Chapter Text
Perry stood there, the phone in one hand, his other hand balled into a tight fist.
"Does this change your mind?" he asked, "Do you still want to marry me?"
"Of course!"
"Let me have your aunt and uncle's number. I will call them and see if I can straighten this out."
Della gave him the number.
"Don't worry, Della. We will get married today, regardless of what any family members may think."
"All right."
Perry immediately dialed the number he had hastily scribbled down. A woman answered the phone.
"Hello, this is the Rockman's residence," she said.
"Good afternoon, my name is Perry Mason," he fidgeted with the telephone cord.
"Oh, one moment please," there was silence on the other end, then he heard, "Did you call to talk about Della?"
"Yes I did."
"My husband Andrew is here with me."
"Hello, sir," Perry never remembered being nervous before.
"Let's get right down to business," the man said briskly, "Della is not our daughter, but our niece. We raised her and her brother since she was five years old."
"She told me, sir."
"Good. Now, her aunt and I care a great deal for her. She is just like a daughter to us."
"I am glad to hear that."
"Eleanora and I have other children, Della's cousins. Our daughter Laura did the same thing Della did: she moved to a big city and got a job. Laura went and got herself engaged to her boss. They were married, she had a child, then he left her. We hired someone to look into the matter. We found out that this man had been married before, left his wife for his secretary and married her, then left his secretary for our daughter. He had never divorced his secretary and committed bigamy Laura."
Perry was horrified, but was not sure how this applied to him.
"Of course we realize that we cannot expect all bosses to treat their employees this way, but I have not finished. Our neighbor was once a secretary. She married her boss. He treats her like an employee instead of a wife: he is very brisk and cold. There is no love in that marriage," Andrew Rockman took a deep breath, "She did not want to quit working after they got married and it nearly destroyed their marriage. And there are the many other instances of bosses having...affairs with their secretaries."
"I can assure you, sir, that has never been the case with Della and I!" Perry cut in quickly.
"I believe you, for I know that Della would never let that happen. I know my children very well and I know when I can and cannot trust them. I do not, however, know you. I do not want you to treat Della the same way that I have seen Laura and our neighbor treated."
"What can I do to get your trust?" Perry asked.
"Prove that you are different. Why do you want to marry Della?"
"I love her more than anything. I want to spend the rest of my life taking care of her, protecting her, and providing for her. I trust her with everything I have and I want to share the life I have with her. I have never loved another woman in my life, and I never will. She is everything I have ever wanted in a wife: caring, compassionate, humble, a great listener, and a sweet personality, to name a few of the things. She brightens up my whole day when she walks into the office," Perry's voice was tender, "She makes any day better just by being there. I cannot imagine my life without her."
There was a long pause. Andrew Rockman finally spoke,
"Della has sent us dozens of newspaper articles over the years about you and your many cases. If I have learned anything from them, it is to know that you are very trustworthy. I believe what you told me. I give my permission for you to marry Della, as long as you promise to never hurt her."
"I never would, Mr. Rockman!" Perry stood straighter.
"Good!" the man chuckled, "Come visit us sometime after the wedding. I cannot wait to meet you in person."
"We'll do that, sir!"
"And no sir: call me Uncle Andrew."
Perry spoke to Della's uncle a few minutes longer, then hung up. He immediately dialed Della's number.
"Della? Everything's all cleared up with your uncle! We have his permission!"
They were at the courthouse, standing before the judge, exchanging their vows. Perry handed Della his handkerchief when she started crying.
"You may kiss your bride," the judge smiled.
Perry smiled and turned to kiss his brand new bride - Mrs. Della Mason! She turned to him, her face radiant. He lifted her chin and kissed her. He felt as though his heart would burst with happiness. He put his arm around her and pulled her close. Della was finally his!
"Congratulations, you two love birds!" Paul shook Perry's hand and kissed Della's cheek.
"Thanks, Paul!"
"Congratulations, Della!" Linda hugged her.
"Hurry up and sign the license, we have a reservation to keep!" Paul instructed, looking at his watch.
Perry and Della hurried down the front steps of the courthouse, hand in hand. A young newspaper photographer was waiting out in front with his camera when they came out. He looked at the couple, then nearly shouted with surprise.
"Oh, Mr. Mason! Mr. Mason!" the photographer gushed, "Are-are you getting married?"
"No, I just did," Perry smiled.
"Gee, congratulations, sir! Can I get a picture of you two?"
"You may, but I want several copies of it! This will be our only wedding photo," Della said.
"Oh, gee, sure ma'am - er, I mean Mrs. Mason. Three, two, one, smile!" he snapped a slightly blurry, but otherwise beautiful shot of them.
"Hurry up, you two!" Paul looked at his watch again, "The taxi is waiting!"
"Congratulations! Mind if I write this up for the newspaper?"
"Go ahead, but don't forget to send copies of the picture to my apartment," Perry opened the cab door.
"But what's her name?" he called as Della got into the vehicle.
"Mrs. Della Mason," she called as the cab pulled away.
The photographer waved enthusiastically after them, thrilled to have such a big, exclusive story for the paper.
"We will have plenty of time for our reservation," Perry said, after looking at his own watch.
Instead of having a wedding reception, Perry had rented a large table at a nearby fancy restaurant. Paul, Linda, Linda's husband and two children, Gertie, David Gideon, and of course Perry and Della were all going to celebrate.
The little party was nearly over when Hamilton Burger and his wife Margaret walked into the restaurant. Seeing the group, they went over to greet them.
"Would you like to join us, Hamilton?" Della offered.
"If you don't mind."
"Waiter, two more chairs please!"
"Well, Perry, what's the occasion?" Hamilton asked, after they were seated.
"An informal wedding reception," Perry smiled.
"Oh?" Hamilton cast a hasty glance at Paul.
"Who got married?" Margaret Burger asked.
"Della and I did," Perry answered, an enormous smile on his face.
"What?!" Hamilton and Margaret cried out.
Everyone laughed.
"How wonderful!" Margaret admired the dainty gold band on Della's finger, "Congratulations!"
"Congratulations!" Hamilton shook Perry's hand.
"Thank you!"
"May I make a toast?" Hamilton asked.
"We'd be honored," Della nodded.
"To Perry and Della," Hamilton raised his glass, "May they never know want or sorrow; may their days be long and happy; and may their cup overflow with blessings."
"Yeah," Paul smiled and rocked his arms as if he were holding a baby, "And may all their troubles be little ones!"