inviting her to go on. 'Oh on and off over the years. She can't keep herself out of the gossip columns. Always top of the society page when she breezes into town. It's generally about that time Perry starts becoming distant amongst other things. When she's gone, he goes back to his old self.'

'You think he sleeps with her, gets it out of his system and then comes crawling home?' Mae frowned. This was all news to her. Della never complained about Perry's late nights and long hours. She always believed them to be in the pursuit of a case not because he stepping out on her niece with another woman. Now her internal disgust was going from a slow burn to a raging inferno.

'I don't know what he does with her and if I'm honest, I never wanted to know. I tucked all the newspaper pictures of them dancing and dining away thinking he just has some sort of guilt about breaking up with her, that he sees her as an old friend. Jealousy isn't a good look. That's how I deal with it, but this afternoon…..' Della closed her eyes willing the tears to not come. 'This afternoon, all my fears seemed to come true.' At that point the telephone rang. Della stared at it knowing who it would be. 'Please let it ring Aunt Mae. I'm not up to talking to him at the moment. I don't trust myself.'

Mae let out a snort and shot out of her seat to go to the phone. 'YOU might not want to talk to the man but I have a few things I want to say!'

'Please!' Della begged. 'Just leave it or tell him I'm not here.' Mae looked at her for a moment, then nodded in agreement before lifting the receiver.

'Hello…..yes she's here….' Della's shoulders slumped forward as Mae continued. 'I'm not putting her on….because she has nothing to say to you at the moment… I don't think it would be good for you to come home…well I know it's your house but you should have thought about that before…..no Perry, I think you have a lot to think about and now is not the time to try and discuss it with your wife…..I'm sure your painted harlot can help keep you warm…' Mae kept her voice calm but clearly cut Perry off mid sentence by slamming the receiver down. She turned to Della a satisfied smile on her face. 'That's the frosty reception the great Mr Perry Mason is going to get until YOU decide when you are ready to talk to him honey.'

Perry entering the bedroom brought her from her tangled thoughts by explaining he needed to change to an open necked shirt, clean slacks and a sport jacket, she nodded and then assured him Aunt Mae was only chopping vegetables with the great knife. Perry was relieved but not entirely convinced.

Now they were seated at a table tucked away in a quiet corner of the veranda with a view of the beach and ocean. On any other day, this would have been the perfect setting for a romantic meal, light hearted talk and endless possibilities on how the day would finish. Perry watched as Della barely ate and pushed food around her plate, her gaze alternating between the view and the meal in front of her.

'Something wrong with the lobster?' Perry finally ventured unable to manage the uncomfortable silence any longer but also knowing it wasn't the food that was the problem but what had happened over the weekend.

'No it's good.' Della ate a fork full to prove a point.

'Are we going to talk or are we just going to be uncomfortable and silent all evening?'

'What do you want me to say to you? Della raised her eyes to his. Those normally mesmerising pools of blue she often lost herself in were now clouded and unsure.

'Well, I'd really appreciate it if you shouted at me, screamed at me about how you feel, that would be a start. Della I want to know what I can do to fix this.'

'It's not a leak in the bathtub! I don't know how this can or even if, it can be fixed.' Perry put his fork on the plate and leaned forward resting his elbows on the table.

'It can be fixed. It will be fixed because we're adults, we're married, we love each other and we can talk and work through any jam we've ever found ourselves in.' Della pushed her plate away and gave a short laugh.

'I'm just another case to be solved is that it?' She crossed her arms.

'Not at all…..but..'

'Do you know why I fell in love with you?' Perry's eyes narrowed, was this a trick question? he thought but decided against the smart reply that came to mind. When he didn't answer Della continued. 'Because you're you.'

'What?' Was that some sort of cryptic crossword clue? He might have a brilliant legal mind but sometimes he just knew he would never fully understand the woman in front of him.

'Everything you are. You're a fighter, you stand up for the weak and protect the vulnerable and will go the ends of the earth to protect someone from injustice. But when she's around you're not you. We're not us.' There she'd finally said it directly to him.

Perry sat back in his chair and pursed his lips. Della clasped her hands in front of her. He knew she was emotional and finding the conversation difficult, that movement was one of her few tells when she had her poker face on.

'We always promised each other we wouldn't lie to each other,' Perry started slowly. 'What do you want to ask me?' He was already afraid of the questions she would ask.

'I know you two have history, that was before you and I….well….I can live with the before. How long have you and she…after?'

'We haven't.' Della's eyes flicked wider in mild surprise but then saw his courtroom face.

'Ok, let me rephrase. How many times have you slept with her since we've been married?' Della sighed heavily dreading the answer but trying not to give way to tears.

'We haven't,' Perry repeated. 'I've told you already, I've never cheated on you. I've never had a reason to, but, Laura and I have met up for drinks, dinner when she's been in town and we have kissed. A couple of times. I admit once it almost got out of hand but I stopped it going any further. I suppose some people see kissing as cheating.' Although he'd never thought of it that way, Paul's comments echoed in his ears.

'When?'

'About three years ago. I'd had too much to drink, mixed with those pain pills for knee. We were in the office late. Laura was passing through and stopped to ask if I had time for dinner. I didn't so we had a couple of drinks from the bottle in my desk, forgetting I'd just taken my pain meds. I felt a little off and Laura helped me to the couch so I could come around little. Maybe she thought I was a little drunk and she came on to me a little too strong. It started to get out of hand and then my wedding band caught on the buttons of her suit jacket sleeve. It was like having a bucket of cold water thrown over me when I touched it to untangle myself. I apologised for probably making her believe I was still interested in her that way when I'm not. Friday really was a wine accident. Granted I didn't act appropriately by letting her follow me to our room. She did start trying to seduce me but, I made it very clear nothing was going to happen between us. Della, she kissed me on Friday. I know you saw the lip prints on my shoulders. How could you not? ' He prudently left out the part of how his body had reacted initially to her raking a finger across his chest and the planting of the lipstick marks. He also pushed away the thought of what really could have happened had the knock at the door come at that moment.

'If your ring hadn't caught on her sleeve you would have had sex with her in the office wouldn't you?

'No!' Perry tried to keep his voice down. 'If I'm being honest I'd like to say no. Truthfully I don't know what would have happened. I'm not saying this to hurt you, but that night in the office, I simply don't know. What I do know, is that I would have made the stupidest mistake of my life if I had.' By trying to answer her questions he could practically hear her mind working all scenarios, letting all her suspicions roll into one. He shot out a hand across the table and gripped hers. He could feel the tug as she tried to remove herself from his grasp but he held firm. 'Darling please. I am sorry beyond words. Now you know, if I have to spend the rest of my life making the office incident and Friday afternoon right, then I will. I just need to know what you want me to do!'

'Please take me home, that's what I want you to do.' Della pushed her plate from her, her face emotionless.

'Why? It's still early?'

The waiter approached seeing the plates still half full.

'Everything ok Mr Mason?' He sounded concerned. 'Food alright?'

'Sure Stan,' Perry pushed his plate also away and gave the waiter a sympathetic half smile. 'Food's great as always. It just appears that Mrs Mason and I aren't as hungry as we thought. Can you sort out the check? I think we'll go for a walk on the beach.'

'Sure thing Mr M. I'll sort that now for you. It's going to be a nice evening for a walk.' The waiter turned on his heel and hurried away. Perry rose from the chair and walked behind Della waiting to assist her in rising from her chair. He bent forward, his breath touching lightly the spot behind her ear he knew would normally make her shiver.

'I don't want us to go home yet. Please take a walk on the beach with me. I need us to work through at least some of this and I don't want any decisions being made about us when you're so angry with me.' Perry offered his hand in assistance, then sighed in relief when Della finally nodded in agreement and placed her hand in his.

TBC