Suppressed Niles by Pat Councilor
Niles entered his apartment of the Montana to find Daphne folding clothes in the living area while listening to the radio which was turned down low.
She had just finished folding and Egyptian While Cotton towel and placed it in the laundry basket on top of the other folded towels. "Niles, what are you doing home at this hour? Shouldn't you be at work?"
He closed the door behind him as his four-month-pregnant wife turned toward him. He came over and took both of her hands in his. "Daphne, please, sit." They sat next to each other, still holding hands. "Where are David and Lynndie?" he asked.
Their year-old daughter was named Rozalynnda after Roz.
"David is playing in his room and Lynndie just went down for her nap?" She gave him a concerned look. "Niles, what is going on?"
His lips met her soft cheek in such a tender way. "I am so sorry about this morning."
Her warm smile made his heart slow in a warm way. "Don't be sorry. We're under a little stress and we'll soon be raising a third around here."
It made him grin, but the grin faded. "No, it's not okay. And I'm sorry for the way I've been treating you the way I have for the last few weeks. I love you too much to be treating you this way."
"That's what love is all about. It's a give and take." Those beautiful, rich-brown eyes looked deep into his. "We've got each other covered."
He carefully placed his hand on her stomach and stroked it in admiration. They were about to bring a new life into the world. The thought made his heart summersault. "There is something troubling me," he said after clearing his voice.
"What is it?" she asked with a look of concern that washed across her face.
"I can't…I can't-a… I'm unable to pinpoint it Daphne."
She held his hand tighter. This was like one of her girlfriends coming to her and telling her that Niles was unhappy and unable to tell her anymore. If Niles couldn't tell her what the problem was, who could? "What do you purpose we do Niles?"
"I've started seeing a psychologist."
"A shrink seeing a shrink." She tried to make light of it, "Sounds like something awfully small, doesn't it?" She glanced away with a faded grin.
"I'm certain it's nothing, but I wanted to be sure."
She looked back into his eyes. "You said that you started seeing a psychologist. So, what has the doctor determined so far?"
"We've talked about my work load and what tends to stress me out. We've talked about my adolescence and about mother."
"About your motha?"
"Oh yes, he introduced the idea that I may have suppressed emotions because my mother was a professional who didn't seem to have time for her sons." Niles grinned. "You've heard enough about mom. 'A handshake is just as good as a hug.'"
"What happened?"
"I assured him that I had a wonderful and healthy relationship with my parents and that Frasier was the Freudian, not me. So, we wouldn't be blaming mother this time."
"Niles, you're driving me crazy," she said so desperately. "Tell me something."
"I'm sorry darling. Dr. Nox wants to put me under."
"Hypnotize you?" She seemed a bit surprised.
He held up a hand. "I know… I know, it sounds extreme, but I want to be done and over with this. Whatever it is, it has to be my problem. You have been nothing short of an angel."
She held his hands again. "No, it's our problem. We're in this together."
"Thank you Daphne and don't look so worried." He tried to make light of the situation. "I'm sure he'll give me a pill and we'll be done with it."
Only his joke did not make her smile. She wrapped her arms around him and held him.
"I didn't want to alarm you Daphne. We should have answers…"
"When?" she asked, still hugging him. "When will we have answers?"
"He wants to start the hypnotic process tomorrow morning."
"You let me know the moment you find anything out," she insisted.
"I will phone you the moment I do."
She pressed her soft lips into his.