CHAPTER ELEVEN
FIVE MONTHS LATER, DELLA'S BIRTHDAY
Dressing very carefully in a new lilac silk suit with a white lace blouse, Della Street checked herself in her full-length mirror. Her hair looked perfect, her make-up was just right and today was her twenty first birthday. Tim, Elise, Aunt Mae, and Liam were taking her to dinner in Los Angeles. They were going to the Hollywood Brown Derby.
The doorbell rang, and it was a deliveryman with a long box of flowers. Maybe her family had remembered and sent them. Somehow, she knew deep down that wasn't the case. This wasn't the first time she had received flowers from this florist. The first time was the day after the bar association event. There were a dozen long stem white roses. The note said, "D, Sorry about your beautiful dress but not sorry I saw you again. P"
At Christmas she had received a dozen red and white roses that said, "D, I hope you received the check to get your dress repaired. Have wonderful holidays. P" Valentine's Day brought pink roses but no note, but none was needed. Now 21 yellow roses, her favorites, with a note saying, "D, On this very special day all the best. I wish things could be different. P"
When Andrea had come at Christmas they had talked the situation over and over. She had also kept her apprised of the flower situation. They had not come to any sensible solution. Andrea wanted to know if his friend Paul had been at the occasion and why Perry was no longer in the service. Della informed her that Archie had been checking on his rival and found out they had been injured on their way to the South Pacific. His friend's name was Paul Drake and he was studying to be a private investigator. It was then she began to wonder if she was being investigated.
It came out that Andrea was indeed interested in Paul Drake and was considering moving to L. A. and getting a teaching job. It would be great to have her best friend close by, and to be able to confide in her about this whole mess. Della got a vase and put the beautiful flowers next to her bed. Only her best friend knew Perry was in touch, and God help her if Laura Greer ever found out.
There had been no announcement of an engagement so that led to more confusion. She had been out with Archie a few more times but just as friends. Della concluded he was still in love with Laura, and Tim confirmed that. She loved her job, but even though she knew better the lovely brunette could not get the handsome attorney out of her mind. It left her unsettled and the gifts of the flowers didn't help.
Della knew a thank you note should be sent and he be asked to not keep sending the bouquets. Yes, she should, but deep down, if truth be known it was thrilling. Each time it happened there would be hope there would be a miracle that would get them together. Then reality would set in and it became apparent even if it happened, while there was an amazing attraction, she really did not know this man.
It became important to think about how Michael had fooled her. How her family had betrayed her. To go into a relationship now wasn't realistic, if it would even be miraculously possible. After all they seemed to have in common was their physical reaction to each other at this point. All the chaos she had left behind had taught her you have to know much more about a person, in so many situations to know if it could be forever. Never would she have believed Michael could be so violent. Maybe she was so enthralled about marriage, a home, and children she overlooked the evidence that was right in front of her face.
Each time she heard from Perry it seemed like heaven, but when she came down to earth reality hit her like a lightning bolt. A good resolution did not seem to be in the cards. She would need a lot more information to help her decide what path to go down. If she didn't feel so drawn to him that would help but then she couldn't even keep him out of her dreams.
Perry Mason was in the process of making definite plans to open his own office. Paul Drake had his P. I. license. He would do Perry's investigative work. They even were looking for offices in the same building. Paul had recovered slowly and had lost a lot of weight, yet he was ready to begin building a career right beside his best friend.
Laura was not happy. She was pushing him to go to work in her firm. There had been unpleasant scenes. She was always accusing him of seeing other women. If she ever found out he was sending flowers to Della Street there would be hell to pay. In no way did he want Laura going after Della. He had set the account up in Paul's name and used the initial P in his notes. God help him he couldn't get her out of his mind. He knew it was basically wrong, but it was as if when he thought of her he wanted to give her the world. He had never felt this way about any woman.
The lawyer knew he was losing it when he thought about how much his mother would have loved Della. He had a strong feeling mom would not be impressed with Laura and vice versa. He had no desire to marry Laura now, and he should just break it off. Every time they fought, and he was ready to walk out she fell apart and his guilt kept him there. Things did not look good for the future.
From Paul he knew Della loved her job with Tim. Her aunt did not live too far away. The aunt was involved with Liam Sullivan, the police chief in Bolero Beach so they had to be discreet in their inquiries. They had not found out that why the wedding was called off and she ended up in California. The detective did report that the friend, Andrea, had visited at Christmas time. He even acted interested in the girl HE had met at the USO.
The birthday celebration was wonderful. There was a pair of pearl earrings that arrived from her family that morning. Her mother had signed all their names, but it was probably from her mother. There had been no word from her grandmother or father. Aunt Mae had gotten her a beautiful silk scarf to wear when she was driving around in her ragtop to keep her hair in place. Elise and Tim bought her leather driving gloves. Andrea had sent her a picture she had found that had been taken at that USO dance of them with Paul and Perry. It was in a sterling silver frame next to flowers in her bedroom.
The Brown Derby was amazing she loved that it was shaped like a Derby. They sat in a large banquette where they could look at the pictures of famous people that surrounded them. There was Clark Gable and Carole Lombard, Bob Hope and Bing Crosby, Ella Fitzgerald, and so many more. As the evening went on everywhere you looked there were celebrities.
They had a wonderful fillet of beef dinner, with Lyonnaise potatoes, and garlic bread. Of course, they started with the famous Cobb Salad and Della was treated to a Derby cocktail as she could now legally drink. They finished it off with her favorite chocolate cake with strawberry filling, and pink and white roses on the top.
Elise asked, "where did that come from? Did you order it Mae?"
Her aunt was perplexed. "No, I thought maybe you ordered it as a surprise."
Liam suggested, "let's ask our waitress."
A buxom redhead was called over to their table and told them she had no idea who ordered the cake, but she would check with the pastry chef and the MaƮtre D'.
She came back after a few minutes. "The girl who takes special food orders said a gentleman called and asked about ordering a special birthday cake and how much it would cost. A messenger then came in yesterday with the order, paid, and said this was to go to Miss Della Street who was celebrating her birthday.
Della inquired, "did she happen to say what the messenger looked like?"
The waitress answered, "I'm sorry I didn't ask."
Again, Liam was the one who requested that this lady come to their table. It was a several minutes before a petite blond arrived.
Marie said, "you wanted to know what the gentleman looked like who ordered the cake? Now, we do get special requests, but we usually know who is sending it, so I did notice the way this messenger looked. He had on a baggy suit, it looked as if he had lost weight, as he was quite tall and thin. He had light hair and a very nice smile. He paid for the cake and left. I hoped you would know who it was from."
Della shook her head. "I don't know anyone who looks like that or who would know we were coming here."
"I'm sorry I couldn't be more help Miss Street, but Happy Birthday it seems you have a very generous admirer."
Everyone seemed quite confused as they tried to remember if they had mentioned their plans to anyone. It was when the ladies were on their way to the powder room Della Street got her answer. Sitting to the side was a gaunt looking Paul Drake who slightly tipped his head to her. It was all she could do to not get tears in her eyes. The dessert was from Perry. He was thinking of her on this special day, but he didn't want to cause trouble for anyone.
