Behind The Glockenspiel
The Montana: their home, shelter and comfort for two very happily married people. He proposed to her by the hearth. Niles always loved coming home to the Montana, but over the last few years, his love for the place had increased ten-fold. To just come home and curl up on the couch with her was the best part of, not only his day, but his life. Sometimes she would have wine poured or a hot beverage waiting for him and they would curl up together and talk about their day. It didn't really matter what they talked about, just as long as they always took the time to talk and share each other's company.
He lovingly touched his thumb to his wedding band as he pulled into the parking structure of the Montana. In just moments, he would be leaning back on his couch with Daphne leaning back against him in the wonderful way she always had.
"Briefcase," he said aloud to himself after he parked. You see, when Niles gets close to seeing Daphne, he has trouble focusing on the little details in life. He stepped out of the car and took up his briefcase. "And lock." He locked the car and headed for the elevator.
When he took the elevator up and came through the door, his heart sank. For Daphne wasn't there to greet him with a welcome home beverage like he had anticipated. Instead, she was in an old t-shirt and blue jeans and large rubber gloves on. She was still beautiful no matter what attire she wore. There were boxes and boxes of things all over the apartment.
"Hello dear," Daphne came over to him, removing her gloves as she did, to give him a kiss. How was your day?"
"It was fine. What's all this?" he asked in a bewildered way.
"Well, I started, what you may call, Spring Cleaning and then decided to bring some boxes up from your storage space."
"Well… do you need some help?"
"No, you get yourself a drink and relax. I'm just going to pop back down to the storage area to fetch anotha box. Be right back."
"Oh… alright." He looked about the apartment as she left. "Where?" Where indeed could he sit to relax? Boxes were on every level service including the couch, fainting couch and dining room chairs. He managed to find a place to put his briefcase and went over to open a bottle of red wine. Pouring himself some, he went over and stood by the couch. He tried to perch himself… to sit on the arm of the chair, but it just wasn't in him. He decided to stand rather that to start moving things around that Daphne had already worked on.
When he tipped his glass up for another drink, something caught his eye. Over on the shelf, tucked back behind his mezzo soprano CDs. Why it was his Glockenspiel. Niles and Maris had bought it on their honeymoon in Zurich.
"Doctor Crane, your Glockenspiel has sprung to life!" Niles smiled as he remembered Daphne telling him that the night of the storm at his old house.
Maris had given it to him at the settlement of the divorce. Niles always thought she wanted it. Perhaps it was her way of making certain that Niles would think of her often. He always felt this way and that is why he boxed it and put it down in the storage. A concerned look swept across his face. But why would it be behind his CDs? He understood why it was out. Daphne was organizing things from storage, of course, but why was it on the shelf and why was it tucked back behind the CDs?
