A half hour later they were standing in the kitchen chopping vegetables for a salad. And in the silence they found themselves in a familiar place. Daphne hummed silently, her heart warming as she remembered that lovely evening so long ago.
"Know what this reminds me of?" Niles asked.
Daphne smiled at the idea of Niles being able to read her mind. Perhaps her psychic abilities had rubbed off on him. "No... What?" She asked, feigning innocence.
"The night you came over and helped me get ready for my date with Phyllis." Niles replied. He sniffed forcefully as though finding it difficult to breathe. And the coughs that followed didn't sound good at all.
Well that was strange.
Daphne couldn't help but wonder if he was coming down with a cold and her heart went out to him. The poor man. He was the picture of health and illness was the last thing he needed. She made a mental note to keep a careful eye on him. But when he continued to cough, turning away from her, she put her hand on his forearm.
"Are you all right?"
"Yes, I just..."
She sighed and wrapped him in a hug. "I'm so sorry that you weren't able to have your date with Phyllis, Niles. I know it hurt and I know how much you cared about her. The nerve of that woman, leaving the way she did after you went to so much trouble to plan such a lovely evening!"
"Daphne-."
"You're such a sweet man and I know how hard it must have been to ask her to dinner. That's why I was glad to come over and help you."
"Daphne-."
She reached for his hand and brought it to her lips. "I know it hurts, but I promise you Niles. I would never hurt you the way she did. Not when I think of how disappointed-."
"Actually, to be honest, I wasn't disappointed at all." Niles said.
She smiled and touched his cheek. "Well, aren't you sweet? And I can't tell you how much it meant to me that you asked me to stay for dinner. I had the loveliest evening I've had in a long time. Thank you, Niles."
Before he could respond, she kissed him tenderly, her hand lingering on his cheek.
And she could tell that his nervousness had returned. "I'm sorry." She whispered, unable to resist one last kiss on his cheek. "I guess I got carried away. You don't mind, do you?"
"Um...No... But Daphne, I need to explain something about-."
She silenced him once more with another kiss. "You don't need to explain anything. But if you don't mind my saying so, Phyllis is a silly sod for letting you go."
Daphne was suddenly aware of Niles' staggered breathing. He clutched the counter as he wheezed in and out. The sight was frightening and she laid down her knife to tend to him, her hand on his back.
"Niles... Niles, what's wrong?"
But he continued to wheeze and his face began to change color, terrifying her. She grabbed his arm and guided him out of the kitchen and into the living room. After coaxing him into a chair, she rubbed his chest in a circular motion, doing her best to calm him. He'd had episodes of near-hyperventilation before but they never failed to worry her.
Mercifully, his breathing slowed and his skin slowly returned to its normal color.
"Thank you...Daphne. I don't... know what came over me. I just..."
His smile disappeared and his expression turned serious, bringing back her fears. "Is something wrong?" She dared to ask.
When he paused, the eerie silence making her heart beat faster.
"Actually Daphne, there is. You see, it's about that night that Phyllis came over.
There's something you need to know."
