She could tell that something was wrong by the way he walked around the living room, looking around, moving his feet back and forth. He'd been through an awful lot in the past several months. Perhaps he was just feeling a bit lonely, or even missing his wife. Just because he and Maris had gone through a painful divorce didn't mean that the love he'd felt for her had completely vanished. It was true that he was with Mel now, but his relationship with the dark haired plastic surgeon was so new that it was hard to tell if it was really true love. But she knew that he felt something for the attractive plastic surgeon and he made no qualms about it, despite the reservations of anyone else.
Daphne certainly didn't care for his new girlfriend and she knew that his brother and father felt the same way. However, it wasn't her place to comment on her opinion of Mel Karnofsky, a woman she knew very little about, but the things she did know were not at all favorable.
Stop being selfish, Daphne! She chided silently. She should be happy for Niles, even if she herself wasn't at all fond of the woman he had chosen. And she was happy for him. He'd been alone for so long that meeting Mel had improved his disposition dramatically. It was nice to see him smiling and happy again.
But Daphne's happiness was fabricated, for lack of a better word. Ever since Frasier had taken those bloody pills for his back (oh how she wished that he'd never hurt himself!) and announced that it was Niles, not Frasier himself, who had been in love with her for six years, she'd been a complete basket case. No other spilled secret had affected her the way this one had.
If she had been comfortable in being around Niles before, she now felt like a shy school girl. Every word he spoke to her was accepted with a smile and with a flutter of her heart. But she knew that any feelings he'd had for her had long since melted away. He had Mel now and… Oh why was she so damned jealous? She had Donny and they were engaged to be married. It would do her a world of good to remember that; lest she forget.
One glance at the ring on her left hand was enough of a reminder. But that reminder made her heart ache. Why did things always have the worst possible timing? Why hadn't she seen what was right before her face all of those years ago? The signs were there, where they practically haunted her, but she chose to ignore them. Niles was her friend, her boss' brother and no more. But oh how she wished that she'd paid more attention to the signs that were so obvious to everyone else.
Now she watched him as he paced the living room. He was all but ignoring his older brother who was telling a rather dull story about a caller he'd helped on the radio. Daphne had heard the story many times before. Not this particular story of course, but one like it.
"Don't you agree, Niles?"
Niles stood, staring out the window, as though he was the only one in the room.
"NILES!"
Surprised, Niles turned around. "What?"
"Dear God, you haven't heard a single word I've said, have you?"
He shook his head. "No. I-I'm, sorry Frasier. I'm just a little preoccupied."
"A little? Do you have any idea-."
"Dr. Crane, leave your brother alone!" Daphne shouted, immediately regretting her outburst. But there was no taking the words back now. When Frasier glared at her, the only thing she could do was finish her thought.
"I... I mean... He's had a lot on his mind what with his divorce and all... I imagine... And it would be nice if you would respect his feelings!"
When she daringly turned to look at Niles, she felt her cheeks flush when she realized he was smiling at her. Oh why did he have to be so handsome?
"You're right, Daphne. I'm sorry, Niles."
"No apology needed Frasier." Niles was saying, thus saving Daphne from a lengthy and most likely poorly worded, insincere explanation. "I suppose I am a bit preoccupied lately, what with Mel and all. But please... go on with your story. I promise… I'm listening."
Frasier chuckled. "Thank you, Niles. Well as I was saying…"
In Daphne's mind, Frasier's voice trailed away, replaced with Niles' sweet one. And still she couldn't look at him. To do so would bring her to tears, knowing that she could not have him. Because he loved someone else.