Della rushed into her husband's office. The couple had been married for two years. He had asked her to work with him right out of secretarial school, but they were trying for a baby. After two years, Della gave up on having children. She felt she had waited too long and it was too late. Now, she was starting a new job as her husband's right-hand gal. "I know, I'm late."
Perry smiled, "and on your first day too."
"I told you that I had an appointment. It just went longer than I thought it would."
"What was the appointment?"
"To figure out why I'm late."
"What? You just said you were late because you had an appointment."
"I can be late in more than one way."
Perry looked at his wife in shock. "When will you know?"
"I already do."
"And?" When Della smiled, Perry rushed and took her into his arms. He swung her around and kissed her. "This is wonderful. Are you alright? Do you feel sick?"
"I feel fine," Della giggled.
That's when Paul Drake walked in, "what has the two of you so happy this early?"
"You're going to be an uncle," Perry said.
"What?"
"I found out today," Della said.
"That's great," Paul hugged Della, "congratulations."
"Any advice for us?" Perry asked.
A year after Perry and Della married, Paul married Perry's receptionist, Gertie. A year later, they had a son named Paul Mason Drake. "Good luck," Paul said, "I love my son, but I haven't slept in over a year."
"Your son is only five months old," Perry pointed out.
"It starts with the pregnancy," Paul said.
"Perry, I'd really like to still work until I have the baby," Della said.
"I had a feeling. Look, as long as the doctor says it's alright and you feel fine, then work for however long you want. Just tell me if you need a break."
"I will, but first, we have to get to court."
"I have a quick question," Paul said, "Perry, you have your wife working for you..."
"With me," Perry corrected.
"Yeah, okay," Paul said sarcastically, "and you have my wife working for you. How?"
Gertie walked in, "Perry pays better," she said making the Masons chuckle, and Paul roll his eyes.
Perry and Della headed to court. He kept his arm around his wife and smiled the entire way there.
The next day, a young woman barged into Perry's office, demanding he help her get her inheritance from her uncle. Della walked out of the law library carrying a big stack of law books. "Della," Perry said when he saw her as she reached the desk. "I told you I would get those."
"I'm fine," she said.
"Put those down before you aren't." Della dropped the books on her husband's desk. He introduced her to Frances Celane. After discussing Miss Celane's issue, Perry agreed to look at her case and help her. That night, Perry was dictating to Della. He turned and smiled at his sleeping wife on the couch. Perry stood and walked over to the couch where he crouched down. "Della," he said gently.
"Hm," she mumbled.
"Come on, honey, it's midnight. Time you quit working."
Della sighed, "midnight," she said as she sat up. "Why don't we just till tomorrow?"
"Union rules," he said, "now come on, rise and shine. I just gave up."
"It's your own fault. You shouldn't be fooling around with wills and sulky heiresses anyway. Your specialty is murder."
A voice came from the doorway, "a murder's what you've got." Frances Celane stood in Perry's office. Her uncle had just been murdered. Perry went with Frances to her uncle's. Della told him she'd wait at the office and get some sleep.
When he returned, it was three in the morning. Perry hated to wake his wife up, but he did. "I'm sorry, darling. I should have taken you home first."
"It's fine," she said sleepily. Perry grabbed her things as she stood. Della swayed a bit and had to sit back down.
"Are you alright?" Perry asked.
"Just a little dizzy."
"Let me know when you're ready to stand again." Perry waited until his wife reached for his hand. He pulled her to her feet and held onto her as they walked to the car. "You're coming in late tomorrow."
"I'll be fine."
"I know you will be, but our little one needs you to get a decent amount of sleep. I should have never kept you here so late."
"I'm still getting used to the idea of being pregnant. I could have asked to leave, but it never entered my mind."
Perry got Della home and settled in bed. He felt terrible about how tired she was and hoped he wouldn't wake her when he got up the next day.
Perry ended up representing Frances' husband she was secretly married to and expecting a baby with. The man was acquitted. The couple invited Perry and Della to their apartment after the trial ended. "When are the two of you expecting your bundle of joy?" Ron asked.
"Seven months," Della said.
Clara looked at Perry, "I didn't know that."
"Well, Ron knew because there were times I'd be talking to him and get a message from Della about a craving she was having."
"I knew the day I walked into his office and he scolded her for carrying a stack of books," Frances said.
"What are the two of you hoping for?" Clara asked the Masons.
Neither had discussed if they preferred to have one over the other. Perry decided to answer, "I'm fine with either as long as they're happy and healthy. However, I am partial to a girl. I'd love to have one just like Della in every way."
Della smiled, "I thought for sure you'd want a boy."
"I'll be just as happy with a boy. Now, I'm taking you home."
"Aren't you forgetting something? Your office is still open."
"You're forgetting I'm the boss. I've closed my office for the rest of the day. I plan on taking you home and waiting on you, hand and foot."
Della smiled, "I could get used to that."
Everyone said goodbye and the Masons left.
A few weeks later, the Masons' were still blissfully happy about their baby. However, things took a turn when the prosecution called Della to the stand.
"Objection, your honor," Perry quickly said.
"On what grounds, Mr. Mason?"
Perry froze. He had no idea how to object without revealing Della's condition. "Perry," Della said softly, "it's fine." Della stood and Perry sat back down. She was sworn in and took her place on the witness stand. The judge reminded Burger that Della had spousal privilege.
"You have admitted to being with your husband when he entered apartment 702?"
"Yes," Della answered softly.
"Were you also with him when he obtained possession of the key to that apartment?"
"Yes," Della was trying her best to remain calm.
"And didn't he get that key in apartment 604?"
Della looked at her husband and hesitated, "yes."
"Just exactly where did you find it?"
"We found it in a purse."
"Whose purse?"
"Faye Allison's," Della answered.
Perry didn't question his wife, so she was excused. When she stood from her seat, the room began to spin around her. She grabbed onto the railing and sat back down.
"Della," Perry said concerned. He stood and walked over. "Are you alright?"
"Mrs. Mason, do you need medical attention?" the judge asked.
"No, thank you, your honor. I just became a bit dizzy. I'm alright."
Perry held onto his wife as she stood again. He guided her back over to the table. After court was adjourned for the day, Burger walked over to the defense table. "I'm sorry, Della. I wasn't trying to upset you or anything."
"I know," she said, "it didn't have anything to do with that."
