MISSING MOMENTS FROM THE CASE OF THE LOST LOVE
"WHOSE'S COUNTING: NOT ME"
Della Street stood in the doorway of their temporary office and looked at the man standing at the desk. She had devoted her life to him and loved him from almost the first moment they met 40 something years ago.
She realized that he was distracted but then he had been ever since his encounter with Laura Robertson that evening they met at the reception in Denver. Della had even confronted him about the idea that the reason they had come to this place was because he knew that Laura would be in attendance.
Laura had been a part of his life even before he had hired Della to be his confidential secretary. The female attorney's big mistake was that she thought she could get Perry to do everything she wanted like she had all the other men in her life. Thinking only of herself and her future she had made plans that included Perry without letting him know about any of them. When he didn't fall in with her plans readily she left him anyway thinking he would follow her with his tail between his legs.
It was evident from the beginning that she and Laura were going to rub each other the wrong way. The woman had not liked the way the secretary seem to ingratiate herself with her boss. When Perry refused to fire her, as Laura demanded, it caused even more of a problem between them.
Now here they were all these years later and Laura's husband Glenn Robertson had been accused of murder. Of course Perry rode to the rescue and would never have thought of telling her he didn't think it would be a good idea if he defended Glenn.
Glenn was aware of his wife past with Perry Mason and had always wondered if she had ever gotten over the handsome lawyer. He adored his wife and could not see any of her flaws or chose to ignore them. Perry had been tearing himself apart as the evidence mounted against his client. Della wondered if he was worried that if he couldn't get Glenn off Laura would be so disappointed in him.
She called his name and he hadn't even looked up. She called it again and reminded him to look at the pictures from the reception. Della also realized what he would see when he looked at the pictures. She told him goodnight one more time and said, "if you need anything I'll be in my room."
Perry just nodded his head barely aware that his secretary had left the room. He sat down and wasn't sure what he really wanted to do next so he picked up pictures and started to go through them. Halfway through he came upon a picture he did not want to see. He moaned and ran his hand over his face. He was faced with a situation that he could not have anticipated.
Della had gone back to her room next to Perry's. When they were on a case out of town he always made sure that she had a room in her name. Even after all these years when it didn't matter. He always said he didn't care what people thought of him but he was always protecting her good name. The fact that they inevitably ended up in one bedroom or the other was beside the fact.
Back in the suite Perry was thinking where did he go from here? What kind of hold did Laura Robertson have on him even after all these years? All he had to do was see her and all those memories came flooding back to him. Those people who always thought he was in control of his emotions would have been very surprised to realize his reaction to a woman who thought of nothing but herself. That was why they had parted in the first place she had his life all planned out and it was going to coincide with everything she wanted for herself.
Laura wanted power and she wanted a lot of money so she could live the life she was accustomed to. Criminal law did not interest her at all that's not where the big money was. She couldn't seem to sway Perry Mason to giving up his law practice and follow her to a much more prestigious one in Denver.
At first Laura wondered if he was just being stubborn and then once he had hired Della Street to work for him she had to wonder if that wasn't part of the reason he wanted to stay in Los Angeles. What Laura couldn't understand was how a mere secretary could engender such loyalty in this man who always seemed to move to the beat of his own drummer. After all secretaries and other underlings were there to serve you not vice versa.
Over the years it did become obvious there was more to their relationship. Because they had been together for so many years they worked as a well oiled team. She had also been told many times that Perry said he couldn't do without Della and she was as much a part of his success as he was. Unfortunately just when she got up the nerve to ask Della about their relationship Perry walked in the door and nothing more was said.
The lawyer paced up and down the room trying to decide what he wanted to do. Vaguely he remembered Della saying if he needed anything she would be in her room. What he wanted was to go to her and have her explain to him why he acted like such a fool around Laura Robertson.
He had already made a blunder today when she asked about whether or not they had come to Denver because he knew Laura would be there at the reception. Right away he'd become defensive and felt that he had to defend himself. In a way he wished she'd been angrier but the fact that she didn't back him into a corner didn't really leave him much leeway to excuse his behavior.
What was wrong with him? He loved Della and she loved him. Nothing made sense in his life when she wasn't there. Yet he acted like a schoolboy with his first crush when Laura was around. He knew in his heart that if the situations were reversed and one of Della's lost loves were in the picture he wouldn't be happy. Oh he would pretend it was alright but he wouldn't have liked it at all.
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Coming out of the bathroom Della tied the belt on the Raspberry velour robe Perry had bought her for her last birthday. It felt so luxurious and her body still warm from her relaxing bath was ready to crawl under the beautiful green and silver comforter covering the king size bed.
She was standing at the armoire getting her favorite pink negligee with the ecru lace cuffs and plunging neckline out of the drawer when she heard the lock in the bedroom door opening. Perry, his necktie untied and the top two buttons open on his shirt just stood there and looked at her.
Neither of them said a word but she could see the pain in his eyes. He was facing a truth that was almost too horrible to consider. She opened her arms to him and he moved forward, almost stumbling, until he was safely in the warmth of her embrace. He held onto her so tightly she was almost afraid she was going to have to say to let her go so he didn't break her ribs. However, before that could happen he released her and turned away.
Della placed her hands on his shoulder and squeezed. His muscles were so tight and she tried to convince him to sit down so she could massage away some of his pain. He couldn't seem to relax and he paced up and down the room as she watched helplessly not knowing exactly what to do to help him through this perilous time.
Finally she moved to the sofa and let him walk back and forth until he was ready to come and sit with her. Anyone who knew him well was aware that he was a championship pacer and that was how he was able to think things through. When he began to mumble to himself and move his head from side to side his head of office realized this was going to be a situation he never thought he would find facing him in his long career.
She wasn't really surprised but she was not going to tell him that. Even though over the years when Laura had been mentioned or made herself known to them they had many heart wrenching discussions. At some points there had almost been the disillusionment of their relationship because of his stubbornly refusing to hear anything negative about his former love.
Perry Mason was the smartest man Dallas Street had ever known. He was honest, logical, intuitive, and brilliant when it came to the way he thought. His one weakness when it came to relationships seem to be the fact that he could not accept that Laura Robertson only thought of herself, in the end. It didn't matter how logically you presented the facts to him about her he did not want to hear it and he always became very upset.
Their dear friend and favorite detective, Paul Drake senior, could not stand the woman he called that Damn Witch. He was one of the few people that could get away with telling Perry what he thought and that was because he was aware that she had tried, unsuccessfully, to break up their many years of friendship. The lawyer was aware of the lies that she had told but he always seemed to forgive her and find excuses for her behavior.
This was also the only time that Della was unsure of Perry's true feelings for her. if she, Laura, divorced Glenn would Perry take her back. If the pictures that he had just seen from the reception proved what she thought they did what excuses could he find for her this time. Yet Della loved him with all her heart and she did not like seeing him in such agony.
He threw himself down on the sofa next to her, put his elbows on his knees, and his hands on his face as he sighed deeply. With a slight tremor in his voice he looked at the woman who had been at his side for so many years. Only once in their long relationship had she seemed to not understand what he was doing. She had promised she would never doubt him again and in his long law career that had been true.
The only time they had truly butted heads was in their personal relationship and it usually had something to do with Laura Robertson. He hated that every time she tried to talk to him about it he became so unreasonable and yet he couldn't explain his feelings of wanting to protect Laura even to himself. He held his hand out to her and asked, "am I an idiot?"
Della reached out and push back the curl that was on his forehead. "Do you really want me to answer that to make you feel better or do you really want a truthful answer?" She asked.
Shaking his head he said softly, "of course I want the truth, and yet I don't know how I will face it."
"Perry, have you ever really faced why you feel you have to ride to her rescue all the time? What is there about her that people fall all over themselves to save her from herself?"
He had to think for a few moments and finally he said, "I think it has to do with the fact that she always looks so fragile. You wonder if she can stand up to all the pressures that are placed upon her shoulders."
His head of office took a deep breath before she spoke. "I know you don't want to hear this but she stands up to all kinds of things just fine. It is around the people that she wants to impress that she has different personalities to get the things she wants."
"But I…," he began.
Della interrupted him, "Until you accept the fact that she uses people and then throws them away once they are no longer necessary to her pathway for more money and power you will do exactly what she wants."
"Do you really think that I can be manipulated in this way so easily Della?"
She looked at the pain in his eyes and gently stroked his soft bearded jaw. "You know Mr. Mason," his head of office said softly, "you are human too."
He opened his mouth to speak but she put her fingers across this lips." In all the years I've known you at no time have I ever seen or heard you do anything to deliberately hurt someone. That doesn't mean you can't be rather a pushover for a beautiful woman, if only temporarily. Yet everyone has something or someone that they allow to push them farther than most other people they encounter."
"I thought I was smarter than this," he admitted to her.
"Sweetheart this has nothing to do with being smart or not being smart. There are certain people that we meet in this lifetime that touch our hearts in a way that makes us act the way we believe we wouldn't usually act."
He squeezed her hands, look down at the floor and commented, "so you think I've allowed myself to be victimized."
A small smile played around the edges of her mouth as she said," no I don't think you've been victimized. I think you've been acting human. You are such a perfectionist and try to think everything through and yet when it comes to your deepest emotions you're just like the rest of us."
Perry looked deeply into her sparkling hazel eyes and asked, "just what does that mean?"
"You, my dear man, can act just as foolish as the rest of us do around someone we care for deeply."
"Just where have you gotten all that knowledge young lady?"
It was impossible to not grin at him now as she explained, "I have been making a fool of myself over you for how many years now?"
Getting up slowly he looked down at her and pulled her to her feet. Before he could speak she inquired, "do you really think it was easy for me to see you that first night here. sitting with Laura? I wasn't sure what I was going to say or do. Then when I suggested that part of the reason we were here was because you knew she would be at the reception you became so defensive. I was angry and I was hurt thinking here we go again it's the same old thing whenever Laura is around."
As he walked across the room he told her," I don't know just how I'm going to handle this whole situation tomorrow."
Della walked over to him and slid her arms around his neck and she said softly, "you'll handle it the way you've handled the defense for so many people, for so many years. In all the time I've known the client has always come first. I know better than anyone that will never change no matter what you have to do to have your client get the best possible defense."
"I've faced a lot of different things in my career but I never thought I would ever be put in this position. Laura has always been full of surprises but even I couldn't have believed I'd see something like this with my own eyes."
"Perry, tomorrow it's going to be an emotional day for all of us let's get some sleep."
He looked at her beautiful face and asked, "are you disappointed in me?"
She took his hand and led him over to the bed. Once he was leaning against all of the pillows she slid in beside him and cuddled as he put his arm around her. Finally she said, "Laura may think she has the upper hand, but I'm the person who's sleeping in your arms tonight."
He looked down into her beautiful face and brushed her soft brown curls off her forehead. He moved his lips down to her eyelids, then down her jaw, and finally to her lips. Della wrapped her arm around his neck as their kisses became more and more passionate.
When she finally pulled away she said, "that should take your mind off of any other woman."
Perry had untied her robe and looked longingly at her body still warm from her bath. "You are still the most beautiful woman I have ever seen."
Della's face was flushed as she stated, "you are not prejudice either."
"My dear young lady I have seen many woman in my life and none has ever surpassed you. Your body is beautiful but so is your heart and soul."
"Just out of curiosity where does that leave Laura?"
Raising up on his elbow he grinned at her, "Just where she decided so long ago when she realized she could not get me to go along with ALL her plans for her future."
"So," Della remarked, "if she had handled you differently we would not be here tonight enjoying each other?"
As he ran his hand over her breast Perry answered his voice choking with emotion, "You may not have realized it at the time but I was falling more and more under the spell of my secretary."
"It took you long enough to set my mind at ease," she gasped as he continued to move his hand over her silky skin."
"You still have doubts?" he asked as his lips moved down her neck.
His head of office felt her heart speed up making it more difficult to not give in to her desire. That had been the problem from the beginning her body betrayed her whenever he touched her. Sometimes it still seemed like a dream that he felt the same. Then every so often the image of Laura would reappear."
She had known her boss was involved with a lawyer when she took the job. The grapevine among legal secretaries was alive and well. Her friends had let her know it was serious and if his paramour didn't like her or perceived a threat Della would not have her job long.
Perry Mason was a young attorney, tall, broad shoulders, dark wavy hair, oh so handsome, and unmarried. He was making a name for himself and a lot of women wished they were with him. Della Street was intrigued but she was at a place where she wanted to work on her career and help someone with theirs.
Perry was now holding her tightly in his arms. "Why so pensive?"
She touched his beard and smiled at him. "I was thinking about why I wanted to work for you all those years ago. I was also thinking how often SHE tried to make me feel like I didn't have any right to have feelings for you."
He grinned at her. "So what changed your mind?"
Hazel eyes met blue, "you did and you did a pretty good job of pursuing me," She admitted.
"And yet you still have doubts?"
" Perry, when you came in that first afternoon you did interrupt my conversation with Laura. She just asked me about our relationship"
Della his attention now. "What were you going to tell her?" He asked.
She hesitated as she had when Laura had asked her and finally admitted, "I wasn't quite sure but I had started to say Perry and I and you opened the door at that time. All I could think of was saved by the bell."
"What did you want to say to her?"
"It's funny, you know how many times when she was hurtful to you and to me I thought I wanted to tell her off to hurt her back. Yet in those moments so many things ran through my mind and I knew I didn't want to hurt her feelings. I guess it's a good thing you interrupted."
He pulled her to him and kissed her lovingly and with increasing passion. He managed to say, "that's my girl and the reason that you are the one I choose to spend my nights and life with."
As he moved his hands down to her hips and pulled her against his growing desire she whispered, "it is getting awfully late counselor."
"It is never too late to get really relaxed," he muttered concentrating on giving them more and more pleasure.
His fingers were magical and she opened herself more and more to his ministrations. Soon all they could hear was their heavy breathing and the sense of delight that their joining produced.
It was so important for Perry Mason to make his Della realize how incredibly fulfilled she made him feel. She gave everything to him, her whole being, no matter what they did together.
Every stroke every movement brought them closer and closer to the crest where there was no more thought there was just feelings. It seemed as if the pleasure that they could give each other never faltered and built on the emotions of their years together.
Della collapsed on his massive chest while Perry ran his hands up and down her back. She tried to speak but he interrupted her saying, "don't speak, just feel."
She rolled slightly on her side took his hand in hers and kissed each finger and said, "Magical.
Putting his finger under her chin he said softly," you're kissing the wrong thing."
Lightly hitting his chest she reminded him, "it is getting late and you have a difficult day in court tomorrow."
"You weren't in such a hurry to get to sleep just a few minutes ago," he observed.
Reaching for her robe she commented. "maybe I'll go sleep in your room."
"Stay right where you are I'll be good."
Cuddling up next to him Della said, "oh but you always are."
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The trial was over and Laura Robertson had admitted that she was the one who had killed the man and even said that she had allowed her husband, who had always been nothing but good to her, to take the blame. Della Street knew this had been one of the hardest things that Perry Mason had ever had to do in his long law career. To save his client's life he had to expose the fact that the client's wife had been the perpetrator. Glenn Robertson was so angry at his lawyer and even ask how he could do that to his wife.
Della knew more than anyone what it had taken for Perry to expose someone he had been so close to in his life in that way. Yet his strong sense of justice would not have it any other way. She walked up behind him and put her hand on his broad shoulder and squeezed. He reached up and covered his hand over hers.
At that point Della gathered up her things and walked out of the courtroom. On the other hand Perry went into the anteroom where they had placed Laura. He didn't condemn her and offered his help if she needed it and wanted it.
He found the woman who had been so important to him for so many years standing outside of the courthouse trying not to worry or act too nervous. His first words to her were, "Della, let's go home."
Now she was able to breathe he wasn't staying there promising to serve as Laura's counsel. They made their way down the long staircase and Perry helped Della into the limousine that was waiting for them. As they settled back in the car he slipped his hand into hers and brought it to his lips.
She leaned against his shoulder as he asked, "do you mind staying one more night in Denver? It's getting late and we've already missed our plane."
"As long as I know I'll have you all to myself tonight it doesn't matter where we stay," she told him.
Leaning forward Mason told the driver to take them back to the Hilton Hotel. To Della's amazement he told concierge they only needed his suite and for one more night.
When they got back to his rooms her baggage had been moved to his bedroom and all of the office equipment had been removed. Della put her hands on her hips, "Perry Mason, did you have this all planned?"
He grinned at her, "I wasn't sure how late we would get out of the courthouse. I like to be prepared."
Trying not to laugh Della said, "So you were a boy scout."
He walked over to her and put his arms around her waist as he answered, "no Darling I was more of a girl scout."
As she moved away from him, she took off her jacket, dropped it on the floor, kicked her shoes off by the desk, unbuttoned her blouse, took it off, dropped it at the bedroom door, and headed into his bedroom she remarked, "Well, Counselor let's see if you can follow this trail."