CHAPTER FIVE
Thanks so much to everyone who has reviewed this story. I am so glad that everyone seems to be enjoying this "How They Met" FF. There are more complications to come and I hope they also pique your interest. Remember knowing that people are reading and reviewing keeps the muses working. I also want to thank Barbara Hall a and Raymond Burr for making these characters so real and alive. I know they are together now and having the time of their lives.
Something was wrong, very, very, wrong. Michael had not even kissed her hello. He had insisted they go to a roadhouse in another town and had barely spoken to her. "What is the matter?" she had asked over and over.
"Nothing," he said curtly.
Almost in tears she remarked, "Obviously there is. You have barely said two words. Have I done something? Did your relatives not like me?"
"Della!" he exclaimed. This is not the time or place.
Now she was feeling angry. "We are getting married a week from tomorrow. We can't go into this marriage with so much unresolved over our heads."
"I need time to think something through and I WILL NOT be rushed," he told her.
"Then I think you should take me home," she informed him.
Glaring at her he said through clenched teeth, "you will sit right there, drink in a civilized manner, and I will take you home when I am ready."
That was the straw that broke the camel's back. Della got up to call a cab and he followed her. Grabbing her arm, he said angrily, "get back to our table and don't you dare cause a scene."
She pulled away from him muttering loudly "you're hurting me, let me go! Take me home!"
"Get in the car! I'll take you somewhere, but it won't be a place you like." He angrily paid their bill and followed her to the car.
Slamming the car into gear Michael announced, "I wasn't going to bring this up until I had a chance to think it through, but you had to push the subject. I am beginning to think I don't know you at all. It must be that Andrea's fault. She's such a free thinker. In fact, Jeff is thinking of dumping her.
Suddenly Della was frightened. She had never seen Michael this angry. His teeth were clenched, and he was driving way too fast. He wouldn't speak to her until he pulled up in front of their future home in the compound. "Get out!" He commanded.
She sat there not moving, and he grabbed her arm and pulled her out of the car. He practically dragged her into the house. He turned on the hall light and pushed her up against the wall. "Now will you explain your behavior with a certain sailor at the USO dance?"
"What are you talking about?" she asked.
"Don't play innocent with me!" He exclaimed angrily. "Uncle Joe is a big contributor and we stopped in to see how things were going. Imagine my surprise when I was told how my fiancée was all over a stranger at the last dance."
Trying not to show her fright Della tried to explain." That is not true. I was just spending time with a man who was headed for the Pacific the next morning. Nothing happened, I don't know who spreads such rumors."
He shook her and told her heatedly, "you were seen kissing him. Don't lie to me."
"Stop, you're hurting me," she cried out. "He kissed me good-bye after I told him I was engaged and getting married. I will never see him again. Who knows if he will even come back. I didn't encourage him. We talked and danced a few times. If you can't trust me maybe we should postpone our marriage."
Now he was furious, "that is what you would like. Then you can write your lover. You can tell him now you are free."
Blinking back tears Della tried to clarify, "I don't know his name, I don't know where he is being sent. All I know he isn't from this part of the country. I was trying to be nice to someone going to fight in the war and didn't know what he be would be facing."
"How could you make me look bad?" He wanted to know. "Now I am a laughing stock. If you want me to go through with the wedding, you had better straighten up. Andrea is out of your life, you will see who I tell you to see, my mother will be watching you."
Della wrenched the engagement off her finger and threw it on the floor. He slapped her face hard and her head slammed into the wall. She was seeing stars as he went down on his knees to look for the ring. Taking that advantage, she shoved him and took off running out the front door.
Footsteps were coming after her and there were tears on her face from the sting of his hand. Somehow, she made it to the outside wall and knew he would not yell for her because he didn't want the family to know what was going on. She slipped off her shoes and ducked into the shadows of the shrubbery surrounding the compound.
Della finally ran to the caretaker's cottage, pounded on the door, and prayed the caretaker or his wife would not give her away. Edith Garber was the housekeeper who was married to the caretaker. She took one look at her swollen cheek and bruised arms and put a finger to her lips. When Michael came pounding on her door she acted like she had been asleep and told him she had heard or seen nothing.
After they heard his car go out, she took the young woman to the bathroom and bathed her face. "He's a bully," Edith told her. "We won't ever speak of this again. I need my job." Della was sobbing as the woman put cold compresses on her face and arms. When she finally had her calmed down she made it clear, "now I need to get you home safely. I don't know what happened and I don't want to know, but you don't deserve this treatment. Luckily, Arthur took Mr. Joe to the airport and he won't be back until tomorrow. Let's get you quieted down and find a way for you to get home safely."
It was several hours before Michael drove back into the drive. They had been sitting in the dark all the time. Edith had given her ice for her face. When they finally felt it was safe Della told her she could get home taking the back way. She hugged the woman and said she would never forget what she had done.
To Della scurrying through backyards, alleys, behind trees and shrubs, the trip home seemed interminable. Her house was lit up like a Christmas tree. Moving silently, she went in the back door in her bare feet, and up the backstairs. She could hear people talking downstairs. Her father said, "I am checking her room again."
Breathing hard Della slipped into the room her aunt was now occupying. David Street could be heard moving things in her room and she leaned against the door listening. Her aunt must have followed him because she heard her say, "maybe you should hear Della's side of this story before you draw any conclusions."
"People are laughing behind our backs over her behavior. She has the chance to make a decent marriage. What is she thinking?"
"David, she is 20 years old. She has a good head on her shoulders. Give her a chance to explain." Mae begged.
Then she heard her grandmother's voice. If she was at their house, at this hour, things were bad. "So, you are sticking up for her behavior. I told David not to invite you and your modern notions. Perhaps you have been talking to her and giving her all kinds of ideas."
There was a catch in Mae's voice as she said, "you have no right to talk to me like that Mother. If I am not wanted, I'll leave tomorrow." Della barely had time to get away from the door before her aunt came crashing through the door. Desperate Della put her finger to her lips.
They heard the old woman say, "Good riddance."
Staring at each other Della finally questioned, "Aunt Mae?"
A shocked look on her face the aunt wanted to know, "Darling what happened to you?
As she choked back sobs Della quietly explained what Michael had said and done. "What am I going to do?"
Flabbergasted Mae explained, "Michael came over here tonight and made everything your fault. Your family is very angry with you."
Della walked over to the window and whispered, "I am so frightened. I don't know what to do."
Her aunt came up behind her and put her hands on her shoulders. "Della, you can't subject yourself to this kind of behavior. Can you tell me what happened?"
Seeing the sympathetic look in her aunt's eyes Della tried to explain what had happened at the USO dance without admitting how this man haunted her dreams. "I just wanted to give him an evening to remember before he shipped out. He WAS handsome, intelligent, and I did enjoy being with him. We danced, and I did let him kiss me, but just once. I let him know I was engaged."
'What you did my dear was make the Streets look bad, and in their eyes, it is an unforgivable sin. I know I did it when I left my abusive husband."
Della looked at her perplexed. "Your husband was abusive? Why Grandmother always said he walked out on you."
"I'm not surprised. Sweetheart I don't want you to go through the same thing. Do you want to go through with this marriage?"
She shook her head and said tearfully, "No, but how do I get out of it."
Mae said, "It will mean the sacrifice of leaving this town and all you know behind. Do you think you can do it?"
The young bride to be felt as if her heart was being wrenched out of her body. "Aunt Mae, I don't know where to go or what to do. If I stay it will be horrible and if he will still agree they will make me marry Michael to save face."
Taking a deep breath Mae told her, "then there is only one thing to do. I'll help you get away where they can't find you until things cool down."
" Where could that be? They will have me followed, they will get detectives."
Smiling Mae said, "Not if you fly out to California under my name. You can go to my place in Bolero Beach. None of them know where that is, and you can rest and relax. I'll stay at my apartment in Los Angeles."
"I don't know. I'm scared." Della cried.
Patting her shoulder, she explained. "of course, you are. Now leave everything to me. You lay down and rest. I'm getting you some aspirin to help you relax and get some sleep."
Della didn't think she would ever sleep again. However, it was the combination of the medication and warm blanket that relaxed her and soon she was sound asleep from exhaustion.
