Hamilton Burger joked that, had the wedding not been scheduled for a Saturday but a weekday, he would have petitioned the mayor to declare a city-wide holiday, because half the population of Los Angeles would be missing work to attend the nuptials of Perry Mason and Della Street anyway.
It was true. It was fortunate that Della Street was one of the most efficient women in California, because the wedding planning and guest list had gotten a little bit out of hand.
Perry and Della had at first envisioned a moderate ceremony and reception, but within a few days, it became clear that they had completely underestimated the number of their friends. People started to come out of the woodwork, dropping engagement gifts off at the office and hinting that they would love an invitation to the wedding. A few of them were socialites and prominent businessmen who were looking for a memorable event to attend, but the vast majority of them were former clients who had noticed the deep connection between their lawyer and his secretary and were truly rejoicing that they had declared their feelings at last. Unable to say no to them, Della began to add their names and those of their families to the guest list, and felt her head spin as she saw how quickly it was growing. Then she realized that she would never be forgiven unless she invited every judge, lawyer, and police officer in Los Angeles, along with their wives. By the time she finished, it was out of the question to have the wedding at her parish church, as they had initially planned. Perry saved the day by placing a phone call to his friend, the Archbishop of Los Angeles, and getting permission to transfer the ceremony to the cathedral, as that was the only church in a hundred-mile radius which could seat the fourteen-hundred guests which they expected. Likewise, they were forced to rent the largest country club on the outskirts of the city for their reception.
At last, the long-awaited day arrived.
The cathedral was filled with white lilies and ribbons, and the aroma of the former wafted through the air in the edifice. A full choir was present for the ceremony, and sang in perfect harmony with the organ music. Despite the enormous capacity of the building, every pew was filled.
Paul Drake accompanied Perry up to the altar as best man. Perry was particularly handsome in a black tuxedo. He turned towards the back door of the church with anticipation.
The bridal procession started. Della's nephew and niece made an adorable ring-bearer and flower-girl. Several of her closest friends from Los Angeles were her bridesmaids, but the maid of honor was only twelve. Maggie, dressed in a pink dress, floated down the aisle with a big smile on her face. Perry gave her a brotherly wink as she took her place in the front of the church.
And then, the bride entered.
Perry Mason very nearly forgot to breathe when he saw her.
She seemed more beautiful than ever. Attired completely in white silk, she had a lacy veil covering her head and cascading down towards the floor, where it turned into a majestic train. Her arm intertwined with her father's, she smiled brightly at the standing congregation, and slowly walked towards the altar with stately steps.
Halfway down the aisle, she and Perry locked eyes and did not glance away from each other for an instant until Mr. Street placed her hand in the bridegroom's. The defense attorney gently pressed the soft fingers he held. For the ten thousandth time since Della had accepted his proposal, he wondered how in the world he had been so lucky to win such a wonderful woman!
The Mass began. Glorious music and meaningful words echoed through the building by turns.
"Love is patient, love is kind. It is not jealous, is not pompous, it is not inflated, it is not rude, it does not seek its own interests, it is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over injury, it does not rejoice over wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things."
Perry gave Della a little smile when they heard this, remembering how many times she had endured by his side when he had spent all night interviewing witnesses, or borne with his less-than-sunny humors when a case was not going the way he had hoped.
Finally, the moment of the vows arrived.
Perry Mason was renowned throughout all of California as a great orator, but everyone present in that cathedral forevermore agreed that his best words were not ones that he spoke in court or from a podium, but the ones that he infused with emotion and addressed to Della on his wedding day:
"I, Perry, take you, Della, for my lawful wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health until death do us part."
A few moments later, Della replied in a strong yet sweet voice,
"I, Della, take you, Perry, for my lawful husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health until death do us part."
When they had finished speaking and the priest said,
"What God has joined, let no one put asunder," all those present wondered who would be mad enough or cruel enough to even consider weakening such a beautiful marriage between two people so well-suited for one another.
Perry tenderly drew Della towards himself, and pressed a loving kiss on her lips.
….
The wedding reception could have easily rivaled an emperor's ball. The live orchestra played waltz after waltz. A nearly endless assortment of dishes were spread on the banquet tables. Perry and Della danced under crystal chandeliers and walked around the hall greeting their guests for hours and hours. But somehow, the bride and groom managed to find some time for themselves as well: Perry steered his new wife outdoors for a breath of fresh air, and the two of them wandered about the formal gardens for the better part of an hour, sharing sweet kisses and murmuring words of devotion to each other.
After an unforgettable evening, Della and Perry bid farewell to her family and Paul Drake, and went out to the front entrance of the country club, all their wedding guests trailing behind. In the parking lot, there was no limousine or Cadillac waiting to take them home – but there was a helicopter, decorated with 'Just Married' signs and white ribbons. Predictably, Perry had arranged for it, as a sentimental nod to the memory of their engagement day.
Della and he climbed in, and as the conveyance rose into the air, to transport them to the mountain resort which they would spend their honeymoon in, the bride threw her bouquet out the window. Although it was too dark for the newlyweds to see who in the crowd caught it, Paul Drake would eventually inform them that it had fallen straight into the hands of his gorgeous blond date, Natalia, and that he had taken it upon himself to see to it that she would be the next bride in the bunch, by proposing marriage to her as he drove her home that very night.
"Well, did you enjoy yourself, Mrs. Mason?" the lawyer asked as he and his bride settled back in their seats in the helicopter. "Was it a nice day?"
"It was the nicest day that anyone could ever hope for, Counselor," Della replied, her voice almost shaking from happiness. "I will not forget a single moment of it for as long as I live."
"Neither will I, darling," he replied, reaching over and taking her hand in his own. "I love you, Della Mason."
"And I love you, my Perry."
She smiled as she realized that she would never again have to scold herself for calling him that. He was her Perry, at last.
THE END
Please review! Thank you for all your support!
And thank you for your patience - I know that it took me much longer than usual to get the last few chapters written!
