*****The Lasso of Truth*****

Summary:

After marrying Roz Doyle, Frasier Crane adopts her daughter Alice, setting in motion a wild string of events. How does Frasier handle being the father of a girl? And being the husband of Roz, the most prominent radio executive in Seattle?

*****Author's Notes*****

I do not own the TV show Frasier. This story is written purely for entertainment purposes only. I get no compensation from it.

Do you ever wonder what happened in the lives of Frasier's family after the series ended? Martin, Ronee, Niles...and Daphne. What have they been doing? In the series Frasier was the "star" of the family. What if that's changed?

*****And what do you do, Frasier? - Frasier narrates*****

"There's an open spot, Daddy!"

I eased our car into the parking place. Most mornings I simply dropped Alice off at school, but today was different. I had brought the documents that would officially identify me as Alice's parent.

When we got out of the car, Alice took my hand and we walked to the school building amid the bedlam of people, cars, and buses that marked the beginning of each day at the Middleton School. Once inside, we made our way to the administrative offices. All the while Alice kept hold of my hand, and I squeezed hers in return.

"Oh, yes, Dr. Crane, we've been expecting you. I've got the forms that you'll need to sign," said the Vice Principal, a Ms. Gloria Smythe.

With a hug, Alice went off to her class and left me with the paperwork. The way I saw it these forms were but a small price to pay to cement my new role in Alice's life. I got to work filling out and signing each page. Twenty-five minutes later I reached the end.

"Ms. Smythe, I've finished the forms if you need to review them."

I handed the clipboard with the paperwork back to her. She glanced through my various signatures then smiled.

"Thank you. And please call me Gloria. You know we think the world of your daughter and your wife. Roz has helped us out so much with publicizing school-related events and with fund-raising. She's been a God-send. Oh! Here's someone coming down the hall I want you to meet."

Gloria waved at a man carrying a satchel slung over his shoulder. At once he reversed course to enter the office.

"Mr. Taylor, there's someone special I want you to meet. This is Dr. Frasier Crane, Alice's father."

When he heard who I was, Mr. Taylor's face lit up.

"I'm pleased to meet you, sir. Alice has told me about you. I'm Sam Taylor, her math teacher. You know, we're all so proud of your daughter and what she's accomplished."

Indeed there was cause for celebration. Alice had always been a good student, but recently she had taken her performance to a new level. She had come in first in the regional math contest for her grade level. Roz and I looked forward to the upcoming awards ceremony at the end of the month.

"My wife and I were thrilled for Alice. She gives you credit for inspiring her to excel in math."

Something about what I said caught Mr. Taylor off guard and prompted him to stare at me. He mumbled the word "inspiring" to himself before he addressed me again.

"Dr. Crane, would you be related a Martin Crane by any chance?"

"He's my father."

When I said that, Mr. Taylor's eyes lit up and he drew in a quick breath.

"I used to be a police officer before I became a math teacher. Your father was one of my instructors at the police academy. As a matter of fact, Martin Crane was my favorite. Please tell Marty that I say hello, and tell him that his granddaughter is 'sharp as a tack' as he used to say."

"I'll do that."

"Could you please tell him something else as well? He's the big reason I became a teacher. All along I had thought I might go into teaching one day, and then four years ago I ran into Marty and his wife. Your father and I were catching up on news, and I told him about my dream. After listening to me, he told me to pursue my dream and not let anything stand in my way. So I took his advice; it was the best career guidance I ever got."

"I'll be sure to tell him."

Sam Taylor excused himself to move on to class. When I turned back to Gloria, now she was eyeing me closely.

"Wait a minute. Marty Crane's son? Then you must be Ronee's step-son," she said.

"I am."

Gloria clapped her hands together in delight.

"It's a small world. Now that Ronee has retired professionally, she sings with me in our community chorus. She has such a beautiful voice, she's the featured soloist in all our programs."

"Ronee does have a beautiful voice."

"You come from such a talented family - your wife, your daughter, your father, your step-mother. And what do you do, Frasier?"

Did she have any inkling how that sounded? Before I could answer, a woman in a business suit walked up to us.

"You must be Roz' husband, Frasier. I'm Jane Danforth, the principal here."

I shook hands with her.

"Nice to meet you, Ms. Danforth."

"It's Jane. Alice is one of our top students!"

"I've heard about the fine job you and your faculty do. We're grateful."

"And we think the world of Roz. She's been such a strong supporter of the school. Did you know that she arranges to get us Seahawks and Mariners tickets for our fund-raisers each year?"

"It doesn't surprise me. Roz has always been quite successful. I saw that first hand when she worked with me on my program."

When I said that Gloria's face lit up with recognition.

"That's right, you're in the entertainment business! I remember now."

Entertainment business? With age comes a certain restraint. In this case it was the restraint to bite my tongue.

"Yes. That's one way of looking at it."

"You work for your wife now instead of the other way around."

"Yes. That's one way of looking at it."

When was she going to shut up about my job? Luckily, Principal Jane had gotten a similar look of recognition on her face that Gloria had had moments ago.

"Frasier, is your brother is Dr. Niles Crane?"

"Yes, he is."

"You certainly come from an accomplished family! When I was working on my Masters degree, we used your brother's book on counseling as the textbook in one of our classes. I kept my copy; it's on the shelf in my office."

"I'll let Niles know that he has a fan at Alice's school."

I noticed Jane and Gloria exchanging looks.

"Frasier, are you related to Daphne Crane?" asked Gloria.

A sixth sense told me where the conversation was headed.

"Yes, she's my sister-in-law, Niles' wife."

"And her maiden name was Moon?"

"Yes."

Gloria and Jane beamed.

"Tell her I'm her biggest fan."

"No, I am. You're the second biggest."

"Why don't I tell her that her two biggest fans are at Alice's school and let the two of you hash out the top spot?" I asked.

"Frasier, I know this may sound brash, and it probably is, but do you think your sister-in-law might consider donating an autographed copy of her book to our fund-raiser? If she could, I know that it would be the star attraction of the auction."

Every fiber of my being wanted to say "no" in as rude a way as possible, but I thought of Alice and Roz. After an inner sigh I agreed.

"I think I can get Daphne to send you an autographed copy of her book, especially if it's to help out Alice's school."

"That's great! I'll have to put in a bid for it myself." said Gloria.

"Gloria, you and I may get in a bidding war. I want it to put on the shelf next to my Niles Crane textbook." Jane said.

"We'll see about that." Gloria did not sound quite as light-hearted as she had when I first arrived.

"Just wait until the fund-raising committee hears about this! A signed copy of Daphne Moon's Premonition of Love to auction off."

"Your sister-in-law's book is beautiful. I've rarely read anything that captured my attention like it did," Gloria said. "It's the characters that make the story so moving. Her poor heroine Danielle, a young woman sailing to colonial America in the 1700s from England to escape a life with seven brothers in a dysfunctional home. And armed only with a vision of something better across the seas."

"And then once in America trapped as an indentured servant in the household of that cruel tyrant Fairchild..." Jane added.

"...until she was rescued from a life of drudgery by the gallant brother of Fairchild."

"Oh yes! Giles was such a wonderful character, and the love affair of Giles and Danielle was one for the ages. It still makes my heart flutter just thinking about the two of them."

"Your sister-in-law made the reader feel like they were right there with the characters. They were so real. How did she ever come up with such vivid ideas?" Gloria asked.

"It's a real mystery." I said.

*****To be continued*****

*****Author's Notes*****

Daphne Moon Crane, noted novelist? It could happen!

Reviews are welcome, and I look forward to hearing from you!