"Niles, can you at least pretend to be having a good time?"
Frasier glared at me while giving a quick wave and a ridiculously fake smile to Sid Ramsey; the most outspoken member of our wine club.
"I'm sorry Frasier, but my heart just isn't into this dinner party tonight." I replied taking a sip of my merlot.
"And this wine! It tastes like it came from a... dare I say it? A cardboard box!"
"SHHH!" Frasier shushed me. "For God's sake, do you want to be thrown out of here?"
"Well at least it would get us out of this... disaster zone of a party!" I said; my voice rising with every syllable.
"All right Niles. What has gotten into you? And I want the truth! Is it Maris?"
I sighed and looked away. Why did Frasier have to bring up Maris?
"That's it, isn't it? Look Niles, just a few more weeks and she'll be out of your life for good. Didn't you say that she was moving to Austria with her boyfriend?"
"Frasier, I don't want to talk about Maris, okay? This has nothing to do with her!"
"Then what, pray tell is your problem? Oh wait... let me guess... It's Daphne isn't it?"
I started to protest but I knew it was pointless. My older brother could read me like a book.
"Niles, when are you going to give up this ridiculous infatuation? The woman has nothing in common with us, and although Dad seems to be happy with her has his physical therapist, I can't see a relationship between the two of you ever taking place."
"Frasier, I have no intention of perusing Daphne." I lied. "I've only just met the angel-I mean... Dad's therapist." I felt my face redden and prayed that he didn't notice my slip of the tongue.
"Yes, well I care for her a great deal." Frasier admitted. "She's very sweet and she seems to take great pride in her work."
"But she must absolutely hate us!" I said. "I have a right mind to never set foot in your home again! I just don't think I could face her after what we've done!"
"After what we've done? Niles, what are you talking about?"
"We were horrible, Frasier! Laughing at her like that when she mispronounced merlot? Making her feel worthless and insignificant? And all because she's not as knowledgeable about wine as you and I are?"
"Oh Niles, you're overreacting!" Frasier said in that annoying older brother tone that I hated.
"Am I?" I retorted. "Then perhaps you missed the tears in her eyes as we were leaving! I haven't been able to get that image out of my mind all night!"
"Niles, really! You're being ridiculous about this whole thing! I'm sure she's forgotten about the whole incident by now!"
"I guess you're right." I said, not believing a word of what I was saying.
"Daphne's a kind and generous person and I can't imagine her being angry with anyone for long. She's much too sweet!"
"You're talking like you're in love with her for God's sake!" Frasier said.
"I bit my lower lip in an effort to keep quiet. To open my mouth would have been an invitation for a nosebleed.
Provided that I really was in love with her, that is.
But as usual, Frasier saw right through me.
"Dear God! You can't be serious!"
I started to say something but no words came out.
Damn...
"Have you completely lost your mind?" Frasier yelled, causing a few heads to turn. "How can you possibly be in love with the woman? You only just met her yesterday!"
I pondered this for a minute. I was completely... enamored of Daphne; that much was certain.
But in love with her? Balderdash!
Besides, Daphne and I had absolutely nothing in common!
I couldn't possibly be in love!
The silent words ran through my head, while I did my best to ignore the protests of my heart.
