The Case of the Silent Heart 

NOW

	Della Street stared at the photos they’d received from the disastrous attempt at a wedding.  She was supposed to be looking for any clues to who killed Lon Hawkes.  So far all she’d been able to do was focus on Laura and Kaitlynn Parrish.   For the fourth time she missed checking what Perry would expect from her and once again she started at the beginning of the pile.  The thoughts swirling in her head was starting to give her a headache, and she rubbed the bridge of her nose to try to concentrate.  She had questions and Perry had the answers but she didn’t know if they were the ones that she’d want to hear.  
	“Della,” Perry said from the door, and when she didn’t respond, he repeated, “Della?”
	She started, “Yes?” 
	“You’ve found something?” he assumed hopefully. 
	“Uh… no.  What made you think so?” she asked. 
	“The way you were concentrating,” Perry answered.  He noted the troubled look on her face that disappeared after a moment.  “Della you have been noticeably out of sorts since we took this case.  Don’t tell me the murder has you that upset?”
	“No, not the murder,” she admitted.  “I feel terrible for Kaitlynn and her mother.  Weddings are supposed to be happy times, not occasions for the police.”  
	“Then what is it?” Perry pressed.  He had known Della long enough that he could tell when she wasn’t being forthright with him.  
	She hesitated about asking.  It was none of her business after all, but after twenty-five years she had to know, “Is Kaitlynn your daughter?”
	Perry nearly doubled over in astonishment, “Is what?”  
	“Kaitlynn, is she your daughter?” Della repeated with more confidence.  
	“Where on this Earth did you get that idea?” Mason demanded.  
	Prepared for that question Della got up, went over to a file cabinet, and pulled out an envelope.  She opened it and unfolded two yellowed newspaper clippings.  She handed them to Perry, “These.”
	Mason looked at the paper, noted the date and the source and read the items from a talk of the town section of the Washington Enquirer.  Perry was dancing with a very young, very pretty Laura Parrish.  The caption read: Infamous lawyer Perry Mason romances fellow committee member Laura Parrish of Virginia.  It was little more than a gossip column but it reported the late night meetings, dinner engagements, and the fact that she was seen coming out of his hotel suite early in the morning on more than one occasion.  Another article mentioned they were seen at a well known jeweler purchasing a ring.  Perry had a notion to rip the articles to shreds.  He was mad.  He wasn’t so much mad at the rag for printing something like that; it’s what passed for news in a paper of that ilk.  He was mad at Della Street.  He waited ten seconds before saying something he’d regret the rest of his life, “When did you get these and how?”
	“They were sent to me while you were there.  I never found out who sent them.  I even asked for Paul’s help, but he didn’t get anywhere.”  
	Perry gritted his teeth.  Paul Drake had gone to his grave believing this… lie.  That made him even angrier.  He crumpled the articles, threw them disgustedly on the floor, and turned away from Della to go back to his office.  He sat on the sofa dejectedly until he finally boomed, “Della, come here.” 
	He rarely used an authoritarian tone with her but this warranted it.  She appeared at the door barely able to meet his eyes.  He pointed at the chair, “Shut the door and come sit down.”  
	He gathered his thoughts almost as he would in a trial.  But this time it was his life on the line not some client that he could pull out of the fire with courtroom trickery.  He waited till she was settled in the wing chair across from him, “Those articles are nothing more than gossip.  You know that don’t you?”
	She closed her eyes, “Yes.”
	Mason shook his head, “Don’t lie to me.”
	“Perry, if you tell me it’s gossip, then it’s gossip,” she said without hesitation.  
	“And if I told you they were based on truth?” he tried and watched the warm hazel eyes flinch as if deeply hurt.  “Della it is true that I was dancing with her.  It’s true that we spent a lot of time together.  It’s true that she left early in the morning on more than one occasion, but there was never anything remotely romantic between us.  I told you at the wedding that she was separated from Max.  It was plain that she loved him and he loved her, but they were so stubborn they kept stepping on each other and getting hurt.  She found out she was pregnant during the meetings.  She hadn’t been feeling well and I took her to the doctor myself.  She was elated, but she was also scared.  She didn’t want Max to come back to her just because she was pregnant and she leaned on me for support.  He read these articles as well, became irate, knocked me flat.  But it made him realize that he loved Laura deeply and they reconciled.  They were so grateful they asked me to be Kaitlynn’s godfather.  That’s why I am so determined to protect her and her family and that is the full and true account of what happened in the summer of 1967.”  
	Della looked at her hands, felt like a damned fool on the one hand and light as air at the relief on the other.  “I knew it wasn’t true,” she said after a moment.  
	“Then why didn’t you ask me sooner?  Why have you held onto this for twenty-five years?” Perry asked as gently as possible. 
	“I don’t know,” she answered.  She shook her head, “No, I know why.  I couldn’t believe it was true but I had a hard time denying what seemed to be staring me in the face.  Paul kept telling me it was nothing and to ask you about it when you got back, but I never did.  I decided to just shove it as far back in my mind as I could and go on like that summer hadn’t existed.  I tried throwing the articles out several times but something kept me from doing it.”  
	Mason couldn’t fathom it.  He thought he knew this woman better than anyone else.  Now he felt like he didn’t know her at all.  When he didn’t say anything in response she started to stand up. “I’m not done.”
	She sat back down feeling for all the world like she was being grilled on the witness stand.  
	He thought back.  He recalled that she hadn’t been as warm as he had hoped when he returned in the fall of 1967.  Paul, likewise, had asked him things that he thought odd at the time.  It wasn’t so much the questions but how he had phrased them.  He pounded on the sofa arm, “Dammit Della why couldn’t you have just asked me?”
	He had never sworn at her in anger before and it shook her.  Her eyes began to tear up, “Because I was afraid of the answer you’d give me.”  
	Mason realized that as miserable as he was now, she’d been in a worse state for far longer.  He sat forward in the sofa so he could take her hands, “You have been my constant for the last forty-five years.  I have never compromised your trust and faith.  At least I didn’t think I had.  Now I see that you’re trust in me was shaken decades ago.   But you never gave me the opportunity to restore it.  Believe me when I tell you there was nothing then or now between Laura Parrish and I or any other woman. You are the only one.  My god you silly goose, I’ve loved you from the moment I met you, and I will love you till the day I die.”  
	His voice shook with the emotion he was trying to convey.  He had never spoken so frankly to her before.  She had known all these years deep down that he loved her but had never made him or expected him to say it.  She tightened her grip on his fingers.  Tears started to stream down her cheeks but they weren’t tears of sadness.  Della sighed, “I know, I’ve always known.”  
	“And now you always will,” Mason insisted.  She smiled at him, the tears beginning to dry.  He leaned forward and kissed her lightly.  “Now, when I got back from Georgetown twenty-five years ago I asked you a question.  Do you remember what it was?” 
	She thought a second, nodded, “You asked me to marry you.” 
	“And you replied?”
	“No.”  
	“Was this the reason you said no?” he asked.  
	She swallowed, “Yes.”
	He took a deep breath.  At the time she’d given him her usual answer which was that he needed a secretary not a wife and instead of pursuing the matter he had just dropped it.  Her manner around him after that had changed, become more business like, less familiar, and he thought perhaps her feelings for him had changed while he’d been gone for so long.  It had been the last time he’d asked her.  He held her hands tight, “Marry me Della Street?  Make me the happiest man in the world.” 
	Astonished, she stared at him, realized that he was totally and utterly sincere, genuine, and true.  She gave a barely perceptible sound, “yes.”  
	“Louder so the court can hear?” he demanded.  
	“Yes, Mr. Mason, I will marry you,” she said clearly and with complete confidence.  
	His whooping could be heard all the way out of the office and down the hall.  Ken Malansky came running thinking something was wrong.  When he got in the office he found Mason hopping around the desk, papers flying and Della Street standing being showered with the evidence in the case and trying to get Perry to calm down.  Ken stopped, amazed at the sight.  Mason pointed at him accusingly, “Ken, you’ll be my best man.”   
	Malansky was confused, “Best man, you’ve got to be getting married to get a best man.”  
	“Precisely and I am, we are.  After forty-five years this absolutely amazing woman has agreed to marry me,” 
“Huh?” he asked looking at Della who seemed as confused as Ken.  She shrugged, “He asked me to marry him.  I said yes.  I didn’t know
it would drive him insane.”  
	The last flutter of papers fell to the floor and Mason laughed, “Woman you’ve been driving me insane for a long time.” 
	“Can someone explain what’s going on; you and Della are getting married?”
	“Yes, that’s what’s going on.” 
	“Is this part of the case?” Ken asked.  
	“No, it’s two people in love,” Mason replied.  
	“So, it’s not part of the case?” the associate clarified.  
	Della chuckled, “No, it’s not part of the case at all.” 
	Ken’s look of confusion grew to a wide grin.  He held out his hand to Perry, “Congratulations.”  He hugged Della tightly.  “You know Paul and I wondered when you’d get around to it.” 
	“We’ll have to tell Paul,” Della realized. 
	“Then get on the line, tell the world.  But first let’s get this office back in order,” Mason declared after realizing the absolute mess he’d created.  
	Della threw up her hands, “Not me.  I have a wedding to shop for.” 
	She patted Perry on the cheek and with a smile turned on her heel and left.  

	Laura Parrish was astonished and happy when they were told the news at the celebratory dinner after the trial, “Perry, you’ve finally gotten around to asking her?” 
	“No, she’s finally gotten around to accepting.  I’ve asked her over a hundred times and she’s always turned me down,” Perry beamed.  
	“One hundred forty-five times to be exact,” Della inserted.  “Let’s just say he finally won me over.  I think he can support me in the style I’ve become accustomed.”  
	Kaitlynn and Gary brought them a glass of champagne apiece.  Kaitlynn was visibly pleased, “I’ll finally have someone I can call aunt.  Aunt Della, I think I like it.”
	Della was pleased, “So do I.”  
	“Have you decided on a date?” Gary asked. 
	“Oh, no, we’ve been too busy with other things,” Della noted intimating the trial.  
	Kaitlynn’s eyes lit up, “Then get married with us.  We can make it a double wedding.”  
	Perry shook his head, “No, no.  This is your day, not ours.  We’ll pick a day and you’ll all be there when we do.”  
	But Kaitlynn wouldn’t be swerved once she had a mind for something, “But it would be so much fun.  And, maybe I won’t be so nervous this time if I have someone in the same boat I am.”
	Della hesitated.  Perry started to further protest but she touched his arm, “Maybe Kaitlynn has a point.  But I don’t want a large ceremony.  Something more intimate, maybe right afterwards.  Then we could all enjoy your wedding… our wedding.”  
	Perry relented, “She’s the boss.  If she wants to get married when you do I’ll not try to stop her.”  
	Laura clapped happily, “Then we’ll arrange everything.  We could have a private ceremony in the study.”
	“The scene of the crime?” Ken Malansky chuckled. 
	“No, maybe not,” Laura said.  “Well there are a ton of rooms in this place, we’ll find somewhere.  Oh, the turret room at the top of the stairs.  It’d be perfect.  We’ll have the minister come early and while the guests arrive you two can take your vows.”  
	With the whole thing falling into place so easily, Perry and Della became excited and anxious.  Perry held her hand tightly but not so tight it hurt.  He looked at her, “Well?” 
	“Well?” she responded.  
	“No more time to waste,” he said.
	“All right, we have a plan.  There are a few people we’d like to include,” Della mentioned.  “I’d like Stefan to officiate.” 
	“I was going to say just that.  He’s a dear friend of ours.  We’ve known him almost as long as we’ve known each other or perhaps longer.  He’s the archbishop in Denver.  I hope he’ll be free.”
	Max was amazed, “Perry I think that if you wanted the Pope himself he’d be free to fly in for the gig.”
	Della laughed delightedly.  It was a heady feeling being a new bride after seventy years.  “Paul will be hard to track down.  But I really want him to be here.”  She had always treated him as her own child, even looked after him at some point, and couldn’t help but long to see him.  
	“We’ll have to see what part of the world he’s in,” Perry said.  As if delegating tasks to his staff he said, “Ken, that’ll be your job besides being my best man.  You find Paul Drake and get him here no matter what.”
	“Will do Perry,” the young lawyer assured.  He knew how to get hold of him and didn’t think he’d have to do much persuading to get his task completed.  
	“Now, Della, we have to make girl plans,” Laura insisted and pulled her and Kaitlynn aside to talk dresses and flowers and everything else that goes with a wedding.  
	“So, how about a bachelor party?” Gary suggested elbowing Ken.  
 	Perry shook his head, “Not for me.  I think I’ll spend my last days of bachelor hood being the model prospective bridegroom.  But don’t let me spoil your fun.  Go out and have a night on the town, just make sure to be on time for MY wedding.”
	“Will do,” Gary assured.  
	
	Della couldn’t sit still but she was tired of moving around.  She and Laura and Kaitlynn had gone to choose the dresses, and she felt the one she picked was most appropriate.  She’d wanted a nice understated beige or cream so she wouldn’t stand out so when it was gauche to wear white unless you were the bride.  But Kaitlynn kept reminding her, “You are the bride TOO and that white suit looks beautiful on you.  Perry won’t take his eyes off you.”
	So, after cajoling and practically pleading, Della chose a white suit dress that she could wear for business occasions later on.  She’d spent the morning talking to Archbishop Corro with Perry.  He was supposed to be giving them stern pastoral advice on their lives as a married couple but he ended up playing a game of gin rummy with Perry and losing gracefully.  So far no sign of Paul but he was supposed to be on his way.  She went to stare out one of the windows that overlooked the entire drive.  The media was gathering again for Kaitlynn and Gary’s ceremony in a little over an hour.  Meanwhile her own wedding was in fifteen minutes.  Where was Paul? 
	Ken Malansky came up behind her, “Paul just called.  He’s five miles away.  Unless he runs off the road somewhere he’ll be here in five minutes.” 
	Ken’s assurance helped but he didn’t know how much trouble Paul Drake, jr. could get into five miles away from anywhere.  Della did some deep breathing and kept on looking.  Across the room Perry Mason noticed how tense she was.  He came over and wrapped his one good arm around her, “Hey beautiful.  Gonna pass out on me?”
	“I’m thinking about it,” she laughed and leaned back against him.  Her world calmed down for a moment and then she spied a bright red Camaro speeding up the drive to the gatehouse.  “Paul’s here.  Now I can relax.”  
	“Good, cause when I pass out I’m gonna need some help.”
	She laughed, “Perry, I’ve been such a fool.  To think we could have been celebrating our anniversary instead of our wedding.  Can you ever forgive me?”	
	“No regrets, after all we’ve been together all these years,” Mason whispered, “That’s more than many couples can say.”  
	“I guess.”  
	The sound of running steps up the stairs made her turn.  The blonde curly head of Paul Drake, jr. was just what she wanted to see and she started crying at the sight, “Paul.”
	He hugged his favorite aunt, “Good grief Perry what have you done to her?  She’s hysterical.”
	“Just glad to see you,” he replied and gripped the detective’s shoulder.  
	“What’s this?” Paul asked pointing to the sling.
	“Oh, I dislocated it again.  Nothing big,” he explained.  Della wiped her eyes happily.  “Paul I’d like you to be my escort.”
	Paul beamed, “I’d be happy to.”
	Archbishop Stefan Corro announced, “If we’re going to have a wedding we need to get a move on because there’s another wedding to take place as well.”
	Everyone took their places, Ken at Perry’s side and Laura on the side Della would stand.  Gary and Kaitlynn looked on.  Paul Drake took her arm and led her up the impromptu aisle.  He thought she looked younger than he ever remembered and he didn’t think Perry could be puffed up any prouder.  He kissed her cheek tenderly and handed her to Perry but couldn’t resist saying, “You treat her right or you’ll have to answer to me.”
	“I will,” Perry assured and took Della’s arm.  
	They stood for a moment in silent contemplation before Stefan.  They turned to face each other.  He wouldn’t give some long-winded ceremony for to him in the eyes of the Lord they’d been married a very long time.  
	“We are gathered today to witness a living miracle.  We come to celebrate the union of two people who have given so much to others that mere words cannot fully encompass what they’ve done.  They have asked to be joined in matrimony, the holiest estate given to us by God, and to begin their lives as one.  So without further ado we will begin.  If anyone here has a just reason they should not be wed…leave.”
The chuckling set the tone for the occasion and then he turned serious, “Perry Mason, as the husband it is your duty to protect, cherish, and trust the woman you wed; to love her, honor her, stay by her in all times good or bad.  Do you swear to fulfill this duty to Della?”
	Mason had spent nearly fifty years pleading his cases in front of the highest courts in the land and had never had trouble with his voice.  He cleared his throat to make sure his voice didn’t waver, “I always have and I always will.”  
	Della’s eyes were threatening to spill but she held back.  Stefan’s smile was angelically bright, “Della Street, as the wife it is your duty to protect, cherish, and trust the man you wed; to love him, honor him, stay by him in all times good or bad.  Do you swear to fulfill this duty to Perry?” 
	She shook her head with a smile, “There’s never been anyone else.  I will.” 
	Stefan nodded to Ken, “The ring?” 
	“The ring is the symbol of the eternal circle.  There is no beginning and no ending.  It is the alpha and omega and as such represents the bond between husband and wife and God.  It is unbreakable.  Della do you accept this symbol as a token of Perry’s love?”
	“I do.”
	Corro nodded and Perry took the ring he’d chosen for her and slipped it onto her left-hand ring finger.  It was a gorgeous ruby, at least four carats but it didn’t fit over the last knuckle.  Della looked at Perry half in confusion, half in astonishment.  He said quietly, “If you’d have said yes a little sooner it might have fit.  It’s the ring Laura helped me pick out in Georgetown.” 
	Della was speechless.  She was afraid she’s lose it if she kept it only half way down her finger and she moved it to her pinky.  She glanced at Stefan, “Is it still legal?” 
	“Yes, it’s legal,” he laughed.  
	“Then by the power vested in me, by the state of Colorado and the almighty God I pronounce you husband and wife.  What God has joined together let no man put asunder.  You may kiss the bride,” he closed.  
	Careful not to press against his bad shoulder, Della leaned forward but Perry pulled her close, the shoulder be damned.  There wasn’t a lot of time for congratulations because Kaitlynn and Gary’s wedding would start in less than an hour.  Kaitlynn had to change dresses and go down for a few pre-ceremony pictures and kissed Perry quickly on the cheek, “I’m so glad we’re both happy today.”
	“So am I, believe me, so am I.”  
		
	Perry refused to let go of Della Street.  He didn’t know if he thought she was going to run off or disappear or if it was all some hallucination but he made certain he was never more than a step away from her.  She didn’t seem to mind however and was quiet for the most part.  She just wanted to be alone with Perry, but that would have to wait.  Paul Drake and Ken Malansky had found some interesting guests to entertain so they were occupied.  Kaitlynn and Gary stood up to address their guests, “Before we get to the food, we’d like to thank everyone for coming, again, and especially thank Uncle Perry and Aunt Della for everything, and we mean everything.  We wanted to get you something very special for today, and I was told this might do.  It’s not my style, but it is from my heart.”
	Gary cued the music and Kaitlynn took the microphone.  After the intro she started singing, “Every honeybee sighs with jealousy when they see you out with me, I don’t blame them goodness knows, honeysuckle rose…”
	Perry took his wife in his arms to dance, “Do you remember?”
	She nodded, “Of course.  How could I forget?”

THEN (1948)

	“You’re sure you know what to do?” Paul Drake asked.  
	“Paul you’re such a nervous Nellie,” Della grouched.  
	“Yeah but something can go wrong,” Paul moaned. 
	“What can go wrong with a guy and a gal and a moonlit night?” Perry asked.  
	“Okay, well you two sit and spoon in the car while I go around the back and get in.  When I give you the signal come up like a cozy couple and I’ll let you in.”  
	“All right,” Mason waved and scooted over in the front seat of the car so he could put his arm around her shoulders.  It was comfortable and the cool air made it appear necessary.  Della leaned into him.  It was nearly eleven o’clock, and she was supposed to be sound asleep and in bed at that hour not on some stake out with her boss and his private dick.  
	“Hmm, I’ll fall asleep if I’m not careful,” she murmured.  
	“Can’t have that,” Mason decided and turned on the radio.  The music helped but only so much.  
	Della decided to talk, “You know if we were really a spooning couple we’d be kissing not just sitting here listening to music.”
	“Is that a hint?”
	“Just to make it look legit,” she said. 
	“All right,” and he leaned forward to kiss her lightly.  It didn’t impress her much.  “Is that it?”
	“Well, it’s a little, I mean isn’t it kind of public here?” 
	“Oh good grief,” Della said and took the initiative herself.  Her lips were warm, inviting, and he found had no trouble returning the fervor.  Before he realized what was going on he had her completely in his arms and had forgotten he was supposed to be paying attention for Drake’s signal.  Something in his mind registered the music on the radio… “When I’m taking sips from your tasty lips seems the honey fairly drips, your confection goodness knows, honeysuckle rose.”  
He parted from Della Street and the stars that were all around them 
were in her eyes as well.  “Della?”
	She was breathless, “Chief?”
	Perry shook his head, “Not chief, not tonight.” 
	They were so busy spooning that Paul Drake had to come get them and blew their cover.  But from that moment on whenever they heard the song they couldn’t help but chuckle.  

	NOW

	“…you’re my honeysuckle rose,” Kaitlynn finished the song to rounds of appreciative applause.  It might not be her style but she did an excellent job with it.  Perry and Della welcomed her with a warm hug.  Della had to know, “Who told you?”
	“Paul.  He said his dad used to tell him about when the three of you first started out and how you two fell in love.”  
	Della sniffed, “Not really fell, more like I slipped and he caught me.”
	Perry countered, “I would have said I was tripped.  But it was the best fall I’ve ever taken.” 
	Max and Laura gathered around them, “Perry, Della, if you’d come with us for a moment.”
	They followed the old married couple over to a corner of the room.  Max took Della’s hand, “I owe you an apology and an explanation.  I didn’t know when I sent those two articles to the Perry Mason Law Office back in 1967 that I would be derailing two people who needed to be together.  I just thought it would be something for the office girls to go on about, perhaps call him on, and make him give up his relationship with Laura.  Of course, there was no relationship, and when that got straightened out I never gave the articles a second thought.  If I had any idea that you would take them to heart I would have told you long ago.  Can you forgive me?”
	Della nodded, “Who’s to say that things weren’t meant to be this way.  I can’t blame you any more than myself.  I should have asked Perry, but I chose to keep quiet.  I’m the one who’s really to blame.”  
	“Let’s forget who’s to blame and remember why we’re here today,” Perry decided.  “I for one would like to see my wife alone for a few minutes.” 	
	“Certainly, just pick a room,” Laura offered.  
	Della was laughing as he led her to an odd reading nook off the study.  His kiss only made her laugh harder.  He looked at her sternly, “Mrs. Mason, this is a serious matter.” 
	She tried to put on a poker face, “Yes Mr. Mason.”
	Perry started to tell her what he’d pulled her aside for but the light dancing in her eyes and the trembling bottom lip knocked it out of his mind, “I forgot.  Oh yes, where do you wish to honeymoon ma’am?”
	“Oh, honeymoon, well over Niagara Falls in a barrel is out…” she said.
	“Yes, it’s against the law,” he pointed out. 
	“So, how about tagging along with Ken on that fishing trip he’s going on,” Della decided.  
	Mason thought a second, “I knew there was a good reason I married you.  You’re the sanest thinking woman I know.”
	“You’ve been itching to go, admit it,” she said.  “Besides, the wedding present I bought you will come in handy.”
	“What’d you get me?” he asked eagerly.  Perry always was a sucker for presents.  
	She got a brochure and a set of keys out of her purse, “Just a little rowboat…”
	The little rowboat was a cruiser that could sleep six and was moored on the same lake Ken was going to be at.  He was pleased.  Della waited, “Well, where’s my present?”
	“What, aren’t I enough?” Mason teased then finished, “I thought I’d let you pick whatever you wanted, but I have a few brochures of my own to look at when we get home.”
	“Home, it sounds wonderful.  I’ll be glad to get off my feet.  Paul will be staying with us by the way,” she informed. 
	“Nope, he’s got a hotel room,” Perry said.  “He’ll be ten minutes away and here for two days.  But tonight is all about us and not him and not Ken and not the office and not the television.”
	Della looked around breezily, “And no gin rummy with Stefan?”
	Perry shook his head and took an almost predatory step toward her.  She was trapped against the wall, “Perry, your arm…”
	“Doesn’t hurt a bit,” he insisted.  His kiss was tender but firm, the way he’d always kissed her.  The years seemed to melt away when they were alone together.  Perry pulled her close, began singing softly in her ear, “When we’re passing by flowers droop and sigh, and I know the reason why, you’re much sweeter goodness knows, honeysuckle rose….”  

FIN