Part 7
XXPMDSXX
Perry contemplated what Della said, "That's she's happy right where she is." Perry thought about asking Della if she meant what she said or was just angry because she found out about Michael cheating on her. Women will sometimes take their exes back. He wanted to wait until she calmed down and the mood was right to make sure for himself. As Perry drove out of town, he stole glances at Della, who remained silent until the last four miles of the ride.
"Are we anywhere near your aunt's place? Seems like we've been driving for miles and seeing nothing but hay fields," Della declared.
"Yes, we're getting there. That's the neighbor's field to your left and my aunts to the right. They will be needing to put up in hay before too long. It gets cut down twice a year. They usually get enough hay for the winter months for the horses and some leftover throughout spring. My aunt keeps a couple of retired racehorses and in the winter brings the horses closer to the house, and turns them out on the other field during the summer months.
A large ranch house came into their view that adorned a white wooden fence. It wrapped around the property far as the eye could see. Along with a large barn that stabled horses and another garage that housed the farm equipment. The house had a two-car open stall garage. The porch was decorated in hanging baskets with a rose trellis at the front gate. As Perry turned into the driveway and parked, he looked at Della, who was taking in the site with great wonder.
"This is where your aunt lives? It's beautiful, Perry." Della looked in awe of the house and its features which needed some repair.
"Not as beautiful as you Della," Perry put his arm behind her resting it on the bench seat behind her head.
"Perry, do you mean that or trying to make me feel better?" she teased him with a sly grin. Not answering her at first, he preceded to draw her closer to him with his right hand, and pulled her into him for a sweet kiss. She put her hands in his dark hair, stroked, and tugged at it as she deepened the kiss. He caressed her arm while she gasped into his mouth. He stroked her cheek and ran his hands through her hair. He wanted to go further, but she resisted his advances and pushed him away slightly.
"We better stop or this is going to get out of hand, Perry." Della gave him a quick kiss on his bruised lips, lightly tugging on his bottom lip, and made him groan with want.
"You have no idea how bad I want you right now," Perry whispered into her ear and lowered his head to her neck, kissed her jugular, and lightly nipped her in the hollow of her throat. Suddenly, two large German shepherds came from the garage barking loudly at the intruders who parked in the driveway.
"Oh, I forgot about the dogs," Perry sighed into her chest, kissing her tenderly and finally looked up at her.
"So, just how are we going to get out of the car? They're going to attack us," Della kissed him once more on the cheek, and removed herself from his arms eyeing his disheveled appearance. Sarah came around from the backside of the house with a rake in one hand and waved at them.
"Who's that Perry? Don't tell me. Your neighborhood crush," Della teased him as the young girl walked towards their car as the dogs stopped barking but looked on intently at their company.
"No, Della. She's my cousin, Sarah." He waited until Sarah approached his car before exiting it.
"Perry, I see you brought some company. Do tell who the lucky lady is?" Sarah grinned at him and his companion.
"Sarah, this is Della Street. We met in law school and are good friends," Perry told her as they both exited the car, and he closed the door. Della stood next to him and smoothed out her dress and raked her fingers through her hair fixing a stray strand, while he raked his hands through his embarrassed just a little bit.
"Good friends, eh. I'd say more than that," Sarah winked at them both.
"Nice to meet you, Sarah." Della extended her hand to her, shaking it gently.
"Perry, you did remember the ingredients that my mother wanted? I didn't know what chores you wanted to do first, mow the hayfield, tend to the window panes, or the front gate. Della, don't worry about the dogs. Just let them smell you, and they'll be one their way," Sarah told her as Della clutched Perry's waist with her free arm. Perry turned and picked up the brown paper bag from the seat of the car with his right hand and gave her the contents.
"What happened to your hand Perry?"
"Oh, it was nothing that an iron fist couldn't handle," he looked down at Della smiling at her pulling her close to his side and she rubbed his arm that was holding her waist tightly, making her blush.
"I bet it was over nothing. Its' always over something and especially a girl. You don't need to lie to me," Sarah debated. All of them laughed walking together toward the house as the dogs followed them.
Upon entering the house, Sarah held the screen door open as Perry and Della followed her into the house. Looking into the kitchen, she found her mother grabbing some bowls and setting out ingredients on the counter with other cooking utensils.
"Mom, Perry is back and he brought someone with him," Sarah announced as they entered the kitchen.
"Aunt Fay, this is Della Street. We had met at law school and have been good friends," Perry explained looking over at Della.
"Hello, there dear. Glad to meet you." She busied herself at the counter looking through her ingredients. As she turned around and looked at Perry, he handed her the brown bag with his injured hand. She looked at him with a concerned look on her face.
"Perry, what happened to your hand?"
"It's fine. Nothing to worry about. Della fixed it and was a very good nurse for that matter," He assured her with a grin looking down at Della and back at his aunt, who knew it wasn't just anything.
"After your chores are done, what would you like for dinner tonight, Perry? It's still midafternoon so we only have two days to get the things around here finished before your Uncle Tom comes home."
"Well, how does fried chicken, green beans, mashed potatoes, corn on the cob, and chocolate cake for dessert sound?" She beamed at her nephew and Della.
"That sounds delicious. Della, you want to give a helping hand to my aunt?" Perry wrapped his arm around Della's shoulder as he gave her a quick squeeze.
"Sure, I'd love to," Della replied looking up at him lovingly.
"I can start the chores as soon as I find some old work clothes. I hope you have some in the closet somewhere. I don't want to ruin my slacks and dress shirt or my shoes."
"I'll see what your Uncle Tom has in his clothes drawer. I think you two are almost the same size I'll see what I can find." His aunt walked towards her bedroom, looking through her husband's drawer, and found a set of jeans and old blue- checkered flannel button-down shirt. Coming back out into view, she handed the clothes to him. Della watched him leave, closed the door, and turned towards his aunt. He went into the bathroom and changed into work clothes.
"I'm glad he decided to come up here. He's such a big help." Fay told Della as she passed her in the kitchen headed back to the stove where she took the salt and sugar out of the paper bag.
"Me too," Della agreed with a sigh when she joined his aunt at the counter. Pulling out a press device for fruit, his aunt gripped the base and handed it over to Della, who instantly took it to the table. Aunt Fay grabbed a large glass pitcher from the other cabinet. "While I start making dinner, can you squeeze some fresh lemonade for me, Della?" Fay asked bringing her a basket of lemons from the storage room setting them on the table.
"Yes, I'd be glad too. I haven't made fresh lemonade since I was a kid in grade school," Della replied.
Meanwhile, Sarah was out in the garage getting the painting supplies ready. Then headed out to the big barn opening the large sliding doors for the tractor and baling equipment. She checked the baling twine in the baler and checked the fuel gauge to make sure it had a full tank. Sarah also looked at the cutting bar making sure it wasn't too loose, and all the gears were oiled and maintained.
Perry changed into the work pants that fit just right. The flannel shirt was a little too snug for his liking. He left the two buttons open at the top, which exposed his chest hair and he left it untucked. Before exiting the bathroom, he fingered his mused hair from his previous endeavor in the car with Della. Before he left the room, he gave himself a quick look in the mirror. As he made his way towards the kitchen, he noticed Della helping out handing ingredients and making herself useful. She reached up to grab a cutting board off the hanger to slice the lemons. Watching her silently he stood in the foyer of the hallway then approached her slowly, taking in her curves as her sun dressed hugged her body.
"Do you know where I can get a pair of boots? I don't want to wear my loafers out in the field," Perry interrupted what they were doing in the kitchen. Della paused for a second, taking in the rare sight of Perry who was not wearing his formal attire such as a business leisure suit. Taking several glances at him as she sliced the lemons, she took extreme caution not wanting to cut her fingers with the sharp knife, as she smirked at him. Thinking this change of scenery was much better than she thought it would be allowed her to see a completely different side to him. He was so sexy.
"Perry, I think there is an extra set of boots out on the front porch. I believe should fit you. Your uncle doesn't wear them a lot, practically brand new. You can try them out see if they fit," she told him as she continued with preparing dinner. Della wiped her hands on her apron.
"Della, can I have a word with you?" Perry took the knife from her hand and placed it on the table next to the press machine. He took her hand in his and went out onto the front porch. His aunt took notice as they talked on the porch smiling at each other while in conversation. Della raked her fingers down the front of his shirt, popped another button open, which now exposed more of his broad chest, scratched him lightly, and made him shudder with her touch. He closed his eyes and quickly grabbed her wrist stopping her movements. He gave her hand a quick kiss. Finding the extra boots that his aunt mentioned, he donned them and laced them up. Della watched him with her arms crossed. When he finally finished his task, he approached her, placed one hand beside her head leaning up against the side of the house.
"What is it that you wanted, Perry?" She asked innocently picking at one of the buttons on his shirt as she cocked her head at him.
"Just wanted to tell you what my first chore was before you start worrying about where I was. I'm going to cut the hayfield, then I have a few hours to come back to the house and then I have to return out in the hayfield to bale it. My dinner better be ready when I get done or there'll be some explaining to do," he teased her with a cute smile but his dimples gave him away. Teasing her, he pulled her in for a quick kiss. She returned his kiss, slid her arms around his broad shoulders, and ran her hands through his dark hair before he abruptly stopped.
"I better get this field cut or I'm not going to be back before dark," Perry told her as he pulled back from her. She grabbed at his shirt, tugged him into her once more, and pulled him flush against her.
"You better be back. You don't want to forget your dessert," she caressed his cheek.
"I wouldn't miss my dessert, Della. Not even for one second." He squeezed her hand. She stood on the porch and watched him disappear into the barn. She heard the tractor roar to life knowing he would be out in the field for the rest of the afternoon.