Chapter 7

Before Frasier could call Niles, his frantic brother called him.

"Niles, what's wrong?"

"Meet me at my office as soon as you can. Please."

"I'm on my way."

Twenty minutes later Frasier entered his brother's office and found a very agitated Niles angrily pacing the floor.

"I can't take it anymore!" he exclaimed, his arms flailing.

"Niles, calm down," Frasier said, closing the office door. "What has happened?"

"Mel. That's what."

"Oh, dear," Frasier said, placing his hands on Niles' shoulders to stop him from pacing. "Sit down. Tell me what happened."

"I can't sit," Niles said. "I'm too upset."

"At least talk to me."

Niles took a steadying breath and then nodded. "I just came back from having lunch with Mel. I had such high hopes, Frasier. She called me. She sounded frustrated. I thought for sure this game she is playing was getting to her, too. I even told Daphne that I thought I would have good news."

He sadly shook his head as his brother observed him.

"What did Mel say?" Frasier asked.

Before answering, Niles moved away from his brother's piercing gaze. He looked unseeingly at the bookshelves lining one wall of his office and then finally turned and leaned back against his desk with a resigned sigh.

"She's not ready to let me go."

"Oh, Niles, I'm so sorry."

He held up his hand. "That's not the worst part. Her reasoning is that we have shown ourselves to be a happy couple. Why would we suddenly end things?"

"What did you say?"

"I didn't get a chance to say anything. She held court. She went on to say that if I want my freedom, I need to start acting boorish when we're together. I need to be the one who makes a fool of himself in front of everyone and who embarrasses her so she will have just cause when she deems the time is right. When I've played that part to her satisfaction, she will be the one to initiate our breakup because of my loutish behavior. Have you ever heard of anything so absurd?"

"Are you really going to go along with this?"

"I don't see how I can't, and yet I don't see how I can play this part convincingly."

Frasier stood and moved closer to his brother. "You have to remember who you are doing this for."

Niles shook his head. "I know. Daphne. Oh, she is going to be so disappointed when I tell her this news. Why did I say anything?"

"Because you wanted to give her hope."

"I suppose," he said and sighed.

"You can't give up now," Frasier continued. "Undoubtedly, Mel will grow tired of these games and will grant you your freedom."

"That's what I'm holding on to."

"And that's what you have to convince Daphne to hold on to as well. I hope planning her birthday dinner will help both of you."

"Me, too, but I have my doubts. Once I tell her this news...which reminds me, I should call and let her know what's going on. She's probably wondering how my lunch date went."

"Wouldn't you rather tell her in person?"

"No, it won't matter. But maybe if I tell her now, she'll have time to get used to the idea before she sees me tonight."

"You know best."

Niles shook his head. "I wish I did."

Frasier was about to take his leave when he remembered he wanted to tell Niles about inviting Keesha.

"I hope you don't mind that I've invited Keesha to join us tonight and to attend the party."

"No, that's fine," Niles responded, still distracted.

But after a moment, his brother's words sank in and reminded him even more about Daphne.

"However, I need to tell you that there's something you're going to find out when you arrive home. You have to promise me that you won't be upset with Daphne or Dad."

"What did they do?" Frasier asked, eyeing his younger brother warily.

"It's nothing bad, really. It's just that you're going to find out that they've already met Keesha."

"How did that happen?" Frasier asked, his voice rising with every spoken syllable.

"They decided to go to her antique store. They were curious. More so Dad than Daphne."

"So he dragged her along."

"Yes. They both thought she was lovely, if that's any consolation."

Niles tried to cajole his brother out of his quickly forming snit.

"Well," Frasier conceded. "I just hope they didn't embarrass themselves or me."

"I don't think they did. It sounded like a pleasant visit all the way around."

"Leave it to Dad to just go traipsing off to meet a woman I'm just getting to know. What is wrong with him?"

"Oh, Frasier, you know we don't have time to get into that discussion. I'll see you tonight. I really need to call Daphne."

"Of course. Good luck, Niles. I'll see you later."

Niles' conversation with Daphne went better than he had anticipated even though he could hear the disappointment in her voice.

"I should've known she wouldn't give up so easily," Daphne said and sighed.

"Me, too," Niles concurred.

"We'll just have to be patient a little longer."

"Thank you, my darling. Just hearing you say that makes me know we can outlast her."

"Of course we can. And we will. I can't wait to see you."

"Same here. Oh, one more thing I should let you know about. Frasier invited Keesha to dinner tonight and to your party. Is that okay?"

"Sure. That's fine."

"I'm glad it's not a problem. But since Keesha will be there, I thought it only fair to let Frasier know that you and Dad already met her."

"I suppose you had to tell him. How did he take the news?"

"He started to get upset but, hopefully, I managed to diffuse the situation. I think he was on his way home when he left here, so you should know soon enough."

"Thanks for the warning. I'll let your father know, too."

"See you soon, my love."

"Bye, Niles. I love you."

"I love you, too."

As soon as Daphne hung up the phone, Martin wanted to know what was going on.

"A couple of things," she said, still trying to shake off the bad news Niles had given her. "We thought maybe Mel was ready to give up this sham of a marriage, but it turns out, she's not."

"I'm sorry, Daph," Martin said. "I know how patient you've been."

"Well, we'll just have to patient for a little while longer. We can hold out longer than she can."

"That's the spirit."

"But it's still frustrating," she admitted.

"I know, but think of the good things you have coming up."

"Like my birthday?" she asked.

"Yes."

"Well, that's another thing. Frasier invited Keesha here tonight and to my party, so Niles felt compelled to tell him about us meeting her."

"Frasier knows," Martin said, trying not to panic.

"Afraid so."

"How did he take the news?"

"Niles wasn't sure. He said we should know soon enough. Frasier's on his way here."

As if on cue, Frasier walked through the door. After depositing his keys on the credenza next to the door and hanging up his coat, he exchanged pleasantries with his father and Daphne.

"I don't have much time," he said, getting right to the point, "because I need to freshen up and start dinner, but let me just say that I know about your journey to Keesha's antique store."

"We just wanted to meet her, Fras," Martin began.

"And you couldn't wait until I decided the time was right to introduce you?"

After shifting uncomfortably in his chair, Martin exchanged a guarded look with Daphne that Frasier immediately identified.

"You didn't think I would be with her long enough to make that happen, did you?"

"Well, let's face it, Son, you haven't exactly been heating it up in the romance department."

"Thank you so much for your support and understanding," Frasier snapped.

"Look, Fras, no one is happier than I am that you've met someone and that she's agreed to come here tonight and to attend Daphne's party. I think it all sounds terrific."

"But you don't think I can sustain a long-term relationship, is that it?"

Martin shrugged his shoulders. "You haven't been able to yet. But if Keesha is the one you manage to stay with for any length of time, I'll be the first to congratulate you."

"Then get ready to do just that," Frasier said, heading into the kitchen, "because I have no plans to sabotage this relationship. At all."

"Famous last words," Martin said under his breath, as he resumed reading his newspaper.

"I heard that!" Frasier bellowed, right before he began banging pots and pans in the kitchen.