On March, twenty. Three days before, as good Irish, Sam had celebrated San Patricio in Cheers. It was memorable. In fact, they were commenting the party with Norman Sam, Woody and Cliff. They were still with his particular gathering, when Frasier came with a scowl.
-Hello Dr. Crane!. What will you have? - Woody asked with his usual innocence and good humor.
-Arsenic, please! -Frasier replied tartly. Then he apologized with Woody. Sorry, I'm not in a great mood. Give me a sherry, please.
-You've had a bad day, huh? -inquired Sam.
-A bad day? - replied sarcastically Frasier. You will want to say a bad week, a bad month ... rather, a few months!. Since Christmas, it seems that people have become crazy. All my patients.
-Then, the business are OK, isn´t it, Dr.?. -Cliff said in an amused tone.
-We are not speaking about anything so trivial as of distributing badly the mail, Cliff. - Fraiser said in cutting tone. Is about helping people with problems. You hear all of them ... and, unknowingly, you slowly sinking in that infinite mass of problems that bring you to your consultation.
-I see -said Sam. Does not take a genius to realize that you're stressed. Something similar happens to Diane. That's why I'm taking her to spend this weekend in Vermont, in a beautiful cabin in the middle of nature.
-That sounds very appealing, Sam -said Frasier. What envy give me you!.
-Envy?, Why? They said me that it´s very spacious, and have room for another couple. Why do not you come with us? Come on man! it will be fun.
-The truth, it´s a idea really enticing -replied Frasier- But ... What do we do with the bar?.
-Dr. Crane! -said Woody- what things you say!. This bar can not go to Vermont. Isn´t a trailer. It´s a building. You can not move it!.
-I was talking about who would be in charge of the bar! -Frasier said with exasperation-
-Samuel and I, of course! . -Woody said frankly.
-That last was that worried me ... -Frasier said with a mixture of irony, cynicism and sarcasm in equal measure-.
The road to the cabin was entertained by Sam with stories of his youth, as when Sam wanted to run away to continue his ritual with his friends to go to Vermont to ski, and Diane discovered him and sowed uncertainty in his mind. Lilith could not stop laughing. As a psychologist, she liked the trick of her friend. Meanwhile Diane showed herself serious and annoying ... but only in appearance, because finally she also laughed.
When they reached their destination, everyone was surprised. The place was in an idyllic spot in the middle of the mountains, nestled between lush forest and meadow carpeted. The top of mountain yet had a white blanket of snow and ice.
The cabin inside was equipped with all kinds of luxuries and comforts. It had two heights. On the ground floor were the dining room, the large kitchen with island in the middle, a bathroom, and a comfortable living room with fireplace. On the top floor, had two bedrooms with double bed and integrated bathroom.
-Oops! -said Diane- This is perfect to relax, Sam!
-Yes!, and very cute- said Lilith-. This prairie is like something out of a movie ... As in "The Sound of Music"!
- And why not "Heidi"? -Frasier said wryly-.
-Yes! ,You're right, dear. -Lilith said-. It has all the ingredients: mountains, prairie, nature, a cabin and the grumpy grandfather.
- The grumpy grandfather?. -Frasier said surprised.
- You, my dear Frasier -said lackadaisical Lilith looking into his eyes as she climbed the stairs to her room to leave the small luggage.
The weekend was passing agreeably, but while Sam and Diane showed themselves affable, Frasier was desperate to see them funny, whereas Lilith, even when she was entertained, proved to be cold to his samples of affection.
At night, each couple went to their room. After a time, Frasier was in bed reading, while his wife was in the bathroom before to go to bed. Suddenly, Frasier´s reading was interrupted. He heard moans of pleasure genuinely recognizable. In case there was any doubt, the rhythmic clatter of the headboard of the bed in the room adjacent to the common wall of the two bedrooms, was not allowing to shelter doubts about the night activity of Sam and Diane.
Frasier, prey of a sudden annoyance led by envy, muttered:
-Up to the rabbits they take a rest when they do it , for the love of God!. That awful!. Do not they realize that they already have an age?
-You say something, dear?. -Lilith said carefree and slightly outward from the bathroom, while she finished getting ready.
-No, no ... Well, yes! -Frasier said his wife, when she came out of the bathroom-. I am tired of seeing that the others amuse themselves, while we not. I am fed up from your evasions to my of affection. And I say I'm tired of your eternal and dictatorial coldness towards me. You always blame me for our breakup years ago, when we divorced!. but you also were guilty. Your coldness towards my, contrasted with the passion you put with your lovers. Now we're back together, and your behaviour is the same. Why we can not be affectionate like everyone?. Why we can not make love passionately as in the beginning,… as Sam and Diane? Don´t you hear? He pointed the common wall between the two bedrooms.
Lilith, with contained ire, said nothing, and got into bed with violent movements and gestures.
-I will not argue with you now -she said-. It´s too late. When you finish of reading, turn off the light. Goodnight!
Then she turned in bed, her back towards Frasier, and silently and softly wept bitterly, while her husband was still reading in silence.
The next morning, Sam went back to the cabin after his jogging. He was not sure what he liked most, if the salty sea air flooding their lungs or fresh and fragrant mountain air caressing his skin and hair. As he approached the cabin, Sam felt the smell typical of the fuelwood in the chimney.. When he came through the kitchen door that led outside to the rear of the cabin, he saw Diane preparing breakfast. Realizing the presence of her husband, Diane went to him and kissed passionately and tenderly in his lips.
-Still as sweaty as last night, Mr. Malone?. -She said with some mischief in her voice.
-Well, yes, ... you see.. -Sam said in plaintively tone-. Do you think it will be fever? Will I have to stay in bed ?.
They both laughed. And they hugged again. Then Diane turned from Sam a little pensive.
-Something wrong? What happens to you? -Sam said.
-Nothing happens to me, but something happens with Lilith. I got up last night to the kitchen to drink water after you and I last night ..., already you know..., and I thought I heard Lilith crying when I passed the door of their room. I don´t know, but I think something happened last night.
-Not only last night -said Sam-, since we left Boston, they haven´t done anything but throw barbs at each other. When Frasier was trying to smooth things over with her, and tries to be affectionate, she rejected him. The truth is that this woman has the personality of an ice cube.
-Yes -said Diane- I too have noticed.
After that, they went together to prepare breakfast, when Frasier appeared in silk dressing gown. After he grunted something like "good morning", he sat at the table. Shortly after, Lilith appeared in satin pajamas and with swollen eyes, unequivocal sign of her weeping this night. Sam and Diane looked each other with complicity, but remained silent.
Soon more...