Wow! I was never expecting this short story to be so popular! I am glad you all liked it. Even though I never had the intention of writing another chapter, but I guess now I will:

"Well, Della, did you find out what Paul's been up to?" Perry asked when she entered his office that afternoon.

"Yes I did," she answered.

Della knew Perry wanted to know where they had been, but he did not ask her, so she did not tell him.

When the following Tuesday came around again, Della asked Perry,

"Would it be all right if I didn't come in until sometime tomorrow afternoon?"

"Perfectly fine with me, as long as you get these things mailed before you leave today," he handed her a stack of letters, "Are you busy with Paul again?"

Della nodded and smothered a smile at the tiny wrinkles that appeared in Perry's forehead.

"Aren't you going to ask me where we go?" she asked.

"No, no," Perry said hastily, "That is no one's business but you and Paul's."

Della did so want to tell him, but he made himself busy and ignored her presence.

~~~PM~~~

The boys at the home were very excited to see that Della had returned with Paul. It was raining, so there was no football game. Instead, Paul and the boys played hide and seek.

Lucky caught hold of Della's hand and asked,

"Will there be more cookies this week?"

Louis Averil nodded his approval. Della said,

"There will be! Would you like to help me?"

Lucky got excited and skipped his way to the kitchen, pulling Della behind him. Della measured and mixed while Lucky sat on the counter holding the bowl.

"I like Mr. Paul," Lucky said, "He's nice!"

"Yes he is," Della agreed.

"An' I like you! You are nice!"

"Well thank you!" she kissed his freckled forehead.

"You remind me of my Momma," his voice got soft, "She died though."

"I'm so sorry, Lucky!"

"It's okay, cause now I live here with the fellas an' I have Mr. Averil who takes care of us an' Mr. Paul who is jus swell an' now you come too!"

"You are a sweet boy, Lucky!"

"Tha's not my real real name."

"I did not think it was."

"Hey, is anyone hiding in here?" Bill demanded from the doorway.

"No one's come in, now go 'way!" Lucky pointed.

"That is not nice!" Della scolded the small boy, "He was just asking a question."

Lucky's frowned slightly, "Sorry, Bill. No one's hidin' in here."

"Okay," Bill bounded away.

"How comes we gotta be nice?" asked Lucky.

"Do you like it if people are nice to you?"

"...Yeah..."

"Then you should treat people the way you want them to be treated."

"Oh," he sat there contemplating what she said, "I think Mr. Averil said somthin' 'bout that during Bible lessons."

"He probably did; it came from the Bible," Della slid the full pan into the oven.

Lucky swiped a glob of cookie dough when Della's back was turned.

"Mr. Averil is awful nice too," a voice came from under the table.

"Why, Jacob! I didn't know you were in here!" Della squatted down to his eye level.

"Yeah, I was hiding, but now I want to help you!"

"Well come on out!" Della invited, and Lucky scowled.

"As I was sayin', Mr. Averil's awful nice," Jacob picked up the eggshells and disposed of them.

"Is he?" Della was not paying much attention.

"Uh-huh, and you are awful nice too. Wouldn't it be just terrific if you could stay out here all the time?!"

"This is a boys home, and I am a girl," Della laughed.

"I know, but it wouldn't matter iffen you were married," Jacob got a gleam in his eye.

"Are you asking me?" Della tousled his hair.

"No, but you could marry Mr. Averil!"

Della took a breath and rolled her eyes, "I don't think so, Jacob-"

"But why not?"

"Well, um, it's hard to explain how love and marriage work. Why don't we stop talking about it and just finish these cookies? And I can come back every week I can be here? Will that be all right?"

"I guess, but I'd love to have you here every day," Jacob leaned against Della.

Lucky, who was scowling the whole time, leaned in and hugged Della too, just so he would not feel left out.

"Have you seen Mr. Paul? He should round everyone up so we can start eating the cookies."

"I'll get him! I know 'xactly where he is on a count o' his long legs is so hard to hide, he hides in the same spots most every time!" Lucky dashed off.

"Miss Street?" Jacob cleared his throat.

"Hmm?"

"Do, uh, you like me?"

"Of course I do!"

"How 'bout marrying me?" Jacob looked hopeful.

"Jacob, darling, you are a wonderful boy - you all are! But you are too young to get married, and I am too old to marry you. Marriage is about more than making cookies for people. It takes a lot of work, and time, and love. Understand?" Della explained gently.

"Okay!" the boy did not seem heartbroken.

The conversation ended there, for the stampede of boys arrived for their treats.

Paul and Della had a wonderful time, and were later than usual getting back to the office.

"How did it go?" Perry asked when they entered his office.

"Great," Paul gave Della an amused look.

Perry was not one to pry, or volunteer unnecessary information. He was dying to know what they were up to, but he did not ask, so Paul and Della kept quiet.

"Would you like to come with us next week?" Della asked sweetly, "You'd love what we have to tell you!"

Perry agreed, trying not to sound too interested.

"Paul, your secretary was calling here looking for you," Perry said.

"Back to the grindstone," Paul sighed.

He was leaving as Della was walking back to her office.

"Better not tell him about your proposal, or he won't understand just yet," he said as Della closed the door behind them.

"All right," Della chuckled.

"'Bye, Beautiful!"

" 'Bye, Paul."

But Perry Mason had heard every word, even though they had not meant for him to.

Proposal? Had...? Had Paul Drake dared to propose to his Della?

Well, well! I really did not plan to make any chapters after the first one, but you were all so interested and excited, I decided to keep going! Please let me know what you think of the latest development!