I swallowed hard as I walked into the living room and headed for the doorway.

"Hold it right there, Mister!" Dad yelled. "You're not going anywhere!"

Dear God...

Slowly I turned around. "Dad-."

"Don't say a word, you understand? You're gonna sit right there on that couch and listen to me and you'd better listen good!"

I saw Frasier grin. "Dad, don't you think you're taking this a little too far?"

Dad turned and pointed at Frasier. "Don't you start with me!"

Frasier held up his hands and walked toward the kitchen. "All right. I'll let you handle it, Dad. Far be it from me to interfere."

I started to make a sarcastic comment, but when I saw how angry Dad was, I thought better of it.

"And you-." Dad said pointing at me. "Sit down and don't say a word!"

My heart raced as I walked over to Frasier's sofa and sat down, my hands clinched together; the way I used to do when being reprimanded as a child.

I took a deep breath in an effort to try and prepare myself for whatever he was about to say.

"Now... you want to explain to me what you were doing in Daphne's room?"
"I'd be happy to, Dad. I was merely-."

"Snooping around, that's what you were doing!" He yelled. "I know you like her and all but for God's sake do you have to go prying through her personal belongings?"

I found it hard to suppress my smile at the word "like". My affection for Daphne went far beyond mere attraction.

"Dad I wasn't snooping, I was-."

"Save it, Niles! Do I need to even remind you that you have a wife? And I use the term in the loosest sense of the word!"

I saw Frasier start to laugh, and when Dad turned his head, Frasier returned to the kitchen.

"Dad can I just say something?" I pleaded.

"No! I'm your father and I'm gonna do the talking so just shut up for a minute and listen to me will you? Now I like Daphne. I like her a lot. In fact she's the best woman friend I've had since... well... your mother. I'm not saying I'm in love with her or anything but she's helped me a lot and I'm afraid I don't tell her that enough. She's mad as hell right now and it wouldn't surprise me one bit if she didn't pack her things and walk out the door! Frankly I wouldn't blame her at all. I'd blame you!"

"You're right Dad, it's my fault but -."

"I don't want to hear it." Dad said, finally calming down a bit. "The best thing you can do right now is leave. Go home to your wife."

If Daphne's words had stung me earlier, the way Dad said the word wife certainly felt like a spanking, and I felt my entire body tense up-the way I used to when I was a kid and knew that I was in big trouble.

Without even looking at Frasier I rose from the sofa and walked out the door, not sure if I would ever be allowed back into my father's home.