Part 1.3 – For Argument's Sake
She'd insisted upon leaving the jazz club before the last strident piece was concluded, and then begged off going to another club for a snack. Brent escorted her to her door but she didn't allow him into her apartment, much to his disappointment. His roaming hands and wayward lips no longer held any excitement for her – not after her encounter with the big man on the terrace.
She changed into pajamas, a chenille robe, and soft slippers, made a cup of tea, and carried it into the small but cozy living room. Curling up on her brand-new sage green couch, she couldn't help but smile. A year of steady assignments out of the steno pool had landed her a full-time secretarial position, and she had finally saved enough to buy the couch and return borrowed furniture to friends. It was the first new item she purchased, followed quickly by a coffee table and two end tables found on sale. She was proud of herself because buying her very own couch was tangible proof for her family that moving to California had been the right thing to do. It had been difficult to convince them, but they had come around grudgingly when she called them all excited about her big purchase. She would need more furniture – not too much, maybe a couple of chairs and small table for the entry way – to make the little apartment a home. Her Aunt Mae had presented her with a more-than-generous housewarming gift of a beautiful mahogany dining room set and she had taken her color palette for the entire apartment from the chairs, which were covered in a soft corduroy striped butterscotch, sage, and cream.
She sipped her tea and thought about Brent. A friend of her Aunt Mae had set them up and they had been dating steadily for several weeks. Tall, blonde and good-looking, he was pleasant and attentive, and she enjoyed their time together. Until tonight that is. Tonight she realized that while she liked him well enough, there was something missing for her. Brent was ready and willing to take their dates into a serious relationship, but she knew that wasn't going to happen now. Not when all she could see when she closed her eyes was a tall man with broad shoulders, dark hair curling endearingly over his forehead, and an irresistibly dimpled grin. And those eyes! Those eyes had mesmerized her. Even in the dim, faltering light of the yellow bulb above his head she could see they were incredibly blue, a piercing blue that stole her breath for several moments until she was able to speak those silly words: "I'm harmless." Harmless! If he had known what she was really thinking…
Frowning into her cup, she once again kicked herself for not getting the handsome man's name or boldly offering her own name to him. The physical attraction had been instantaneous, and when he'd spoken in that rich, full voice she'd nearly slithered to the ground. With a voice and manner like his she imagined he must use it to ply his trade, an actor or singer maybe, taking into consideration his powerful good looks. The more she thought about it, the more the profession of attorney suited her initial impression of him. Attorneys should be commanding and authoritative, and the smooth baritone timbre of his voice surely was both. She immediately trusted him, had known he was more harmless than she claimed herself to be, and had believed his compliment about her skills and accomplishments being on par with her looks. It was refreshing to hear a man place a woman's capabilities on the same playing field as her looks. And he hadn't followed the compliment with a pass at her, which was doubly refreshing.
So why hadn't she formally introduced herself to this handsome, honest man and remained on the terrace the rest of the evening talking about skipping stones in mud puddles and deconstructing musical patterns? Her frown deepened. Because she had been there with a date…a friend…and she couldn't abandon Brent completely. Besides, the man had been there with a date…a friend…as well, and something told her he would not abandon her either. That's why she had abruptly bid him goodnight, why she hadn't offered her name, why she was sitting on the couch frowning into an empty tea cup.
She stood and walked into the little kitchen to place the cup and saucer in the sink to deal with in the morning, then returned to the living room and turned out the lights before heading to the bathroom. She scrubbed her face until the smattering of freckles across her nose were uncovered and brushed her teeth a bit too vigorously, still perturbed at herself for wasting time on a man she had spoken to for only a few minutes, a man she hadn't even seen clearly in the darkness.
She kicked off her slippers, laid her robe at the end of the bed, and slipped between the cool sheets, settling on her left side with a sigh. The last thoughts she had before sleep claimed her were of the tall, dark, and oh so handsome man on the terrace.
She went out on a few more dates with Brent – twice back to that awful jazz club in a desperate, duplicitous hope he might be there, but no such luck. Brent sensed her withdrawal from him, and she had to tell him she didn't see a future for them. He had been upset but respectful of her decision not to date him anymore, and they parted with no hard feelings.
For months in her dreams she saw the man's dimpled grin, felt his piercing gaze travel over her and heard his wonderful, deep voice tell her over and over she was 'quite beautiful'. The dreams were pleasant and a welcome respite from other dreams, the dreams from which she awoke crying and shaken, confused and sad.
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Della heard the knob turn and opened her eyes. Perry stood in the doorway dressed in just a pair of silk pajama bottoms and a tender smile. "Time to get out, my beauty, before you turn into a prune. Your tea is waiting for you in the bedroom. And, I have a surprise for you."
Della folded her arms on the side of the tub, pillowed her head on them and looked up at Perry with a similarly loving smile. Knowing full well the answer, she asked the question anyway. "I don't suppose you'll tell me now?"
Perry shook his head. "Nothing doing. I want you all comfy and snuggly when I tell you."
She laughed. "What would people think if they heard the great Perry Mason use words like 'comfy' and 'snuggly' in the same sentence?"
He grinned. "I suspect they would think he was goofy in love"
Della held out her arms and in one deft motion Perry lifted her from the tub and swung her to the bathmat. He grabbed the previously discarded fluffy towel, dried her thoroughly, and helped her into a night gown of soft lightweight blue flowered flannel. After indulging in a lazy kiss, he slid his arm behind her legs and effortlessly carried her into the bedroom where he'd already turned down the bed. After settling Della comfortably against several plump pillows, he moved to the other side of the bed and slid in next to her. She carefully snuggled against him with her cup of tea, and as she sipped, Perry stroked one hand up and down her side and told her his surprise in a low, soothing tone. They were leaving for Carmel in the morning.
"You can pack in the morning, and we'll drive to my place so I can throw some things together. We'll stop at Ray's for lunch and at Wagman's for supplies and arrive in Carmel by three." She started to say something, but he interrupted her. "I've called Gertie and Paul and told them not to expect either of us back until next Monday, not this coming Monday. So, my dear, does the surprise meet with your approval?"
Della gave a contented sigh. "What do you think, Counselor? But a whole week away? There's so much that has to be done after the conclusion of a trial. I don't feel right leaving all that work to Gert…"
Perry rolled his eyes and silenced her with a soft kiss. "Miss Street, am I or am I not the boss?"
She grinned cheekily. "I let you think you are."
He opened his mouth, shut it, and looked at her with amused chagrin. "For argument's sake, I'm the boss, okay?"
"Purely for argument's sake, all right, you're the boss."
"As your boss I am ordering a week of rest and relaxation because as also the man who is in love with you, I don't like to see you tired or unhappy or sick, and I can tell this latest trial was particularly stressful on you. Did you not, less than an hour ago, tell me that you wanted to go somewhere where it's just us? I know it's not summer and it will be a bit chilly in Carmel, but I've made sure there is heat and a fireplace where we'll be staying. We'll hunker down and cook all our meals by ourselves. I don't want to see another human being as long as we're there. And as for taking an entire week, I think that's what you need. Just one day less than that will simply not do."
Della tilted her head and looked up the man who held her, the man she loved with her entire being, the man who took care of her, spoiled her, and loved her fiercely. She trusted him completely and knew he would never let any harm come to her. "I feel better already."
"I'm glad, honey. You look better, too. Your coloring is more natural. Finished with your tea?" He took the cup from her and placed it on the bedside table, then pulled her closer as he scooted them down further into the pile of pillows. "Come here, baby. Close your eyes and go to sleep. We have a lot of packing to do tomorrow." He left sweet kisses on her forehead and eyelids, and finally the delectable, full lips she raised.
Della snuggled against his broad chest, her arms drawn up beneath her chin. Her breathing almost immediately slowed, becoming even as she relaxed in the security of Perry's arms. "Perry," she said with a yawn. "I'm pretty goofy in love, too."