The road back to perfect health was a smooth, although long one for Perry. For the first several days, he could do little but lie in bed and take naps. Even as he dozed, however, he tightly clasped Della's hand in his own. She was only too happy to sit in an armchair next to his bed and watch him sleep peacefully.

Mealtime during those days was a complicated affair. Paul and the doctor would prop Perry up on pillows, and his loyal fiancée would bring spoonfuls to his lips. Perry never dreamed that merely eating a bowlful of chicken soup could be so draining. Thankfully, gazing into Della's beautiful eyes gave him the motivation and strength he needed to stay upright for the duration of his meals.

After a week was up, however, Perry was strong enough to hold the utensils himself, as well as to have longer conversations with the woman he loved. During one of them, Della told him how she had first realized the depth of her true feelings for him during the Bar Association Dinner, and asked,

"And you? When did you know that you had fallen in love with me?"

Perry reached up and caressed her cheek.

"Almost two years ago. The evening before we won the Sewan case. It was one o'clock in the morning, rain was pouring outside, and we had just returned to the office after interviewing a key witness, soaked to the bone. Your makeup was completely washed away and your pin-curls had been straightened out, but you appeared lovelier than ever. Every other secretary would have at least dropped a hint that it was high time to go home, and that if I wished to spend all night in the office I should at least dismiss you, but all you did was hang up our coats and say that you would brew some hot coffee while I reviewed the notes from the meeting. I knew then that I had found a woman who truly shared my passion for justice and for helping those in need. Suddenly I forgot that I was cold and wet. I felt like I was basking in sunshine, merely being in your presence. I realized that I would rather be at the office, working all night long with you, rather than at home alone, relaxing. And I knew that my heart was no longer my own."

Walking again was also quite a project. The first time the physician allowed Perry to try, he tottered to an armchair five feet away from the bed, supported on both sides by Dr. Hawley and Paul Drake as Della watched. Sinking with an exhausted sigh into the armchair, he was quiet until the other men left the room and he was alone with Della.

"You are getting quite a preview of that 'for better, for worse' clause in the wedding vows, are you not?" he asked her with a wry smile, his manly pride wounded by his helplessness.

Della placed a warm quilt on his lap, pulled up a chair next to his, and reached for his hand.

"Yes, but I find that it does not alter my desire to utter them in the least. You will soon be able to walk effortlessly again, and even if you were to spend the rest of your life in a wheelchair, or even confined to bed, there is no title I would rather hold than that of your wife."

"That is very flattering, but scarcely rational, Della," the lawyer said.

"It is perfectly rational. You see, Perry," she rebutted with an impish smile, "I am crazy about you."

Her fiancé laughed, and forgot all about his uncertain footing as he drew her to himself and placed a grateful, loving kiss on her lips.

As news of Perry's illness and recovery spread, his apartment began to overflow with flowers and cards. Even Hamilton Burger and Lieutenant Tragg sent their best wishes along with a large fruit basket. Della read Perry their card. It said,

Perry, get well soon! Tragg says investigating crime scenes is nowhere as interesting when you do not happen to stumble upon them along with him, and I am at a loss as to what to do with myself – I have won every case this week!

Missing you and your usual tricks,

Hamilton Burger

Perry laughed.

"I certainly hope that there are no innocent people in prison as a result of Hamilton's winning streak! Get me the court briefs of all the cases."

"Not until Dr. Hawley says that you can go back to work," Della rebutted.

But despite her watchful eye, there was one thing he managed to accomplish. One afternoon, Della left Perry to visit with Father Robert while she went to the kitchen to start dinner. When she returned, she found the two men poring over a calendar.

She was just about to ask what they were doing when Perry looked up at her and asked,

"What would you say to a wedding date of February eleventh?"

Della's face betrayed her shock.

"My, that's very soon, isn't it?"

"Of course. Father Robert says that is the soonest we can wed." He laughed softly at her mystified face. "Don't you think that I have dragged this out long enough, taking years to confess my feelings?"

Della laughed.

"Yes, you have. Which is why I am so surprised that you are in such a rush now, however welcome it is to me."

Perry's dimpled smile shone.

"Now that I am no longer nervous that you might not feel the same, I want you to be mine as soon as possible. February eleventh, then?"

"February eleventh," Della confirmed, beaming.

"I'll book the church," Father Robert murmured, amused, as he watched the two lovebirds gazing at each other, oblivious to the entire world at that moment.

I don't want to disappoint you, so I will tell you now - the last chapter won't be the wedding...I already wrote a wedding scene for Della and Perry in The Case of the Sudden Engagement and I do not want to be repetitive.

I know my breaks between chapters have been longer than usual, and I am sorry. I have been busy with many other things.