"ENOUGH!" Niles yelled. "Daphne is a wonderful person and you can't stop me from being friends with her! If you can't understand how much I care for her, then... well...
maybe we've made a big mistake."
"What are you saying?" She asked, not bothering to disguise the disgust in her voice.
"I'm saying... I think we should get a divorce." Niles said.
Mel's sigh was so loud I could hear it clearly through the wall.
"You're crazy if you think I'm divorcing you. Do you have any idea what that would look like? I have a reputation to protect, you know!"
"Will you stop with your reputation? Is that all you ever think about?" Niles asked. "Don't you care about anyone but yourself?"
"How dare you talk to me that way? At least I'm successful!" Mel said.
I froze, taken aback by the horrible comment. How could she say such a thing?
I've heard her say mean things before but to say that to her husband-not to mention Niles was downright cruel. Even though he was unaware that I was listenin' in on
their private conversation and couldn't see his face, I knew that she'd hurt him deeply.
I'm not usually an angry person but Mel should have been glad that there was a wall separating us. Anger was surging inside of me, and had I been able to see her
face, I don't want to think of what I would have done.
"What are you saying?" Niles was asking. There was no mistaking the hurt in his voice. I'd heard it many times; when he'd come over to Dr. Crane's after a
big fight with Maris. And the sadness in his eyes never failed to pull at me heartstrings.
"I'm saying that you should be more successful than you are, Niles Crane! Why, Maris was right about you! I don't know how she put up with you for so long! You
only see a few patients a week, and-."
"Wait a minute, how in the world do you know about the details of my practice?"
"I'm your wife, Niles. I know everything!" She said, emphasizing the word everything.
There was a moment of silence which spoke volumes.
"Well..." Niles finally said. "I guess that tells me all I need to know. But I really think we should discuss this rationally and-"
"Forget it!" Mel said.
I could hear rattling around, then the slamming of a door. Seconds later, the opening of another door, probably the door leading to the balcony.
Quietly I made me way to my balcony and slipped outside. I tried to stay hidden from sight as I watched Niles lean against the railing; a drink in his hand, wearing the
saddest expression I'd ever seen. It took all the strength I had inside not to go to him and take him in me arms. I knew what it felt like; when you're hurting so deep
inside you feel helpless. As I watched him brush away a tear, I resolved to do something to help him. But what?
Well, I'd decide that later, but I had to think of something. After all, Niles had gone out of his way to be supportive of my relationship with Donny; even
agreein' to be in the wedding!
And suddenly I knew what to do.
I needed a favor. But in order to get it, I'd first have to make a huge confession; one that would surely tear me fiance's heart in two.