Perry and Della were helping a friend of his defend a client. Perry's friend had had a triple bypass and needed Perry's help. Della and Joy arrived and were greeted by Perry's friend, Walter. After exchanging a few pleasantries, Walter left. "How's your back?" Perry asked his wife.
"It's fine," she answered.
Perry looked at his daughter, "is it?"
Della rolled her eyes, "well, she said that to me too, but I'm not buying it."
A friend of Della's was also trying to get in touch with her. Perry and Paul went to talk with the accused while Della and Joy stayed behind. "Thank you for not ratting me out."
"Well, if he knew what happened earlier, we'd both have to go home."
"Ah, you were protecting me so you could stay?"
Joy scoffed, "of course." Della smiled at her daughter and held out her hand. Joy took it and helped the woman to a chair. Della groaned as she sat. "You would have to make it worse."
"Well, it's not as if I wanted to."
"One question," Joy said, "how are you going to get to the village library? You can't drive."
"I can take a cab."
Joy put her bag down, "guess I'm going with you."
"You don't have to."
"If I don't, you'll probably hurt yourself again."
"That wasn't because you weren't there."
Joy folded her arms over her chest and glared at he mother, "sure it wasn't."
The Masons' and Paul stayed at the resort while investigating. Della took what she had found in the library, down to the lobby where Perry was. Joy had offered to do it, but Della didn't want him to be suspicious. She handed him the file and instinctively sat down. Perry noticed her pained expression but decided to not say anything. He kept his mouth shut again when she struggled to her feet. No, he was going to pretend like he hadn't noticed anything so he could blindside her later. Joy was in their suite when there was a knock at the door, "Joy," it was her mother.
The fifteen-year-old rushed to open the door. Her mother was leaning against the doorway, with a hand on her back, in pain. "I told you that you should have let me go," Joy said as she helped her mother into the suite. "I also told you to wear flats." She got her mother to the couch and took off her boots for her. Joy placed a pillow behind Della's back. "He's going to notice this."
"I doubt it," Della said, "he didn't notice me wince when I sat or that I had a difficult time standing."
"Or he noticed it and is going to use it later?"
When Perry returned to the suite, it was late. "Joy, why don't you go to bed," Perry suggested.
"I'd like to stay up a bit longer," she said knowing her mother would need help.
"Alright, why don't you have some alone time? In fact, I insist."
The girl hesitantly left the room. "What are you going to tell me that she can't hear?" Della asked.
"Follow me," he said, "I want to show you something." Perry started walking towards the table. Della tried to stand, but couldn't. It wasn't long before Perry was holding his cane out for her, "try this," he said.
Della looked up at him, "so you did notice?"
"I'd have to be blind not to." The man took a seat by his wife, "now, tell me what happened. When I left, you were in much better shape."
Della sighed, "I slipped and fell on my back in the shower."
"What happened to the bath mat?"
"It was torn so I removed it."
"Did you go to a doctor?"
"Yes," she answered, "Joy took me once she got home. It's just badly bruised."
"Did you bring flat shoes?"
"Yes, I did."
"Good," Perry said, "I don't want to see you in heels until your back has healed."
Once his client was cleared, Perry decided to stay at the resort for a few days with his wife and daughter. Paul left to follow a beautiful, red-headed, librarian to Boston. "Joy, have you started looking at colleges?" Della asked that night in the room.
"Not really," the girl said.
"Well, sweetheart, that time is coming up rather quickly."
"Actually, I don't know if I'm going to college."
"What?" Della asked as Perry looked up from his paper. He knew that Della wanted Joy to go to college, but he also knew his daughter really didn't want to. They'd had this argument before.
"I just don't know what I want to do and if it doesn't require college, then there's no point in going. You didn't go."
"Not many women did back then."
"Well, now we can choose whether or not we're going. I just don't know what my choice is."
Della looked at Perry for help. "Joy, what interests you?"
"I think that investigating is interesting. That criminal law is, but I don't know if I'd like being a lawyer."
"If you're interested in investigating, then maybe you should talk to Paul?"
"When he's done dating Miss Boston," she joked.
"Well, I know you aren't sure about college," Perry said, "but should you decide, you could go for criminal justice and that would help prepare you. But you'd need to know about the law."
"I'll think about it."
"Good, now, why don't you help your mother to the couch? It takes her a while to get on her feet so you'll have a better chance at a quick getaway."
"Very funny," Della said dryly.