Dinner at the Burgers' had been a fairly pleasant affair, though there had been a slight undercurrent of discomfort and tension as the two couples deftly avoided the "elephant in the room." Though qualified to counsel and mediate, the nearly white haired Alexandra wouldn't dare suggest or start something like that at the dinner table in her husband's presence. Even though he was a good friend of Mason's, Alexandra had toiled in her career for far too long to abandon privacy and confidentiality practices now. And Della hadn't seemed to indicate a need for such intervention so far. When Alexandra had offered her services when Della first arrived, Della thanked her, but said that she and Mason would muddle through somehow and that the workaholic judge would either compromise or he wouldn't. Either way the next week or so would tell the story.

After supper, Mason asked Della to join him for a walk. Della's demeanor immediately became more closed off and distant, but she agreed to go with him. He headed across the street like a man on a mission and the graying brunette followed him to the door looking perplexed until she noticed the for sale sign placed conspicuously in the front yard. Her breath caught in her throat, not daring to hope, but she couldn't think of what else her Perry could be up to. She hadn't even seen the house yet, but if it was anything like the Burgers' she was certain she'd fall in love with it. And to live right across the street from them meant many things; all of them things that Della could quite joyfully live with. They'd see much more of each other and their daughter, Diana; and she and Alexandra could sit on the porch together for chats and go shopping together.

Mason and Della remained silent while they waited for the owner to answer the door. The wait wasn't long as Mason had asked if he could bring Della over when he'd talked to the man earlier that afternoon. The man invited the couple in with unbridled enthusiasm and the portly judge gestured for his wife to enter first. Della took her time examining the place, finding it to be well kept up and cared for. It almost looked picture post card perfect. The house was a bit smaller than the one they had up in San Francisco. For Mason this wasn't an issue and he doubted it would be one for Della either. It did have a pool in the backyard that Mason wasn't sure he had the energy to use much or maintain, but he had the money to hire someone to care for it and the yardwork. Location was the main lure of the house as far as Mason was concerned. With age becoming an increasing factor in their lives, close proximity to friends and family was optimum if they went through with this move. If Della wanted the house, Mason would start the paperwork that coming Monday.

Della seemed particularly impressed with the spacious kitchen and dining room. She rather enjoyed cooking and entertaining, something she'd been able to do precious little of up in San Francisco. The corner of Mason's lips turned upward as he noted the longing look in his love's still bright hazel eyes.

"All you have to do is say the word, Della," he encouraged.

"The house is marvelous, Perry, but what about your judgeship in San Francisco?"

"You let me worry about that. I just need to know if you want this house."

Della smiled warmly. "It would be perfect honestly. We'd be close to Diana and we'd have friends right across the street. At this age, having friends next door is something to be desired."

"Alright then," Mason said as he turned to the owner. "Would Monday be convenient?"

"Certainly," the owner said as he walked with them to the door. "Say 2 o'clock?"

"I'll be here," Mason said, following Della out the door and back across the street. She took his hand for the first time in a very long time, a contented smile, absent for just as long, appearing on her face.

"I knew you'd come through for me, Perry," she said, leaning her head against his shoulder. "You always do."

W^^^W^^^W

That Monday afternoon, the paperwork was drawn up and signed and the down payment made. Tuesday though required Mason to return to San Francisco to resign his position as judge there and to make arrangements to have their things packed and moved back to the new house in Los Angeles. Della had insisted on returning to San Fransicsco even though Mason had assured her that remaining with the Burgers' was perfectly fine. Della was stubborn though and there were certain items in their house that she wanted to pack herself. Mason had learned long ago not to argue with her on that point for it had proven futile on more than one occasion.

The next three weeks were busy with Mason finishing up the last few weeks of work along with getting their things packed and the house put up for sale. The packing actually wasn't that big a deal as Mason asked their daughter, Diana and Burger's son, Warren to come up and help for a few days in addition to hiring some packers and movers.

Warren had purposefully waited to pop the question to Diana after her parents had patched things up so he was eagerly awaiting the move to be finished soon and was only too enthusiastic about helping Mason get things moved along.

W^^^W^^^W

Finally, Della was standing in her new kitchen with boxes of kitchen stuff stacked around her and on counters. Mason was unpacking in one of the other rooms, chatting and laughing with Burger in one of the back rooms. Alexandra had been out shopping, but Burger said she'd be over once she got home. Things had been much better for her and Mason the last few weeks. Even Mason seemed more relaxed. He hadn't yet decided if he wanted to go back to work in Los Angeles, but after floating around in their pool the day before he had mentioned that he could get used to that. Della remained optimistic that he'd just finally learn to mellow out and enjoy his much earned retirement.

A knock at the front door caught Della's attention and she opened it for Alexandra. She was sure they'd get to a point where they'd just walk in each other's houses.

Della smiled at that, certain that her life was finally the way she wanted it.

The End