Perry's Christmas Present
Chapter 1
"Come on Perry we're going to be late to Mr. Brandt's office Christmas Party," Della Street told him.
She had just finished cleaning up after the small gathering they had hosted in their own office. It had been fun to drink champagne and toast each other, and as the hour wore on the toasts began to get sillier by the minute.
"To the greatest detective that ever lived," she raised her glass to Paul, and then added, "Sherlock Holmes!"
It was Gertie's turn next as she lifted her glass toward Perry Mason. "To the best darn boss in the whole world!"
"I'll second that!" Both Della and Paul chimed in at the same time and broke out laughing.
Truth be told it wan't all that funny but all four of them were flying fairly high by that point.
Now as she cleared the table she realized just how many bottles of champagne they had consumed.
Perry looked up at Della and said he'd be along later. He wasn't in much of a partying mood and he felt that he had done his Christmas part by celebrating with his staff already. Della wondered what was bothering him all day as he was not usually this grumpy. After all he had just won a big case and he should, by all means, be in a celebratory mood.
Della put on a fresh coat of lipstick and said that she hoped he'd come and that she would stop by at the end of the party to get her coat and bag.
She knew in her heart that he wasn't going to join them. She was sad to think of him staying behind in the office when they were all having such a good time.
Perry frowned as the trio marched out of the office to some Christmas tune playing on the radio on Della's desk.
"Bah" he said and sat back down in this chair and picked up the brief he had been working on prior to their little party. He seemed to stare at the same page for a long while as his eyes started to close and he drifted off to sleep.
A knock at the back door to his office woke him from his nap. Rising and grabbing the door knob, he pulled the door open and at the same time said, "What's wrong Paul, did you forget something?" But it wasn't Paul at the door. Instead it was a man Perry had never seen before.
"Yes, Can I help you?" He asked the strange little man.
"Perry Mason?" You are Perry Mason?" The man asked.
"Why yes, I am. But I am not seeing clients at this hour and especially not tonight on Christmas Eve. If you'd kindly call on Monday my secretary will be happy to make an appointment for you."
The man continued to stare at Perry and said, "Ah, yes, the lovely Miss Street, your secretary."
"So you know her, Miss Street I mean?"
"Well no, not exactly but I did hear from her recently."
"In that case I guess you should come in." Perry stood back and left the way for the man to enter.
"Thank you, Mr. Mason."
"You say you've heard from Miss Street. May I ask what it was she said to you?" Perry's interest was piqued.
"Oh no, it wasn't something she said in so many words" he replied.
"How many words did she say it in, then?" Perry was getting tired of bantering back and forth and just wanted to be rid of his intruder.
"That's very funny, Mr. Mason, very humorous, indeed." As the man made himself comfortable in the chair opposite Perry's desk, Perry took his seat in his office chair once more.
"You see Mr. Mason I know more about you than I do Miss Street."
"But I've never met you before, have I, Mister, uh, Mister…"
"No we've not met in person, Mr. Mason." He continued.
Perry steepled his hands and rested his chin on the top of his index fingers. He was trying to figure who this man was, he thought he'd certainly have remembered meeting such an odd duck. He was short, about five feet or just under, Perry guessed. His long silver hair was in dire need of a barber, yet it was neatly combed. His suit was somewhat rumpled but he didn't have the look of a man down on his luck. There was something intriguing about this man and Perry was determined to find out what it was.
The man looked over Perry at the same time that Perry was sizing him up. He lifted his pocket watch from the inside of his suit jacket and slowly opened it up. The light from the chandelier over the coffee table glinted off the face of the watch capturing Perry's undivided attention and at the same time seemed to have a calming effect. He felt his eyes closing and somehow it seemed like it was perfectly ok to doze off in the presence of this man, this Mister, what did he say his name was… In no time at all Perry was asleep.
Chapter 2
"The name is Clarence, Mr. Mason, my last name isn't necessary. Actually, you needn't know my name at all, it's what I can do for you, that really matters". Clarence spoke aloud in a sort of whisper but one he was sure Perry could hear even as he slept.
"We are going on a trip, Mr. Mason. Mind if I call you Perry? Good, Perry it is." he spoke to the sleeping form.
"It's not a long trip by miles, you understand, but it is a long trip nonetheless. Let us begin our trip starting last year at this very season, and at this very night, Christmas Eve…"
As Perry slept he dreamed of last Christmas. He could picture the events of that time so vividly in his mind, as if he were truly standing outside of himself and reliving each moment…
"Laura, I have no desire nor intention to go to the Christmas Party at your office, tonight. I told you that from the beginning, the first time you mentioned it. Did I not? When Laura didn't answer him he used his courtroom voice to repeat the question.
"Oh, really Perry, don't go all courtroom on me. Besides, of course, you are taking me, how would it look if my own fiancé wasn't my date to my own office party? What will they think, what will they say?"
"I really don't care, Laura, I told you that I wasn't going, in fact you know things haven't been good between us for awhile and I think 'they' as you put it, will talk more about us if I do go."
"If things haven't been good between us lately I know exactly who is to blame for that" Laura practically spat out the words into the telephone.
"Now don't start all that again, Della is just my secretary, she has nothing to do with us and you know it." Perry was beginning to perspire. " I really wish you'd get off this "Della thing of yours" he snapped back.
"Della thing of mine, that's a laugh! You mean "this Della thing of yours!" Now she was shouting.
"Laura, enough. Go to your party." Then in a softer voice he said, "I'll see you tomorrow. Merry Christmas."
"Merry Christmas my ass." Was what he heard right before the phone slammed down in his ear.
Perry was restless that evening. Still he preferred his own company to Laura and her office party. He found his mind wandering back to what she had said. If he was being honest with himself, Laura was right! Truth be told, it wouldn't be the first time he'd thought about his secretary. In fact, he found himself quite often thinking about Della Street. He pictured her then, saw her face in his mind. She radiated warmth and color flooded the images of her in his mind. When he thought of Laura he seemed to only see her in shades of black and white. What could that mean, he wondered.
Pouring himself a glass of bourbon he tried to settle down with the novel he had wanted to read for some time. After several minutes of just staring at the words on the page, he slammed the book closed and reached for the phone next to him. He dialed the number he had memorized the first day she started working for him, was it just six months ago? He wondered and a smile came to his lips. He was surprised to realize how the mere thought of her made his whole mood change.
As he listened to the phone ring several times he realized that she must be out. Of course she would be, he thought. Maybe even out on a date. Of course she would have a date on Christmas Eve. It's only natural, he mused. After all, she was young, smart, beautiful, all the things a man could want in a woman. All the things that he could want in a woman. He suddenly hung up the phone. What was he thinking? Was Laura more aware of his feelings for Della than he was himself?
What Perry couldn't know at the time was that across town, a beautiful woman sat home alone thinking of him and wishing they were together this Christmas Eve.
Unfortunately, she had her radio turned up high to try and drown out her thoughts of her boss, and never heard the ringing telephone. Instead, she cried into a crumpled tissue as she listened to Nat King Cole singing about chestnuts and missing the one person she wanted to be with that night. She cried because she knew it could never be.
Clarence smiled knowing his plan was working. He could tell by watching as the images of last Christmas Eve played across Perry Mason's face as he 'slept' in his office chair.
Chapter 3
A strange noise caused Perry to wake up abruptly. Rubbing his eyes and trying to shake him self awake, he looked around his office. Hadn't he been talking to someone Was it just a dream? Must have been. He slowly rose from his chair and stretched his arms above him and yawned loudly. There it was again. That noise. Moving quietly around his office he put his ear against the door to the library and tried to make out what he had heard. Had Della come back for her coat?
Smiling, he turned the knob and yanked the door open, fully expecting to see his secretary. Instead, what greeted him was a stranger. Another stranger? he thought. What a weird evening this was turning out to be.
"Excuse me," he said. "Who are you? What are you doing in my law library? Who let you in here?"
"My, but you are full of questions, aren't you, Mr. Mason. But, then I guess that's why you are one of the best lawyers around? Always after the truth, eh?" Answered the stranger.
"Well, under the circumstances, I feel that I'm entitled to ask the questions, don't you think?" Perry asked in a much less friendly tone.
"There you go again, counselor, another question. Let's just say I am a friend of your secretary, Miss Street, and she 'asked' me to come see how you are doing." The stranger replied.
"So you saw Della at the Brandt's Christmas Party?"
"Yes, you might say that, Mr. Mason. And she didn't look at all happy. Seems she was more concerned with your happiness, odd don't you think? Such a lovely woman. Pity she couldn't seem to be enjoining herself tonight. Oh, she was putting on a happy front, but I knew she wasn't thrilled to be there. I wonder why that was. Have any ideas?"
"No, not a clue." Perry questioned himself.
"Then why don't we find out, shall we?" And in just a blink of an eye Perry found himself at the Brandt's Christmas Party. The room was all decorated with Christmas lights, and a sparkling tree sat in the corner of the big office. Champagne was flowing, guests were laughing, and Christmas carols played on the radio.
Perry didn't understand how on earth he had gotten there. He turned to the stranger for answers but all he got from him was a knowing nod and a finger pointed in the direction of Paul Drake standing beside Della and Gertie. Perry turned his gaze toward the three and listened to their conversation.
"Come on, Beautiful, Perry's a big boy, if he preferred his own company to ours that's his loss, not ours! Now come on, let's dance!" Paul grabbed for Della's arm.
"No, Paul. You and Gertie dance, I'd prefer to sit this one out." Della withdrew her arm gently and grabbed a glass from the passing waiter. Then she sat in a big office chair watching the festivities.
"How do you like that guy?" Perry said to the stranger. "Making time with my girl."
"Excuse me, what was that?" The stranger asked.
"What? Um, I don't know what you mean. I was just, I mean, I was …"
"You were just thinking about Miss Street and not being happy when another man paid her some deserved attention. Am I correct, Mr. Mason?"
"No! You are not correct. I just meant that I didn't appreciate my best friend pawing my secretary."
"He was hardly 'pawing' her. He was merely trying to do what you should be doing. You and Della should be dancing cheek to cheek and enjoying each other and more to the point, enjoying this beautiful, magical evening."
"Fine, I will ask her to dance, maybe then I will find some peace." Perry huffed and moved over to where Della was sitting.
"Excuse me, Della, may I have this dance?" Perry bowed in a mock formal way and offered his hand.
When Della paid him no mind he began to feel his face flush. Embarrassed by her lack of response he repeated his question to her but instead of an answer, she seemed to grow sadder. She stared off into the distance.
"Della, would you care to dance?" When Della smiled up it wasn't into Perry's face but into a guy's Perry had passed in the building's lobby on a few occassions.
"No, but thank you Jerry. I'm not feeling all that well tonight." She replied.
"Oh, come on, Del, just one." Jerry persisted and dragged her out of the chair. Putting his arm around her waist he led Della to the dance floor as Perry stood by incredulously.
"Did you see that big Ape? She didn't want to dance and yet he still got her up and on the dance floor. I ought to…"
"You ought to what, Mr. Mason?" The stranger asked. "She actually seems to be enjoying herself for a change, look.."
"Della, we should do this more often, don't you think?" Jerry spun her around effortlessly.
"Oh, Jerry, I'm not so sure. You know how I feel about him, and remember, you promised not to breathe a word to anyone." Della replied.
"Yes, I do, and it's only because we are old friends that I can say this to you, but, Della you need to realize it can never be. It just won't happen and you can't pine for him forever. You would tell me the same thing if I was in your position."
"I know, Jerry, my head knows it but my heart can't accept it. I just love him so much."
"Del, if you really love him, truly love him, then maybe you should risk it. It would be better to know than to continue on the way you are."
"Do you really think so, Jerry? I'm so nervous, what if he doesn't feel the same way. It will ruin everything."
"What if he does feel the same way? It is Christmas Eve, after all, what better way to celebrate the holiday?"
"What! Della's in love with someone? How did I never see that. Who is he? Does he know how she feels? To have a special woman like that be in love with you and not want hold her in your arms and love her forever? What kind of idiot is he?" Perry said, in utter disbelief.
"Why don't you tell me, Mr. Mason? "Why don't you tell me?" The stranger taunted.
"Well, how should I know, tell you what? Tell you what? Tell you…"
Chapter 4
Once again Perry found himself asleep in his office chair awakened by a strange noise. He wondered who he would find this time when he opened his eyes. He felt his arm being tugged and suddenly he was being kissed all over. Della? He opened his eyes and found two hazel eyes looking deeply into his baby blues.
Perry jumped out of his chair knocking her to the ground. "What the…! How did you get in here?" He asked incredulously?
A sad face looked back up at him and whimpered in disbelief that the person she loved so much would reject her like that. She thought she meant something to him.
When he saw how frightened she had become by his behavior he decided to change his tone of voice.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to upset you. It's just that I never thought I'd wake up to such sweet kisses like that." Then he reached out for her and held her closely to him.
Still no sounds came from her so Perry sat back down in his chair and drew her onto his lap, continuing to rub her back and whisper kind words.
When she returned his affection he knew he had been forgiven. Rubbing her neck his fingers came upon a chain, a chain with a charm on it. Turning the small charm in his large fingers he read the inscription out loud, not believing what he saw. The first line read just one thing, "Dillon" then it was followed by "If found please return to Perry and Della Mason."
"What the hell?" Perry Mason found himself at a loss for words, something extremely rare for him. He sat back down in his chair, releasing his hold on the beautiful Siamese cat. While he was trying to figure out what this all meant he began once more to drift off to sleep. This time when he woke up to a noise in the outer office he didn't get up to see what it was. No, this time the lawyer took a deep breath and waited for the continuation of his very strange dream. When no stranger appeared and no cat roamed his office he finally did stand up and walk cautiously to the door that separated his office from that of Della Street's. And there she stood with her back against the outer door wearing a worried expression on her face. Her eyes met his. They just stood, neither daring to move, neither wanting to break what felt like a magic spell.
Finally it was Perry who broke the silence.
"How was the party?" He asked.
"Oh, you know, the same old thing, lots to drink and eat, people being merry. How did you spend the evening?" She was looking at him strangely. "You look tired."
"Well, I shouldn't be, I seemed to have been having the strangest dreams so I must have been asleep the whole time you were gone" He told her.
"Well, I brought something back from the party to share with you. If you want it, I mean." She told him shyly.
"Oh, what's that?"
"Just this." She held up sprig of mistletoe over her head.
"Oh, I want it alright." He said drawing her to him. He lowered his lips to hers at first softly, then as she returned the kiss, he deepened it, pouring out all the love he felt for her. Realizing just what she meant to him, knowing how wonderful his life had become because of her. He thought back to this time last year and knew he had made the right decision to break things off with Laura. He knew he had loved Della but he had been too afraid to ruin things between them if she didn't feel the same way.
Something had changed that night. After he woke up each time from his dreams he was more and more sure of his feelings. More sure than ever that Laura was his past, and that his present with Della was just beginning, and he felt deeply in his heart that they would have a wonderful and long future to share together and for some reason he thought they would have a cat, too!
Merry Christmas, Everyone!
And thank you, Mr. Dickens!
