His heart was heavy as he returned to his car and he was suddenly grateful that he'd parked in the Elliot Bay Towers garage rather than in the front of the building as he'd intended. At least it would spare him a small amount of humiliation but not all of it.
His overzealous imagination was getting the best of him once more and for a few brief moments, he forgot about his unhappy marriage. It was much more pleasant to imagine himself in the arms of a goddess, no matter how ridiculous it seemed.
He slowly maneuvered his car through the garage and was waiting patiently for the cars to pass him when something caught his eye. There in front of him was the most painful scene imaginable.
Daphne was holding hands with that insufferable Eric as he led her to his car. The kid made no attempt to show any amount of chivalry, choosing instead to climb into the car and unlock her door while still in his seat. The mere sight made Niles' stomach churn. And worse, Daphne didn't seem the least bit insulted. In fact, she looked happier than he'd seen her in a long time.
Silently he chided himself for feeling this way. Jealously was a cruel and horrible trait to possess and after having session upon session with patients who were struggling with jealously, he suddenly felt even smaller. What kind of psychiatrist was he if he couldn't control his own jealous emotions?
With a sigh he moved his car out onto the street and turned right, merging into traffic. He'd barely driven more than a few feet when he found himself only a few cars behind the beat up Volkswagen. The outlandish grey car looked like something that one might find in a junkyard. Or worse, the parking lot of a mall of all places!
Silently he prayed that he wouldn't be seen. For he was so close to Eric's car now that he could see the man's reflection in the cheap rear-view mirror that was barely attached to the front window.
Suddenly he began to panic. What if he was seen? He'd never be able to explain his actions and yet he'd done nothing wrong. The only thing he was guilty of was driving home to his wife.
Trying to appear inconspicuous, he slowed his speed, much to the annoyance of the drivers behind him. They showed their anger by gesturing and honking; actions that would normally rattle him. But he was so deep in thought that he was hardly affected by it. He stayed at a comfortable distance, wishing he were at home already. At least there he could be alone, even if Maris was there in the room across the hall.
He was just about to turn right when he suddenly became aware of his location. Things no longer looked familiar and he wondered just how long he'd been self-consciously following them. He should have been ashamed; mortified really, but he was strangely submissive.
And suddenly he knew why.