Della and Joy rushed into Perry's hospital room only to find out it was a ruse. "Perry, we were both worried sick."
"Daddy, how could you lie like that?" Joy asked.
"I'm sorry, but I had to," Perry said.
Stefan explained the case to Della before leaving. Joy sat on the edge of the bed by Perry's legs while Della sat in the chair. They talked about things for a bit before leaving.
They returned the next day after hearing that their main suspect in the embezzlement, Father O'Neil, had been murdered. The prime suspect, a nun named Sister Margaret. Stefan escorted the young woman into the room. "Wow," Joy said, "she's really pretty."
The young nun smiled, "thank you."
Perry took Margaret for a walk to talk about everything. Sure enough, Margaret was charged with the murder of Father O'Neil. Perry sent for Paul Drake. Della picked him up at the airport where he was a bit miffed that he was pulled away from guarding a supermodel to help a nun. Paul eventually broke off with the nun to investigate the case.
The next day, Margaret was upset over a fight she'd had with Paul. Perry and Della picked up on it rather quickly. The nun when to get something for Perry. Leaving him and Della alone. It wasn't long before Joy walked in, "is something wrong with Sister Margaret? She looks so sad."
"Probably just the case," Della said.
"Oh, I thought it would be the fight she had with Paul," Joy shrugged. She started to walk toward a couch.
"Wait a minute," Perry said, "what fight?"
"I guess Paul was chasing someone they thought was Father Logan. He told Sister Margaret to stay behind, but she kept following. Paul followed the guy into this room with a jacuzzi or something. He had him cornered until Sister Margaret rushed in and knocked Paul into the water."
"How do you know all of this?" Della asked.
"Paul's like my brother. He tells me things."
Perry looked at Della, "don't worry, I'll talk to him."
"Don't tell him I told you," Joy begged.
Della did speak to Paul, but she never mentioned the fight specifically. "Everyone here is shunning her. She's alone and scared. She could really use a friend right now."
Paul sighed and left to find the nun. He apologized and took her to lunch.
Sister Margaret was acquitted and the real killer was arrested. She and Stefan joined Della, Perry, Paul, and Joy for dinner. Sister Margaret handed Joy a gift-wrapped box, "what's this?"
"I hear that someone is turning thirteen in a couple of days," the nun smiled.
Joy quickly tore open the gift a beautiful dress she had told Margaret about, "thank you," she smiled, "I love it." The girl found something else under the dress. It was a beautiful pink and gold diary. "It's so pretty."
"I started keeping a diary when I was thirteen. I wrote about what was going on in my life, but I also wrote about my hopes and dreams."
The young girl stood and went to hug the nun, "I'm gonna miss you."
"You can write to me, call, or visit whenever you'd like."
Everyone smiled and finished their dinner. Paul went back to his hotel room while the Masons returned to theirs. They all went to get ready for bed. When Perry and Della walked out of the master bedroom, they found their daughter on the balcony, staring out into the night. Della approached the doorway, "Joy, it's a bit cold tonight. You should have a coat on."
"I'm coming in anyway," the young girl walked back into the room and Della shut the door.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing," Joy said. "I just wish that Sister Margaret wasn't a nun."
"Why's that?" Perry asked.
"I thought she and Paul would be a great couple. Then I'd have a sister around all the time."
Perry saw a look of guilt on Della's face. "Joy, you've never said anything to me about wanting a sister," Perry said.
"I don't like to make mommy sad. I mentioned it once and could tell it upset her. Can I ask a question?"
"Of course, you can."
"Why did you only adopt me?"
Perry went to answer, but Della stopped him, "I didn't think I could handle raising more than one child on my own."
"But you had daddy."
"I knew that wouldn't always be the case. He wanted to be a judge and I wasn't sure I was willing to go wherever that took him."
Joy looked down, "that's selfish," she said softly.
"Josephine Della Mason," Perry raised his voice.
"You're right," Della said gently. "It was selfish. I tried very hard to be the best mother to you that I could be, but I didn't always get it right. I guess that's two times when I didn't." Della kissed the top of her daughter's head, "goodnight, sweetheart." The woman turned and walked into the bedroom, shutting the door behind her.
Perry said good-night to his daughter and joined his wife. Joy fell asleep on the couch, crying.
The next morning, Della and Perry found their daughter asleep on the couch. "Perry, she's been crying. Look at her face."
"She did say that she didn't like to make you sad. I'll go order breakfast," he said.
Della stood there, worried about her daughter. Unfortunately, Joy woke up when the food arrived. "What time is it?" she mumbled.
"About nine-thirty in the morning," Della said. "Daddy ordered breakfast."
"Good, I'm starved."
Della smiled at her daughter. When Joy got up to go to the table, Della took her daughter by the arm. "You didn't make me sad," she said. "I made myself sad. I should have adopted another baby. I was just too afraid to and I let it get to me. Never let that happen to you."
Joy hugged her mother and the two went to join Perry.