She typed rapidly on her laptop keyboard, happy that she had a new way of communicating with Donny. He'd been so busy lately with work and all that they rarely got to see one another. And so chatting online, although not the same, was the next best thing.
When the doorbell rang, she turned to see Frasier standing with his father in the foyer. They were going to some hoity toity auction where there were sure to be plenty of snobbish people. But she had to admit that both men certainly looked handsome. Donny rarely if ever wore a tuxedo. In fact, she wasn't even sure that she'd ever seen him in one and she wasn't entirely certain if he'd ever agreed to wear one at their wedding. She certainly remembered discussing it.
As Frasier opened the door, her heart skipped a beat as it always did, no matter how wrong it was. And it was very wrong, feeling this sentiment for someone… someone other than Donny. That sentiment was bestowed on the person who stood in the doorway. Frasier's younger brother Niles. But she was in love with Donny and he loved her. They loved each other deeply and she'd never felt this way about anyone before. However, when Niles smiled and waved shyly, she did the same. The gesture made her feel as though they were two shy high school students, waving at each other from across a crowded cafeteria.
His smile told her that he was happy in his new home at The Montana; the exclusive (and, she had to admit, very beautiful) building where he'd had his first party to introduce himself to his neighbors. And she was glad that he was happy. Very glad, in fact. He'd been through far too much for a man of his intelligence, if such a thing could be said.
But more than that, he seemed to have all but forgotten the fact that she'd killed his sweet little bird. She didn't kill Baby outright of course. She'd never do anything so cruel. However, she still felt a horrible sense of guilt. After all, it was her fault for losing one of her earrings and she never dreamed that the lost earring would end up in Baby's stomach, thus killing the animal instantly.
Quickly she excused herself as she blinked back tears and hurried into the kitchen. She hated the feelings of guilt that simply wouldn't go away. Niles had long since forgiven her, so why couldn't she forgive herself? Oh how she wanted so badly to do so. But it wasn't easy.
She dried her eyes with the kitchen towel that hung from the handle of the oven, but when she returned to the living room, she found that she was alone. For not only were all three men gone, but Donny was gone as well, apparently having signed off in either frustration for lack of conversation or boredom.
Both feelings of loneliness hurt, but the fact that Niles was no longer there hurt a little more.