Title: The Case of the Kissing Tree
Description: Della attends her cousin's wedding in the country with Perry under the weather will he be well enough to travel with Della or stay home. Read on and find out if you love Perry and Della together.
Disclaimer: I don't own any character's they belong ESG and company. I just wanted to fill in some blanks and what could have happened between the scenes.
Spoiler: Brief mention from Baited Hook and Perjured Parrot.
Author's Note: I want to thank my beta Tamarra Green Lee for helping me out on this. Also, I want to credit Sonia Hill for editing my photos for this. It was very much appreciated on my part I tried to get them almost lifelike. If you like Perry and Della as a couple then read on and if not then you can enjoy something else.
Part 1
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As Abgail Leeds was taken into custody by Lt. Tragg, Perry and Della empathized with her and her daughter who she had protected from that vile man that who extorted her. While Perry gathered their coats from the law library, she greeted him at the office door. Perry draped her coat over her shoulders and placed his own coat over his broad shoulders before he sighed in contentment.
"Where would you like to go for dinner tonight?" Perry asked as he opened the door for her.
"How about the fancy Italian restaurant near the boulevard? I know we've been there a couple times, and I really love the atmosphere, Perry, unless you have another restaurant in mind?" She looked over her shoulder and observed him locking the office door before he joined her in the corridor.
"Yes, that restaurant is fine with me, Della." Perry took her elbow and guided her towards the elevator as they left the Brent building.
The restaurant's atmosphere was lively, and it was busier than usual. Since it was Thursday night, more and more people entered as they got an early start on the weekend. Meanwhile Perry and Della enjoyed their dinner and drinks. Della brushed his inner thigh with her high heel and got his attention as a blonde waitress walked by their table and cleared his throat as Della smiled at him with a knowing smirk on her lips before she finished her drink and seductively peered over the rim of the glass.
"Counselor let's call it a night. We have a long day tomorrow in court, and I don't want to have you out all night." Della sighed and placed her empty glass down on the table before she winked at him.
"Yes, but you're mine this weekend unless you have other plans." Perry waved to their waiter, took the bill from him, and retrieved their coats from the hat check girl before he tipped her. As he helped Della with her coat, a flash of lightning illuminated the windowpanes and startled Della momentarily. Although it rarely happened in Los Angeles, a freak thunderstorm was in the area. Another clap of rolling thunder could be heard in the distant when Perry looked at the sidewalk to gauge the rain as it dotted the pavement. He looked at Della, and he could make it to the car without getting drenched.
"Della, stay here, and I'll get the car. I hope the rain can hold off until I reach the car." Perry squeezed her elbow before Della watched him pull his coat up around his neck and quickly sprinted across the parking lot to his car.
As Perry took his car key out of his pocket, the storm cloud opened up, and it poured down on the parking lot. He looked up to the heavens and blinked blindly at the unrelenting rain that poured down on him. He climbed into the car with his soaked clothing, backed out of the parking spot, drove up to front of the restaurant, and quickly helped Della into the car as he took off his coat and held it over her head to cover her from the pouring rain.
"Thank you, Perry." Della smiled while the rain came down around them.
"You're welcome, Della." Perry hurried to his side of the car and pulled the car into traffic to go home. Della glanced over at his wet appearance and returned her attention back to the street as he maneuvered the car down the road.
When they arrived at his apartment, Perry removed his wet suit jacket and tossed it into the laundry bin for dry cleaning. While Della hung up her coat, Perry walked to the shower, and instead of joining him, she brewed some tea on the stove to help them relax for the evening. Tomorrow would be another day in the office, and since they were newly married, they took every opportunity to enjoy their alone time.
As Perry showered, he experienced a sharp headache, but he thought it was stress related and shut off the water facet before he toweled off and dressed in his boxers. After he looked into the mirror and dried his hair, he donned his robe and tightened the sash in a knot. He walked into the bedroom and laid down as the headache persisted. Della looked in on him before she showered and dressed in her silk night gown and matching robe. The teapot steamed on the stove, and Perry slowly got to his feet and removed the hot liquid from the burner. He placed his hand on his temples to ease the pain but that didn't help him at all. Della slowly walked into the room and noticed that he winced from his sinus pressure.
"Perry, are you feeling alright? You need to take some medicine for your headache and I'm glad that I made hot tea this evening because it will do you some good." Della joined him at the counter while he poured the tea into the cup.
"Della, it just came about all of a sudden. The sudden thunderstorm surprised me and getting drenched didn't help either." Perry grumbled under his breath as he handed her the cup of tea.
"You're not going to melt, Perry." Della jokingly told him.
As Perry slowly drank his hot tea at the counter, he looked at his wife who had walked into the living room. Although his headache throbbed, he followed her into the living room where she read a magazine.
"Della, I'm going to bed early since I have a big day tomorrow." Perry leaned down to whisper in her ear and kissed her cheek.
"Okay, I'll join you in a little while, Perry." Della whispered back to him.
The following morning, Della overheard Perry groan as he woke up, and she knew that he hadn't been feeling well last night when she turned and watched him sleep. She thought he would call his client to set up his appointment for next week, but she knew her husband would come into the office.
"Perry, are you sure you want to go into the office today? You don't sound well at all; it seems like you might have the touch of the flu or possibly a cold." Della slowly got up from bed and looked at him with concern.
"I have an important meeting today I can't miss it, and if I still don't feel well after the meeting, I will call it a day and leave the office early. I promise, Della." Perry gave her a brave smile before she walked into the bathroom. He laid in bed for a few more minutes while Della looked through her closet. Once she was finished in the closet, she focused her attention on Perry and touched his forehead for a fever.
"Perry, you have a slight fever, and I'm afraid you're going to miss your appointment today. You are staying home for your own well-being. Let me take care of the office and move your appointment to next week since it's not a good idea for you go in to work today. Also, it's my wifely duty to tell my husband to stay home today." Della whispered to him and placed the cover back over him before she left him in bed.
"Would you like some water or tea, Perry? Get some rest today, and I'm sure the client will understand." Della called out to him from the kitchen.
"Well since my wife is playing nurse today, surprise me." Perry sighed and closed his eyes as he heard her open and close the cupboard shelf. Della shook her head at him and knew that Perry would be staying home. He knew she meant well, and needed to listen to her and stop being so disobedient.
Before Della left for the office, she made sure Perry was comfortable and had everything he needed. When Della arrived at the office at the same time as Paul, he looked confused since Perry was always with her when they arrived at the office.
"Della, where's the boss?" Paul asked as the elevator doors closed.
"I'm afraid Perry is under the weather today, and under my strict orders, he's staying home so I'll call his clients and reschedule their appointments." Della hung up her coat in the law library while she observed Paul walking toward the door behind Perry's desk.
"Okay Beautiful, tell Perry I'll see him Monday. I've gathered a few leads on his latest client." Paul shut the door behind him.
When Della came back into the office, she informed Gertie that she would be working only half a day due to Mr. Mason being out of the office. Della informed Perry's client that due to an emergency, the meeting was postponed until the following Monday. While Della typed up some briefs for Perry's upcoming case, the phone rang, and she picked it up off the cradle.
"Perry Mason's office." Della spoke into the receiver.
"Della, I'm so glad that you answered because I called your home phone number, but no one was home."
"Victoria, it's so good to hear from you. How have you been? Perry is home, but I'm afraid he is under the weather with a cold. You know men are stubborn and won't listen, but today he had no choice because I laid down the law." Della chuckled into the receiver.
"I'm sorry to hear that Perry is not feeling well, but I have a question to ask you. I'm getting married next week and wanted to extend an invitation to you and Perry. Do you think Perry would be feeling well enough to travel to the countryside by the end of the week?"
"If Perry is feeling better, we would be honored to join you and the family. When I get home, I'll tell him, and I can't wait to see you." Della replied as Gertie placed a file on her desk.
"Sounds great! I can't wait to see you and Perry." Victoria enthusiastically told her.
