Daphne Moon Married Me Again by Patrick Councilor
AUTHOR'S NOTE: This is part two from "Daphne Moon Will You Marry Me… Again" which can be found in my story list. I hope you enjoy this one as well. Thank you all for taking an interest in my works. I want to greatly thank the person who posted the reply in "Daphne Moon Will You Marry Me… Again": "I know this is a terribly selfish thing to say, but sequel? :) Please?" Unfortunately, the person to post this was listed as GUEST. Sorry it has taken me this long to write one.
Niles walked into his Montana apartment with a clouded mind and something heavy on his heart.
Daphne entered the room from the kitchen with a baby bottle for David. "Niles, is everything okay?"
He stopped in his stride and put his hand to his forehead. "Prison life is not doing her well. You should see her Daphne. She is thinner than before and even more pail, if in fact that was humanly possible."
Daphne took her husband by the hand and led him over to the sofa where they sat together. "What about her spirits? How is her mental state?"
"Oh, she's not talking much. She whimpers mostly when I try to engage her in conversation."
She gently pulled him over to have him lay on the couch with his head in her lap where she stroked his hair. "Her family will get one of the best attorney's money can buy."
"Yes, but she fled. She was a fugitive. Even with a crack-shot lawyer, it doesn't look good. Even if she can convince the jury that it wasn't premeditated murder… that borrowing the crossbow was just means of protection, she's looking at… well more years than I care to think about." He reached up and stroked Daphne's stomach. "I don't mean to be boring my unborn with such depressing details. At least I have a wonderful and comforting family to embrace me."
Daphne slid out from under him and his head hit the couch cushion harder than she cared to have happen. "I'm sorry dear. I just have to get this bottle to David. I'll be right back." She gave him a kiss on the side of the head and hurried upstairs.
He sat up. "I could use a drink," he announced allowed. He stood and went over to pour himself a drink. He took a long hard drink of his sherry and then poured himself another. Walking over to his bookcase, he carefully took out a sizable book with a dark brown, leather cover. He brought it over to the couch, where he planted himself. He opened the book where the 2.5 million dollar check lay. He set his drink down with the book and he took up the check to look at it. The words drifted from his lips like a weightless ghost, "Oh Maris, what have you gotten yourself into." There was more drifting than just words because Niles suddenly found himself waking on the couch. He was comfortably wrapped in a throw, which Daphne must have covered him in. He jumped up as if suddenly hit with a bolt of electricity. "Oh my God." Who in the world falls asleep with 2.5 million dollars between their thumb and index finger. He looked at the coffee table. The book was gone. He bounded from the couch, almost tripping himself as he stumbled over to his bookshelves.
Daphne entered the room from the kitchen with two cups of coffee. "Don't break anything Niles. I put the check safely back in the book and back in its resting spot."
Niles released one large sigh of relief. He took the book back down and opened the book to find the check. "I'm sorry about that Daphne. I didn't mean to fall asleep like that. That was irresponsible of me. What time is it?"
"It's Tuesday."
His mouth fell open. He had been asleep for two days.
"I'm kidding. It's only morning. Now stop being so silly and come have your spot of morning coffee."
He grinned. He loved her sense of humor. He sat with her.
"You were sleeping so soundly, I just didn't want to wake you. Hope you don't mind." She sipped her java.
He took a drink of the warm Columbian blend. "Of course not, my love." He turned to her. "Daphne, I have to ask you something."
"What is it?"
He held up the check. "Would you mind if I refused this check from Maris?"
She didn't bat an eye about it. "It's completely up to you. I can imagine what it's putting you through."
He leaned over to brush her lips with his. "Every second of any given day, I love that I love you."
She smiled and kissed him back. She knew that they could use the money for the kid's college, but she understood. She would be there for him… always. He could count on her as sure as the sun would rise and promise a fresh start.
He put his coffee down and held the check with both of his hands to rip it into tiny pieces. But he didn't. Why, he didn't know. Perhaps it was the greatest single gesture of generosity Maris had ever made to him both inside and outside of marriage. All of the trouble and frustration she had put him through. All of the unfairness. All of the worrying. Slowly, he placed it back in the book. "Perhaps later," was the only explanation he offered to his wife.
And you know what, she knew that he didn't need offer her one at all.
He stood and went over to place the book back where it rested on the shelf.
Daphne took another drink of her coffee and stood up to go upstairs. "I'll go check on David."
There was a wrap at the door. They shot each other a look. "Who could that be at this hour?" she asked her husband.
"You go. I'll get the door."
Daphne went to tend to David.
Niles went over to open the door. Maris' father stood on the other side of the door, yet he looked quite different. And he was alone, which was out of the ordinary. "Commodore, please come in." Niles showed him in.
The tall man stepped inside.
"Where are my manners?" Niles went on. "Can I get you some coffee or whip you up some breakfast. Really, it's no trouble at all." Then there was silence. Niles suddenly realized that he was doing all the talking. The Commodore had not said one word.
"Let's have a seat son," he finally spoke as if his words were chosen carefully.
They sat. Niles noticed the large man's hands were shaking and his lower lip was trembling. There were puddles in his eyes. The man had never referred to Niles as "son" before. Niles reached out and lay his hand upon the Commodore's. "What is it?"
He fought for his words. "Son, Maris passed away late last night."
The lights dimmed, didn't they? Someone was playing a prank on him. Maris just did this one not long ago. She was faking her own death again. This was some prank because not only did that tear running down the Commodore's face look real, but somehow the pranksters pulled Niles' heart down into the deep pit of his own stomach. A tear swept Nile's cheek as well and he fought for words. One word, "Daphne!"