TCOT Sunbather's Diary Extended Chapter 6
Della stood on the balcony of Perry's apartment, gazing up at the stars. She loved looking at them. She always said they reminded her of a million glittering lights, dancing a magic dance against a backdrop of soft plush velvet. Perry had never been one to think much about it or even to notice them but looking at them with Della gave him a whole new perspective. On many a clear night, the two of them would spend quite a bit of time looking up at them….each thinking their own private thoughts. Della would be snuggled in Perry's arms…feeling safe and loved and Perry would feel as he always did….amazed that this beautiful wonderful woman had given her heart to him. They would stay that way for a long time, unable to tear themselves away. But not really wanting to. It was if the stars were holding them captive…in a private world, belonging just to them. When they would finally turn away, they would look into the other's eyes so intensely, that no words were needed.
As Della continued to look at them, she suddenly felt a warm breath on her neck and strong arms wrapping themselves around her. She turned slightly, enabling herself to look up at Perry. Smiling, he kissed her forehead while gently rubbing her arms up and down. In a voice so soft, that Della could hardly hear, he said, "Look sweetheart, a falling star… make a wish."
Della sighed deeply and closed her eyes. When she opened them, Perry turned her into him and asked, "Well Miss Street, what did you wish for?"
"If I told you counselor, it wouldn't come true," Della said in a barely audible voice.
Perry held Della close to him as he looked down at her beautiful face. In a hushed whisper, he said, "If you tell me, my darling, I will be happy to make it come true."
Della looked up at Perry and tenderly put her hand on his cheek. Quietly she said, "I know you will my love…you always have… but this time I made two wishes and I don't know if you can make them come true…at least the first one anyway."
"Why don't you let me be the judge of that?"
Della put her head down and said very softly, "I wish …I wish that all of this crazy horrible stuff with the blackmailer would go away and …I …I can't tell you the other wish…at least not right now."
Perry gently put his finger under Della's chin and brought her face up so he could look at her. In a voice filled with awe and wonder, he said, "Oh Della…my sweet baby…you are so beautiful, so wonderful. I look at you and I see perfection…you are perfect…. you are everything that's good and right in this world and I thank God every day that you are in my life….so yes, Darling, I will make your wish come true. I am going to take care of everything…. just like I promised. I'm going to make all of this just disappear and it will be like it never happened….and as for your other wish….I'll make it come true whenever you're ready to tell me what it is." Perry put his large hand on Della's face. Tenderly, his thumb caressed her cheek and his fingers moved to behind her ear, stroking her hair so lightly it sent tremors coursing through her body. Feeling her tremble, he bent over and picked her up in his arms and carried her into his bedroom. Ever so gently he laid her on the bed and began to undress her, slowly and sensually. He gently unhooked the clasp of the strand of pearls from around her neck and put them on the night table beside the bed. He then proceeded to unzip her dress, stopping now and then to run his tongue very lightly down Della's back. This caused her to gasp and shiver. After taking off the dress, Perry removed the burgundy silk slip that lay against Della like a second skin. While tenderly caressing her soft, warm body, Perry then divested Della of her last remaining items of clothing…the burgundy and black lace bra and panties. On her eyelids and lips he left the softest of kisses. His lips then traveled downward leaving the same kind of kisses on Della's throat, neck shoulders and then continuing further until he had covered her whole body with those soft, soft kisses. Perry felt Della's hands grip his shoulders and as their need and passion for each other intensified Della felt herself losing control. As she slipped blissfully into oblivion, Perry continued to work his magic… gently…tenderly….. showing her just how much she meant to him and how much she was loved.
The office was dark and empty, the work day long over. There was one small light filtering through the door at the end of the long hallway. The lone figure sat behind the desk, leaning back in the chair, eyes closed. Only one thought kept repeating over and over…like a recording. Ah revenge, how sweet you are…my time is now…your time is up. The thought seemed to bring the only peace to a body and mind filled with anger and resentment. Smiling scornfully, the figure picked up the phone and began to dial.
At six o'clock the alarm on Perry's night table went off, signaling the beginning of a new day. Perry, already awake, quickly shut it off. Turning to Della, he drew in a sigh of relief. "Good," he thought to himself, "she's still asleep." As gently as he could, he pulled the quilt up a little farther, making sure she was completely covered. Della had endured another restless night. After having the same nightmare as the one she had in the office the day before, she had awakened in terror, crying and shaking. Perry of course had taken her in his arms and held her tight to him, comforting and quieting her, stroking her hair, caressing her face, rubbing her back. After about an hour, between Perry's loving attention and the warm cocoa he'd made her, she had finally closed her eyes and fallen asleep, her head on Perry's chest, her arms around his waist.
Della began to stir. Perry bent over and softly whispered in her ear, "Shhhh darling, it's not time to wake up …it's very early in the morning…shhh , it's alright baby, I'm right here, sleep, just sleep now, shhhh…shhhh."
Leaving a soft kiss on Della's lips and as quietly as he could, Perry slipped out of bed and headed to the bathroom to shower and shave. Standing under the hot water, Perry again let his thoughts return to the mess that Della was in. Astutely aware of people and their behavior, Perry couldn't let go of the feeling that had been bothering him from the beginning. This was no ordinary blackmail scheme…and this was no ordinary blackmailer. He remembered the comment that Paul had made the night before….and Paul was usually right on target. At that moment a thought came to Perry so horrifying that he felt as if he couldn't breathe and that his body had lost all its feeling. He leaned back against the cool tile of the shower in order to calm himself. Not only were they running out of time, there was always that chance that the blackmailer wouldn't be satisfied with just the money…he wouldn't be satisfied unless Della was silenced…for good. Perry felt a sick, angry feeling rise up from the depths of his soul. The answer was out there...so close he could taste it but still just beyond his reach. He said a silent prayer and made a silent vow. This 'craziness,' as Della had called it, would end now. Stepping out of the shower and wrapping a towel around him, Perry walked into his bedroom and looked at Della, making sure she was still asleep. Leaving the room, so as not to disturb her, Perry went into his kitchen and picked up the phone. He dialed Paul's home number. The detective picked it up on the first ring. As soon as he heard Perry's voice he said, "I was going to call but I didn't want to wake you."
"I've been up for a while now Paul but Della had another difficult night."
"I'm really sorry to hear that pal," Paul said solicitously. "Listen, what time do you think you'll be in?"
"I want Della to sleep a little longer…maybe around 9:30 or 10…what do you have for me?"
"Plenty, I'll see you in a couple of hours. Try to take it easy and give Della a hug for me."
"See ya Paul and I will…on both counts. Thanks."
Perry hung up the phone and headed back to his bedroom. He looked at Della lovingly, thankful that she was still sleeping. After quietly dressing, he again went into the kitchen to make coffee. Knowing that Della did not have much of an appetite, he cut up some fresh fruit and put bread in the toaster. He also scrambled some eggs for himself, hoping Della would also want some. When the eggs and toast were done, he put them in the oven to keep them warm. Walking back to his room to check on Della, Perry found her beginning to wake up. He went over and sat beside on the bed. Taking her hand in his, he brought it to his lips and tenderly kissed it, while gently brushing the hair away from her face. Della opened her eyes and looked up at Perry smiling sleepily. "Good morning Counselor," she said in a soft voice.
"Good morning sweetheart, how's my beautiful girl?" Perry asked; his voice soft and caring.
"I'm much better now but, Perry, I'm sorry about last night."
"I'm not," Perry said with his charming smile and a raised eyebrow. "In fact, Miss Street, I…"
Della put her finger on his lips and interrupted him. She laughed in spite of herself. Perry always knew how to cheer her up… to make her smile… to comfort her and to make all the bad things go away. She looked at him with eyes filled with love and as she gently put her hand on his chest she said, "There goes that one track mind of yours darling. You know that's not what I was talking about."
"I know baby," Perry said softly. "I was just teasing you….but Della there's nothing to apologize for. I'm sorry you're having these scary dreams…these nightmares. Listen, I talked to Paul a little while ago…you were still sleeping. He wants to meet with me…with us this morning. He has some information and I have a feeling that there may be an end in sight to all this."
"Oh Perry…I hope so…I really, really hope so."
"So do I honey. Now would you do something for me?"
"I would do anything for you counselor…what is that you need?"
"Would you care to join me for a little breakfast, Miss Street? I have fruit, toast, eggs and coffee waiting just for us."
Della gave Perry a brilliant smile as she said lovingly, "that, Mr. Mason, would be my greatest pleasure."
Perry stood then, gently throwing back the quilt and took Della by the hand pulling her into his embrace. Pulling her even closer into him, he bent down and kissed her…a long, deep passionate kiss. When they broke away Della put her head on the big man's chest and sighed contentedly. Perry wrapped her up in his arms and simply held her. It was at that moment that Della Street knew that she was deeply loved and cared for and this wonderful amazing man would keep her safe and protected always. He was her anchor, her port in the storm. She also knew that as soon as this horrible nightmare was over, she would do just as Perry had told her…she would be ready to tell him all about her second wish.
The pounding on the door seemed to be getting louder and more desperate. Hoping it would stop and whoever was there would go away, he rolled over in the bed and put the pillow over his head to drown out the noise. When it was clear it was not going to abate, he slowly drug himself out of bed, taking the blanket with him to help warm him from the morning's chill. Shuffling slowly to the door, all the while muttering curses, he shook his head, trying to cast off the sleepiness he still felt. As he approached the door, the pounding increased and his voice became louder with the obscenities he had muttered only a minute before. Opening the door, he was now face to face with the figure standing in the hall…the long hall with its many doors.