Burger arrived home from work a few hours earlier. He knew Della should have arrived by that time so he expected to see her car in the driveway. It would be good to see her again and catch up, but he, like his wife, wished the circumstances were happier. It was Friday night and Burger was toying with the idea of taking a drive up to San Francisco to talk some sense into his old courtroom opponent. He had all weekend after all. Though Mason had defeated Burger in all but a few of their legal cases, Burger knew that if Mason was about to lose the biggest case of his life if he didn't wake up and smell the coffee soon.
And if Burger was honest with himself, he needed to go talk some sense into Mason for his own benefit as well as Mason's. The former prosecuting attorney, now turned judge himself, was also a workaholic and devoted to his profession. Della's arrive at his home and the circumstances for it had put the fear of god in Burger as well. It could just as well have been his beloved Alexandra vanishing into the night after nearly 40 years of marriage. The thought made his blood run cold and he realized just how much how may have taken his own wife for granted just as Mason had taken Della for granted.
He entered his home and immediately heard the two women's soft voices emanate from the kitchen. He grinned happily as he also detected the delightful aroma of his favorite meal, meatloaf. His long hours made coming home to a freshly cooked meal a somewhat rare luxury and the aging judge reminded himself to count his blessings. He meandered into the kitchen to find Alexandra setting the table and Della checking on the meatloaf. Surprise lit up Burger's face to find the roles somewhat reversed and he shot Alexandra a questioning look as she looked up from her own chore. He walked over to her and gave her a quick kiss hello.
"Della wanted to make dinner tonight as a thank you for letting her stay. I told her meatloaf was the way to go."
"And you would be right," Burger chuckled as he grinned at Della. "And I should be thanking you, Della. Meatloaf isn't one of Alexandra's favorites so it's a special treat for me when she makes it. It smells incredible. I can't wait to try it out."
Alexandra laughed. "If that meatloaf tastes as good as it smells, he might not let you go back to San Fransisco, Della."
Della looked up and grinned, pulling the meatloaf out of the oven and setting it on the stove to cool for a few minutes. "It's been so long since I've made it, *I* hope it tastes as good as it smells."
"Warren called earlier and said that he and Diana would be over for supper Sunday night," Alexandra said as she poured drinks.
Della moved the meatloaf to the table and told Burger to dive in first since it was his favorite.
"I am thrilled to be seeing them again. I don't get to see Diana much now that she's in law school down here. You guys see her more than I do.
Burger loaded up his plate, indicating for Della to go next since she made dinner. "I am glad you said Sunday. I'm thinking about paying Perry a visit tomorrow. Sounds like he might need a little help figuring this case out. I have to tell you, Della, your coming out here has given me a bit of a wake up call myself. Alex has put up with a lot of the same stuff you have and the thought of her leaving me, scares the hell out of me. I'd be completely lost without her."
Della smiled, warmed that if nothing else, her situation was helping another marriage. Hopefully she could find a way to help her own. Perhaps Burger could be helpful here though. Sometimes guys needed to hear things from other guys; and Burger was a respected colleague.
"Feel free to give it a shot, Hamilton. I think Perry would welcome the company honestly. Perhaps you can get through to him. Heaven knows I haven't been able to."
"I'll leave in the morning. I'd arrive too late if I left tonight. It will give me a good evening and morning to try and beat some sense into that thick head of his."
Burger sobered up. He had wanted to keep the mood fairly light, but the truth was his friends were hurting and that hurt him. "This isn't what Perry intended, Della. Men sometimes get so caught up in providing for their families that they forget there are different ways of doing that beyond just a house and food on the table. Perhaps he'll see that now. I hope he does. Something Warren and I should have a chat about before he graduates."
"Excellent idea, Hamilton," Alexandra nodded with enthusiasm.
Della smiled as well, grateful to be among friends who were willing to go to bat for her and her marriage. She hoped Hamilton Burger won this argument for a change.