My Love's Labor Lost

Daphne's Late, Again

From the first time I saw her and throughout two failed and terrible marriages, and to help me get through the day, I thought about her.

Even after we finally got together, had no worries between us, I thought about her.

Whether it was going about my day, or even in a session, I thought about her.

Now we have been married slightly over a year, well, some things never change, and I think about her.

I nervously and distractedly tapped my pencil on the notepad that I am supposed to be taking session notes on.

So far, the only "notes" I had written down were on possible names, all of which had been scratched out.

My thoughts returned to her and to last night at dinner.

-------

"Niles, I'm late."

I looked up from my salad that I was playing with.

"Late?" I echoed. Then, cautiously optimistic I clarified, "As in late, late?"

She smiled and cocked her eyebrow suggestively.

"As in late, late," she confirmed.

I sprang from my chair, picked her up and spun her around.

"Niles, you silly sod, put me down."

I did as instructed and then kneeled down in front of her and wrapped my arms around her mid section, laying my head atop her stomach.

I could almost hear their heartbeat.

"Have you seen Dr. Stewart?" I asked, as she stroked my hair.

"I have an appointment tomorrow afternoon at 2."

"I'm coming with you," I insisted and she continued to stroke.

"But isn't tomorrow Thursday?"

"So?" I questioned and got up and flexed my bad knee. Whenever I kneel for too long it always stiffens and flares up my old bossa nova injury in my left knee.

"Isn't that Mrs. Nordstrom's day?" she double-checked.

I frowned at just the mere mention of her name. Mrs. Nordstrom is my proverbial hypochondriac who has her weekly sessions on Thursdays at 1:45.

"I could always have Mrs. Woodson cancel all my afternoon appointments," I eagerly suggested as I went to clear away some of the dinner dishes.

She came up from behind me and gave me a hug.

"It's all right love. There will be other appointments."

I frowned, but she was right.

"Just promise me you won't make any more appointments on Thursday afternoons."

"I promise."

-------

I dared a quick glimpse at my watch and prayed that it would reveal that her session would soon be completed.

I still had 15 more minutes to kill.

I continued to tap my pencil and quickly did the mental math.

He or she would be due in April and could possibly share either one of our birthdays (mine is the third and hers the eighteenth).

Okay. I was jumping the gun, but you have got to understand Daphne and I have been trying since late spring to no prevail.

-------

The call came in on my cell phone around 3:18, and nearly caused me to jump out of my skin.

I was never more nervous, but nervous with excitement.

"Hello, Dr. Niles Crane," I stupidly answered.

"Niles, its Daphne," she unnecessarily returned.

I flipped open my session notes notebook and the list of crossed out names I had composed earlier.

"What do you think of the name..."

"Niles, slow down..."

The downcast tone in her voice conveyed it all, there was no need for her to say anything more.

It was yet another false alarm.

I don't recall who apologized to the other first, not that it really mattered.

We were both upset and disappointed once again.

Our conversation ended the same way they always did, with her in tears and with me struggling to fight back my own so I could be strong for us both.

"Everything is going to be all right my love..." I reassured her again, even though I wasn't sure if I believed it anymore.

"...we'll keep on trying."

To be continued...