Part 5

*PMDS*

All the halls were bustling with students as they carried their luggage out of their dorm rooms. Bus schedules and routes were listed in the main building for out-of-town students. While taxi cabs lined out front for locals, some had their cars and didn't have to wait. Della had more than one piece of luggage, missing her foot as it made a thud onto the wooden floor. Meanwhile, Janet came up from behind her with her two luggage pieces and accidentally bumped into her side as she maneuvered around Della in a hurry.

"Janet, what's the big rush!" Della cried out.

"My bus is leaving in five minutes! I promise I'll write to you, Della. Valerie, I'm sure going to miss you too," Janet gave her friends a big hug and ran towards her bus carrying her baggage.

"Our bus doesn't leave until what time, Valerie?"

"We only have an hour before we head to the airport and catch our flight for Chicago," Valerie stated and looked at the wristwatch that Paul had given her as a going-away present.

"So, Della. What's on your mind? I've noticed how you have been fidgety all morning. Care to share with your friend," Valerie patted the side of the bed so she could talk.

"It's flying back to Chicago and facing Michael. Does he truly love me and want to marry me?" Della looked at her friend as she worried her bottom lip and clasped her hands together in her lap.

"It's Perry, isn't it? He's got you second-guessing your engagement, doesn't he? I think he likes you a lot Della. It's genuine from what Paul has told me when we were at the movies that day of the picnic. I'm telling you because I believe he's an honest person, Paul would not lie about, Perry. They are best of friends and that is something that Paul wouldn't say if it weren't true. Della, I'm saying Perry, is basically smitten with you," Valerie touched her arm gently and retreated to her closet checking to make sure she didn't leave anything behind. Della sat on the edge of her bed looking over towards her friend's room then back out their window watching the buses pull away from their curbs as other students left in their cars.

"It's about that time Della. Come on, we're going to miss our ride to the airport," Valerie walked out with her luggage in her hands. Meanwhile, Della grabbed her suitcases and followed her friend out of the room. A few other ladies had exited the entrance holding it open for Della. She descended down the steps of the building with her luggage when a firm grip took hold of her larger suitcase, pulling it away from her.

"Excuse me. Can I help you with that, Ms.?" Perry took her bag from her hand, gripping its handle in his left hand.

"You don't have to. I mean I'm a big girl, but if you insist," Della remarked with a soft smile.

"It's not a problem at all. I'm glad I could be of help," Perry gestured for her to lead the way. Perry enjoyed the view that was in front of him as he watched her move gracefully across campus.

"Well, here is my ride. I want to thank you Perry for everything and yesterday. I'm flying back to Chicago and not sure what's going to happen when I get there," Della nervously said. Sitting down the luggage beside him, Perry looked at her with concern. He raised his hand lifting her chin to meet his eyes. Tears began to flow down her cheek as he swept them away as leaned forward and gave her a quick kiss to her lips.

"You'll make the right choice, Della. I know you will," Perry whispered and kissed her on the cheek while brushing an unruly curl away from her forehead.

"You are making this so hard right now, Perry. Do you realize that?"

"It's not easier on me either, Della."

Della blushed a shade of pink and grasped his hand in hers, and tightly squeezed it. She touched his cheek making him smile and grabbed for her luggage turning back to see him watching her with eagle eyes. He was making his point across that he cared for her so much that he wanted to see her off. Taking her seat beside her friend, she was out of his life for now but not for long.

Meanwhile, Paul leaned against his car waiting for Perry to join him before he left. The office assistant hurried out the doors passing Paul with a note in his hand and ran towards Perry.

"Can I help you?"

"Excuse me, are you Mr. Mason?"

"Yes, I am."

"I was just told to give you this message. A long-distance phone call is all I know, sir." The young man handed him his script of paper and returned to the building. Perry unfolded the letter stating that he was needed back in Chicago. His aunt had fallen and her husband wasn't due back in town until the weekend. The aunt and uncle were from his mother's side and he knew of a younger cousin named Sarah.

"Perry, what's the matter?"

"Paul, I've got to head to Chicago for a few days. I have a family emergency. I'll catch up with you later," Perry told him and headed to the airport. In the meantime, Della and her friend Valeri got their plane tickets and walked to their terminal. Arriving half-hour later, Perry parked in the airport parking garage, and grabbed his luggage. Getting his ticket and finding his terminal area, he scanned the huge area as passengers passed by. Not paying attention, Della had just boarded an early flight with her friend as he glanced at his ticket. Literally missing his chance to see her one last time.

Xxxxpmdsxxx

Chicago Airport

The pilot came over the intercom announcing their arrival. The attendants announced to fasten safety belts for the upcoming landing, walking down the aisle and helping those who needed assistance. The flight was bumpy and the turbulence shook the plane rattling the windows. Della gripped the armrest tightly while the city buildings appeared down below. Her friend Valerie had been asleep the whole trip but the bumpy turbulence startled her awake. Circling the large building multiple times, the plane finally landed. The pilot taxied the plane to the gate with ease and shut the engines off. The passengers started filing out of the exit door making their way into the airport as loved ones greeted their families. Valerie's sister met her by the ticket counter, hugged her sister fiercely and took one of her bags.

"Val, I'm glad so glad to see you. I missed you so much!" Carol told her and looked at Della whom just joined her.

"I missed you too sis!" Valerie stated squeezing her sister again in a hug and turned to Della.

"Della, I haven't seen Michael today. I know he was supposed to pick you up. I even reminded him yesterday that your plane would be here today. Even told him that Valerie would be coming home, and he knew that you'd be here." Carol solemnly told her.

"Michael is probably working, and time got away from him," Della made an excuse shrugging her shoulders.

"A close friend of mine had told me that Michael was spotted in a glitzy club with a blonde bombshell. Oh, I'm sorry Della. I didn't mean to…." Carol blurted out before she could cover her mouth.

"Della, come on. Let's go I'll give you a ride back to your apartment, maybe Michael will be there. It might just be that someone mistakenly seen a look alike. It could be just some mistake on Carol's part," Valerie explained trying to defend Michael.

"Don't bother grabbing a taxi, come on lets' get out of here," Valerie took off towards the parking garage as they followed her.

"Okay, thank you." Valerie put their luggage in the car, and her sister started the car. On the ride to her apartment, Della made a mental note that his car was not there in the parking lot. She thought Michael might have taken a cab wanting to surprise her. Della looked up at her apartment window, and the curtains were still pulled closed just the way she left them before she went off to campus.

"Doesn't look like he is here, Della."

"He could be waiting in surprise with a welcoming party. You just never know," Carol sounded hopeful but quickly closed her mouth as her sister gave her a warning look to shut her mouth. As the girls exited the parked car, they helped Della take her luggage out of the trunk and into the apartment.

"Carol, it's okay. I will be fine if he's not here," Della straightened her dress, as she opened the main door to her building. Unlocking the door with her key, the room was dark as her friends followed her inside. Flipping the switch turning the light on, she noticed everything was untouched, nothing out of the ordinary, no welcoming party, no Michael, no flowers, not even a note on her kitchen table. Her friends followed her into the apartment and sat one of her carry-on bags on the wooden floor making a thud.

"Well, looks like he's not here, Della." Valerie put her hand on her shoulder making her jump slightly as she started to fume.

"Yeah, not even a card, roses, or anything," Carol stated as she glanced around her room and peeked into her bedroom. Disappointed, Della sat down at her kitchen table joined by her two companions who remained standing.

"You guys go ahead I'll be alright. I just need some time to myself for a little while."

"You sure Della. I mean don't go do something stupid now," Valerie warned her.

"I won't Val. It's fine. I'll give you a call later," Della promised her.

"Okay, I'll be here if you need me," Valerie put her hand on Della's shoulder and turned to leave with her sister shutting the door. Della sat at her kitchen table for what seemed like hours and tried to clear her mind. After doing her laundry, she tidied up her apartment and she decided she need to get some groceries since she had cleaned out her fridge.

Arriving later in the afternoon, Perry's plane landed at the airport in Chicago. Once he got his rental car and placed a phone call to his cousin to announce his arrival in town. Perry drove out to his aunt's place parking the car in the driveway. He exited the car and slamming the car door to scare anyone off. A large German shepherd came out to greet him followed by another white shepherd, which wagged its tail.

Barking protectively at the intruder, the two dogs stood their ground making him stop in his tracks. Movement came from the garage, and a young girl about sixteen came out looking to see who the visitor was. She noticed his familiar face and called the dogs to her but they continued to bark at him. Finally, they sat down and watched his every move.

"Perry, is that you? Oh, my you've gotten so tall!" Sarah exclaimed as she walked slowly up to him and gave him a big hug. He gave her a quick squeeze before standing back from her as the two dogs made their way up to him sniffing his pants and getting acquainted with his scent.

"Perry, you'll never guess what happened the other day? My mom was painting a windowpane the other day slipped off her stool and fell, hurting her hip. I wasn't here. I was in town when it happened. I called for the ambulance out of fear she might have broken her hip. The doctors said nothing is broken, and she only needed a few days' rest. My father isn't due back in until this weekend. She wanted to finish painting all the window panes before he got back to surprise him."

"I'm glad to be here. I got the message when I was on campus which happened to be my last day." Perry said looking at the much-needed work around the house.

"I'm really glad you could help out Perry. You don't know how much it means to us. Come on, let's surprise her," she grabbed his hand as she pulled him towards the house.

"Perry, what on earth are you doing here?" She took a sip of her coffee and carefully got up from her chair as he enveloped her in a careful hug. Perry's aunt was pleasantly surprised by his arrival as it was kept a secret from her.

"Someone needed my help, so here I am. I just got finished with my term at law school, and was informed a special lady needed my help," Perry turned on his heels looking at his younger cousin.

"That wasn't necessary Sarah. Your father would have understood if I couldn't get some things down around the house. He would have them finished when he got back from his business affairs," she scolded her daughter.

"Sorry, mom. We hadn't seen Perry in such a long time. I figured he'd be okay with coming out for a visit even if he didn't want to do chores," she teased him and left the kitchen.

"Typical teenager," she said. Perry smiled looking in the direction from which she departed and talked with his aunt getting all caught up on what was going on the home front.

"Perry, do you mind going to town and grabbing a few things for me? I'll make a list as I don't need much only salt and sugar. I have everything else here but I'm running low on those ingredients." As she grabbed her purse from the countertop, Perry stopped her, placing his large hand over hers.

"I'll get it. I don't need your money. You keep it," Perry released her hand and walked back outside as the screen door flung behind him. His aunt stood in the doorway and watched him leave.

He backed up the car and drove down the highway toward town. Della's apartment was about two blocks from the grocery store. As she walked down the street, she passed a few storefronts, a jewelry store, a furniture store, an appliance store, and a fine dining restaurant. Gazing at her reflection as she passed by them, something caught her attention, rather a certain man, who was flirting and laughing with a blonde girl. Della opened the door to the entrance of the restaurant getting stopped by the mait'de.

"Miss, you have a reservation? You can't come in here if you don't have …." He was knocked out of the way by Della shoving him violently away from her.

"You got some nerve, Michael. What's all this? What in the hell is going on here? I thought you were supposed to pick me up at the airport?" Della fumed crossing her arms.

"I can explain Della. Please, hear me out," Michael wiped his mouth from the lipstick stain that was painted on his mouth.

"You have nothing to explain to me. I see what you want and obviously, you don't want me," Della looked at them with disgust and retreated outside the restaurant, bumping into Perry, who had a paper bag in his hand.

"Slow down, Ms. What's your hurry?" Perry's voice carried as Della whirled around to face him.

"Perry, what are you…." Della's expression went from angry to relief.

Before he could explain himself, Michael grabbed Della by the wrist holding her tightly. He grabbed her towards him pulling her away from her conversation with Perry.

"Let me go, Michael. I have seen enough of your antics. Just leave me alone!" Della shouted at him.

"I will not let you go. You need to hear me out!" Michael argued with her on the sidewalk. Perry had enough. He couldn't stand for disrespecting Della. Clinching his right hand, and pulled him away from her with his left hand and punched him right in the jaw. Michael was flat on his back shaking his head at what just happened, Perry's knuckles were blooded from the blow to his jaw. Michael spit out blood between his teeth as a crowd gathered by. Perry took her arm and escorted her away from the swarm of people.