Niles looked at his father in confusion, to which Martin only nodded.
"Don't ask me, I don't know what her problem is."
Ignoring his father, Niles returned his attention to Daphne and gently rubbed her back in an up and down motion.
"I-it's all right, Daphne. I'm here. Everything will be all right."
But she only shook her head. "I-I don't think so."
He drew back slightly and took her hands, squeezing them gently.
"What's wrong?"
She blinked, causing more tears to fall.
"It's horrible!"
"What's happened?"
"It was the damnedest thing..." Martin explained. "She took one look at the paper and burst into tears! Must be one hell of a sad movie if all it takes for her to cry is to read the title!"
"Dad-."
Martin rose from his chair and held his hands up in surrender. "All right, I get it. I'm leaving. I need a nap anyway."
Daphne was appalled. "But you just woke up! How can you still be tired?"
"Goodnight, Daphne. Niles."
"Goodnight, Dad."
Grateful that Martin was gone; Daphne sighed and moved toward the table. "I'd better get these dishes cleaned up. You'd think that two grown men could take a little effort to-."
"I'll clear the table, Daphne. But it can wait. Why don't you sit down on the sofa?"
She sighed with reluctance and did as he asked, smiling through her tears when he sat down beside her.
"I'm sorry for making such a scene, Dr. Crane. I don't know what came over me."
"Well... something certainly has you upset. I'm here for you if you want to talk about it."
Daphne smiled and took Niles' hand giving it a gentle squeeze.
"Thank you Dr. Crane, but it's silly. You'd probably laugh at me. That's why I didn't tell your father or brother. There's no telling what they would have said."
"I won't laugh at you, Daphne. I promise. I would never-."
"All right."
She rose from the sofa and retrieved the paper from the table, bringing it over to Niles.
"I was just looking to see if a new movie had been released yet and I saw this on the front page."
She pointed to the article on the front page, her eyes filling with tears once more as the photo of Nora Ephron seemed to be smiling at her.
"I... I just can't believe she's gone."
Niles carefully studied the article and sighed, but when Daphne began to cry again, he rose from the sofa and held her close.
"It's all right..." he whispered, rubbing her back.
"I feel so silly..." Daphne said, slowly pulling out of his arms. "...gettin' all upset over someone I don't even know. But in a way I felt like I did."
"She sounds like she was really special."
"She directed one of me favorite movies, Sleepless in Seattle."
Niles glanced at the article once more. "I don't believe I'm familiar with her films."
"It's so romantic." Daphne sighed. "All of her movies are. Every time a new one came out, I watched it right away and couldn't wait for the next one. And the first time I saw Sleepless in Seattle, something happened to me. I-I can't really explain it but I found myself wanting to see it over and over again."
"How many times have you seen it?"
"Oh, I've lost count. Of course it's been a long time since I last saw it. Your father and brother can't stand me romantic movies so the only time I get to watch them anymore is when I'm alone."
"I'll be glad to watch it with you."
She glanced at Niles in surprise. "You will?"
"Sure. It sounds intriguing, a movie about not being able to sleep in Seattle. Information like that would be helpful in my practice. I have lots of patients who-."
"Oh, but Dr. Crane, it's not-."
"Not what?"
She tried to hide her smile, thinking of how he'd completely misconstrued the plot. But she couldn't bear to hurt his feelings by embarrassing him. He'd been so kind to her, unlike his father and brother.
"It's not necessary. I mean, I know that romantic comedies aren't really your type of movie, and-."
"I'd love to watch it with you."
"You'd really do that for me?"
"Of course, Daphne. I'd do anything for you."
Her tears returning, she smiled and kissed his cheek, and drew him into a warm hug. She was only faintly aware of his staggered breathing, indicating that he was a bit nervous, which in turn, invited her to hold him even closer.
He was without a doubt her best friend. For no one else had shown her such kindness before; especially after she'd made such a scene.
"Thank you, Dr. Crane. Thank you so much."
