Perry backtracked a few steps up the hill and picked up his suitcase. Then, arm-in-arm, the newly-engaged couple walked down the grassy slope towards the house.
"Before we stroll straight into the lion's den," Della said, "I should warn you that my family may react to your being here a little peculiarly. They know who you are, but they haven't the slightest idea that I ever worked for you. They disapproved of my moving to Los Angeles, and we stopped discussing my work and life there years ago."
"It sounds like a sticky situation, but we have already braved many worse ones, together," Perry responded, with a dimpled smile, which his intended returned.
When they were about twenty feet away from the house, a loud shriek pierced the night air.
"Why Mr. Mason, I do believe you have been recognized," Della murmured. Perry gave a short laugh and continued escorting her towards the back porch, where the Street family stood, their eyes almost staring out of their heads. In addition to looking like a deer in the headlights, Maggie also had a very slack bottom jaw, as she had forgotten to close it again after her shocked cry had left her throat.
Walking up the porch stairs, the eldest Street girl put on an amused, mysterious smile. She could not help feeling vindicated at this moment. Finally, her family would come to know the real Della Street. Turning to Perry, she said,
"I should like to introduce my family. This is my father, Jonah Street; my mother, Ruth Street; and my brother Robert and my sister Maggie." She gestured to the gentleman beside her. "And as Maggie already knows, this is Mr. Perry Mason. He is my employer, and now, he is also my fiancé."
"It is a pleasure to meet you all," Perry rejoined in his polished and confident voice.
The people before them continued to be stricken dumb. At last, Mrs. Street began to sway slightly, and grasping her husband's shoulder for support, weakly said,
"I…I don't believe it."
Della suppressed a giggle.
"If it would help your incredulity, Mom, I am sure that Mr. Mason can give you a sworn deposition as to the facts of the matter."
Maggie's tongue slowly came out of its paralysis as she interjected,
"Della…you know what a deposition is?!"
"Of course she does," Perry Mason replied. "She even knows what a writ of habeas corpus is. Your sister happens to be the best confidential legal secretary in all of California, and she has worked for me for the past three years."
Maggie gasped, glancing from the lawyer to her sister and back again.
After a moment, however, she attempted to repress her astonishment and walked towards Perry Mason with an outstretched hand.
"She is also a very sly creature. She let me talk about you for days on end without ever letting on that she knew you!" Despite her best efforts to appear composed, however, Maggie was shaking from excitement. Perry reached out and warmly shook the twelve-year-old's hand. "It is such a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Mason. I have long admired your abilities in the courtroom. I can scarcely believe that you are here in person!"
"Thank you. It seems, however, that you have some impressive abilities of your own. You are very well-spoken, and clearly know a lot of legalese. Has anyone told you that, with a little bit more practice and training, you would make a very good lawyer?"
Maggie's eyes widened and she seemed to grow an inch taller upon hearing Perry's remark.
"Yes, I have," Della replied. "But Maggie was unconvinced. I am hoping that your powers of persuasion will be stronger than mine. But you and my sister can spar about her future after dinner. Right now, we better go eat before the leg of lamb is burnt to a crisp." With that, she steered her betrothed and thoroughly dazed family into the house.
Still dumbfounded as they sat down around the dinner table, Mr. and Mrs. Street watched in astonishment as Della spooned helpings of lamb and side dishes onto Perry's plate and poured coffee for him without asking a single question as to whether he took cream or sugar or what dressing he preferred on his salad. It was clear that she had eaten many meals in his company and knew his preferences by heart. Even more stunning was the way he looked at her. Perry Mason gazed at their daughter as if she were the most beautiful, unforgettable woman in the world.
But, by far, the greatest surprise was how naturally Della bantered with the wealthy, important man! She asked after a Paul Drake and teased him about arriving in a helicopter, all with the greatest ease. And at times, it seemed like Della and Perry Mason were almost reading each other's thoughts.
Clearly, they had missed something very important about their oldest daughter!
At first, Della feared that the meal would be an awkward one, with only herself and Perry speaking. But after a few minutes, Maggie managed to ask Perry about his prolonged absence from the headlines, and he responded by talking of his vacation, and then, as always, had the good sense to mention his trouting adventures in Scotland. Fishing was a topic that Robert and Mr. Street could relate to, and soon they had forgotten that the man was a Los Angeles celebrity, and were chatting with him about different kinds of bait and river currents as if they were old friends.
By the time dessert was served, Della's parents had worked up the courage to tell the defense attorney how happy they were to have him as their guest, and to congratulate the young couple on their engagement.
A few more chapters to come!
After torturing Della for so many chapters, I need to give her some quality time with her family and Perry.
Please review!