Perry had figured out the entire case with the help of Paul and Della. Now, he just had to finish it and free his daughter. Mr. Braddock was recalled to the stand. "Gordon knew about the estrangement between Mrs. Mason and the defendant. He wasn't the only one, was he? Mr. Braddock, you knew as well. Six weeks before the murder, Mrs. Mason fell and broke her hip. She needed time off, so you went and found that estranged daughter to take her place while she was gone. You decided to change your plan. Instead of just framing Della Mason, you were going to frame her and make it look like her daughter was the one framing her. You knew that medical records would prove that there was no way, Della could have committed the murder. Isn't that true?"
Braddock paused for a minute, "yes," he said softly, "it's all true."
Della, Maureen, and Paul Jr. breathed sighs of relief. The judge dismissed the charges and Braddock was taken into custody.
Perry, Della, and Maureen went home after the case was dismissed. They were sitting around the table having lunch. Paul was going to offer to take them to lunch or go join them, but he felt that the three needed time alone. "So, when do we get to meet this Ellie?" Perry asked.
"I was just acquitted of murder. Let me relax a bit before the introductions start," Maureen said.
"Were you afraid of us being mad that you're gay?"
"What?" Maureen asked. "I'm not gay."
"You told me you'd been with Ellie for four years," Della said.
"You asked how long we'd been together. We have been living together for four years."
"You know that's not what I meant when I asked you," Della said.
Maureen smiled, "I know."
"If you aren't with Ellie, then why didn't you want it to be brought up at trial?" Perry asked.
"Ellie isn't the only one who lives in that apartment. Her brother lives there too."
"So?"
"It's a two-bedroom apartment."
"Oh," Perry said.
"What's his name?" Della asked.
"You already know his name. It's Paul Drake Jr."
"What?" Perry and Della were shocked.
"Wait, so Ellie is Bella Drake?" Perry asked.
"Yes," Maureen laughed. "Oh, and my rapist isn't Faith's father. I thought he was but I had consensually been with Paul right before. The DNA proves it. Faith is a Drake. I have always known that Grace was Paul's."
"When did you find out about Faith?" Della asked.
"Right before trial. You see, I had always been afraid to find out. I was worried she wasn't Paul's. He was very patient and understanding. Faith has always called him 'daddy.' When it looked like I could go to prison, and found out what a mess the two of you were, I decided to have the test done."
"Well, I think it's wonderful," Della said.
"I'd like to have a word with him," Perry said.
"Would you have had the same word with Bella?" Maureen joked.
"No, I was going to have your mother do it. See, fathers have certain intimidating conversations with their daughter's boyfriends. It didn't feel right for me to have that conversation with a woman."
"When were you going to tell me about this conversation I was supposed to have?" Della asked.
"I hadn't decided."
"So, Paul worked with us that entire time and never let on that you were the girlfriend he was looking for?"
"He made that up," Maureen said, "he came up with a whole backstory. That's why I didn't want my living with Bella to be brought up. I was worried Paul's work would be compromised. He's the best investigator and I wanted the best."
"Like father, like son," Perry said.
"Like father, like daughter," Della added.
"I'm going to call him and invite him over." Perry left the room and Maureen took that moment to talk to her mother.
"I'm sorry," she said.
"For what?" Della asked.
"I've just been so awful to you. I don't know why."
"I'll let you in on a little secret."
"What?"
"From the moment you were born, you were always a daddy's girl. After I got pregnant with Vivian, you refused to let me take care of you. You stopped nursing, threw food at me, and never said 'mama'. When you first crawled, you crawled to your father and Uncle Paul, but not me."
"Is this supposed to make me feel better?"
"I'm getting there. Anyway, one day, your father had you feel Vivian move. He snuck out after he got you focused on that. When you noticed he was gone, you went to the door. I stood to get you, but a muscle I had pulled caused me to cry out in pain and slide to the floor. You crawled to me and stayed with me the rest of the day. It was one of the best days of my life."
"Really? Doesn't seem that great."
"It was the first time you said 'mama'," Della smiled sweetly at her daughter who smiled back. "I was also the first one you walked to. Look, the eldest always tests the parents. I was harder on you girls than your father so it made more sense for you to have conflict with me. The only one who never really gave me a hard time was Violet."
"She's the mama's girl."
"After having three fawning all over your father, I finally got one to fawn over me. Now, I'm going to clean up." Della eased herself up.
Maureen stood and placed a hand on her mother's arm, "I've got this."
Della smiled, "why don't you carry the dishes in and I'll rinse them."
Maureen carried the dishes in for her mother and Della followed. "When do you think you'll be able to put the cane away?"
"The doctor said I still have a couple of weeks at the least. My hip needs to get stronger. It still feels weak at times." Della's balance faltered and she grabbed the counter, "like now."
Maureen rushed to her mother, "come on," she said, "I know you're tired of resting, but if you fall, you'll either break the same hip again or you'll break something else."
"Okay," Della said. Maureen helped her mother to the couch.
Perry walked out and saw how his daughter was holding onto her mother, "everything alright?"
"She just needed a little help getting to the couch," Maureen said.
"Paul's on his way with Faith and Grace."
"Yeah, he asked to take them to dinner. I can't believe you didn't ask where they were."
"I thought they were with Bella," Perry said, "close enough."
"I'd better finish the dishes before they get home," Maureen smiled and went to the kitchen.
Perry walked over and sat by his wife. He put her arm around her, "what has you smiling?"
"I think that Maureen and I will finally be able to put the past behind us."
"That must have been some talk you two had while I was gone."
"I think she understands now that she wasn't the only one giving me a hard time."
"I've been giving you a hard time for thirty-one years," Perry said.
"That's putting it mildly," Della chuckled, "but I wouldn't put up with it from anyone else. You've dragged me all over the county to help your clients."
"You wanted to go."
"It was worth it to see the look on Burger's face when he found out that you found the real murderer."
Perry smiled, "you know, I actually miss him and Tragg."
"Me too," Della said.
Paul had decided to take Perry out for dinner one night, three weeks, after the trial. "So, what's going on?"
"Nothing much," Paul said.
"You didn't invite me to dinner to talk about nothing much."
"I'd like your blessing to propose to Maureen."
"My independent, determined, daughter who is the mother of your two children?"
"Yes," Paul smiled.
"I'd say that you freed yourself from having to ask once you had children with her."
"Look, I know Maureen is her own person and able to make her own decision. I just want to make sure that you're okay with it. I mean, I know how close the two of you have always been."
"Paul, if you don't propose to her, I'll get a Ouji board to summon your father and have him knock some sense into you."
Paul smiled, "thanks."
"You'd better talk to Della. It won't sit well with her if you don't."
After dinner, Paul and Perry went home. Paul and Maureen were still living at the Mason house with the girls. "How was dinner?" Della asked. She had pretty much recovered from her injury. Every now and then, she limped, but she could walk unaided.
"Enlightening," Perry said.
"I want to propose to Maureen," Paul said. "Do I have your blessing?" Della shot out of her chair and hugged him, "is that a yes?"
That Friday, Paul took Maureen to the ice cream place where they had their first date at when they were just kids. He then took her to the drive-in they had their first date at as teenagers. It had long since closed down, but Paul had his connections. "What's with the trip down memory lane?" Maureen asked.
Paul pointed at the screen where a video of Faith and Grace popped up. "Hi, mommy!" Faith said.
"Daddy!" Grace said as she waved.
"We love you!"
"Yeah!"
"Turn round!"
"What?" Maureen said as she laughed. She turned and saw Paul on one knee. The young woman gasped.
"I've loved you my entire life. You've always been there for me. Especially when I needed you the most after my father died. He told me that if I ever let you get away that I would officially be the stupidest man on Earth. I told him not to worry, I'd make sure he didn't lose his title." Maureen laughed, "you are the most amazing partner and mother to our two girls. I admire your strength after everything you've been through. Twice now, I've thought I'd lost you. I never want to feel that way again. Maureen Paulina Mason, will you marry me?"
Maureen had tears in her eyes. She nodded her head, "yes."
Paul stood and took Maureen into his arms. "I love you so much."
"Not as much as I love you."
Paul placed a blue sapphire ring on Maureen's finger. She had always admired her mother's ring and it reminded Paul of his love's blue eyes. The eyes she shared with their daughters. Maureen had been to hell and back, but she was finally getting her fairytale.
