Chapter Text
Perry Mason gathered up his suitcases and put them up on the rack.
"Do you have everything?" his secretary asked.
"Della, I think that's the third time you've asked me that question," Perry dug through his pockets, looking for his papers.
She shrugged.
"I just don't want you to get to London and find out that you forgot something important."
Perry had a conference for lawyers he had been asked to attend. He would be out of the country for nearly a week. He was not looking forward to it at all, but an old friend of his had invited him specially.
"I should have everything I need. I think I'm ready to go," he handed Della his car keys, "Here are my keys. Thank you for bringing me out here."
"Of course," she handed him his briefcase.
"Thank you. Do you have the number for where you can reach me if an emergency should come up?"
"The number for your hotel is written on the pad by the phone, as well as the number for your friend's house. Paul also has both of the numbers as well, in case I should happen to lose them."
"I doubt you would let that happen," Perry knew his secretary well enough to know that she was far from careless.
"You had better get going or you will miss your flight."
"See you later, Della. Don't bother coming to pick me up when I get back; I'll just take a taxi. Be a good girl!"
Quite suddenly, surprising himself, Perry bent down and gave the equally surprised Della a quick kiss on the mouth. He hurried off with a grin and a wave over his shoulder.
Della stood there a minute, stunned. Had Perry really just...? She recovered in time to blow a discreet kiss to his disappearing form. Della waited until he was out of sight. She dug her hands into her pockets and walked away, a special smile on her face that only Perry could put there.
Perry settled himself into his seat on the plane. A man boarded. He looked around. When he saw Perry, he smiled and sat down beside him. He looked at Perry, obviously amused.
"First time leaving her?" he asked.
"I beg your pardon?"
"The girl you kissed! Is it your first time leaving her?"
"No," the tiniest hint of a blush crept onto Perry's cheeks.
"You must think a lot of her."
"I do," Perry's color deepened, wondering what in the world he had been thinking, to kiss his secretary in front of the world the way he did!
"Your a lucky man. She's a neat looking doll."
Perry nodded, wondering what Della must think of him. She must have been embarrassed! He had acted like a foolish little child, after all. And what would she think if she could hear this conversation? A complete stranger calling his Della a doll! She would probably be even more embarrassed!
The man kept talking,
"She blew you a kiss when you walked away. You missed it."
Perry's shoulders relaxed. She did?
"Did she?"
He sat backhand relaxed, feeling like a giddy schoolboy. He got a far away look in his eyes, thinking of the secretary he left behind.